Advance Education

08/06/2026

Snapchat recently partnered with Omnicom to study how Gen Z and Gen Alpha use humor, and one thing stood out immediately: humor isn't just entertainment. It's part of how younger audiences build connections, express themselves, and create a sense of belonging.

For anyone working in the postsecondary space, that's an important reminder.
Students don't always connect with organizations because the messaging is polished. They connect because it feels authentic, relatable, and human.

No, we're not suggesting colleges start chasing every meme or trying to become comedians. In fact, the research suggests that's exactly what not to do.

The way younger audiences communicate is changing, and that's something all of us should be paying attention to.

The findings are an interesting read if you have a few minutes:

New research from Snapchat and Omnicom Advertising explores how brands can use humour to connect withGen Alpha and Gen Z in meaningful ways.

08/04/2026

We're excited to share our new AI for Higher Education guide.

AI isn't replacing the enrollment journey. It's reshaping it.

Prospective students are using AI to research programs, compare institutions, evaluate costs, and explore career paths long before they ever speak with an admissions counselor.

This guide explores what that means for enrollment marketers and offers practical strategies for improving visibility, building trust, and preparing for the future of student discovery.

AI for Higher Education: A Marketer's Guide to Visibility, Discovery, and Enrollment in an AI-Mediated World

Download it here: https://hubs.li/Q04rNSFd0

08/03/2026

What do today's adult learners actually want from the enrollment experience?

They're researching programs differently, using new tools, asking different questions, and making decisions long before they ever fill out an inquiry form.

This Wednesday, Advance Education's Amina Mecca and Andrea Shaw will be joining AACS's Webinar Wednesday to share what we've learned from our research and what it means for enrollment marketers.

During the session, we'll discuss:
👉How adult learners are researching programs today
👉Why trust and visibility matter more than ever
👉What institutions can do to better connect with prospective students throughout the decision-making process

📅 August 5 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. EST

If you'd like to join us, you can register here: https://hubs.li/Q04rHCx40

07/28/2026

Two years ago, the conversation was, "Should colleges use AI?"

Today, the question is, "How do we use it well?"

A new Inside Higher Ed article follows a professor who went from resisting AI to helping measure colleges' preparedness to use it effectively. That shift says a lot about where higher education is heading. AI is no longer something institutions can debate. It's becoming part of how they teach, operate, and prepare students for the future.

The institutions that stand out won't necessarily be the ones using the most AI. They'll be the ones using it intentionally to improve the student experience, support enrollment, and prepare graduates for an AI-driven workforce while keeping the human element at the center.

Technology will continue to evolve, but trust, authenticity, and meaningful connections will remain just as important.

The article is worth the read:

Scott Latham has embraced the new technology and shifted his focus to measuring the AI readiness of colleges and universities.

07/24/2026

Prospective students aren't just looking for institutions. They're looking for answers.

How long will this program take? What careers can it lead to? Is it online? What does it cost?

Those questions have always mattered. What's changing is where students are finding the answers.

As AI assistants become part of the enrollment journey, the institutions that provide clear, direct answers are better positioned to be understood and discovered.

That's why the first step to improving AI visibility isn't creating more content. It's making sure your existing content answers the questions prospective students are already asking.

In our latest blog, we share a simple exercise to help evaluate your program pages through the eyes of a prospective student.

Most program pages are designed to explain what a program offers. Today, they also need to answer the questions prospective students are asking before they decide where to apply. Whether students are using a search engine, an AI assistant, or your website, they're looking for answers before they mak...

07/22/2026

We're looking forward to joining community college leaders from across Michigan at the Michigan Community College Association Summer Conference next week.

Amy Lopez will be on Mackinac Island connecting with colleagues, sharing ideas, and talking about the trends shaping enrollment marketing today. Conferences like MCCA are always a great opportunity to learn from one another and continue conversations that help move higher education forward.

If you see Amy, be sure to say hello!

07/20/2026

1 in 4 college students is an adult learner, and 1 in 5 is balancing college while raising children, according to a new Inside Higher Ed podcast.

The idea of a "traditional" student no longer reflects the reality many institutions are serving. That shift has implications for every stage of enrollment marketing. The questions students ask, the channels they use, and the information they need to feel confident in their decision all look different depending on where they are in life.

The institutions seeing the strongest results recognize that there is no single enrollment journey. They are creating personalized experiences that reflect the needs and motivations of the audiences they want to reach.

As the student population evolves, enrollment strategies have to evolve with it.

https://hubs.li/Q04p-kpd0

07/15/2026

One of the biggest mistakes we see in enrollment marketing is treating every academic program the same.

The reality is that students interested in workforce training don't search, compare, or make decisions the same way as someone considering a traditional degree. Their questions, priorities, and motivations are different, and your marketing strategy should reflect that.

That's exactly what we focused on with SUNY Genesee Community College. By combining audience insights with targeted search, social, and display campaigns, we helped connect prospective students with workforce programs that aligned with their goals.

If your institution is trying to grow enrollment in specific programs, a more focused strategy can make a measurable difference.

Take a look at the full case study:

The Challenge SUNY Genesee Community College wanted to increase awareness of its workforce development programs and drive enrollment for key career-focused training opportunities. The college needed to connect with non-traditional learners in rural and underserved communities and demonstrate how the...

06/29/2026

📊 Nearly half of Americans now use AI chatbots.

That's one of the biggest takeaways from Pew Research Center's latest report on AI adoption.

The growth has been rapid:
• 2023: 23%
• 2024: 33%
• 2026: 49%

That's more than double in just three years.

The report also found that about 1 in 4 Americans now use AI chatbots daily, with searching for information among the most common uses.

For enrollment marketers, this raises an important question: If a prospective student asked an AI tool about your institution today, what answer would they get?

AI doesn't create your institution's story. It assembles it from the information already available online.

That makes every program page, tuition explanation, career outcomes page, and FAQ more important than ever. The clearer and more complete your information is, the more likely it is to be understood by both prospective students and the AI tools they increasingly rely on.

Source: https://hubs.li/Q04m-c7G0

06/23/2026

Prime Day is a reminder that consumers don't make decisions in one place anymore.

A shopper might start on Amazon, compare prices at Walmart, read reviews, watch YouTube videos, and check social media before making a purchase.

The student journey looks more and more like that.

Students discover programs through search, social media, AI tools, videos, friends, and family. By the time they reach your website, they may have already formed opinions about multiple schools.

The institutions that stand out aren't always the first ones students find. They're the ones that show up consistently throughout the decision-making process.

At Advance Education, we help institutions connect with prospective students across the channels that influence enrollment decisions.

https://hubs.li/Q04mkHLK0