HIGHER EDUCATION MARKETING TRENDS

Explore how AI is reshaping classrooms, empowering faculty, and personalizing learning across higher education. Discover what’s next in AI integration.

Don’t miss out on late-stage student traffic. Use these quick, high-impact SEO tactics to reach high-intent prospects still searching this summer.

Discover how neuroscience and cognitive psychology can transform your higher ed marketing. Learn to use emotion, structure, and trust to increase engagement and student conversions.

Learn how yield marketing in higher education helps convert admitted students into enrolled ones through personalized, outcomes-driven engagement.

Learn how storytelling in higher education marketing humanizes your brand, inspires prospective students, and builds deeper emotional connections.

Discover strategies to attract and retain non-traditional students with flexible programs, career-focused messaging and personalized support.

Stay ahead in 2025 with digital marketing strategies that drive enrollment. Short-form videos and emerging ad formats engage students.

Gen Z & Gen Alpha are reshaping higher education communications. Engage them with short-form video, authenticity, and value-driven messaging.

Learn how a data-driven enrollment strategy can enhance student recruitment, improve yield rates, and maximize ROI with predictive analytics and key metrics.

The top higher education marketing trends for 2025 include AI-driven personalization, micro-credentials, and data analytics.

Refine your student recruitment strategy in 2025. Learn to better engage audiences, adapt to emerging trends, and achieve your enrollment goals.

Are you facing challenges with your program yield? Dive into our latest blog for effective strategies on converting admits to enrollments.

Use webinars in graduate program recruitment to build a simple yet effective strategy to maximize enrollment.

Want to boost graduate program enrollment? Learn how to effectively communicate customized graduate program ROI to candidates.

Learn proven tactics to build relationships and transform your program through graduate program partnerships with industry experts.

Learn the graduate program enrollment cycle and how long it takes for students to choose a program, including MBA, EMBA, and online options.

Optimize your lead conversion funnel by focusing on the right people, in order to achieve the enrollment results you desire.

Navigating enrollment during tough times? Our latest blog offers 7 key strategies for effective crisis communication.

Explore the future of college admissions, and see how institutions are using emerging trends to attract and engage prospective students.

Gen Z applicants are reshaping graduate education. Is your program ready? Discover key strategies to attract and retain these digital natives.

Adapting enrollment strategies for non-traditional students can help you hit your enrollment targets this year.

Maximizing social media for college admissions is a powerful way to meet your enrollment goals. Check out these tried-and-true strategies.

Upgrade your strategy and hook your prospects with these cutting-edge tech tools and trends in enrollment marketing.

Harnessing AI to maximize content strategy, streamline workflows, and improve enrollment success is reshaping higher ed marketing.

Grad school paid social media strategies and best practices can set your campaigns apart from the competition.

Discover innovative ways to engage prospective students in a digital world. From VR experiences to user-generated content, explore the possibilities of virtual campus tours.

Discover the magic of personalization in enrollment marketing! Elevate engagement and boost conversions with tech-powered strategies.

In the fiercely competitive landscape of MBA education, standing out is everything.

Debunking these three graduate school myths can put prospects’ minds at ease and boost enrollment for your program.

Leverage these effective strategies to successfully grow and expand enrollment in your specialized MBA program.

Employ these best practices and strategies to enhance your institution’s customer experience (CX) strategies for higher education.

Keep these points in mind to connect with graduate school students in 2024 and beyond.

Use these effective strategies to increase enrollment amid rising higher education skepticism. Learn how to attract and retain students.

Use these best practices and strategies for grad schools to optimize your higher education paid search campaigns.

Use these best practices to boost your grad school email marketing campaigns. Email marketing is a tried-and-true marketing channel.

Use these strategies to Improve your university’s brand awareness for your undergraduate and graduate programs

Prepare your institution for success by staying ahead of the higher education trends to watch in 2024 for marketing and recruiting.

Utilize these cutting-edge strategies and innovative ideas to enrich and fortify your school’s higher education content marketing plan.

Discover the critical reasons why relying on a local, generalist agency for higher education marketing can put your enrollment goals at risk.

Understanding grad school demand generation best practices and strategies can help supercharge your recruitment marketing efforts.

Specialized institutions can compete with larger, better-known higher education institutions using these strategies.

So, how can grad schools reach candidates effectively and grow EMBA program enrollment? Take a quick look at a few strategies.

Colleges are at a crossroads. Despite the looming challenges facing undergraduate enrollment in the future, taking proactive steps and adopting new and innovative strategies can help future-proof your organization.

