Skip to main content
  • Toolset
  • Solutions
  • About DMS
  • Case Studies
  • Contact Us

Connect With Your Audience At Scale

    • Acquire New Customers
    • Generate More Inquiries
    • Grow My Email Database
    • Grow My Website Traffic
    • Monetize My Audience
    • Re-Engage Consumers
    • Contact DMS
    • See The DMS Live Schedule
    • Be Inspired
    • How To / Best Practices
    • What Is...?
    • DMS Reports & More
    • Contact DMS
    • As Seen In...
    • Press Releases
    • Contact DMS
    • Enjoying The Journey
    • Work/Life Harmony
    • DMS Team
    • Contact DMS
    • Events
    • DMS Case Studies
    • Careers @ DMS
    • DMS Toolset
    • DMS Solutions
    • DMS Overview
    • DMS Investor Info
    • Contact DMS

Recent Searches

    Share this Post

    • Share on facebook
    • Share on twitter
    • Share on linkedin
    • Share on email
    1. Home
    2. Articles
    3. Innovative Higher Education Recruitment Strategies To Encourage College Applications & Enrollments

    Innovative Higher Education Recruitment Strategies To Encourage College Applications & Enrollments

    By now, many students have likely been informed of how their colleges and universities plan to handle the upcoming fall semester. While many students are back on campus, other higher education institutions opted for fully online models or a hybrid of both modalities. However, with so much unknown about the duration of the pandemic and whether the current education models will be successful, figuring out how to boost enrollments is a high-priority issue for enrollment marketers. Many higher education institutions are faced with limitations on previous recruitment strategies and wariness from students and parents. Inventive recruitment strategies that address concerns about culture, value and career building initiatives may be the ticket to steady and increased enrollments.

    Multimedia Engagement Strategies Can Help Prospective Students Gain Comfort And Enroll

    Shutterstock _ ID:1660490494

    A robust multimedia approach that enables higher education institutions to reach prospective students — especially during a time when in-person campus visits are less likely — can be a successful way to help prospects decide which school is a good match for their needs academically and culturally. According to a recent article in Inside Higher Ed, “Culture is the glue that binds organizations together. And colleges and universities, like any other brand, need to communicate culture to effectively articulate who they are, what they offer and why it matters in a rapidly changing global environment.”

    Community-building social media campaigns can help higher education institutions showcase opportunities offered academically and recreationally across their colleges or universities. Ideally, social media campaigns can enable prospective students to get a feel for how they will fit in, make connections with other students and engage their interests, even with COVID-19 restrictions.

    Virtual events with faculty and currently enrolled students can be an effective replacement for traditional campus events that aren’t possible right now. Pace University held virtual summer visit days for interested prospective students and virtual information sessions for specific majors in the graduate school. Pace is also hosting a series of virtual events for incoming students, including sessions with the Education Abroad Office and the Office of Residential Life & Housing, and symposiums like a recent one about race in America. Unfortunately, deferrals and cancellations are a current concern for all higher education institutions, so offering robust programming for accepted students is also important.

    Personalized email campaigns that address student and parent concerns empathetically can help ease concerns about college life during COVID-19. Schools that communicate proactive policies that prioritize students and the community are more likely to connect with anxious parents and students on the fence about their enrollment decisions.

    Live chats that allow students and parents to ask all their questions in real time can be similarly effective in offering answers to difficult questions. Additionally, when prospective students are able to interact with other students and faculty through live chats, they may create connections that help them envision themselves at the colleges or universities those speakers represent. During uncertain times, connection can be crucial in helping prospective students feel excited about choosing to enroll.

    Higher Ed Institutions Are Encouraging Enrollment With Creative Discounts

    Tuition is a concern right now for many families, especially with growing economic anxiety nationwide, and for those families grappling with the new teaching modalities and the value they’ll provide. There are creative, helpful ways that colleges and universities can market and promote discounts and programs that offer tuition relief. 

    Promoting creative or temporary tuition discount solutions may leave higher education institutions better prepared for when college life returns to normal. “The crisis will pass, and institutions are going to need to look ahead to think about how they should be pricing themselves in a more steady-state future. They’re going to need to think about how to compete better in a future post-COVID-19,” said David Strauss, a partner at Art & Science Group.

    For students concerned about the cost of tuition, waivers may offer a creative solution. Tuition waivers may be given to students with hardship status, Native American ancestry, students who are non-traditional or entering a specific field of study, among other factors including ethnic diversity. Many higher education institutions already offer scholarships, discounts and tuition waivers, but the programs may not be widely understood. Enrollment marketers can add information on any available waiver programs to FAQ sections geared toward prospective students on their websites.

    Tuition caps allow students to more accurately plan for the cost of their education which, during trying economic times, can be hugely reassuring. Typically, tuition caps are offered when students enroll in specific programs, although they can also be based on other factors, like the amount of credits taken. With tuition caps, the tuition rates are a fixed amount as long as qualifying students maintain the enrollment requirements of the program. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), for example, offers a tuition cap program. “It really is an unusual deal, and is part of the university’s commitment to keep our costs as reasonable as we can for students, while still providing them with a great educational experience,” said a UTRGV spokesperson.

