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January 10, 2025 13 mins

The Future of Education Marketing: How AI Will Transform Higher Ed in 2025

Join us on The Deep Dive as we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize education marketing by 2025. From 

AI agents like Element 451's 'Corey' to personalized learning plans and proactive student support, AI is reshaping how schools engage with students. We delve into real-world examples, including a case study from Georgia State University, and highlight critical trends such as micro credentials and virtual reality in education. 

Additionally, we examine the crucial role of affordability, campus life, and ethical considerations. Don't miss this comprehensive overview of the future landscape of education!

00:00 Introduction to AI in Education Marketing
00:22 The Rise of AI Agents in Higher Education
01:22 Personalized Student Support with AI
02:18 AI's Impact on Institutional Decision Making
03:03 AI in Education Marketing Strategies
04:31 Balancing Technology and Human Touch
05:02 Factors Influencing Student Choices
07:07 Emerging Trends: Micro Credentials and VR
09:13 Key Takeaways and Future Considerations
09:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn more about the Higher Education Marketing Institute:

  • Website: https://highereducationmarketinginstitute.com/
  • X: https://x.com/HEMInstitute
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-education-marketing-institute/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HigherEducationMarketing
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jill (00:00):
Welcome to the Deep Dive.
Today, we're diving into how AIis going to transform education
marketing by 2025.
You know, uh, we've got a ton ofmaterial here.
Marketing guides, blog posts,trend reports, even research on
how students are choosing theirschools.
It's going to be fascinating.

Jack (00:15):
Yeah, definitely exciting times.
We'll break it all down so youcan see exactly how AI is
impacting both schools andstudents, you know.

Jill (00:22):
Okay, so one thing that keeps popping up is, um, AI
agents.
In fact, Element 451 is calling2025, The year of the AI agent
for higher ed.
What's the big deal here?
What makes these different?

Jack (00:35):
Well, I mean, we're all used to basic AI chatbots.
Okay.
And personalized emails.
But AI agents are a whole otherlevel.
Think of an AI that can reason,adapt, even predict what a
student needs before they evenask for help.
That's new.

Jill (00:48):
That sounds pretty incredible.
Um, do you have like a realworld example?
How would that play out?

Jack (00:52):
Let's see.
Element 451, uh, they've gotthis hypothetical AI agent
called Corey.
So imagine a student.
We'll call him, uh, Alex.
Alex starts missing deadlines.
Isn't as active online.
Corey notices that.
Corey also sees Alex missed afinancial aid deadline.
Uh, puts two and two together.
Flags the advisor that maybeAlex is having, you know,

(01:14):
financial or personal issues.
Then, Corey proactivelyrecommends resources.
That's just, uh, Not possiblewith, like, a simple chatbot.

Jill (01:21):
Yeah, that's a huge shift.
And it seems like personalizedstudent support is, uh, it's a
major theme running through allthese materials.

Jack (01:27):
Definitely.
We're seeing AI used for 247chatbot support, creating those
customized learning plans, evenmapping out entire degree
roadmaps.
It can keep students on track,help them get early intervention
if they're struggling.
It can even connect them withmental health and career
resources.

Jill (01:42):
And this isn't just theory, right?
There's a case study fromGeorgia State University.
They used AI to fight summermelt, you know, when students
get accepted but don't actuallyenroll.
Their AI system flagged at riskstudents and then, you know,
reached out personally.
And they saw a pretty big jumpin enrollment.

Jack (01:57):
And there's even hard data backing up the impact of AI on,
like, student success.
A Nectar study found thatstudents who use AI course
assistance actually saw theirGPAs go up.
So the results are there.

Jill (02:10):
Wow.
Okay.
So we're seeing AI forpersonalized support, for
improving academic outcomes, butI feel like it goes even deeper
than that, right?
Like, this data can helpinstitutions make better
decisions overall.