The competition for graduate school program and MBA recruits has always been tough. Many times, higher education institutions focus on building awareness and generating leads first and foremost – and rightfully so.

Graduate school lead generation strategies are always at the top of the mind for higher education institutions – and for good reason too. Without a steady stream of leads, enrollment is sure to dry up.

As an institution of higher education, attracting and recruiting new prospects is always top of mind. To do this, you first need to build awareness for your graduate school and MBA programs in a way that reaches your target audience efficiently and effectively. But what’s the best way to do just that?

How to Convey Value to Prospects When prospective students start looking at graduate schools, they’re not just seeking any place to further their education. They’re seeking an experience that they hope will further their educational, career, and financial goals in life. So, how do you convey value to prospects to make your program stand out […]

Drive Success for Your Graduate Program: Consistent Marketing Strategies Unlock the full potential of your graduate program by implementing consistent marketing strategies that yield impressive results. Discover how to establish a strong foundation with a consistent marketing plan, optimize your platform selection for maximum impact, and avoid reactive mistakes that can undermine your efforts. With […]

Unleashing the Unique Selling Proposition of Your EMBA Program Are you looking to make your Executive MBA (EMBA) program truly stand out from the competition? While many EMBA programs may share similar attributes, it’s crucial to identify the unique selling proposition (USP) of your EMBA program to attract prospective students. This blog post will guide […]

Questions to ask about your funnel  At any point in your admissions process, you may need to examine your funnel to determine the best path toward finalizing your class enrollment. Are your marketing efforts balanced to ensure that top, middle, and bottom funnel leads are getting the proper attention? As your prospects enter into the […]

How CRM can help with the final enrollment push One of the many benefits of a well-designed, strategic email communications flow is that it can mostly function on its own throughout the year, serving to shepherd leads within your CRM from the prospect phase to seated student. When you create your audiences, filters and messaging […]

What does diversity look like within your funnel? It’s never been more important to construct a plan for attracting a diverse student body. In addition to creating more access and social mobility for students of varying backgrounds, a diverse class prepares your students for success in their chosen career fields. Defining diversity As you are […]

Constructing a landing page for conversion Regardless of how impactful the messaging within your digital marketing campaign is, if your leads don’t have an optimized and user-friendly place to land, you risk losing them. If it’s the first time they are engaging with you, you’ve done the hardest job which is to grab their attention. […]

Storytelling: Help Your School Connect Better with Prospects By now, you’ve heard the buzz about how storytelling can impact your brand. For years, marketers have been using stories to show consumers how a product or service can improve their lives or solve a problem. But it wasn’t until recently that the advent of new social […]

How well are you communicating about financial aid? Financial aid. It’s a critical piece of the admissions process and a key deciding factor for many, if not most, students. Learners today—both undergrads and post-graduate degree seekers—are looking for solid information upfront about the cost of attendance and financing options before they commit to exploring a […]

Don’t be intimidated by data Data can be one of your most powerful allies in developing strategies and tracking tactical effectiveness. But many marketers are often intimidated by the concept of making decisions using numbers, statistics, and large amounts of quantitative information. Here are some simple ways to start using data analytics to inform your […]

How does an Enrollment Growth Diagnostic™ work? At any given time there are common challenges that many business schools may face. While these are not necessarily new in higher education, when your school is facing them for the first time or is continuing to struggle with low enrollment, shrinking market share, lead generation issues or […]

Higher ed digital marketing trends to watch in 2023 At GPRS, we are continuously tracking trends in both higher education and digital marketing so we can bring our clients the most updated recommendations to help meet their enrollment goals. As you are planning to seat your next class, we can help you identify ways to […]

New year, new focus on enrollment goals As the beginning of any new year presents itself, we are often faced with setting new goals. While New Year’s resolutions may tend more toward personal aspirations, it may be helpful for your team to revisit your enrollment goals, see how you’re tracking against your objectives, and renew […]

Construct an actionable dashboard to fill your funnel To fill your funnel with qualified leads, you need both a solid strategy and a way to track performance. Not only will metrics help you optimize your campaign throughout the year, but they can also help you determine which tactics worked and tie your spending back to […]

Are your enrollment numbers where they need to be? Don’t panic! As the year winds down, admissions and marketing staff at many schools are busy analyzing funnel activity and determining what’s next. Do you have enough leads? How many applications are started vs. completed? What are your attendance numbers for upcoming events? What needs to […]

Develop a strategy to reach prospects looking to upskill Now more than ever, people are upskilling to keep up with the demands and pressures of the continually evolving economic landscape. To position your school as a partner along your prospects’ career paths, you will need a clearly defined strategy with multiple touchpoints showing how your […]

