Whether you're a seasoned admissions officer or new to student recruitment, boosting your enrollment numbers requires creative approaches, a strong digital presence, and a focus on student-centric solutions.

Below, we'll walk through ten actionable ways to increase your undergraduate enrollment numbers. By integrating these student recruitment strategies, you’ll be on your way to more effectively engaging domestic and international students and building stronger connections with those considering your institution.

1. Showcase Personalized Communication

In a world that's become largely automated, students appreciate feeling valued as individuals. In fact, according to Sender, 75% of consumers say personalized communications is a key factor in choosing a brand.

Personalized communication can make a huge difference in your undergraduate admissions and student recruitment efforts, reducing student acquisition costs by up to 50%. Whether through emails, social media, or direct mail, creating messages tailored to individual interests, goals, and needs will make prospective students feel seen and heard.

How to Implement Personalization

Segment your email lists based on student interests, academic programs, location, and stage in the recruitment funnel.
Address students by their names and refer to their preferred areas of study or campus activities.
Follow up with timely and relevant information, such as upcoming deadlines, events, or scholarships they may qualify for.

When done right, personalized communication can help you stand out from other institutions and build a genuine connection that encourages students to choose your university.

2. Embrace Storytelling to Showcase Campus Life

Prospective students want to know what life will be like on your campus before deciding to attend your institution. Storytelling humanizes your brand and allows students to envision themselves in your community.

To boost your enrolment numbers, use storytelling to highlight the experiences and opportunities that students will find at your institution. Leapmesh notes that storytelling can potentially increase conversion rates by up to 30%, with people connecting better with stories than raw statistics alone.

Storytelling Strategies to Attract Students

Feature alumni success stories across social media, blog posts, and email campaigns. Highlight achievements both inside and outside the classroom.
Share behind-the-scenes content of campus events, academic projects, extracurricular activities, and student support services to provide a holistic view of what your university has to offer.
Create a series of videos that showcase different aspects of university life, from move-in day to graduation. Authenticity is crucial, with 86% of consumers saying it's a determining factor in which brands they support. So showcase real moments and diverse experiences that represent your school.

Storytelling can be a powerful student recruitment strategy. It makes the student journey relatable and aspirational, giving prospective students a glimpse of what their own experience could be like. It can also be a valuable means to answer prospective students' queries in a more fun and approachable manner.

3. Offer Virtual Campus Tours and Online Open Houses

With many students conducting college searches online, offering immersive virtual experiences has been a game-changer. Virtual campus tours and online open houses are great ways to give potential students a feel for your university, regardless of where they are.

From a marketing standpoint, there's also a considerable upside, with research from Medium showcasing that institutions that provide virtual tours/open houses see a 16-67% boost in reservations and look-to-book conversion ratios.

Hosting Effective Virtual Events

Provide live and on-demand tours of key campus facilities, such as residence halls, lecture theatres, student centres, and libraries. Use 360-degree videos to give students a realistic sense of the spaces.
Host live Q&A sessions with admissions counsellors, current students, and faculty members to provide prospective students with an interactive platform to ask questions.
Create themed open houses tailored to specific interests, such as STEM programs, the arts, or student-athlete life, to appeal to different student demographics.

Effective student recruitment strategies hinge on their ability to engage prospective students. By offering a range of virtual events, you create multiple touchpoints that enable them to engage with your higher education facility on their terms.

4. Optimize Your Website for Prospective Students

50% of people say their impression of an enterprise depends on the company’s website design, which means your website is one of the most important touchpoints for prospective students searching for the right university. Ensuring that it’s user-friendly, accessible, and informative will make it easier for students to find the information they need and take action—whether that’s applying, scheduling a visit, or reaching out for more details.

Website Optimization Tips

Ensure clear navigation and quick loading times so students can easily find admissions requirements, program details, and financial aid information.
Make sure your website is optimized for mobile use, as 80% of Gen Z, 62% of millennials, 66% of Gen X, 35% of Baby Boomers, and 52% of the general population primarily use mobile search.
Use compelling visuals and engaging content to showcase freshman enrollment perks, campus life, academic programs, and student services.
Include prominent calls-to-action (CTAs) like “Apply Now,” “Schedule a Tour,” or “Request Information” on key pages to guide students through their decision-making process.

An optimized website enhances the user experience and helps prospective students quickly access the resources they need. This increases the likelihood that they’ll take the next step in the enrolment process, which makes it a must-have when it comes to your university student recruitment strategies.

5. Develop a Strong Social Media Presence

According to SproutSocial, the average student uses 6.7 different social networks per month and spends about 143 minutes per day on them. This can make social media platforms some of the most powerful tools in your recruitment strategy, as a strategic social media presence allows you to connect with potential students where they're already spending time.

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn can help you build a sense of community and showcase your university’s unique offerings.

Best Practices for Social Media

Highlight student-generated content from current attendees, such as photos and videos of student life, teams and clubs, and local events.
Create short-form video content that is fun, authentic, and aligned with potential new students' interests—think student takeovers, day-in-the-life videos, and quick tours.
Engage directly with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and tags, making the recruitment process more personal.

Your social media channels should reflect the vibrancy of your campus and create an inviting atmosphere. This can be especially pertinent when targeting high school students, as younger audiences are more likely to engage with social media content and ads.

6. Implement a Lead Nurturing Strategy

Recruitment requires a long-term approach to lead nurturing. This incredibly important process involves building and maintaining relationships with prospects through continuous and targeted communication from their initial interest to student enrollment.

Why is this important? Because 80% of new leads never translate into sales, but institutions that prioritize lead nurturing generate 50% more sales-ready leads. Not only this, but they can generate these leads at a 33% lower cost compared to those that don't emphasize consistent follow-up.