Jack (02:21):
Exactly.
Think about it.
Now, schools can analyze massiveamounts of data to predict
enrollment numbers moreaccurately.
That's huge for resourceallocation and admission
strategies.

Jill (02:33):
I can see that being super valuable, but does it go beyond
just admissions?

Jack (02:37):
Oh, absolutely.
Imagine being able to actuallysee how effective your academic
programs are and pinpoint areasfor improvement.
Institutions can use AI toensure their courses align with,
like, student needs and what thejob market demands.
They can even compare themselvesto other schools and see what's
working best.

Jill (02:53):
It's almost like AI is giving schools, uh, a crystal
ball to predict the future andmake smarter choices, you know,
across the board.

Jack (02:59):
Yeah, in a way it is, and that leads us right into the
marketing side of things, youknow.
How are schools using thesetools to reach students in this
new world?
That's where it gets reallyinteresting.

Jill (03:08):
Yeah, let's get into that.
So the Seminar Marketing Guidetalks about how institutions
really need to step up theirgame.
Students in 2025, they expectpersonalized experiences, right?
And AI is how you deliver that.
It's all about using data to getthe right message to the right
student at the right time.

Jack (03:25):
Exactly.
It's not about those genericmessages anymore.
It's about creating a trulypersonalized experience for
every single potential student.

Jill (03:32):
And it's not just about blasting out emails, is it?
I'm seeing a lot about AIpowered search engines like
Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
What does that mean forstudents?
Uh, you know, educationmarketing.

Jack (03:42):
Well, it's a whole new ballgame for sure.
Students are using those AItools more and more to find
information.
The AGM guide stresses that, uh,institutions need to optimize
their content for thoseplatforms.
So focus on high qualityquestion based content that
gives clear, concise answers.
Also be mindful of voice search,using natural language that
reflects how people actuallytalk, you know.

Jill (04:04):
Makes sense.
If students are asking these AItools questions, schools need to
make sure their content is clearand concise.
you know, the top answer.
But what about social media?
It seems like that's still a bigdeal, especially for those
younger generations.

Jack (04:16):
Oh, absolutely.
Platforms like TikTok are stillincredibly influential.
AI can help institutions refinetheir targeting and create
content that, you know, reallyresonates with those younger
audiences.

Jill (04:27):
Okay, this is getting pretty high tech.
But before we go any further, Ihave a question.
With all this AI and automation,is there a risk of losing that,
uh, human touch in education?

Jack (04:37):
That's a really important question.
Yeah.
And it's something we'lldefinitely dig into in the next
part of our deep dive.

Jill (04:42):
Welcome back to our deep dive, you know, into AI and
education marketing.
We're just discussing howinstitutions are adopting these
really powerful AI tools.
It's a pretty impressive.
It

Jack (04:53):
is.
It is.
But, uh, I think it's easy toget kind of caught up in all the
tech, you

Jill (04:58):
know,

Jack (04:58):
the bells and whistles.
We got to remember thateducation is really about
people, right?
Absolutely.
So let's shift gears and talkabout the students themselves.
Like.
What are the big factorsinfluencing their choices in
this new AI driven world?

Jill (05:11):
Well, that's where EAB's research comes in, and it's got
some, uh, really interestingfindings.
Okay.
I'm

Jack (05:17):
listening.

Jill (05:18):
You might think that with all this tech, you know, things
like affordability wouldn't besuch a big deal anymore, but
that's not what they found.
Affordability is still a majorconcern for students,
especially, uh, those fromcertain demographics.
We're talking Pell Grantrecipients, first generation
students, part time learners.
Cost is often the decidingfactor, you know, and whether

(05:38):
they can pursue higher ed atall.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Education is a big investment,even with all the advances in
technology.
For a lot of students, it comesdown to, can I afford this?

Jack (05:48):
Exactly.
But here's where it gets evenmore interesting.
EAB also found that campus andenvironmental factors play a
surprisingly big role instudents choices.

Jill (05:59):
Oh, interesting.
So we're not just talking aboutlike nice dorms or a pretty
campus.

