Key takeaways
- Top pick: Carnegie, best for: Comprehensive enrollment marketing solutions.
- Also near the top: EAB and EducationDynamics.
- How it was ranked: 10 agencies compared. Each verdict is below.
Carnegie is the best higher education marketing agency for most buyers because it runs enrollment strategy, brand, research, web and digital advertising in one firm and says it works with 700+ higher ed partners.
EAB is best for large-scale student search and recruitment campaigns,
EducationDynamics for schools that want marketing and enrollment coaching from one partner, and
SimpsonScarborough for research-led brand strategy.
Top 10 Higher Education Marketing Agencies, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
|---|
| 1 |  CarnegieCarnegie says it has 700+ higher ed partners and 516 experts on staff. | Comprehensive enrollment marketing solutions | 97.2 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 2 |  EABEAB says its recruitment marketing solutions are trusted by 1,100+ schools. | Institutions that need large-scale student search and undergraduate recruitment campaigns | 95.8 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 3 |  EducationDynamicsEducationDynamics says it has a track record of generating over 115,000 enrollments annually. | Institutions that want marketing and enrollment coaching from a single partner | 94.5 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 4 |  EncouraEncoura says it serves over 2,000 member institutions. | Admissions teams that want student search data and campaigns tied to market research | 93.1 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 5 |  SimpsonScarboroughSimpsonScarborough says it has partnered with 300+ institutions globally. | Creative university branding | 91.9 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 6 |  OlogieOlogie says it has 90+ people in 18 states and describes itself as employee owned. | Colleges and universities seeking a new brand platform and campaign | 90.6 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 7 |  StamatsStamats says it has been in business for 100 years, and its Mid-Michigan College case study reports a 167% increase in RFI leads. | Data-driven higher education campaigns | 89.4 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 8 |  VisionPoint MarketingVisionPoint says it has focused on higher ed marketing for over 25 years, and its portfolio includes work for Fayetteville State University and American University's Baker School of Education. | Brand repositioning for colleges | 88.1 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 9 |  Level AgencyRegent University's VP of Marketing says the school reduced its cost per lead by over 50% after starting with Level. | Online, career and adult programs that judge marketing on cost per enrollment | 86.9 | Custom |
|---|
|
| 10 |  PaskillPaskill says it has been optimizing enrollments since 1986 and has a team of 80+ experts. | Small private colleges and regional universities that want enrollment marketing and a website from one team | 85.7 | Custom |
|---|
|
|
How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Carnegie (#1): Comprehensive enrollment marketing solutions
- EAB (#2): Institutions that need large-scale student search and undergraduate recruitment campaigns
- EducationDynamics (#3): Institutions that want marketing and enrollment coaching from a single partner
- Encoura (#4): Admissions teams that want student search data and campaigns tied to market research
- SimpsonScarborough (#5): Creative university branding
- Ologie (#6): Colleges and universities seeking a new brand platform and campaign
- Stamats (#7): Data-driven higher education campaigns
- VisionPoint Marketing (#8): Brand repositioning for colleges
- Level Agency (#9): Online, career and adult programs that judge marketing on cost per enrollment
- Paskill (#10): Small private colleges and regional universities that want enrollment marketing and a website from one team
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Carnegie, based in Westford, Massachusetts and operating as Carnegie Dartlet LLC, works on enrollment management, predictive analytics, Slate optimization, market research, brand strategy, web development, SEO and paid digital advertising for colleges and universities. Its website design and development work is run through mStoner, a web firm it acquired. Its homepage features work with Rice University, Georgia Southern University and the University of Idaho.
From Custom
PROS- Comprehensive suite of enrollment services
- Proprietary targeted marketing technology
CONS- Long term contracts typically required
- Best for
- Comprehensive enrollment marketing solutions
- Where it falls short
- Long term contracts typically required.
- Pick something else if
- you need flexible short term commitments.
97.2
02
Student search and recruitment marketing at scale
EAB works with colleges, universities, community colleges and school districts on enrollment, student success and research. Its Enroll360 service covers student search, recruitment and yield, and it runs separate programs for graduate, online and adult learner recruitment. In January 2026 EAB acquired Hybrid, a UK digital marketing agency for higher education.
From Custom
PROS- Large partner base across undergraduate, graduate and adult recruitment
- Pairs recruitment marketing with enrollment and student success technology
CONS- Pricing not published
- Less of a traditional creative agency than brand-led firms
- Best for
- Institutions that need large-scale student search and undergraduate recruitment campaigns
- Where it falls short
- Pricing not published.
95.8
03
Full-funnel marketing and enrollment management for higher ed
EducationDynamics provides brand and creative, full-funnel digital marketing, websites, reputation and media relations, market research and enrollment management services such as inquiry qualification and enrollment coaching. In June 2026 it acquired Net Natives, a UK enrollment marketing agency.
From Custom
PROS- Combines marketing with inquiry qualification and enrollment coaching
- Market research and program feasibility studies in house
CONS- Pricing not published
- Enrollment services may be more than a brand-only project needs
- Best for
- Institutions that want marketing and enrollment coaching from a single partner
- Where it falls short
- Pricing not published.
94.5
04
Student search data and enrollment campaigns, now including RNL
Encoura is an educational data science and research organization that runs student search, research through Eduventures, and digital and traditional marketing campaigns aimed at students and families. In October 2025 it acquired Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), which the announcement describes as a partner to more than 1,500 colleges and universities for enrollment and fundraising.
