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Stay up to date with the latest marketing trends in higher education
Every year, millions of students enroll in higher education, many of whom could be the perfect fit for your school and programs. Yet, despite their potential, countless prospective students never even have the chance to consider your institution.
Perhaps your school doesn’t appear in their search results, or maybe they visit your website but don’t find it compelling enough to stay. Some may even lack the critical information they need to take the next step. These missed opportunities highlight a gap that higher education marketing agencies aim to address.
To help you find the right partner, we’ve compiled a table of the best 14 higher education marketing agencies.
There are many higher education marketing agencies out there that provide different services to help elevate your school’s digital identity and engage prospective students. We’ve compiled a list of 14 higher education marketing agencies you can’t go wrong with. And, if you’re looking for specific services, many excel in specialized areas like SEO, branding, video content, and more.
Best for: SEO & Content Marketing
Headquartered in: Brooklyn, New York
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: University of North Dakota, Our Lady of the Lake University, University of the Potomac
Manaferra is a leading higher education SEO agency that specializes in SEO strategies to help colleges and universities dominate search engine rankings and achieve sustainable enrollment growth. Our aim is to help clients achieve organic growth through services such as SEO audits, keyword gap analysis, on-page optimization, internal linking improvements, and technical SEO enhancements.
Manaferra also excels in content strategy and production, link building and outreach, and custom reporting and analytics.
A clear testament to Manaferra’s efficiency is our collaboration with the University of the Potomac—after a website redesign that caused a 70% drop in organic traffic during a crucial enrollment period, the university was struggling, but we stepped in, and the results of our work were transformative. In a short amount of time, the University of the Potomac achieved a 1,423% increase in SEO-driven leads, a 447% rise in organic traffic, as well as a $125,000 monthly boost in traffic value.
This is just one of many other similar stories where Manaferra helped clients connect meaningfully with prospective students and turn significant challenges into exponential growth opportunities.
Best for: Donor engagement
Headquartered in: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Berry College, DePaul University, Lakeland University
Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) has been a trusted partner of many colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations for over 40 years. Their expertise spans a wide range of services, but their approach to donor engagement stands out as an excellent resource for organizations seeking to build lasting donor relationships and achieve impactful fundraising outcomes.
Using data and donor-driven insights, RNL creates intelligent campaigns that reach the right supporters at the right time using the most effective mix of channels. With a suite of solutions that includes donor pipeline development, digital giving platforms, and leadership giving programs, RNL empowers institutions to build loyal donor bases and grow them into major givers.
Best for: UX & CRO
Headquartered in: Lenexa, Kansas
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Post University, Park University, Johnson & Wales University
EducationDynamics, also known as “EDDY,” is another excellent strategic partner in higher education, dedicated to helping institutions meet the challenges of attracting, engaging, and retaining adult and non-traditional students, particularly through online programs.
A standout aspect of their offerings is their UX (User Experience) and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) expertise, which helps streamline the student journey and enhance enrollment outcomes. Recognizing that complex website structures, outdated designs, and information overload can hinder engagement, EDDY employs cutting-edge tools such as CrazyEgg, VWO, Convert, UXTweak, WEVO, and Google Analytics to analyze heatmaps, test usability, and refine on-site behavior.
Best for: Brand strategy
Headquartered in: New York, New York
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Dartmouth College, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Carnegie has been a trusted leader and innovator in higher education marketing and enrollment strategy for over 30 years. They offer expertise in research, strategy, digital marketing, lead generation, Slate optimization, student search, website development, and creative services.
Their brand strategy services incorporate organizational personality research based on archetypal theory to define an institution’s distinct voice and messaging upon which they can build narratives.
Best for: Digital PR
Headquartered in: Overland Park, Kansas
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Northwestern, Augusta University, the University of Tulsa
Archer Education is a growth enablement partner specializing in enrollment marketing, digital student engagement, admissions, and enrollment management. Their digital PR solutions, using tactics such as expert commentary and bylines or ghostwritten articles, amplify institutional credibility and SEO value.
Archer has successfully secured placements for its partners in renowned outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and CNN. The articles generated and media placements position faculty members as authoritative voices on trending topics, thus elevating the institution’s reputation in both local and national contexts.
Best for: Pay-per-click (PPC) management services
Headquartered in: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Pricing: Custom pricing with a one-time account setup fee ranging from $5,420 to $10,580 based on project scope, plus a monthly management fee calculated as a percentage of ad spend, starting at $980.
Recognizable clients: University of New Hampshire, University of San Diego, Colorado State University
Vital has over 20 years of experience working on improving online presence for higher education institutions, B2B companies, and eCommerce brands. Their focus on time-tested strategies and future-forward techniques ensures clients achieve measurable success across all aspects of their digital campaigns.
Their PPC management services help clients reach their target audiences and maximize return on ad spend (ROAS) through Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other paid platforms. Their team tracks and analyzes performance, employing techniques like bid management, ad copy optimization, keyword adjustments, and detailed geo-targeting improvements.
Best for: Website design
Headquartered in: Boston, Massachusetts
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Harvard University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania
OHO Interactive is a premier web and digital marketing agency. With over 20 years of experience, OHO works alongside ambitious marketing leaders to elevate brands and achieve strategic goals through exceptional user experiences and digital marketing.
Recognizing that nowadays, a school’s website is its number one marketing tool, OHO helps institutions revitalize outdated, off-message, or difficult-to-maintain websites into user-friendly platforms built on modern content management systems such as Drupal, WordPress, Cascade CMS, Omni CMS, or Terminalfour.