Jack (06:04):
Right.
They're looking at things likehow many student organizations
are there, what's the localweather like, even the political
climate.
And, um, population growth inthe surrounding area.

Jill (06:14):
Wow, that's fascinating.
I wouldn't have guessed thosethings would be so influential.

Jack (06:18):
It seems that today's students are looking beyond
just, you know, academics.
They're thinking about the wholeexperience, the social and
cultural environment, you know.

Jill (06:27):
It's almost like they're making a lifestyle choice, not
just an educational one.

Jack (06:30):
Exactly.
They're looking for a placewhere they can, um, really
thrive, academically andpersonally.
So institutions need to thinkabout their appeal more broadly,
showcase their academicstrengths for sure, but also,
you know, the vibrancy of campuslife, the opportunities for
personal growth, even howattractive the surrounding
community is.

Jill (06:49):
It's about painting that full picture, right?
Showing students this is a placewhere they can belong, build a
future.

Jack (06:54):
Exactly.
So we've got affordability,campus life, But we can't forget
about, uh, the changinglandscape of education itself.
The Higher Education MarketingInstitute pointed out a couple
of trends that are worth, youknow, digging into.
The first is the rise of microcredentials.

Jill (07:10):
Ah, yes.
Micro credentials, those, uh,bite sized alternatives to
traditional degrees.
It seems like they're gettingmore and more popular.
What's the deal with those?

Jack (07:19):
Well, micro credentials are those shorter, more focused
credentials.
They show specific skills orknowledge.
They're often online, and youcan finish them much faster than
a traditional degree.

Jill (07:29):
So it's like getting a certification in a specific area
instead of, you know, committingto a four year degree program.

Jack (07:35):
Right.
And this is becoming reallyappealing to a lot of students,
especially those who are lookingto, you know, get a job quickly,
or maybe they want to upskill ina specific area, but they don't
have the time or the money for afull degree.

Jill (07:48):
It's like the fast track to career advancement

Jack (07:51):
in a way.
Yeah, but it's important tomention there's this whole
debate going on about the valueof micro credentials versus
traditional degrees.
Some people argue that microcredentials are better aligned
with.
Like today's workforce needs.
Others say that traditionaldegrees still carry more weight.

Jill (08:08):
I'm sure that debate is going to continue But it's
definitely something to keep aneye on.
What was the other emergingtrend you mentioned?

Jack (08:15):
Oh, right.
The Higher Education MarketingInstitute also highlighted
virtual reality in education.
VR, you know.

Jill (08:21):
Yeah, VR.
It's been around but it seemslike we're finally seeing its
potential in education, youknow, come to life.

Jack (08:29):
VR can create these incredibly immersive learning
experiences.
I imagine like, going on avirtual field trip to, uh,
ancient Rome, or exploring thehuman body from the inside out.
The possibilities are prettyamazing.

Jill (08:43):
It does sound amazing.
I imagine there are somechallenges though, right?
Like cost, accessibility.

Jack (08:48):
For sure.
VR tech is still prettyexpensive, and not everyone has
access to the equipment theyneed.
But as it becomes moreaffordable and more widespread,
we'll probably see more schoolsusing VR in their teaching.

Jill (08:59):
Yeah, it's exciting to think about how VR could change
learning, make it more engaging,more interactive, and accessible
to students all over the world.

Jack (09:07):
And this all ties back to the bigger picture.
The educational landscape ischanging so fast.
And institutions are trying toadapt to, you know, meet the
needs of these students.

Jill (09:17):
We've seen how they're using AI to personalize that
support, improve decisionmaking, and create those more
targeted marketing campaigns.

Jack (09:24):
And we talked about those new learning models like micro
credentials and the potentialof, um, immersive tech like VR.
Yeah.
It's a lot.

Jill (09:32):
It is.
So as we wrap up, what are somekey takeaways you're hoping our
listeners will, uh, rememberfrom all this?

