Higher Education Marketing and Enrollment Strategy
The power of human connection.
Carnegie is the future of higher education marketing and enrollment strategy, and has been since 1985. We connect colleges with students through the power of human connection by measuring and then marketing to a student’s unique behaviors and motivators. This leads to action, enrollment, retention, and lasting affinity.
Delivering Like No One Else Can
Our approach is built on an unrivaled psychometric methodology. By integrating rich, proprietary data with powerful psychological insights, we develop communications and strategies that forge the right connections and inspire targeted action.
We’ve solved it. And we will solve it for you.
Our Solutions. Your Success.
Our Services. Your Certainty.
We offer best-in-every-class services that meet your every need from beginning to end—all tailored to fit you, perfectly.
Our Work. Your Growth.
We could say our work speaks for itself, but that would be a lie. The results do. For client after client, we deliver on every promise we make.
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- Digital Marketing
- Financial Aid Optimization
- Lead Generation
- Marketing Strategy
- Signature Creative
- Slate Optimization
- Student Search
- Website Design + Development
Asbury University Case Study
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- Brand Strategy
- Signature Creative
UIUC Grainger College of Engineering Case Study
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- Brand Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- Integrated Research
The University of North Texas Case Study
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- Website Design + Development
Interlochen Center For The Arts Case Study
LET THE COMPETITION GET LOUD WHILE YOU GET IT RIGHT.
WATCH THEM FOLLOW EACH OTHER IN CIRCLES WHILE YOU BLAZE A PATH.
THE MORE NOISE THEY MAKE THE MORE YOU’LL STAND APART.
Our Partnerships.
Our Events.
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Jul 23, 2025
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Jul 28, 2025 - Jul 30, 2025
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Aug 14, 2025
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Our News + Insights.
Enrollment Strategy | Jul 10
We’re excited to launch Targeted Research Surveys, a flexible suite of pre-built survey options that help community and technical colleges quickly collect meaningful feedback from students, faculty, and staff. Whether you’re looking to improve retention, strengthen community perception, or re-engage stop-outs, our surveys deliver the insights you need to drive strategic action.
Brand Strategy | Jul 09
Today’s students don’t wait for college brochures in the mail. They open Google. More than 80% of college applicants turn to search engines to explore programs, compare schools, and gather information. If your university isn’t visible in those early results, you’re missing the chance to be considered. Search engine optimization (SEO) helps you earn that visibility. It builds trust, drives engagement, and supports student decision-making at every stage of the higher ed recruitment funnel. When treated as a long-term, data-driven investment, SEO becomes a core part of your enrollment marketing strategy.
Digital Marketing | Jul 08
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is up and running, but do you know how to get data to share with your institution’s stakeholders? There are many standard reports and Explorations in GA4 that can be helpful for higher education marketers, but don’t always answer all the questions you may have.
Digital Marketing | Jul 08
Reaching today’s prospective students means meeting them in the digital spaces they enjoy most, and doing so with experiences that feel personal, interactive, and fun. For colleges and universities, Snapchat’s augmented reality (AR) ad formats—Filters and Lenses—offer a dynamic way to become part of those everyday moments.
Student Search | Jul 02
The world of higher education enrollment is changing before our eyes. Gone are the days of predictable application cycles and one-size-fits-all recruitment strategies. At Carnegie, we're in the trenches with you, seeing first-hand the challenges institutions face. Here are nine key trends that will reshape Student Search in the coming years—and how we can navigate them together.
Brand Strategy | Jun 30
Staying apprised of the latest changes in politics in the US this year basically constitutes a full-time job. Results from Carnegie’s May Deadline Survey suggest that prospective students, and even their parents, often have too many other topics on their minds to keep up with politics. When asked about the impact of politics on college choice, responses to our May 2025 survey were almost identical to those from a survey held shortly after the 2024 election.
Digital Marketing | Jun 27
This spring, Meta officially rolled out advertising capabilities on Threads, its new text-based social platform built by the Instagram team. While the rollout is still limited, this marks a major milestone for brands looking to connect with Gen Z audiences in fresh, authentic ways. For colleges and universities, it’s also a signal: now is the time to start thinking seriously about using Threads to support your social media marketing strategy.
Student Search | Jun 26
Higher education is navigating a complex landscape marked by shrinking budgets, intensified enrollment pressures, and a shifting political climate. Institutions are tasked with achieving more with fewer resources, making strategic Student Search more crucial than ever. It's time to rethink traditional approaches and embrace adaptable, resource-efficient strategies.
Enrollment Strategy | Jun 18
Not all enrollment marketing and student success partners are created equal. And in today’s higher education landscape, where expectations are high and the stakes even higher, choosing the right partner is one of the most important decisions an institution can make.
Digital Marketing | Jun 17
In today’s competitive higher education landscape, digital marketers are under more pressure than ever to prove ROI, track student journeys across multiple touchpoints, and make data-informed decisions. As browser privacy settings evolve and third-party cookies face increasing restrictions across various platforms, traditional tracking methods—like browser-based pixels—are becoming less reliable.
That’s where LinkedIn’s Conversions API (CAPI) comes in. For colleges and universities running LinkedIn ad campaigns, CAPI offers a powerful, privacy-conscious digital marketing strategy that bridges the data gap and boosts attribution accuracy.
Tell us how we can help.