When enrollment numbers feel tight, the instinct is often to spend more. More ads. More platforms. More tools.
But some of the biggest enrollment gains come from small, focused improvements to what you already have. Smarter enrollment strategies can make all the difference.
As we shared on a recent podcast:
“These are practical, low-cost changes you can make right now. No massive rebrands. No new platforms. Just smarter use of what you already have.”
Below are seven proven, low-cost enrollment marketing strategies schools can use to increase their next student intake.
1. Improve Website Conversion Before Spending More on Ads
If your website is not converting, driving more traffic will not fix the problem.
“A lot of schools focus on driving more traffic when the real issue is conversion.”
Before increasing ad spend, review your site from a prospective student’s perspective. Programs should be easy to find, calls to action should be obvious, and inquiry forms should work seamlessly on mobile.
2. Use One Clear Call to Action to Increase Student Inquiries
Too many choices lead to no choice.
“When a page asks visitors to do too many things, they often do nothing.”
Each core page should focus on one primary action, such as requesting information or booking a tour. Supporting content should reinforce that single goal.
Clear calls to action consistently outperform cluttered pages when it comes to student inquiry conversion.
3. Respond to Student Inquiries Faster to Boost Enrollment Rates
Speed still matters.
“Students who hear back quickly are far more likely to enroll.”
Improving inquiry response time does not always require new software. Often, it comes down to clearer processes, defined ownership, or light automation to ensure no lead is missed.
4. Personalize Follow-Up to Improve Student Engagement
Generic follow-up messages rarely convert.
“Even simple personalization can make your communication feel more relevant and human.”
Using information students already share, such as personality type and career goals, helps outreach feel thoughtful instead of transactional. This builds trust early and increases response rates.
5. Shorten Inquiry Forms to Increase Lead Volume
Long forms create friction.
“Ask only for the information you truly need at the first step.”
At the inquiry stage, your goal is to start a conversation. Reducing form fields often leads to higher completion rates and more qualified inquiries without sacrificing quality.
6. Clearly Communicate What Makes Your School Different
Prospective students should immediately understand why they should choose your school.
“If you can’t explain your value in a few clear sentences, neither can your prospects.”
Whether it is career outcomes, flexibility, student support, or hands-on training, your value proposition should be obvious within seconds of landing on your site.
7. Use Data to Continuously Improve Enrollment Marketing
You do not need massive experiments to see results.
“You don’t need big tests. Small optimizations add up.”
Testing one change at a time, a headline, a form layout, or a follow-up message, allows you to improve steadily without overwhelming your team. Over time, these incremental improvements compound into meaningful enrollment growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Increasing Student Enrollment
How can schools increase student enrollment without increasing marketing spend?
Schools can increase enrollment by improving website conversion, responding to inquiries faster, simplifying inquiry forms, and personalizing follow-up. These changes focus on efficiency rather than spend.
What is the most effective low-cost enrollment marketing strategy?
Improving website conversion and inquiry follow-up typically delivers the fastest results. Small optimizations often outperform large, expensive campaigns.
Does faster inquiry response really impact enrollment?
Yes. Students who receive quick responses are significantly more likely to engage, book appointments, and enroll compared to those who wait hours or days for follow-up.
How many fields should an inquiry form have?
Inquiry forms should only collect essential information needed to start a conversation. Fewer fields generally lead to higher completion rates and more inquiries.
How often should schools test their enrollment marketing?
Schools should continuously test small elements such as headlines, calls to action, and follow-up messages. Ongoing testing leads to steady, compounding improvements over time.
Increasing student enrollment does not always require more budget. Often, it requires more focus.
“Growth doesn’t always require more spend. Often, it just requires more focus.”
By improving website conversion, clarifying your message, responding faster, and making data-informed improvements, schools can increase their next intake using the tools they already have.
Want to Go Deeper?
The fastest enrollment wins happen when your messaging matches why students take action.
Our eBook breaks down the motivations and barriers that influence student decisions so you can align your website, follow-up, and campaigns more effectively.