From Custom
PROS- Student search tool with 35+ filters
- Eduventures research informs campaign planning
CONS- Pricing not published
- Fewer brand identity services than brand-led agencies
- Best for
- Admissions teams that want student search data and campaigns tied to market research
- Where it falls short
- Pricing not published.
93.1
05
Branding for higher education
SimpsonScarborough, founded in Washington, D.C. in 2006 and fully remote since 2020 with an Alexandria, Virginia address, offers research and analytics, brand strategy, creative, web and paid media for higher education. It also runs a long-running Higher Ed CMO Study and lists clients including Baylor University, the University of Michigan and Boise State University.
From Custom
PROS- Award-winning creative capabilities
- Deep understanding of campus culture
CONS- Services lean heavily toward brand strategy over paid media execution
- Best for
- Creative university branding
- Where it falls short
- Services lean heavily toward brand strategy over paid media execution.
91.9
06
Brand and enrollment marketing from an employee-owned agency
Ologie, founded in 1987, is an employee-owned agency with Midwestern roots. It works on brand, campaigns and enrollment marketing for higher education and K-12, with clients including Stanford University, Purdue University, Vanderbilt University and Wake Forest University.
From Custom
PROS- Long list of named university brand clients
- Employee owned and independent
CONS- Pricing not published
- Also serves nonprofits and K-12, so higher ed is one focus among several
- Best for
- Colleges and universities seeking a new brand platform and campaign
- Where it falls short
- Pricing not published.
90.6
07
Higher education marketing and research solutions
Stamats is a full-service higher education and healthcare marketing firm offering research, brand and design, website design, content, SEO, digital marketing, enrollment marketing, print and video. Its case studies include Mid-Michigan College, and Belhaven University and Morehead State University appear among its testimonials.
From Custom
PROS- Extensive market research capabilities
- Full-service digital and traditional media
CONS- Longer onboarding and project timelines
- Best for
- Data-driven higher education campaigns
- Where it falls short
- You may face delays due to longer onboarding and project timelines.
- Pick something else if
- you need faster project turnaround times.
89.4
08
Helping higher education institutions thrive
VisionPoint Marketing, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, offers enrollment strategy and consulting, paid media, web and SEO, CRM communications and technical support, and brand and campaign development. It organizes its services by institution type, including colleges and universities, community colleges, graduate and online programs, and state systems.
From Custom
PROS- Exclusive focus on higher education
- Strong creative branding portfolio
CONS- Primarily tailored to higher education rather than K-12
- Best for
- Brand repositioning for colleges
- Where it falls short
- Primarily tailored to higher education rather than K-12.
88.1
09
Performance media for higher ed enrollment
Level Agency runs performance media planning and buying, marketing automation, creative, data science and AI search work for colleges and universities, measuring results in inquiries, enrollments and starts. Level and Becker Media merged in 2023, and WebMechanix is now also part of Level.
From Custom
PROS- Reports on inquiries and enrollments rather than clicks alone
- Data science and marketing automation in house
CONS- Pricing not published
- Performance focus, with less brand research than brand specialists
- Best for
- Online, career and adult programs that judge marketing on cost per enrollment
- Where it falls short
- Pricing not published.
86.9
10
Enrollment marketing, websites and brand for colleges
Paskill, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the trading name of JPL Integrated Communications, offers enrollment marketing, websites, brand, creative and messaging, professional development workshops and an AI platform called Fusion. Its testimonials and case studies name Messiah University and Des Moines University.
From Custom
PROS- Enrollment marketing and website work under one roof
- Offers professional development workshops alongside campaigns
CONS- Pricing not published
- Smaller team than national enrollment firms
- Best for
- Small private colleges and regional universities that want enrollment marketing and a website from one team
- Where it falls short
- Pricing not published.
85.7
Put your company on this ranking
Ask us for a quote for one, two or three years. Nothing recurring.
Positions #4 to #10 are available to larger companies. Contact us.
Not on this ranking?Tell us about your company and we will reply by email.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a higher education marketing agency cost?
None of the ten firms in this ranking publish prices, so every engagement is quoted after a scoping call. A brand research project with SimpsonScarborough or Ologie is priced differently from an ongoing paid media program with Level Agency or a student search partnership with EAB. Ask each firm to separate its fees from media spend and printing costs.
How do I choose a higher education marketing agency?
Start with the problem: a weak brand calls for a research-led firm such as SimpsonScarborough or Ologie, while a thin inquiry pool calls for student search from EAB or Encoura. Then ask for case studies from institutions like yours and for results measured in applications, deposits or enrollments rather than clicks. Carnegie suits schools that want all of these services from one partner.
Which higher education marketing agency is best for small colleges?
Paskill and Stamats both publish work for smaller institutions, including Messiah University, Belhaven University and Mid-Michigan College. VisionPoint Marketing has dedicated services for community colleges. Each can handle enrollment marketing and the website in one engagement, which keeps a small marketing office from managing several vendors.
What is the difference between EAB and Carnegie?
EAB is an enrollment services and technology firm whose recruitment marketing centers on student search, recruitment and yield campaigns, and it says those solutions are trusted by 1,100+ schools. Carnegie is a full-service agency that adds brand strategy, web development, SEO and strategic planning to its enrollment work. Choose EAB for scale in student search and Carnegie for a broader marketing partner.
Can a higher education marketing agency manage our Slate or CRM communications?
Yes, several can. Carnegie lists Slate optimization as an enrollment service, and VisionPoint Marketing offers CRM communications and technical support alongside paid media and web work. EducationDynamics adds inquiry qualification and enrollment coaching for schools that want help following up with prospective students.
Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.