INSIGHTS
OUR LATEST WHITEPAPER
3rd Annual Parent & Student Survey
The New Rules Of Higher Education Marketing
How AI and Shifting Family Priorities are Reshaping Student Recruitment
AI isn’t new. It’s normal. Students and parents alike are increasingly using LLMs for research – for everything from homework help to their best options for higher education. If families already use AI to choose, the question is: how is your institution meeting them there? Our latest whitepaper outlines how to publish AI-readable answers to the most asked questions, making your value legible to both humans and machines.
Study Hall: Latest Insights
Read the latest Advance Education Insights posts here. From new technologies coming on the higher education field or practical marketing tips that help you shine in your role, we aim to cover all the topics you find of interest.
If you have any request for content, please let us know and we will add to our content schedule. Check back for more blog content weekly!
Featured Posts
Two Audiences, Two Starting Points
Parents and students are not only motivated by different values they search differently. Parents are pragmatic searchers, relying on search engines, ranking sites, ROI calculators, and institutional pages. Students pay the most attention to social media, particularly TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram; after social media they notice email and college fairs.
Demographic Decline Meets Affordability Pressure
Higher education faces a demographic cliff. By 2037, the number of high school graduates will fall by 12%, ending decades of expansion. This structural shift means institutions will compete more fiercely for fewer students.
The Paralysis Problem
Rising parental oversight, debt anxiety, and fear of making the wrong choice have created a generation of students who freeze at the point of decision. Our latest survey shows that while parents lead on financial matters, students carry emotional weight, balancing expectations, independence, and anxiety about readiness.
Parents Are the Power Behind Every Decision
Parents remain the decisive voice in enrollment; their influence can either paralyze or propel student confidence. Successful enrollment strategies are ones that build trust by acknowledging both perspectives.
The Growing Gap Between Parent and Student Priorities
Advance Education's 3rd Annual Parent & Student Survey shows a clear disconnect between what parents prioritize and what students need. Both move through the same enrollment journey, but they look for different signals and interpret information through different lenses.
The 90 Day Enrollment Strategy Colleges Need Now
Families want clarity, speed, and simplicity in the enrollment process. Our latest Parent & Student Survey outlines a focused 90 day plan to help create fast wins in the areas families feel most: visibility, value, and confidence.
The Shift: From Google to Generative AI
For decades, the college search began with Google and campus tours. In 2026, it starts with a prompt. Students and parents now use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity to build school lists and compare ROI before ever reaching your website. Artificial intelligence has quietly become the front door to higher education it shapes who gets discovered, compared, and trusted first.
The Rise of AI as the “Front Door” to Higher Education
Families – students and parents alike – are becoming fluent in AI interactions outside of education, raising their expectations for intelligent and conversational college discovery experiences.
Seth Godin’s AI Prompt Decks: Your Guide to Mastering AI Dexterity in 2026
In 1999, Seth Godin wrote “Permission Marketing,” introducing a revolutionary approach to connecting with audiences. His insight was profound yet […]
