National enrollment barely moved last fall. We’re proud to share that our higher ed partners posted record classes and fast-growing programs anyway. Here's what they have in common.
College enrollment grew just 1% nationally last fall, and first-time freshman enrollment was essentially flat, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Enrollment growth is only getting harder, with U.S. high school graduates expected to decline after peaking around 2025, a trend known as the enrollment cliff.
Some colleges and universities are finding it anyway. Across the institutions we're proud to work alongside, this fall brought record classes and real momentum.
Fall 2026 Partner Enrollment Snapshot
View Our Work with UNL | Source
View Our Work with NSU | Source
View Our Work with ISU | Additional UGC Work with ISU | Source
View Our Work with NSU | Source
View Our Work with MCC | Source
Higher Ed Marketing Trends: How Our Partners Fueled Enrollment in 2026
Look across the results from our partners to see the three strategies that have helped them increase college enrollment.
1. They turn admitted students into enrolled ones.
The best student retention strategies start before day one.
Northern State University (NSU) welcomed 3,890 students, 151 more than last year, while enrollment across South Dakota's public universities dipped 0.8%.
NSU’s 370 first-time freshmen, up 28%, form its largest class since 2013 and the biggest freshman gain in the Board of Regents system. Retention hit 83%, the highest since 2007, and on-campus housing grew more than 12%. President LaFave pointed to "growth in nearly every enrollment metric," and NSU's enrollment team credits its people.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) welcomed 4,845 first-year students, up 2.3%, its largest freshman class since 2017. Resident applications rose about 6%, admissions 4.5% and deposits about 4%. UNL credits recruiters for "building relationships with students and families" at about 85% of Nebraska high schools.
At Monroe Community College (MCC), President DeAnna Burt-Nanna points to redesigned onboarding and advising, with a dedicated success coach for every student.
2. They lead with specific programs and outcomes.
Nationally, community college certificate enrollment is up 28.3% since fall 2021, making career-focused programs one of the clearest enrollment strategies. Enrollment marketing that leads with a specific career path and proof it works gives students a reason to act.
Idaho State University (ISU) set an all-time record in fall 2025 with 13,933 students, up 6.6%, with first-time undergraduates up 10.6%. This fall, it held above 13,500 even as applications through the statewide Apply Idaho portal fell 7.7%.
The growth follows Idaho's economy. Undergraduate enrollment at ISU's Idaho Falls campus rose 12.5%, and nuclear-related programs grew 13.7%, building on its pipeline to Idaho National Laboratory.
3. They meet adult learners where they are.
Adult learner recruitment calls for different messages than 18-year-olds receive, including flexible schedules, clear costs and direct lines to better jobs.
Monroe Community College (MCC) now has nearly 1,100 students in SUNY Reconnect, New York's free associate degree program for adults. In nursing alone, Reconnect enrollment jumped from 45 to 110 students, now 41% of the program.
Last fall, MCC marked its fifth straight year of growth after a decade of decline, reaching 9,143 credit students, up 5.8%. Enrollment among students ages 25 to 29 and 30-plus each grew 14%.
What to Watch in 2027: The Enrollment Cliff and Beyond
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The enrollment cliff is arriving. Expect tougher competition for every first-year student, rewarding student recruitment strategies built on earlier outreach and follow-up that feels personal.
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Graduate and international student recruitment need their own plan. At one large Midwestern public university system, graduate enrollment fell 5.6% and international enrollment fell 11% this fall, even as freshmen grew. Undergraduate wins can mask these declines, so graduate and international audiences deserve their own line in the higher education enrollment marketing plan.
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Affordability programs work when people hear about them. SUNY backed Reconnect with $4.6 million for advising, enrollment and outreach. As more states launch free or reduced-tuition programs, the schools that explain them clearly and early will capture the demand.
Planning for 2027 Enrollment? We can Help!
Connect with Epicosity's higher education marketing team about what's working for your institution, or learn more about how we champion success alongside our higher ed partners.
More Wins for Our Partners
The momentum reaches across our partners, from community and technical colleges to research universities.
Fall 2026 (Preliminary)
5,127 students, up 6%; up 22.6% from fall 2023 to fall 2025
Fall 2026
First-time students up 4.7% and new transfers up 6%, led by a 19.9% jump in out-of-state freshmen
Fall 2025
6,700+ students; third straight year of growth, reversing a decade of decline
*Figures are each institution's most recent published results. Fall 2026 numbers for the colleges listed as fall 2025 were not yet public at the time of writing.
Epicosity is Proud to Work Alongside These Higher Ed Institutions
These results belong to the marketing teams, admissions counselors, faculty, advisors and leaders at each institution. As a higher education marketing agency, we're proud to work alongside them and help tell their stories through campaigns like Experience Northern, We Are Nebraska, Bengals Rise and Invested in You.
Congratulations to all our partners on a strong fall!
Our Work
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