The anticipated loss of high school graduates in 2026-2027, often referred to as the “enrollment cliff,” will have significant implications for enrollments and for marketing strategies at community colleges. With fewer high school graduates, community colleges will face increased competition for a shrinking pool of traditional high school age students.

This session will explore the implementation of five key marketing strategies designed to mitigate the impact of the loss of high school graduates and keep enrollment stable by:

  • Successfully targeting non-traditional students and new target markets
  • Enhancing dual enrollment conversion
  • Expanding online program enrollment
  • Expanding community and employer relationships
  • Leveraging alumni networks

By proactively implementing these strategies, your community college can attract a more diverse student population, increase enrollment, and offset the anticipated decline in high school graduates.

 

Your Presenter.Your Presenter.

  • Kristy Phillips Senior Director, Client Success
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    Persona The Independent and Meticulous Perfectionist

    As a Senior Director of Client Success, Kristy is a valuable client resource for full-funnel strategies across audiences. Before joining Carnegie, she led two university website redesign initiatives and held leadership roles within marketing and enrollment departments. Kristy has an unrivaled eye for building consensus and an expertise in developing positioning statements for campuses that are part of a larger university system, workforce development programs, and academic pathways. Her forward-thinking approach enhances recruitment strategies across first-year students, transfers, graduate and professional studies, and adult learners. Kristy earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University, where she focused her doctoral research on the business of prior learning to recruit adult learners, specifically the Some College, No Degree population.

    Kristy Phillips

    As a Senior Director of Client Success, Kristy is a valuable client resource for full-funnel strategies across audiences. Before joining Carnegie, she led two university website redesign initiatives and held leadership roles within marketing and enrollment departments. Kristy has an unrivaled eye for building consensus and an expertise in developing positioning statements for campuses that are part of a larger university system, workforce development programs, and academic pathways. Her forward-thinking approach enhances recruitment strategies across first-year students, transfers, graduate and professional studies, and adult learners. Kristy earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University, where she focused her doctoral research on the business of prior learning to recruit adult learners, specifically the Some College, No Degree population.

Watch the recording.