subject: Focus in on your adult/non-traditional population [print this page] Focus in on your adult/non-traditional population
Good morning!
In 2010, we are continuing to see a surge in adult/non-traditional students to colleges/universities, especially to online programs. The time is now to focus in and market heavily to that population, to ensure enrollment growth.
The key here is be proactive and not reactive, do not lose these students to your competition! Here are some things to think about when you market to this population
-get input from each department head, and find out first hand the demographics of the students they are drawing
-maintain/create a heavy internet presence, the majority of these students are still finding their programs online, use sites such as www.gradschools.com (really like this one!)
-I would also add to fill out as many free listing sites as possible, make sure that a student has every chance to see you online
-market heavily to your own undergraduate population, you can do this by posting flyers, on campus grad fairs, etc... make sure undergrads know that you have a strong program
-build relationships with local (50 miles around campus) corporations that cater to the programs you are promoting (manufacturing, finance, etc..) and ask if you can place flyers there
-offer discounted (or free if you can) health insurance, this can really be a game changer for your institution
-if your budget can handle it, advertise on the largest local AM station and one FM station, also a billboard ad on the most traveled local highway, focus efforts 35-50 miles around campus
-Google ad words geo-targeted to the local audience is huge as well
If you implement these practices, the adult/non-traditional student will come!