Jack (09:39):
I think the most important thing is AI isn't just some
futuristic concept.
It's here.
It's shaping education rightnow.
And it has the power to makeeducation more accessible, more
effective, and more engaging.

Jill (09:53):
Welcome back to the Deep Dive.
We've covered a lot in ourexploration of AI and education
marketing in 2025.
You know, from those AI agentsacting like personal assistants,
to the surprising thingsinfluencing student choices, it
seems like we're on the vergeof, like, a huge change in
education.

Jack (10:10):
It's been, uh, quite a journey digging into all this
with you.
We've seen how schools are usingAI, you know, to personalize
learning, make decisions basedon data.
And reach those potentialstudents more effectively.

Jill (10:20):
And we've also talked about the rise of new learning
models, those micro credentials,and uh, the potential of
immersive technologies like VR.
It's uh, it's a lot to process.
It is.
So as we wrap up our deep dive,what are some of the key
takeaways you hope our listenersuh, will walk away with?

Jack (10:35):
Well, I'd say the biggest takeaway is that AI isn't just
some, you know, futuristic idea.
It's real.
It's happening now in education.
And it really does have thepotential to make education more
accessible.
More effective and more engagingfor everyone.

Jill (10:49):
That's a powerful thought.
But we also have to rememberthat AI is a tool, right?
Right.
And like any tool, it can beused for good, or Uh, for not so
good.
So as we embrace thesepossibilities of AI, we need to
be aware of the potentialdownsides too.

Jack (11:03):
Exactly.
We need to be sure AI is usedethically, responsibly, and
fairly.
That means focusing ontransparency, fairness, and
making sure humans are still incontrol.
You know, making sure AI ishelping people, not replacing
them.

Jill (11:16):
It's about finding that balance using technology, but
keeping that human elementthat's so important in
education.
You know, one thing that reallystood out to me from the EAB
research was that affordabilityis still a top concern for so
many students.

Jack (11:28):
Yeah, absolutely.
AI can, you know, personalizelearning and give more support,
but it can't solve the biggerproblem of cost.
It's going to take, um, systemwide solutions, not just
technology.

Jill (11:39):
So looking ahead to the future of education, it's clear
that AI is going to be a biggerand bigger part of it, but we
have to remember that technologyis only one piece of the puzzle,
right?

Jack (11:48):
Absolutely.
We have to address those issueslike affordability, make sure AI
is being used ethically andresponsibly, and, uh, You know,
cultivate that love of lifelonglearning.
Those are big challenges, butthey're also exciting
opportunities to create a betteror empowering education system
for everybody.

Jill (12:06):
Well said.
This deep dive has given me alot to think about, and I'm sure
our listeners feel the same way.
As we wrap up, I want to leaveour listeners with one final
thought.
Okay.
We've talked about how AI cantailor education to individual
needs, but we can't forget thatdiversity of thought Being
exposed to differentperspectives, that's crucial for

(12:26):
intellectual growth.

Jack (12:28):
That's a good point.

Jill (12:29):
As AI personalizes learning, we have to make sure
it doesn't create these echochambers where students only
hear things that confirm theirexisting beliefs,

Jack (12:37):
right?
That's important.

Jill (12:38):
How do we balance personalization with, you know,
that need for exploration andexposure to different
viewpoints?
It's a question we all need toconsider as AI becomes more and
more a part of education.

Jack (12:51):
Definitely.
The future of education isn'tsomething that just happens to
us, it's something we createtogether.
By having these thoughtfulconversations, asking the tough
questions, and, uh, being opento new ideas, we can use the
power of AI to build a betterfuture for learners everywhere.

Jill (13:07):
Thank you for joining us on this deep dive into the
future of education and forsharing your insights with our
listeners.

Jack (13:12):
It's been my pleasure.
Keep exploring these topics andhave those important
conversations about the role ofAI in shaping the future of
learning.

Jill (13:19):
This is the Deep Dive, signing off.
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