Take pressure off your marketing and admissions teams If your marketing and admissions teams are currently trying to do more with less budget, staff, and time, you are not alone. Many schools right now are facing budget cuts and resourcing issues that can make it difficult to create and maintain enrollment momentum. Taking pressure off […]

Why employment data matters in your marketing In a recent survey conducted by GMAC, it was reported that 86 percent of 2022 U.S. business school students were employed immediately after graduation, which is up from 80 percent the previous year. This rising employment rate for graduates is promising for higher education as a whole, even […]

Nurture Campaigns Fuel Enrollment Success at Auburn Challenge Like many graduate business programs, the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University faced challenges in maintaining enrollment. With three distinct graduate programs— Real Estate Development, Executive MBA, and Physician Executive MBA — it was crucial to keep prospective students engaged and informed. Solution To address these [...]

How well is your website equipped for helping your school meet enrollment goals?  Your website is your number one vehicle of communication with prospective students. It’s the first place they land when starting their research and it’s the last stop on their journey toward creating and submitting an application. Although there are many other touchpoints […]

Leveraging storytelling to enhance your school’s digital online presence Lately, it may seem as if the term “storytelling” is everywhere. Influencers are using it to showcase their glamorous lives while selling products, and brands are using it to create a connection with potential customers. So how can your school make the most of this marketing […]

The University of Washington pulled in high quality leads in one month Challenge The Foster School of Business at the University of Washington aimed to improve and maintain a steady flow of high-quality leads in its Executive MBA enrollment funnel. These candidates are highly motivated to pursue an MBA, increasing their likelihood to enroll and [...]

What do updated search algorithms mean for your school’s content? What impact do Google search algorithm updates have on your school’s online presence? The answer is, “it depends” on how unique, credible and relevant your existing content is and how you plan to enhance it in the near future. Recently, Google announced that it would […]

Video content: What’s the right mix for your digital advertising strategy? So, you’ve thought about using video content in your school’s digital advertising strategy, but you’re not sure how to get started. What’s the right length? How can you use videos on social media? In a past article, we covered embracing the video advertising trend. […]

Highlighting career services in your marketing The recent GMAC corporate recruiters survey states that 92 percent of corporate recruiters and 95 percent of staffing firms expect to hire MBA graduates this year. What’s more, 87 percent of corporate recruiters say they are either confident or highly confident in business schools to prepare students for success […]

Why a competitive analysis matters A competitive analysis takes time. Here’s why it’s time well spent for not only your marketing department, but also for your admissions and program teams. In general, it’s a good practice to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing year-round. But a full competitive analysis every 2-3 years […]

Doing more with less As marketing and admissions professionals have adapted over the past few years, it has become evident that we are all being asked to do more with less. This means being held to the same (or even higher) admissions standards, being responsible for filling the funnel with more qualified leads and reporting […]

New and unique ways to market your program As you are beginning to plan for your next recruiting year, it’s likely that you’ll be evaluating data surrounding the tactics that worked — and those that didn’t. While it may be tempting to put your marketing plan on autopilot and use past strategies to bring in […]

Discover How TCU Leveraged Persona Development for Success Challenge Despite rising global and national rankings, high alumni engagement, and a strong faculty presence, TCU Neeley faced a dip in enrollment due to fierce competition and resource limitations. A cost-effective solution was needed to sustain its personalized recruiting approach. Solution GPRS conducted a comprehensive audit, including [...]

The Harbert College of Business at Auburn University scratched its way to steady enrollment during the pandemic Challenge Like many graduate business programs. the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University was faced with the daunting task of maintaining enrollment during the pandemic. To make the task even more challenging, Auburn had 3 graduate business [...]

The Zicklin School of Business Restores its Confidence in the Path Forward Challenge The Baruch College Zicklin School of Business needed to address shrinking enrollment for its Executive Programs, partially due to the market starting to view such programs as a "luxury", and also based on the hyper-competitive New York City market. The truth for [...]

Making the case for specializations to prospective students Specializations can make your program more attractive to prospective students, especially if they are positioned and explained well. The key is to not only focus on the features of your specializations but also the benefits for the students. In other words — your marketing needs to spell […]

Reflecting on your prospects’ decision criteria The process your team uses to make decisions about marketing and recruiting involves some of the same steps your prospects use when considering a program. Thorough decision-making includes establishing goals and priorities, obtaining the information, and determining a return on your investment. Here we’ll examine decision criteria from your […]

Salus University Delivers Healthy Enrollment Results Challenge Salus University is a private university in the Philadelphia metropolitan area that specializes in degree programs for health care professions. Salus was seeking solutions to attract professionals interested in pursuing careers in health care and needed the training provided their degree programs. They are also seeking candidates that [...]