    Lowered residence fees, or reimbursements for room and board for schools moving entirely online, could offer relief to students concerned about how the new online-only and hybrid models are going to work.

    Career-Focused Recruitment Strategies May Boost Higher Ed Enrollment Throughout Economic Uncertainty And After

    Many students worried about the current economic climate may feel reassured by higher education institutions that can offer career training programs and networking opportunities, with the understanding that career-focused initiatives will still be a part of any learning mode.

    Shorter, career-focused programs that are geared toward helping students quickly launch careers right after graduation can be attractive options for prospective students. In particular, training-oriented, bootcamp-style programs may appeal to those students who are more certain of the fields they want to pursue. And, shorter training programs may be more suited to difficult economic situations than traditional four-year programs. 

    Some schools, like Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), are lowering their tuition price points while fast-tracking their alternative learning options, with an emphasis on getting graduates out into the workforce sooner. “We have 120 competencies. And you can master those as fast as you like,” said Paul LeBlanc, SNHU President. “So, it really means thinking about structural change and systems. Is there any reason why we can't go 12 months out of the year and get students out into the workforce faster?”

    Career counselors and career centers need to be very vocal about what kind of opportunities are going to be available. This support includes internships, virtual networking opportunities, partnerships with industries that are available to offer opportunities to students and counseling services for students in their respective majors. Knowing that these career-focused programs are available can tip the scales for students deciding whether to enroll, defer or step back altogether. Education marketers can highlight available career resources, offering strong career support as a differentiator for prospective students. 

    “The university where I got my undergraduate degree had a great program where students got to work on relevant projects, through a partnership between the university and industry. I’d really like to see some version of that now, especially since we’re all worried COVID-19 will hurt the job market in general,” said graduate student Aseem Saxena, who is currently deferring until the spring.

    Many of the recruitment strategies that are being deployed during the coronavirus crisis are likely to be solutions that last post-COVID-19. Offering students information about the issues that really concern them, including culture, value and career, can help ensure  they make the best and most informed choices for their education, even when there isn’t a crisis. Education marketers should take this time to perfect new and innovative strategies that can boost enrollment now and in the future.

    Seeking New Ways To Maximize Your Customer Acquisition Efforts?

    Digital Media Solutions (DMS) is a technology-enabled, data-driven performance advertising solutions provider connecting consumers and advertisers. Contact DMS today to learn how our first-party data asset, proprietary technology and expansive digital media reach can help you scale your customer acquisition results.

    • Previous Article

      How DTC Marketing & Sales Strategies Can Help Brands Engage & Convert More Consumers

      How DTC Marketing & Sales Strategies Can Help Brands Engage & Convert More Consumers

      Evolving consumer behaviors during the pandemic and the value of first-party data has driven several big brands to launch DTC ventures.

    • Next Article

      6 Best Practices For Generating High-Intent Higher Education Prospects

      6 Best Practices For Generating High-Intent Higher Education Prospects

      The best practices highlighted here will help set your prospective student-focused lead generation campaigns up for success.

    Other content in this Stream

    • 4 Tips To Help Set Up Inbound Call Campaigns For Long-Term Success

      4 Tips To Help Set Up Inbound Call Campaigns For Long-Term Success

      Careful planning is needed both on the advertiser and publisher sides for a call campaign to perform well. These four tips can help you set up inbound call campaigns for long-term success.

      Read Article

    • 3 Top Lead Generation Best Practices To Scale Your Business

      3 Top Lead Generation Best Practices To Scale Your Business

      Set lead generation campaigns up for success by deploying best practices and optimizations.

      Read Article

    • What Is The Latest News On Apple And Push Notifications?
      10 months ago

      What Is The Latest News On Apple And Push Notifications?

      At this year’s annual WWDC, Apple announced that beginning in 2023, iOS 16 will support web push notifications.

      Read Article

    •  8 Email Subject Line Strategies That Can Help Drive Up Open Rates

      8 Email Subject Line Strategies That Can Help Drive Up Open Rates

      Subject lines represent a make-it or break-it opportunity to get email opened.

      Read Article

    • 4 Often Overlooked Ways To Address Email Inboxing Challenges

      4 Often Overlooked Ways To Address Email Inboxing Challenges

      While there are technical aspects to making sure an email message gets to its intended destination, it’s important to always keep the consumer top of mind.

      Read Article

    • 5 Ways To Manage Customer Acquisition Challenges

      5 Ways To Manage Customer Acquisition Challenges

      Customer acquisition challenges are universal, but finding the right solutions shouldn’t be hard. Here’s a look at 5 ways to overcome your customer acquisition challenges & drive the results you need.

      Read Article

    • 6 Ways To Create A Successful TikTok Marketing Strategy

      6 Ways To Create A Successful TikTok Marketing Strategy

      A successful TikTok marketing strategy is important in 2022, but advertisers don’t have to do it alone.