How to Nurture Leads Effectively

Create an email marketing drip campaign that provides timely information about application deadlines, scholarships, campus events, and academic programs. Lead nurturing emails get between 4 and 10 times the response rate compared to standalone emails, making them an important part of any university or college recruitment plan.
Use text messaging to stay connected, sending friendly reminders and updates that make students feel supported and informed.
Personalize your messaging based on student actions, such as campus tour sign-ups or attendance at virtual events, to keep them engaged.

An effective lead nurturing strategy will keep your university top-of-mind throughout the admissions process and encourage prospective enrollees to take the next steps toward enrollment.

7. Optimize Your International Student Recruitment Efforts

According to data from Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada (IRCC), the number of international students with active study permits in Canada rose to 1,040,985 in 2023, a 29% increase over the previous year. So, it's important to capitalize on international recruitment, as this can significantly boost enrollment numbers.

However, it's crucial to be aware that international students have different needs and interests than their local counterparts. That's why your admissions team should use a more targeted approach for students coming from abroad.

Understanding their motivations and barriers can help tailor your recruitment strategies to make your university more attractive to them.

Enhancing International Recruitment

Highlight international student support services, such as language assistance, cultural adaptation programs, and mentorship opportunities.
Showcase diverse student experiences to demonstrate your commitment to creating a welcoming environment for students from all backgrounds.
Participate in international fairs and virtual expos to connect with students globally and provide them with information about the admissions process, campus life, and academic opportunities.

By providing your international target audience with the information, support, and sense of belonging they need, you can increase their likelihood of applying and enrolling in your university.

8. Develop Scholarship and Financial Aid Messaging

For many students, the cost of education is a major factor in their university decision. Data from News Wire Canada shows that 75% of students say it's difficult to afford post-secondary education, with 79% of them stating the amount of debt they take on is debilitating.

This is why clearly communicating your scholarships, bursaries, and financial aid options can have a significant impact on a student's decision to enroll.

Financial Aid Messaging Strategies

Create a dedicated page on your website that clearly outlines the types of private, provincial, and federal scholarships and financial aid available, along with eligibility criteria and application steps.
Promote financial aid opportunities in your recruitment materials, such as emails, brochures, and social media, to make sure students are aware of the support available.
Offer financial aid workshops to provide detailed guidance on the application process and empower students to explore their options.

Effective financial aid messaging helps alleviate concerns about the cost of education and provides prospective students with a clearer path to enrollment.

9. Strengthen Partnerships with High Schools and Community Organizations

Building strong relationships with high schools, counsellors, and community organizations can help you reach prospective students early and often. Forming these partnerships can provide you with direct access to students who are beginning their university search.

How to Strengthen Partnerships

Host on-campus events for high school students and counsellors, such as preview days, information sessions, or leadership workshops.
Collaborate with community organizations to reach diverse populations and underrepresented students, offering tailored resources to meet their needs.
Provide support and resources to high school counsellors, such as toolkits, webinars, and informational materials about your university’s programs and admissions process.

These partnerships can play a key role in raising awareness of your university, offering opportunities for students to engage, and helping to boost your overall enrolment numbers.

10. Use Data and Analytics to Drive Decision-Making

Understanding how students interact with your recruitment efforts is an important part of optimizing your strategies and boosting enrollment numbers. Research shows that data-driven organizations are 23 times more likely to acquire clientele, 6 times as likely to retain them, and 19 times more likely to be profitable!

By leveraging data and analytics, you can track the performance of your campaigns, understand student behaviours, and make informed decisions to enhance your undergraduate admissions process.

How to Use Data Effectively:

Track metrics like email open rates, website traffic, social media engagement, and conversion rates to identify which strategies are working and where improvements are needed.
Use CRM software like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Creatio to manage your communications with prospective students, track their journey from lead to enrolment, and identify key touchpoints that drive engagement.
Implement A/B testing to determine the most effective messaging, CTAs, and content types for your target audience.

By using data to inform your student recruitment strategies, you can ensure that your efforts are targeted, effective, and aligned.

Make an Impact with Your Admissions and Student Recruitment Strategies

Whether you're targeting domestic students or focusing on international student recruitment, tailoring your efforts to meet the specific needs of your audience will increase your chances of success.

If you're looking for marketing expertise to enhance your undergraduate admissions strategy, Noetic Marketer is here to help. We specialize in crafting compelling recruitment campaigns, optimizing your digital presence, and leveraging data to drive effective student recruitment. Let’s work together to boost your enrollment numbers and create impactful strategies for your university’s future.

Contact Noetic Marketer today to discover how we can elevate your student recruitment efforts and help you reach your enrollment goals.

Who We Are

Noetic Marketer is a full-service digital marketing agency with roots in Ottawa and the GTA. We specialize in creating and optimizing digital marketing campaigns for higher education, e-commerce, professional services, and contractors.

Over the past few years, our team has developed and implemented complete digital marketing solutions for professional service providers across North America.

Our services include digital strategy consultations, search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, social media advertising, content marketing, website design, email marketing, CRM implementation, and conversion rate optimization.

About the Author

With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of people's motivations, Jess brings her unique perspective and expertise to every project she takes on at Noetic.

With over ten years of copywriting experience, Jess is passionate about distilling complex concepts into engaging, accessible, and SEO-friendly content that resonates. Her mission is to craft written words and content strategy that brings your vision to life.

When she's not working on a project, Jess loves to explore the great outdoors, volunteer with animals, spend time with family, and game to her heart's content.

Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment Strategies: 10 Ways to Boost Your Enrollment Numbers