Creating New Pathways to Growth & Success

Challenge

With a new rebrand and an ambitious student enrollment goal, Cal Poly Humboldt (previously Humboldt State) set out to distinguish itself from its previous identity. After multiple years of decline in enrollments, the university was ready to forge a new pathway to success that included a plan to move beyond regional recruiting and into opportunities in out-of-state markets. The Director of Admissions and Strategic Communications knew that to reach the goal of turning around enrollment in one cycle, his team would need to understand why students were melting and how to deliver messaging that supported and resonated with students.

Solution

Cal Poly turned to Encoura to get expert data and research that would reveal to the enrollment team a trustworthy strategy for growth. The university’s Encoura enrollment consultant was able to provide an accurate picture of the national student market, point out specific areas for best recruiting opportunities, and empower the team with advanced predictive modeling that focused their student search resources most strategically on students most likely to enroll. Additionally, the team leveraged research on students’ perceptions and college expectations to deliver personalized marketing to students and families.