Case Study: Elmhurst College

45/24/20%

Increase in transfer / traditional / graduate student applications within one year

Elmhurst College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1871, consistently ranked among the top colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. The College offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, four accelerated majors for adults, 15 pre-professional programs, and 9 graduate programs.

Brief

Facing intense competition from an ever-increasing host of traditional universities, for-profit educational companies and distance learning programs, Elmhurst College was losing the battle for new students.

Insight

Elmhurst College has special attributes embedded within its DNA that many institutions of higher learning, especially upstarts in the for-profit and distance learning arena, could never hope to have. These primary advantages include the personal touch of a hands-on faculty, a vibrant multi-faceted student experience, and an academic institution that has been a foundation of the community for over 130 years.

Solution

We extended this personal touch to all forms of media to distinguish the college from its competitors and provide a boost to enrollment numbers. Our solution included such direct and personal methods as door hangs, direct mail, e-mail & database marketing, and zip code targeted direct response inserts as well as supporting above-the-line methods such as outdoor, targeted print, and community college & high school postering campaigns.

Result

We had a 45% increase in transfer student applications, a 24% increase in traditional student applications, and a 20% increase in graduate student applications over the course of one year.