Audience: Undergraduate

The college search process is a complex and often overwhelming undertaking, but with the rise of AI, it is beginning to transform the way students explore their higher education options. Results from Carnegie’s 2025 May Deadline Survey show that more students than ever are using AI to inform their college search process. In this blog post, we’ll explore AI use by students for college search and application materials, AI rules in high schools, the prevalence of AI use in high schools, and perceptions on the increase in access to and use of AI tools.

In today’s digital landscape, prospective students aren’t just skimming your website or reading brochures; they’re scrolling through your social media, looking for proof of what your institution is really like. They want to see real stories, genuine experiences, and student voices, not just polished ads. That’s why the most effective higher ed marketing strategies strike a balance: organic content that builds trust paired with paid campaigns that expand reach.

In the third release of Carnegie’s Summer Research Series, we explore how students and parents are using AI in the college search process—from researching schools with tools like ChatGPT to evaluating institutional trust and transparency around AI use.

In the second release of Carnegie’s Summer Research Series, we unpack how prospective students and their families are researching, comparing, and ultimately selecting colleges and universities.

For the second entry in Carnegie’s Summer Research Series, we analyzed responses from our May 2025 survey of more than 3,400 prospective students and parents. This report explores how families approach the college decision-making process—from how they search for information to what influences their choices, including the role of social media, content trust, and perceptions of influencers.

For more than two years, we’ve navigated the implications of AI Overviews and generative search engines, adapting our strategies with what we’ve learned. But just as we were unpacking that terrain, Google is ushering in the next significant evolution: Google AI Mode. Today, we will explore what this means for students and colleges, and how building your website on a foundation of content tailored to meet a complete user journey is essential for your institution’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, as well as your PPC (Pay-Per-Click) ad strategy.

At the recent Slate Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, Technolutions founder and CEO Alexander Clark unveiled a powerful new wave of AI-driven features, marking the next chapter in Slate’s evolution. Slate AI is transforming from a promising assistant into a full-blown force of automation, insight, and creativity. Whether you’re a Slate superuser or just starting to explore what’s possible, these new AI features are set to revolutionize how higher education institutions manage admissions, communications, student success, and everything in between.

In the constantly evolving world of digital marketing, higher education professionals are always searching for platforms that meet students where they are. Reddit offers a compelling mix of authenticity, community, and search intent that makes it uniquely powerful for higher education marketing.

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.