AI is rapidly transforming industries, and higher education is no exception. The positive and negative impact of AI on academics is often a hot topic for discussion. But the potential for the technology to streamline and improve administrative functions in colleges and universities often goes unrecognized. For those who utilize highly effective tools, AI in higher education is reshaping the way institutions operate and engage with students, from student recruitment to operational efficiencies.
AI for universities can reduce manual tasks like gathering information and personalizing marketing content for specific audiences. The technology can integrate information into various campus digital assets to spread information and improve the student experience. This blog will explore AI’s growing influence on higher education, examining its impact on:
- Recruitment
- Marketing
- Financial planning
- Student success
AI’s Role in Streamlining Admissions and Enrollment
In the 2024 Top Risks Report published by United Educators, 71% of respondents listed enrollment as a top challenge. Enrollment numbers have been dropping for over a decade, limiting what institutions can achieve. With strong enrollment metrics, colleges and universities can expand programs and improve campus life.
However, an effective admissions and enrollment system requires more than a wider net to recruit more students. An admissions program that helps students find the right fit in a higher education institution can significantly increase the likelihood a student will remain on the degree path.
AI in higher education is helping admissions teams identify, engage, and recruit students more efficiently. The use of predictive analytics can help admissions teams identify the most likely applicants to enroll. Then, automation can help teams send out personalized messages to further engage applicants. AI-driven platforms that automate repetitive tasks like application sorting and initial communications can help admissions teams. The tools handle repetitive tasks, and teams focus on high-level interactions and answering complex questions.
For example, FlippedApp from Concept3D provides admissions teams with data-driven student profiles to help admissions teams focus on high-intent prospects. Admissions teams upload a description of the ideal student profile. Then, the system automatically generates a curated list of best matches from tens of thousands of student profiles. The system can then automate initial communications based on your preset outreach guidelines.
AI and the Future of Marketing in Higher Education
As confidence in the value of two and four-year degrees declines, colleges and universities need marketing to highlight the value of their educational offerings and campus benefits. Students frequently submit applications to schools based on interesting attractions but don’t always consider the facility’s unique personality and offerings. When considering the benefits of multiple colleges, these students need more targeted information to determine whether a facility has the resources to help them thrive and meet their educational goals.
AI in higher education is revolutionizing marketing strategies, allowing institutions to create highly personalized and efficient campaigns that target best-fit students. AI platforms can gather data from student profiles and align it with historical data to determine how student qualities and educational goals match the institution’s offerings.
The system can then nurture interest with personalized communications that bypass the spam folder and speak directly to the recipient. These platforms are often supported by chatbots or virtual assistants that engage with prospective students in real time, 24 hours a day. AI tools that segment audiences can further personalize marketing messages to maximize campaign effectiveness.
AI’s Impact on Institutional Financial Planning
The higher education industry is experiencing an era of uncertainty and change due to economic trends and geopolitical turmoil. Effective financial planning will require strategic planning and data-driven decision-making. Limited state and federal funding, a reduced middle class, and other economic concerns make it more difficult than ever for financial teams to accurately pinpoint ways to finance organizational growth and student success.
The responsible use of AI in higher education is helping CFOs and finance teams make data-driven decisions to optimize budgets and financial strategies. Over half of finance leaders envision AI becoming a core component of financial processes. Also, 79% believe it will increase productivity. AI possesses several key traits that make the technology ideal for financial planning in higher education.
Consider:
- Predictive modeling: Predictive analytics that can forecast financial scenarios are essential to informed financial decision-making. AI simplifies and improves the process with AI algorithms that can analyze an institution’s data in real time. This allows teams to achieve more accurate predictive modeling for tuition revenue, enrollment trends, and scholarship allocation.
- Data analytics: AI platforms can bring together data and help teams gain new insights into spending and student outlooks. AI platforms can gather and analyze data across various programs, giving financial teams deeper insights into operational efficiencies. Teams can then decide where to invest and how to improve programs to cut costs.
- Data-driven decision-making: Using AI to forecast financial risk can help teams improve resource allocation and increase ROI. By leveraging ML algorithms, finance teams can analyze historical financial data alongside external factors, such as market trends, student behavior, and economic indicators.
- Automation: Automated services eliminate the need for manual data entry and tedious spreadsheet analysis. The ability to automate routine financial tasks streamlines, simplifies, and standardizes many processes, reducing time requirements and costs.
AI-Powered Student Success and Retention Strategies
Along with declining enrollment, retention is a major concern for colleges and universities. One in four students is at risk of not completing college. Reasons for leaving range from financial concerns to academic issues.
However, students who are the first in their family to attend college are much more likely to consider leaving. Feelings about “not being a good fit for college” or otherwise not achieving a sense of belonging can derail a student’s academic success and make staying seem like an impossible goal. When asked, students who left college without earning a credential or degree said that financial resources, flexible class schedules, or additional mental health resources would have helped them stay.
With the right tools, higher education institutions can recognize points of disengagement and intervene with relevant assistance.
AI helps improve student outcomes, increase retention, and enhance learning experiences. AI-powered platforms can leverage data to identify when a student may be at risk before they disengage. For example, predictive analytics can identify keywords to trigger interactions offering assistance. A student who asks about payment deadlines may receive follow-up messages with links to deadline extension qualifications or financial assistance programs. AI tools also have the potential to improve student performance with insights into course loads, grades, attendance, and engagement. The data can then help automate personalized academic guidance or adapt content and support based on student performance.
Preparing for an AI-Driven Future
When asked how AI will influence higher ed in 2025, Ravi Pendse, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Michigan, answered, “In 2025, university administrators must start thinking of AI as critical infrastructure and identify resources to invest in it.” As colleges and universities heed this and similar advice, all higher education facilities will be expected to have the seamless efficiency AI offers.
Higher education leaders must proactively adopt and adapt AI-driven strategies to remain competitive. Effectively adopting AI in the higher education industry requires an informed approach and strategic decisions. These tips can help colleges and universities effectively adopt AI in higher education.
- Invest in training. Investing in AI training for faculty and staff is crucial for the successful adoption of new technology. Objectives may include integrating AI into teaching, using AI for admissions, and determining how students can utilize AI.
- Showcase what makes your institution different. One of the biggest challenges for colleges and universities may be setting themselves apart from the competition. A school’s unique properties are a vital part of attracting and engaging students throughout their college experience. This means colleges will need to seek out customizable solutions that allow them to build AI strategies that align with institutional goals.
- Seek innovative tools that provide multiple solutions. AI-powered platforms like FlippedApp provide a multi-pronged approach to improving the college experience that better serves students, faculty, and administrators.
Partner With Concept3D to Get More Value From AI in Higher Education
Ready to start using AI in higher education? This practice empowers colleges and universities to improve efficiency across multiple areas, including admissions and enrollment, student success, and financial planning. As AI tools become more widely available in higher education, institutions can explore various AI solutions to determine which tools will best align with their long-term strategies. For many institutions, AI in admissions is the ideal place to start implementing AI.
Engage more mission-fit students with AI-powered communication. Through FlippedApp, students create detailed profiles, enabling schools to effortlessly identify, engage, and build meaningful relationships with mission-fit students. Claim your school and explore FlippedApp’s free trial once fully available to start fostering the connections that drive enrollment success!