Do you really know why students pick your program? Ask them. Your school’s marketing materials are made up of a carefully curated and balanced mix of messages that highlight your brand promise and program attributes. When your recruiting and marketing teams work together, they can create powerful messaging that connects with prospects on their journey […]

Cultivating personal connection in the recruiter outreach process Your recruiting and admissions process is a complex machine made up of several touchpoints. It’s designed to give you a full picture of your prospect — qualifications, culture fit, and potential for success. But it’s important to keep in mind that while you are gathering data on […]

The University of Arizona Eller College of Management enjoys rapid enrollment growth without breaking the bank Challenge The University of Arizona needed to increase awareness for its three existing MBA programs, while also launching a new online MBA program. Eller College leaders were concerned with the investment required to accomplish both objectives simultaneously. Moreover, there [...]

The secret to successful graduate program marketing “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein As marketers of the higher ed industry, success is often what we focus on. Salaries, promotions, and title changes are king — and we often use them as the reported end goal to […]

How well do you know your competition? You’ve identified your program features and benefits. You’ve defined your audience segments through personas. You’ve determined objectives and created ways to measure success. But how will you stack up with your prospect pool once your well-vetted marketing plan hits the market? Unless you’ve done your research, your competition […]

The University of Tennessee found the right channels to reach prospective students and reduce their advertising spend Challenge The University of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business needed support and expertise to market its growing portfolio of graduate business programs. The school sought out a partner that could help overcome the challenges of rapid growth, while simultaneously seizing the [...]

Moving prospects from awareness to application using personas Each step of the admissions and enrollment process represents a different stage of the customer journey. So, it makes sense that marketing messages should change based on where your prospects are in their decision-making process. Creating personas and using the data about your target audience can help […]

What to look for in an agency partner for your school There are many reasons you might seek out an agency to help enhance and bolster your marketing department. Maybe your team is small or you’re facing new challenges. Perhaps you’ve had budget cuts and you need ideas on how to do more with less. […]

Lincoln University "knocked the socks off" their enrollment goals Challenge Lincoln University is the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Despite this unique distinction, Lincoln faced challenges with enrollment at the undergraduate and graduate level. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded an already tough situation for a small university trying to survive and remain [...]

Using hyper-targeting to drive event attendance and applications Filling a room with prospects at your next recruiting event is your objective. But beyond the numbers, it’s important to make sure that the people in the room are qualified and likely to apply. So how do you ensure that prospects you identify through digital marketing are […]

Use these paid search best practices and strategies for grad schools to optimize your higher education paid search campaigns.

A content marketing strategy playbook Content marketing. It’s the current buzz. It’s defined in many ways. It’s absolutely critical for your school. So how can you integrate content marketing into your recruiting plan? Let’s dig into defining content marketing and formulating a plan to include it in your admissions strategy. Defining content marketing Content marketing […]

Use 2021’s trends to inform 2022’s strategies After another uncertain year of admissions, program changes, and market ambiguity, you may be having difficulty re-establishing benchmarks, planning for the upcoming admissions cycles and even evaluating success. Although you may be ready to move forward, taking stock of recent trends can help inform your next steps. A […]

Focus your marketing on the student, not your school When you are developing a marketing strategy, there are several steps you might take before arriving at a fully-fleshed out and integrated plan. Of course, finding your unique selling proposition (USP), determining your competitive advantages, outlining the accomplishments of your faculty, and highlighting your distinguished alumni […]

It matters where your digital campaign lands When was the last time you were interested in a product or company and clicked on an ad hoping to learn more, but the final destination didn’t offer what was promised? Maybe you were directed to a company’s homepage or a general page with very little information. Or […]

Data makes decisions less difficult One of the biggest questions universities have about their marketing is related to its effectiveness. How do you know if your marketing spend is making a difference? And while your program may be using common tracking methods like a CRM and data points like website performance, yield metrics, and click-through […]

Tailoring your messaging to your prospects’ career goals In a recent GMAC research survey, prospective students outlined their top reasons for pursuing an MBA. Not surprisingly, getting a raise and advancing in title showed up at the top of the list. Among other goals for prospects were obtaining management experience and a global business mindset. […]

Seize the momentum of master’s in management program popularity According to a recent article in the Economist, the popularity of Masters in Management (MIM) degrees is showing no signs of slowing and may even be pandemic-proof. The reasons? Many people have recently reassessed their lives, decided to further their careers and are seeking ways to […]

