Audience: Undergraduate

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.

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.

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.

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.

Political dynamics aren’t just shaping national headlines—they’re shaping higher education decisions. In this first release of Carnegie’s Summer Research Series, we explore how politics is influencing student and parent perceptions of colleges and universities.

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.

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.