      Read Article

    • Tax Prep Advertising Can Use The Lessons of 2022 To Better Target Audiences In 2023

      Tax Prep Advertising Can Use The Lessons of 2022 To Better Target Audiences In 2023

      The DMS Tax Preparation Survey offers clues for tax preparation advertisers who want to reach consumers with relevant messaging, when and where they are shopping.

      Read Article

    • 5 Ways To Scale Your Home Improvement Lead Generation Campaigns

      5 Ways To Scale Your Home Improvement Lead Generation Campaigns

      These five optimizations are recommendations from experts for home improvement advertisers to deploy to reach consumers when and where they are researching and shopping.

      Read Article

    • 3 Strategies To Modernize Lead Generation Campaigns

      3 Strategies To Modernize Lead Generation Campaigns

      Brands can modernize their lead generation strategies with versatile creative, customized plans and personalized re-engagement.

      Read Article

    • What Is A Publisher?

      What Is A Publisher?

      Do you want to understand the best way to reach the right people with the right messages at the right time? Consider partnering with publishers.

      Read Article

    • How To Boost Engagement By Using Video In Emails

      How To Boost Engagement By Using Video In Emails

      Video advertising within email is gaining momentum with brands, aligning with the overall growth of video in advertising.

      Read Article

    • It's Okay To Believe Advertising IRL > Metaverse
      11 months ago

      It's Okay To Believe Advertising IRL > Metaverse

      Metaverse marketing is likely to be a part of future strategies for brands & businesses, but many are taking a “wait and see” approach while relying on the “tried & true,” like performance marketing.

      Read Article

    • Tax Season Marketing Should Target Americans Filing Their Taxes Early To Pay Off Holiday Debt
      about 1 year ago

      Tax Season Marketing Should Target Americans Filing Their Taxes Early To Pay Off Holiday Debt

      Filing taxes early to get refunds is the top way Americans are planning to deal with holiday overspending.

      Read Article

    • Valentine’s Day Advertising Must Reach Shoppers Ready To Take Action
      about 1 year ago

      Valentine’s Day Advertising Must Reach Shoppers Ready To Take Action

      Valentine’s Day is a time for ecommerce brands to reach consumers in the mood for love – and shopping. DMS surveyed 250 adults in January and found that gift giving has extended beyond just couples.

      Read Article

    • Post-Holiday Personal Finance Marketing: What Converts Based On A Recent Consumer Survey
      about 1 year ago

      Post-Holiday Personal Finance Marketing: What Converts Based On A Recent Consumer Survey

      71% of Americans believe they possibly overspent during the holidays. The brands that best engage borrowers by demonstrating how their solutions will deliver quick relief are likely to see success.

      Read Article

    • What Are Data Signals?

      What Are Data Signals?

      Real-time data signals can pinpoint the individual consumers most likely to respond to your advertising when they are ready to take action.

      Read Article

    • The Top 5 Social Media Strategies For Lead Generation

      The Top 5 Social Media Strategies For Lead Generation

      These best practices can help advertisers set up social media campaigns that successfully generate leads while creating ongoing engagement.

      Read Article

    • What Is Real-Time Data?

      What Is Real-Time Data?

      Quality, real-time data helps understand consumer desires and predict future actions, allowing advertisers to get the right message in front of the right person at the right time to encourage action.

      Read Article

    • Consumers Start Holiday Product Searches On Google – Make Sure You Are Easy To Find
      over 1 year ago

      Consumers Start Holiday Product Searches On Google – Make Sure You Are Easy To Find

      To connect with consumers during the early phases of their holiday shopping, advertisers need to make sure their brands are easily discoverable in multiple places on Google.

      Read Article

    Return to Home
    DMS Logo

    Tech-Enabled, Data-Based Performance Advertising

    facebook icon twitter icon linkedin icon instagram icon

    © 2021 Digital Media Solutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Digital Media Solutions and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Digital Media Solutions, LLC. All other company and product names referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

    Digital Performance Advertising

    linkedin icon
    facebook icon
    twitter icon
    instagram icon

    Subscribe To News From DMS


    About DMS
    Toolset Solutions DMS Insurance DMS Performance Ad Market DMS Ecommerce Advertising DMS Consumer Finance DMS Education DMS Managed Services DMS Nonprofit Advertising DMS Subscription Advertising Newsroom DMS Insights Investor Info
    Contact Us
    (877) 236-8632 connect@DMSgroup.com Careers Become A DMS Advertiser Become A DMS Publisher
    DMS Proprietary Technology
    Aimtell Sparkroom ZipQuote
    Logins
    Aimtell Login DMS Exchange Login DMS Performance Ad Market Publisher Login Sparkroom Login ZipQuote Agent Login
    Privacy & Terms
    Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Code of Conduct

    © 2022 Digital Media Solutions®, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Digital Media Solutions and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Digital Media Solutions, Inc. All other company and product names referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.