Four ways to ramp up your marketing strategy during another unique recruiting year Although you may be staring down challenges to your planning process that include financial pressures, demographic changes and adjustments to rapidly changing technology, it’s important to realize that the opportunities that have arisen for the higher ed industry over the past year […]

Email basics – finding ways to stay top-of-mind Perhaps one of the most important middle funnel activities your school can do is consistently communicate with your leads. One way you can ensure that your school stays top-of-mind is to remain in their inboxes. Heading into the recruiting season, one of the key things you can […]

Addressing admissions myths in your communications Business school has always had a reputation of being sophisticated, selective – and for some, even an exclusive club. This perception can serve as a double-edged sword; it’s enticing, yet also a deterrent. For many schools, marketing includes a delicate balance of maintaining your reputation of being selective while […]

With less people taking the GMAT, what is happening to the top of your funnel? The GMAT was once seen as the gold standard in higher ed — a way to predict success of prospects in an MBA program, a determinant of quantitative skills and a judge of work ethic. And because of the test’s […]

What higher ed can learn from luxury brand marketing If you’ve ever purchased an expensive watch, the latest handbag or designer shoes, you hope that the quality is worth the cost. Regardless of your motive for buying a luxury brand – a desire for buying the best, or the ability to show others you have […]

Is your funnel too top-heavy? Did you ever think it would be a problem if you had too many leads? If you have generated a large number of leads but your enrollments haven’t caught up, your funnel may be top-heavy. But don’t despair — there are ways to dislodge your stalled leads, move them through […]

5 steps for creating an automated email communications strategy As you plan for the upcoming recruiting year, you’ll want to make sure you have one critical element in place – an automated email communications plan. First, you’ll want to respond as quickly as possible to a submission or request for information; automating this step can […]

Is it time for an enrollment growth diagnostic? As you are wrapping up one recruiting season and preparing to begin a new one, you may be breathing a sigh of relief. You’ve made it through one of the most difficult times in recent history and regardless of the impact on your bottom line, your team […]

Communications as the pandemic winds down At this point in the pandemic, many may be excited that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As states are beginning to open up and drop capacity restrictions, schools are thrilled to be planning for a Fall semester that is going to look more normal […]

Innovation during an uncertain time The past year has been marked by rapid and forced transformation. In some ways, it may seem that education has taken 100 steps forward as opposed to the typical slow-moving approach to change that is a hallmark of the industry. Admissions and marketing staff have cut through the red tape [...]

Metrics matter when you’re making decisions Is every dollar in your marketing and recruitment budget allocated? During a time when resources are limited – time, money and people – it’s important to focus your efforts on clear measurable strategies and tactics that will give you a solid return on your investment. This doesn’t mean that […]

Using your school’s blog to tell your story and increase traffic If you are looking for ways to increase traffic to your site, boost social media activity and tell your story, blogging could be your answer. Here are three ways you can use a blog to tell your story and make a huge difference in […]

Finally, some good news for higher education GMAC’s 2021 mba.com Prospective Students Survey Report has reported some great news for higher education. While the pandemic is still a major part of our lives, vaccines and dropping case numbers are giving hope after a year of uncertainty and chaos. What does this mean for the higher education […]

What are your blind spots in marketing and recruiting? Admissions and marketing working together as a team can be an extremely impactful combination. As partners, you address challenges, lean on each other for help and celebrate wins that come at any cost. Your team can set and achieve goals with a solid roadmap. But when […]

Are your best prospects slipping through the cracks? If your phone is ringing off the hook with new leads and existing prospects requesting more information – that’s a great problem to have! But not if your team is overloaded and doesn’t have the time or resources to answer the calls or follow up afterwards. Let’s […]

Some women choosing to put degree aspirations on hold Barriers to pursuing a degree are mounting as the weight of the pandemic drags on — especially for women. If you’ve noticed fewer female prospects in your funnel, it’s not an illusion. While cost remains a factor, women are finding it harder to get on board […]

Last year’s lessons are this year’s plans Although you may be feeling some relief as 2020 is slowly fading away, don’t be so quick to banish the memories of the challenges you faced and how your team overcame them. After all, if living, working and recruiting during a global pandemic has given you hurdles, it […]

The power of personal connection for recruiters In a previous post, we explored how schools can alter admissions criteria to focus more on personal stories while typical screening methods are being challenged. As a second installment in this series on personal connection, we’ll examine how recruiting staff can use relationship building in different ways to […]

New year. New strategy. Go back to the basics. A new year often comes with a new energy, new goals and a new mindset. While many of us eagerly awaited the end of 2020 and a fresh start, we also knew that we would likely still be contending with a complex landscape (especially in education) […]

Specializations within an MBA program offer a deeper dive into a core business area or industry.