Best for: Market research
Headquartered in: Alexandria, Virginia
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Duke University, Cornell University, Berkeley
SimpsonScarborough continues to lead the field as one of the top higher education marketing companies. Their market research process uses surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and advanced analytics such as website analytics, paid media analytics, and brand strategy analytics to find the answers to the questions that matter most.
Through market research, they provide insights relevant to brand and messaging, strategic planning, recruitment, alumni engagement, fundraising, as well as image and perception.
Best for: CRM consultation
Headquartered in: Raleigh, North Carolina
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: University of Pennsylvania, UC Davis, College of DuPage
VisionPoint Marketing brings decades of expertise to help institutions with enrollment marketing by providing tailored solutions that deliver measurable outcomes at every stage of the prospect journey.
One of their unique offerings is the CRM Consultation services. Designed to help institutions fully leverage their CRM systems, these services cover CRM audits, lead nurture strategy, communication plans, content development, portal pages, and staff training. Although a Slate Preferred Partner, VisionPoint’s expertise extends to other leading CRMs like HubSpot, Pardot, MailChimp, and Element451.
Best for: Bond planning/referendum communications
Headquartered in: Holland, Michigan
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Wake Forest University, Hardin-Simmons University, Maryville College
GMB has redefined how schools and universities are supported by offering integrated services that combine planning, architecture, engineering, branding, and enrollment marketing.
GMB’s specialized Bond Planning and Referendum Communications service includes community engagement, campaign development, and educational planning. This process helps schools and communities bring transformative projects to life.
With expertise in crafting clear, consistent, and community-focused messaging, GMB ensures bond proposals and initiatives gain the support and engagement necessary for success.
Best for: Email and marketing automation
Headquartered in: Winter Haven, Florida
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Saint Leo University, University of the Ozarks, Florida Polytechnic University
Known for its innovative approach, Echo Delta partners with colleges and universities to amplify their messaging, increase yield, and attract right-fit students through various modern enrollment strategies. However, when needed, they know how to best make use of the classics—since email remains one of the most trusted sources of information for prospective students, Echo Delta uses this channel to create authentic connections and guide students from prospect to inquiry to enrollment.
Their approach to email marketing includes tailored messaging across the student journey, audience segmentation and personalization, and high-quality content development that resonates authentically with prospective students while alleviating the workload for institutional teams.
Best for: Web & App development
Headquartered in: Worcester, Massachusetts
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: Trinity College, Clark University, Lafayette College
With a team of seasoned strategists and developers, ERI Design specializes in transforming ideas into digital experiences. Their expertise spans mobile and web app development, visual storytelling, and end-to-end digital strategies that align with client goals.
They help clients in developing iOS and Android apps that are functional, engaging, and scalable. Even after the launch, ERI Design remains a partner in the app’s evolution by continuing to collaborate with clients to refine and iterate on the application as needed.
Best for: Enrollment Marketing
Headquartered in: Troy, New York
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: University of Pennsylvania, NYU Steinhardt, University of Richmond
CCA is a full-service marketing agency with decades of experience in research, strategy, creative development, media planning, and digital solutions. However, one of their standout offerings is enrollment marketing, which supports admissions teams in moving prospective students through the enrollment funnel.
Some key elements of CCA’s enrollment marketing services include print collateral, traditional and digital media, event communications, campaigns, microsite design and development, media campaign strategy, messaging, and creative development.
Best for: Video & motion content
Headquartered in: Glenside, Pennsylvania
Pricing: Custom pricing
Recognizable clients: U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Point Park University, Neumann University
Paskill, a trusted leader in higher education marketing since 1986, is renowned for its innovative strategies and award-winning creative work that inspires students to take action. It specializes in delivering scalable and easily integrated video and motion content across platforms as a communication tool.
Paskill’s video and motion content offerings include campus videos, social media content, brand videos, and live audience videos. Their state-of-the-art capabilities include audio production studios, remote video event control rooms, 360-degree video production, green screen and motion tracking, VR studio options, and advanced editing, audio, and motion graphics suites.
Choosing the right higher ed marketing agency means finding the one that aligns with your institute’s objectives and delivers measurable results.
With that in mind, the first thing you should do is identify your institution’s specific challenges and the objectives you hope to reach, as that will help narrow down potential agencies specializing in the areas you need most.
Once you have a general idea of what agencies to look for, focus on the ones with a strong track record in the higher ed sector. They should have a portfolio of success stories and measurable outcomes with case studies, client testimonials, and references to assess their ability to deliver on promises.
Many agencies offer consultations, so make use of it. During these discussions, you should be able to gauge whether the agency is a good fit or not. You can also explore pricing models, address any concerns not covered on their website, and make sure that you both align on expectations and goals before entering into a partnership.
Effective marketing has become a necessity to compete in any industry, and higher education is no exception. Even if you have excellent programs, it won’t matter if prospective students don’t know they exist. With AI Overviews expected to add a new layer of competition that may sideline institutions with unoptimized or less authoritative content, now is the perfect time to invest in a good marketing agency.
If your institution is struggling to stand out, especially in search results, we at Manaferra are here to help. So, schedule a free consultation with us today, and let’s explore how we can enhance your SEO strategy to reach the right audiences.
CEO, Co-Founder
Faton is the Co-founder & CEO of Manaferra and someone who wakes up every morning seeing endless possibilities to progress and help others make a difference, for the better. That thought then translates everything he does to see both the team and clients move forward.
Faton is the Co-founder & CEO of Manaferra and someone who wakes up every morning seeing endless possibilities to progress and help others make a difference, for the better. That thought then translates everything he does to see both the team and clients move forward.