Higher education is facing a pivotal, enrollment cliff moment. With numbers declining, student engagement fluctuating and administrative burdens mounting, many institutions are grappling with an urgent question: can technology—particularly AI—reverse the trend and chart a new course for admissions and enrollment?
The enrollment crisis is not new but it has reached a critical point. According to recent studies, undergraduate enrollment has steadily declined over the past decade, with an enrollment cliff expected this fall.
Many colleges are struggling to attract and retain students. Budget cuts, reduced staff, and increasing expectations from students have made traditional enrollment approaches outdated and inefficient.
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AI can be a powerful ally in tackling these challenges, offering the promise of faster, smarter and more personalized processes. As higher education leaders, we’ve seen firsthand how AI is transforming the ways institutions approach recruitment, enrollment and operational efficiencies.
Doing more with less: A lifeline for understaffed teams
With many institutions operating on leaner budgets, staffing has become a critical issue. AI doesn’t replace the human touch but enhances it, allowing admissions and enrollment teams to focus on high-value interactions while automating repetitive tasks. This makes it possible to serve more students without increasing headcount.
In fact, by alleviating some of the administrative load, AI gives staff the bandwidth to build relationships, offer support and truly connect with prospective students—a key factor in improving yield. In times when burnout is high and resources are limited, the ability to prioritize meaningful conversations over manual tasks can make a tangible difference.
By automating repetitive processes, staff can focus on building relationships with prospective students, guiding them through the decision-making process and addressing any concerns they may have about enrollment.
Rethinking the student journey: From one-size-fits-all to data-driven personalization
Traditional enrollment funnels assume a linear path from awareness to enrollment but today’s students operate differently. They research options independently, expect digital experiences to be seamless and make decisions based on a variety of dynamic factors.
AI enables a shift from one-size-fits-all marketing, enrollment and student progression approaches to dynamic, data-driven personalization. From the first point of contact to student success support, AI can help tailor content, timing, and communication channels based on individual student profiles. T
This creates a more holistic and responsive enrollment journey.
Potential AI-enabled workflows in higher education: Document & conversational intelligence
AI-enabled workflows—such as intelligent document processing, predictive applicant scoring and automated communication—can reduce cost-per-enrollment by up to 40%. That’s a huge saving. On the other hand, it speeds up the decision-making process by 3x, based on real case studies from large-scale institutions.
One of the biggest pain points in higher education enrollment is the enormous paperwork and manual data processing. From transcripts to personal essays or SOPs, manual document review lingers in admissions processes, and obviously, human errors are bound to happen.
AI-powered solutions can help enrollment teams reduce manual effort by 40% and analyze academic transcripts within 10 minutes. However, it does not cater to a singular purpose.
They can also help gather and provide real-time analytics by analyzing thousands of documents and isolating enrollment trends and opportunities for a wise decision-making process.
This not only bolsters operational efficiency but also enhances the student experience. The streamlined process keeps them informed and engaged.
Faster responses and fewer errors can also increase trust in the institution, a critical factor in enrollment decisions. Speed is crucial in an age where students apply to multiple institutions, and delays could result in losing top candidates.
Today’s students expect immediate, personalized responses to their queries, and institutions need to meet their expectations. Forward-thinking institutions use AI-driven tools to support tens of thousands of applicants simultaneously by automating responses to their inquiries 24/7, increasing engagement rates.
Tools like Conversational AI allows institutions to attend to student queries in real-time, provide tailored guidance, and identify key concerns that may impact enrollment decisions. It’s no longer about casting the widest net but about meeting and engaging students in the moment.
Conversational AI also helps admissions teams become more proactive. Instead of waiting for students to reach out with questions, institutions can use insights from past interactions to anticipate needs and offer support before obstacles become roadblocks.
This creates a more student-centered experience from the first point of contact. Institutions that offer 24/7 support via AI chatbots provide an additional layer of convenience that students now expect.
Looking ahead: Balancing innovation with intention
It’s also important for institutions to regularly evaluate and adjust their AI strategies. Technology is evolving quickly, and what works today may not be sufficient tomorrow.
Ongoing training for staff and feedback from students is essential to ensure tools are being used effectively and ethically. AI should not replace human interaction but should enhance it, empowering staff to deliver personalized services at scale.
As higher education leaders, we believe the future of the learner’s journey is both high-tech and high-touch. By leveraging AI strategically, colleges and universities can not only navigate today’s enrollment crisis but build a more resilient, student-centered support model for the future.