While the trend of jobs that require a Masters’ degree or an MBA has been steadily increasing over the past decade, the recent pandemic has demanded that those who aspire to business leadership positions commit themselves to post-graduate education.

How do you know which social platforms are right for your school, and whether or not they will help you achieve your recruiting and enrollment goals?

Schools that never intended to veer from their admissions “rites of passage” have been forced to change their processes or risk being changed by the landscape.

Communication is key to creating and maintaining your relationships with leads, prospects and applicants.

How do you evaluate marketing effectiveness and enrollment in a year where benchmarks are out the window?

Although you may be staring down challenges, it’s important to realize that the opportunities to reshape your school’s recruiting process are abundant.

The secrets behind building and maximizing your higher education marketing budget Say it’s the beginning of your school’s recruiting cycle and you’ve completed last year’s analysis—reviewing enrollment numbers, the impact of marketing on those numbers and even cost-per-seated-student. You’ve solidified your marketing budget, planning is underway and you’re feeling confident in your next steps. But […]

4 things you might not know about higher education lead generation As experts in higher education marketing and inbound marketing strategies, we are constantly tracking the trends our clients and their competitors are using to gain quality leads. Here we share 4 things you may not know about higher education lead generation and how you […]

Increase enrollment without taking on extra risk During a time when many schools are being forced to stretch their marketing and operations dollars, you may be looking for a creative solution to meeting your enrollment targets. A new approach could be seeking out a shared risk relationship with a digital marketing agency that gives you […]

Why mobile is the way to go during the COVID era When was the last time you put your phone down? Have you recently made it through a day only to have a sharp pain in your neck from looking down at your mobile device to text, FaceTime, check emails or browse the news? Have […]

Admissions testing: What you communicate is as important as the decisions you make As many schools are finalizing their incoming class rosters for the Fall, several questions are looming for prospects, admissions staff, faculty and administration alike. As part of the admissions process, you’ve likely been trying to remove as many barriers as possible for […]

Protecting your brand in a time of judgement According to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, “Branding is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” And at the moment, most of us are not “in the room” together. So how, during this pandemic, can higher ed institutions protect their brands when electronic communications […]

The boom in online executive education and how to jump on board When COVID-19 upended the higher ed industry, executive education received a great opportunity on a silver platter. With people at home, conferences being cancelled and more time for professional development, schools offering online learning are successfully finding ways to make up for lost […]

Addressing your prospects’ barriers to decision-making On any given day, your prospects are facing many barriers in the decision-making process of pursuing a graduate program. And now, with the market uncertainty COVID-19 has created, there are even more weighty questions surrounding their ability to experience your campus and gain networking and internship opportunities. So how […]

GPRS Special Report: The Impact of COVID-19 on Graduate Business Enrollment Marketing Like many organizations maneuvering through the intricacies created by the global pandemic, GPRS has been meticulously monitoring graduate program trends, performance data, media impressions and the overall health of the higher ed market. You may be surprised to learn that even in a […]

Maximizing resources in the new normal As you are settling into the “new normal” that many graduate schools are facing, you are most likely still dealing with the shockwaves that COVID-19 and its impact have created for your institution, the economy and even the mental state of your team, your current students and your prospects. […]

Adding podcasts to your digital asset mix – and how to leverage them You don’t have to be intimidated by podcasts. In fact, creating them and leveraging them may be easier than you think. Read on for some tips on developing this unique and sustainable form of content to add to your school’s marketing strategy. […]

Leveraging alumni stories to boost your digital strategy Every graduate program claims to have rigorous academics, highly regarded faculty and fantastic employment or advancement opportunities. But how do you prove that your institution is worth the investment and that students can anticipate the success they’re seeking? This is where the stories of the students who […]

The importance of future work even in a time of unprecedented change Thinking to the future can be overwhelming at the moment, especially when everything is a big question mark. Although you can’t predict what’s coming next for our country during the COVID-19 health crisis, it’s important to continue work on your recruiting and enrollment […]

Lessons learned during a time of forced change In the wake of the recent global pandemic COVID-19, or coronavirus, colleges and universities everywhere are being forced into change. It’s uncomfortable, unprecedented and seemingly without end as things are developing rapidly. Although no one can predict how the next few weeks or months will unfold and […]

Create a cohesive experience for your prospects – align your online and offline messages In education, you are not just selling a degree – you’re offering an experience, a network, a path to advancement and a sense of accomplishment. So, when connecting with prospective students, it’s key your online and offline messages are consistent. If […]

