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A Mandate for Transformation  

About the Report

The 2026 Marketing and Enrollment Management Benchmarks Report is more than a data collection; it is a roadmap for bold institutional leadership. For the modern university president, the "safe" choice of relying on historic pipelines has become the most dangerous strategy possible. This report provides the insights necessary to pivot decisively toward authentic experiences and proven ROI, ensuring your institution seizes growth opportunities rather than facing inevitable contraction.


Download the essential report for higher ed leaders to thrive.

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The Mandate for Transformation

We have analyzed proprietary and secondary data to identify the macro trends defining enrollment performance in 2026. This report moves beyond retrospective metrics—looking backward to guess the future—and introduces the predictive KPIs necessary to survive in an AI-first world.

Inside you will discover:

  • The AI Density Metric: A critical new measurement of your brand’s discoverability and authority as a "source of truth" within AI ecosystems.
  • The Death of the "Blue Link": With 78% of education-related searches now returning an AI Overview , discover how the "Search Everywhere" ecosystem demands answers, not just links.
  • The Rise of the Stealth Applicant: Why "students without signals" now account for nearly 10% of applications, bypassing traditional inquiry channels entirely.
  • The Brand-First Paradigm: Data revealing a 354% increase in brand-first searches, proving that reputation is now the primary driver of top-of-funnel conversion.


Will you drive a future of transformative growth, or will you allow the status quo to dictate your decline?

The challenges are immense. But for leaders ready to challenge the status quo the opportunity for growth is real. EducationDynamics is the transformative partner for institutions ready to move beyond outdated practices and win the future. We provide the research strategy and activation needed to build a strong brand reputation and optimize marketing for sustainable growth. You need a partner willing to speak the truth about what it takes to win.

Download our full 2026 Marketing and Enrollment Management Benchmarks Report to get the data insights and strategic imperatives you need to build a sustainable future.

Download the Report