10 Higher Ed Admissions Resources That Are Free In 2024
Contents
2023 brought a lot of insights for higher education admissions teams. Catch up on the free higher ed admissions resources you may have missed to help amplify your admissions efforts in 2024!
By: Kyle Freelander
Busy. That’s one word that comes to mind when we think about higher education admissions teams in 2024.
Whether at a small or large institution, college and university admissions teams have been dealing with a lot of challenges — from limited staff and resources to increased competition to declining enrollment. Not to mention the obvious: Not enough time.
Naturally, that means there are likely some important free resources you missed or maybe weren’t aware of.
Below, you’ll find 10 free higher ed admissions resources designed to support higher education admissions teams looking to get (and stay) ahead in 2024. To help you prioritize your reading and make the most of your limited time, we’ve highlighted why these resources should be on your reading list along with some key points from each.
1. [TOOLKIT] Our Enrollment Strategy Toolkit
Competition is up, and more institutions are experiencing declining enrollment. While there’s no silver bullet for boosting enrollment, there are practical strategies to help institutions large and small address the root of the problem.
When it comes to admissions and enrollment, it can be challenging to know where to focus your efforts to drive meaningful change. Our free downloadable resources — including guides, white papers, infographics, videos, and more — are packed with the latest data, actionable enrollment strategies, and a wide variety of examples to help you achieve more.
2. [INFOGRAPHIC] 8 Key Factors Impacting Higher Education Enrollment Rates
Enrollment declines are plaguing more and more institutions. If your institution is experiencing declining enrollment or struggling to reach enrollment goals, it’s important you understand the significant factors driving these downward trends.
This infographic explores 8 key factors impacting enrollment at colleges and universities and highlights the data you need to know. Armed with these insights, you can begin to develop an effective data-driven strategy to boost enrollment.
3. [PODCAST] Enrollment Marketing Trends That Work
You’ll hear from Alyssa Brant and Kailey MacDonald, two StudentBridge team members who work with our partners to ensure their success.
You'll hear:
> The biggest challenges they see schools face
> Top recommendations for success heading into the next enrollment cycle
> Why authentic content matters and how to achieve it without hiring more staff
> Rising trends in marketing, campus tours, in-person recruitment, and student behaviour
4. [BLOG] Improve your admissions process with mobile-first communications
As institutions look for ways to quickly reach and engage students, mobile communications like text messaging has to be at the top of your list. With a mobile-first communication strategy, institutions can meaningfully engage multiple audiences (such as students and their families) throughout the decision-making process.
This post reveals why and how to take a mobile-first approach to your admissions communications, especially when looking to attract, engage, and enroll Gen Z students. You’ll also get practical ideas for designing and implementing an effective mobile communication strategy without bogging down your team.
5. [WHITE PAPER] User-generated Content Trends Colleges & Universities Need to Know to Improve Tours
One of the best ways to stand out amid increased competition is to ensure unique, impactful, and authentic tours by leveraging user-generated content (UGC). These videos, images, testimonials, and more created by students and others in your community helps ensure impactful virtual and self-guided tours that are as engaging as guided visits.
This white paper explores 6 data-backed findings higher education admissions and marketing teams need to know about leveraging user-generated content (UGC) in campus tours and practical ideas for getting started. Plus, it’s packed with examples from other institutions already including UGC in their tours.
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6. [BLOG] Looking to enhance your acceptance experience for Gen Z? Leverage TikTok.
Building excitement at the moment of acceptance helps create a memorable experience that can make a real difference when it comes time for students to decide where to enroll. What better way to do that than to leverage a channel Gen Z knows and loves? TikTok.
In this blog post, you’ll learn 3 reasons TikTok is a critical channel to leverage as part of your institution’s acceptance strategy along with how to get started quickly and effectively.
7. [PODCAST] Innovative Yield Strategies With A Large Public And Private Liberal Arts Schools
Taking students from “I’m in!” to “I’m here!” requires more than an acceptance packet in the mail — especially if you’re looking to boost enrollment. So how do you make the most of the acceptance moment and decision-making process?
In this virtual learning session that lasts less than 30 minutes, Kennesaw State University and Illinois College reveal how to maximize your admissions processes to better excite, engage, and enroll students. They’ll share proven examples from their respective processes and the results they’ve seen so far (including cost savings and enrollment impact).
Listen to the podcast on-demand here.
8. [BLOG] Want to get more out of your campus tours? Start with your communication strategy.
When you think about what makes for a successful visit experience, your tour content is probably top of mind. However, there’s something even more fundamental that needs to be on your radar as well: Your tour communication strategy. (Hint: It should be about more than just inviting prospective students to tour).
This blog post shares 4 ideas for enhancing tour communications to increase engagement, inspire participation, and drive application volume and enrollment. Plus, you’ll get a fool-proof strategy for quickly scaling your process.
9. [PODCAST] Recruiting Parents and Students to Meet Enrollment Goals
In this episode, you’ll hear from Laura Rudolph who is the Director of Enrollment Communication at Transylvania University, a private liberal arts university in Lexington, Kentucky.
You'll hear her discuss:
> How they impact enrollment through strategic communication to parents
> Why it's essential to use both data and individual interactions to inform a strategy
> How they embody their small-school approach in campus visits
10. [BLOG] Stay competitive with these 3 musts for impactful virtual campus tours
With the competition for fewer college-bound students heating up, the answer to driving applications and enrollment may lay in an underutilized channel already in your toolbox: Your virtual tours. While all campus visits are important in engaging students and showing them what it would be like to attend your institution, virtual tours can be particularly powerful for those who can’t visit your institution in person.
This blog post explores how to ensure your virtual tours are impactful experiences that inspire action, including 3 things your virtual tours must accomplish. Strategy two is especially important for institutions looking to stand out from other education options.
Want some help achieving your admissions goals in 2024?
Let’s talk about your goals in a free, no-obligation conversation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kyle Freelander (she/her/hers) is a passionate writer, former educator, and lifelong learner. She has taught English literature and writing courses in higher education, writing workshops in K-12 schools, and English and ESOL courses as a private tutor for students pre-K and up. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a BA in English (minor in Linguistics) from the University of Mary Washington. She currently serves as the Head of Content at StudentBridge.