Service Line: Brand Strategy

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.

Across the country, colleges face a common challenge—and an even greater opportunity. According to the Some College, No Credential 2025 Report from the National Student Clearinghouse, 43.1 million Americans have “stopped out” of college, meaning they left before completing a credential. Of those, 37.6 million are working-age adults under 65. They represent one of the most promising, yet often overlooked, growth segments for community and technical colleges.

It was little more than a decade ago when institutions were arguing about whether a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) was needed. Today, the role is essential at nearly every institution, given the complexity of recruiting and fundraising. Today’s best practice is to assemble a highly data-driven and strategic marketing operation that performs critical functions for enrollment, strategic communications, and fundraising to deliver true return on investment in all areas. Marketing is a key performance engine, not a service organization.

In today’s higher education landscape, traditional marketing strategies—built on demographics, test scores, and zip codes—no longer provide the depth needed to engage and convert modern students. While demographics tell us who and where—they don’t tell us why.

In the realm of higher education, the art of brand activation goes well beyond marketing. It is the dynamic process of breathing life into the brand, transforming institutional values and visions into lived experiences and tangible outcomes.

Our webinar about Missouri Online’s path from seeing an opportunity to realizing their goal and how they did it was a lot of fun. If you missed out on the live conversation and want a quick recap of what was discussed, look no further!