Writing keyword rich content that increases search results — and sounds great too Constant updates to Google’s search algorithm are being made. But it doesn’t do you any good to obsess over them – just know that the goal is to improve the user experience, not stress you out. If your school is working with […]

Ramp up for recruiting season. Try new event types, go local and keep the lines of communication open. A room full of prospects at your upcoming admissions events is your objective. Start with an event strategy that will register with your future students and help you stand out from the competition during recruiting season. As […]

Using CRM to support nurture and re-engagement strategies The beauty of most CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platforms is that they give your school the ability to automatically connect with your prospects, over a set period of time via email, with limited manual labor involved. Using these tools can help you nurture your leads so they […]

Get 2020 vision for your January planning sessions As you enter into your inevitable January planning sessions determined to find ways to innovate and prepare for the upcoming recruiting push, consider these top marketing trends and opportunities for your school. Video As you scroll through your feed, you may notice more and more videos. Whether […]

New Year. New Leads. If your program’s New Year’s Resolution is new leads, better leads or more leads, read this first! An age-old debate in higher ed is whether to focus on quality or quantity of leads to obtain the right amount of applicants, and ultimately, seated students. One party may say quantity is more […]

How to choose the right digital advertising platforms for your prospects When you ask any marketing or admissions team member what their key goals are for the coming year, almost all of them have these two at the top of the list: increase quality/quantity of leads, and increase enrollment. And many will follow up with […]

Break through the digital clutter with personal messages Did you know that the average working adult receives 121 emails per day? But the average click through rate is 3.1%* — meaning that people tend to only read through and take action on about 2-3 emails per day. Not to mention, many are only viewing those […]

Mobile first is not an option, it’s an imperative The mobile first website design strategy suggests a paradigm shift from traditional website development – to design for users that are viewing your content on a phone or tablet vs. people that are sitting at a computer digging into the details. First some data*: There are […]

Creating and curating content Three of the top types of content in higher ed right now are infographics, videos and blogs. This may not come as a surprise considering prospects are seeking quick, bite-sized pieces of information they can consume while on the go. But how do you create and curate this type of content […]

Data-driven marketing: It’s not as complex as you think Data can be your most powerful marketing resource. But using it can also become one of your biggest challenges if you’re not used to working with statistics, crunching numbers or harnessing large amounts of information to make informed marketing decisions. Here are some simple ways to […]

Investing in landing pages that are user-friendly, informative and optimized Say you’re aimlessly scrolling through social media or you’re on your favorite news site and all of a sudden, you see it – the thing you’ve been waiting for. It’s going to change your life. It’s the price you want. So really, it’s perfect. You […]

Embracing the digital video advertising trend for your school You don’t have to be a marketing pro to notice that video ads are taking the digital advertising world by storm. It is likely that 50% of your social media feed is populated with videos or that a friend or colleague has recently shared a video […]

Industry Benchmark Data: How do you compare to the competition? In higher ed marketing, a competitive analysis can help you gain insight into program trends, offerings and innovations. You can even determine how your competitors are creating their messaging to prospects and channels they are using. But if you’re not in their market it may […]

The Power of Personas: Why do personas matter for higher ed? If you’ve ever advertised or sold a product or program, you’re familiar with how important your target audience is to your marketing strategy. Personas are target audiences on steroids, a kind of hyper-targeting to help you dig even deeper and uncover the key motivations […]

3 tips to push past misconceptions and launch your new online program If your school is facing the challenge of launching your first online program or expanding one, the next steps are not for the faint of heart. Regardless of your role: marketing, product development, recruiting or instructor, growing pains are inevitable. Read on to […]

Connecting with prospective students Are you overloaded trying to keep up with all of your prospects? The right tactics, and the right partner, can help you optimize the middle of your recruitment funnel for greater enrollment results. Your admissions staff is the first point of contact for most prospective students and follow-up time is crucial […]

Marketing approaches: Key differences in marketing executive education vs. degree programs Can you use the same marketing campaign, channels and budget to market your degree programs and executive education? You can, but you may not be thrilled with the results. The truth is, although both leverage your brand and aim to educate students, these audiences […]

Ways to track your marketing spend, optimize your campaigns and find an ROI for your graduate student recruitment campaigns One of the biggest questions that universities have about their marketing is related to its effectiveness. How do you know if your marketing spend is making a difference? If you’re not sure if your recent spike […]

