Higher education is operating in a more competitive and consumer-driven environment than ever before, and new data reveals what actually drives enrollment growth.

In this episode of the Career Education Report, Patrick Patterson, CEO of Level Agency, and Prithwi Dasgupta, President of LeadSquared North America, join host Dr. Jason Altmire to unpack findings from a national benchmarking study analyzing more than 500,000 student inquiries and $100 million in higher education advertising spend.

Together, they discuss how student behavior, marketing channels, and operational execution intersect, and where institutions are falling behind.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why responding to student inquiries within the first five minutes can increase enrollment conversion rates by nearly 30%
• How AI and automation enable faster, more personalized student engagement
• Why brand building is a critical (and often underestimated) driver of enrollment performance
• How channel mix decisions impact cost per enrollment, not just cost per lead
• Where institutions are misallocating marketing dollars—and how to course-correct
• What “great execution” looks like from first inquiry to enrollment

Practical insights for enrollment leaders, marketers, and executives looking to move beyond surface-level metrics and design student-first experiences that convert.

Resources & Links

• Learn more about Level Agency: https://www.level.agency
• Learn more about LeadSquared: https://www.leadsquared.com
• Check out the Career Education Report Podcast: Linked here
• See the full benchmarking report: Click here

To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities (CECU), visit:
https://www.career.org