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An image for higher ed marketing trends in 2025. A mature woman, who is a higher ed marketer, walks across a street. Behind her is a desolate, gray scale downtown and to the front of her is a vibrant city scape bustling with activity and people.

Higher ed marketing trends shaping an already high-stakes 2025.

From pluralism to branding battles, top voices in higher ed break down the marketing shifts you can’t afford to ignore.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Volt Contributors

Turning the page on tradition.

A deep dive into the magazines that keep alumni connected, informed and inspired.

Donor & Alumni Relations /
By: Erica Levi Zelinger
"The NIL Top 10: Who are the highest-paid college athletes?" article image displaying a collage of six college athletes across different sports, each wearing their team uniforms and caught in action. The top row includes a basketball player from North Carolina dribbling the ball, a gymnast on the floor mid-performance, and a football player from Colorado gesturing with his hands after a game. The bottom row shows a Duke basketball player preparing to take a shot, another football player from Colorado looking focused, and an Alabama basketball player pointing confidently.

The NIL Top 10: Who are the highest-paid college athletes?

Growing collective contracts and sponsorship deals have university athletes — both men and women — raking in record paydays.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Chris Kudialis

Popular on Volt

The Senate just confirmed Linda McMahon as DOE Secretary. What’s next? article image. A digitally manipulated image featuring the U.S. Department of Education Federal Building placed inside a dark boxing ring. The ropes of the ring surround the building, creating a visual metaphor for conflict. The lighting emphasizes the contrast between the brightly lit government building and the shadowy, worn-down boxing ring.

DOE Secretary Linda McMahon already imposed mass layoffs. What’s next?

Before following President Trump’s direction to ‘put herself out of a job,’ the former wrestling matriarch has other ideas and wants Congress to give her a hand.

Education Administration /
By: Chris Kudialis
Private equity is playing for control in higher ed marketing article image. A close-up of a Monopoly board featuring a silver horse and rider game piece near a red house. The board includes spaces labeled "Columbia University" and "University of California," with a large red question mark nearby.

Private equity is playing for control in higher ed marketing.

Fund managers are betting private companies will take over university marketing—one property at a time—as schools tighten budgets.

Marketing & Branding /
By: Chris Kudialis
A picture of Ashley Budd, senior director of advancement marketing for Cornell University, a woman with long borwn hair wearing a black shirt and gold necklace. to the right is a small bubble with a picture of Kevin Renton, Volt Publisher, a man with grey hair and beard wearing a black shirt.

QuickFire: Ashley Budd

23 questions with Cornell University’s Senior Director of Advancement Marketing

Interviews /
By: Kevin Renton
Higher ed weighs the impact of Trump’s executive orders on DEI initiatives article image. A woman in a black business suit walks toward a grand, neoclassical-style university building with a red roof and white columns. The sun casts long shadows, highlighting a well-maintained campus with green lawns and a paved walkway leading to the entrance.

Higher ed faces a crossroads over Trump’s executive orders on DEI.

Legal experts and educators debate the future of diversity initiatives in the wake of new federal directives.

Education Administration /
By: Aila Boyd
What’s next for Cascade CMS? article image. A person sits at a desk using a laptop displaying the Cascade CMS logo on the screen. Nearby, there are a few papers and a yellow folder. The setting appears to be an office or workspace.

What’s next for Cascade CMS?

The Hannon Hill 2025 Cascade CMS User Conference highlighted AI-powered website management, accessibility tools and the role of brand storytelling in higher ed marketing.

Education Administration /
By: Aila Boyd
The center image is of Jennifer Umberger of Kettering University, a woman with chin-length brunette hair wearing a black shirt and blazer. To the left is a smaller image of Volt Publisher Kevin Renton, a man with grey hair and beard wearing a black collared shirt.

QuickFire: Jennifer Umberger

20 questions with Kettering University’s VP of Marketing and Communications

Interviews /
By: Kevin Renton
Are Donald Trump and college sports an NIL match made in heaven? article image. A composite digital image featuring U.S. President Donald Trump on the left, wearing a navy suit, white shirt, and red tie, with a serious expression. On the right, a group of soccer players in green and navy uniforms walk together on a field, engaged in conversation. A white outline of a balanced scale symbol overlays the image, connecting the two contrasting scenes, alluding to policy implications in sports.

Are Donald Trump and college sports an NIL match made in heaven?

The 47th U.S. President could influence amateur athlete pay-for-play in one of several directions this year.

Admissions /
By: Chris Kudialis
College admissions try to balance innovation, ethics and equity article image. A close-up of a black and gold pen resting on a printed sheet of code. The words 'accepted' in green and 'denied' in red are overlaid on the text, symbolizing decision-making processes in AI-driven admissions.

College admissions try to balance innovation, ethics and equity.

As AI becomes more integrated into college admissions, institutions are navigating the challenges of maintaining fairness and transparency in the process.

Student Experience /
By: Aila Boyd
Higher ed administration gets AI boost article image. A young man wearing glasses and a casual blue t-shirt is smiling while working on a laptop. The image has a futuristic feel, with overlaid lines of programming code and a blurred blue bokeh effect, symbolizing technology, coding, and artificial intelligence.

Higher ed administration gets AI boost.

Working through legitimate concerns, higher ed leaders are finding dynamic ways to integrate AI technology across campus offices.

Student Experience /
By: Aila Boyd
A center bubble contains the image of Devin Purgason of Forsyth Tech. He has light skin and short blond hair with a beard. He is wearing black glasses and a gray suit coat. To the right is a smaller bubble with Volt Publisher Kevin Renton, who is a light skinned man with grey hair and beard wearing a black shirt.

QuickFire: Devin Purgason

20 questions with Forsyth Technical Community College’s Executive Director of Marketing and Student Care

Interviews /
By: Kevin Renton
Can generative AI video be used in higher ed marketing? article image. Split image: On the left, a close-up of hands typing on a keyboard, overlaid with lines of programming code. On the right, three diverse students sitting together in a library, engaged in collaborative learning, with an overlay resembling a video timeline below.

Can generative AI video be used in higher ed marketing? 

Although not yet ready for prime time, generative AI video shows potential to transform recruitment, campus tours and storytelling—if humans lead the way.

Marketing & Branding /
By: John Azoni
The Three Major Higher Ed CRMs: A 2025 Comparison Guide article image. A diverse group of professionals engaged in a collaborative meeting around a wooden table, with laptops, notebooks, and coffee cups in use. The setting is bright and modern, featuring abstract gear-like designs on the wall in the background.

The Three Major Higher Ed CRMs: A 2025 Comparison Guide

Explore the strengths, limitations and best-fit scenarios for the three major CRM platforms shaping the future of admissions and marketing. 

Admissions /
By: Ryan Craggs
Podcasts give alumni and the university a chance to build their brands article image. A young woman in a denim jacket writes in a notebook while sitting outdoors. Behind her, a historical building with a clock tower is visible, alongside a large microphone graphic, symbolizing the theme of podcasts and storytelling in an academic setting.

Podcasts give alumni and universities a chance to build their brands.

More schools are using the new media to engage current students while also keeping successful graduates in the fold.

Donor & Alumni Relations /
By: Chris Kudialis
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