Enrollment Marketing: The value of digital strategy from a specialized firm In most retail or consumer goods businesses, a good digital agency will be successful in helping meet revenue goals. But finding a firm that has experience in education and enrollment marketing is taking it a step further. Higher ed is a definite “niche market” […]

Navigating the Generational Divide: Communicating to Prospects Baby boomers. Gen X. Millennials. Each generation has different value sets, core motivations and media consumption habits. Make the most of your communications to each group, and bridge the gap with some universal messaging that applies to all. Millennials are in the work force and Boomers are slowly […]

Pattern matching: The 10 most important marketing and recruiting insights derived from working across 120 graduate business programs Eighteen years and more than 120 different graduate business programs. Do we have your attention? Our first-hand experiences have unearthed a treasure of insights. And, here’s a unique opportunity for you to take a peek inside. Join […]

Maximizing CRM: Unique communications tracks, content and frequency Customer Relationship Management. There are platforms designed around this idea, but even if you don’t have a formal platform, but rather a process, every B-school can benefit from a communications map to keep leads and prospects engaged. Find out how you can manage your relationships with prospective […]

Recruiting: The middle of the funnel – who’s responsible? If you’re in B-school admissions or marketing, you’re familiar with the common push-pull of who’s responsible for filling your next class. Hey, we’re all on the same team, right? Then why does it sometimes feel divisive when it’s time to assign accountability for a waning class […]

How long does it take for a prospective student to choose to enroll in a graduate program? It’s been a year, or two, or 5. Are they still considering continuing their education, did they already complete another program or did they give up the dream? For some graduate programs, there is fixed window for decisions, […]

Conversion Challenges: Do you have the right people in your funnel? Let’s examine your leads, prospects and future students. Top of the Funnel = Leads Depending on who you talk to — marketing, admissions, administrators, faculty — these may be the most important people in your funnel and the ones that deserve the highest dollar […]

Your prospects have stopped engaging. Now what? It’s crunch time. You’re finishing your final round of admissions events for the year. Your class is starting to round itself out, but you’ve still got those final seats to fill. You’re looking at each and every lead in your funnel, trying to predict which ones will take […]

Awareness Ads vs. Remarketing Ads: What’s Missing from Your Online Campaigns? At GPRS we employ a full funnel approach. You may be comfortable with search and display ads, but how experienced are you with awareness and remarketing campaigns? Without them, there’s a very good chance you’re missing out on critical leads. Awareness Campaigns An awareness […]

Why your local marketing agency won’t help you meet your enrollment goals. There’s a firm in town that’s been reaching out.  They’re really nice, and have a great website.  Some of the other departments are using them and seem to like them.  Sounds like a no-brainer for your graduate program’s needs, right? Unfortunately not, and […]

SEO and SEM are two very different animals, but they can be finessed into working harmoniously together. In order to create a complete and comprehensive graduate program marketing strategy, it’s best to apply them both holistically.

LinkedIn InMail:  Hyper-Targeting Prospects for Enrollment How LinkedIn Can Benefit Your Recruiting ROI LinkedIn is a platform often overlooked by most schools, as they prefer to lean towards SEM or Facebook, but LinkedIn can be a viable and essential medium for marketing graduate programs. LinkedIn is a networking platform that targets working professionals. It is […]

In order to develop a marketing plan with impact, you must first determine who your prospective student should be.

4 Key Metrics to Track Your Graduate Program Marketing Efforts The equation is simple: Graduate Program Marketing = Solid Leads = Conversions and New Students! It’s that easy right? Wrong. If you are relying solely on conversions to track the success of your marketing efforts, then your marketing plan is failing. The most proactive way […]

How EMBA Prospects Choose Their Future Programs The decision-making process for a prospect to enroll in an Executive MBA program is painfully long. Statistics show that this process can take up to two years. So what can you do to speed up the process? Develop — and implement —  a pull-through digital enrollment marketing strategy. […]

An Open Letter To Graduate Level Administrators And Deans INTRODUCING A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO HELP MAXIMIZE YOUR CURRENT MARKETING, RECRUITMENT AND ENROLLMENT RESOURCES.GPRS Each year, do you wonder how you’re going to fill your cohorts and hit your net tuition revenue goals? Have you been watching online programs and competitors syphon off what was once […]

Most programs are unsatisfied with their Return On Investment (ROI), but when they try to fix it, they don’t know where to start.

How to Make Your EMBA Program Stand Out Many words come to mind when describing an Executive MBA program: Transformational Experiential Leadership Elite Incomparable Potential Advancement Do these words describe your Executive MBA program? It’s likely they do, and they can also be used to describe most EMBA programs. Herein lies the problem. Most EMBA […]