Advance Education

04/30/2026

We all know by now that AI is changing how students search for colleges, but what is easy to miss is how quickly that shift is happening.

More students are using AI tools to compare schools, explore programs, and get answers, and many are finding what they need without ever visiting a college website.

That changes the role of your website. It is no longer the starting point. In many cases, AI is.

This piece from The Chronicle of Higher Education breaks down how institutions are starting to adjust, from adding AI assistants to creating clearer, more helpful content.

If AI is shaping what students see, it is worth thinking about what it is saying about your institution.

AI is rapidly reshaping how students research colleges. Thirty percent now use it to compare institutions, often bypassing official websites. This Trends Snapshot reveals what that means for your digital strategy and how to ensure your institution shows up accurately in AI-driven searches. With.....

04/28/2026

Your program page probably isn’t the problem. The decision is happening before anyone ever gets there.

Prospective students are asking clear questions and getting answers from AI tools that pull from many different places. If your program isn’t clearly described across those places, it won’t show up.

The schools gaining attention aren’t louder. They’re clearer about who their programs are for, what students get from them, and how long it takes.

If your program isn’t showing up, there’s a reason.

A working adult sits down after their shift, maybe 9 p.m., maybe later, and types something like this into ChatGPT: "I have $6,000 in tuition assistance from my employer and about 18 months to complete something. I work full time. I want a credential that will move me into healthcare IT." That quest...

04/27/2026

Interesting update from Instagram that’s worth paying attention to.

They’re making it easier to see not just what performed, but how people actually engaged, including new metrics like share rate and skip rate.

For enrollment teams using Instagram to reach prospective students, this is a shift.
It’s less about likes and more about whether your content holds attention and gets passed along.

That’s a different kind of signal. And probably a more important one.

The updated elements provide a simpler way to access key performance data for posts and Reels.

04/24/2026

An interesting perspective on where institutions may be missing the mark with online education.

Many institutions worry that expanding online programs will cannibalize existing enrollment. In reality, those programs often reach entirely different students, working adults, place-bound learners, and career changers who may not have enrolled otherwise.

That distinction matters more than it gets credit for.

Traditional residential students and online adult learners are not the same audience. They have different constraints, different motivations, and different decision timelines. Yet they are often treated as interchangeable in both strategy and messaging.

📌 For enrollment teams, this is where things start to break down. Growth in online is not just about adding programs. It requires a clearer understanding of who you are trying to reach and how you show up to them.

Stop worrying so much about external competitors. Start worrying much more about your own institution’s internal processes, policies and programs.

04/23/2026

AI is making creative faster. That part is clear.

But it’s also starting to make it harder to control.

Meta’s latest AI tools are pushing more automation into ad creative, sometimes even when marketers try to opt out. The response so far has been mixed, which isn’t all that surprising.

What this signals isn’t just a product update. It’s a broader shift in how marketing works. There’s less manual control over targeting and creative, and more reliance on systems to decide what performs.

So the question becomes: if the platforms are generating and optimizing your creative, what actually makes your message stand out?

AI is very good at producing what’s typical. It’s not very good at producing what’s distinct.

That’s where strategy, positioning, and how clearly you show up still matter.

It’s also a good reminder to take a closer look at how much of your Meta setup is being automated right now, and what role you actually want it to play.

🔗 Worth the read:

Marketers and agencies say they have had trouble turning off AI tools despite their best efforts, affecting the way their ads look on the platform.

04/22/2026

🎯 Why are professionals pursuing graduate degrees? The reasons are clear and practical.

Our research shows:
🔹24% are pursuing a degree to meet a licensing requirement
🔹22% are focused on career advancement in their current role
🔹20% are seeking a salary increase
🔹20% are motivated by personal fulfillment
🔹13% are planning a career change

These goals shape how programs are evaluated and which ones stand out.

Graduate Learners are looking for a clear connection between education and what comes next. Programs that communicate that connection clearly are better positioned to support decision making.

Learn more about the research:

Graduate enrollment decisions are shaped by clear goals and a strong sense of purpose. Prospective students are not just exploring options. They are focused on what they want to achieve next in their careers. Why learners pursue a graduate degree Motivation plays a central role in how programs are e...

04/15/2026

📊 There’s a group of students many institutions are starting to focus on again.

Stopout students.

New reporting shows more than 1 million learners returned to college in the past year, as schools remove small barriers and improve how they reach out.

That’s a meaningful shift.

These students are not starting from scratch. They already showed intent, made progress, and have a reason to come back.

What makes the difference is how clearly institutions communicate the path forward and how easy they make it to take the next step. 🎓

Sometimes it’s not about reaching new audiences. It’s about reconnecting with the ones already closer than you think.

Worth keeping in mind as enrollment strategies continue to evolve.

A growing number of working-age people in the U.S. have attended college without earning a degree — a group that often has student loans to pay but without the credential to boost their earnings.

04/14/2026

What helps adults feel confident enough to enroll? For those pursuing certificates and technical programs, the decision is not just about interest. It is about feeling ready.

Our research shows:
➡️26% worry about affording their program
➡️22% are focused on balancing work and personal responsibilities
➡️20% question whether the program will be worth the investment

These concerns are closely connected. Cost, time, and value all play a role in how confident someone feels about moving forward.

Clear and easy-to-understand information helps reduce uncertainty. Details around tuition, program length, scheduling, and career outcomes all support stronger decisions.

Learn more about the research behind these insights: https://hubs.li/Q04b-T9w0

04/13/2026

We will be at the UPCEA Annual Conference this week in New Orleans 📍

It’s a great opportunity to connect with leaders across online, professional, and continuing education and hear what’s shaping enrollment and marketing strategies right now.

Our team will be onsite and ready to connect.

If you’re attending, stop by Booth 115 to say hello. We’d love to hear what you’re seeing in your market and share a few insights from our latest research.

See you there 👋

04/10/2026

QR codes are not new, but how they are being used is starting to change.

Snapchat is pushing “Snapcodes” as a more interactive, branded version of the traditional QR code, connecting a simple scan to things like AR experiences, content, and offers.

That shift is worth paying attention to because it is not really about the code itself. It is about what happens after the scan.

This creates an opportunity to think differently about engagement. Campus visits, print materials, events, and signage can all become entry points into a more immersive digital experience instead of just a static next step.

The question is no longer whether to use QR codes. It is what kind of experience you are connecting them to 📲

The company said its proprietary QR codes offer advanced customization options that could help drive user engagement and conversion.

04/08/2026

Most teams don’t have a content problem. They have a structure problem.

The insight is already there. It lives with the people talking to students, hearing objections, and seeing what’s actually driving decisions.

But between that and what gets published, it often gets watered down. Too many layers. Too much polishing. Not enough real perspective.

The best content your brand will ever create is already inside your team.

The question is whether your content operation is built to let those voices through or quietly filter them out.

A lesson from NASA ⬇️

Four astronauts are currently on their way back from the Moon. While they were out there, 248,000 miles from Earth, no Wi-Fi, no cellular signal, they were still posting. Not directly. Commander Reid Wiseman explained it before launch: the crew would write the content, send the ideas, transmit the p...

04/07/2026

42% of Graduate Learners start their search online. 🔎

Choosing a graduate program takes time and research. People look at websites, rankings, and talk to others before making a decision.

They compare things like cost, schedule, and what they will learn. Clear and easy-to-find information helps them feel confident in their choice.

Understanding how people research programs helps schools share the right information at the right time.

Learn more about the research:https://hubs.li/Q049TDsz0