Podcasts Higher Ed Pulse The Christian College Crisis: The...

The Christian College Crisis: The Fate of Faith-Based Education

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About the Episode

The what's what...

About the Episode: Hosts Mallory and Seth tackle the critical and complex challenges facing faith-based institutions, particularly Christian colleges. With a special focus on the startling rate of institutional closures, the discussion dives into the shifting landscapes of enrollment, market demands, and religious affiliation.

Key Takeaways:

Enrollment Trends: Christian colleges are facing a notable decline in enrollment and school closures that have spiked post-pandemic.
Market Dynamics: Shifts in market demand away from liberal arts to more career-oriented outcomes and increased price sensitivity are notably affecting faith-based institutions.
Cultural Shifts: A national move away from religious affiliation is putting additional pressure on faith-based schools.
Regional Influences: Geographic location plays a significant role, with institutions in the Bible Belt experiencing sustained interest compared to those in the Northeast facing severe declines.
Strategic Responses: Successful strategies for growth include diversifying academic offerings, clarifying brand differentiation beyond just being a Christian institution, and innovative tuition models.

Connect With Our Hosts:

Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

Seth Odell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/
https://twitter.com/sethodell

About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout.

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

About the Podcast

Host

Seth Odell

Widely considered one of the industry's leading enrollment marketing experts, Seth brings over 15 years of education marketing experience at some of our sector's top organizations, including Southern New Hampshire University, UCLA, National University System, and more. Today, he is Founder and CEO of Kanahoma, the fastest growing digital marketing agency in higher education.

Host

Mallory Willsea

Mallory Willsea serves as VP of Marketing at Element451 — the next generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful, personalized, and engaging interactions with students. Her insights on best practices and new trends are informed by her sector research and more than 15 years of experience. Mallory has held executive leadership roles in ed tech and at agencies spanning customer success, marketing, and business development. Her superpower is building media brands to reach, educate, and inspire forward-thinking higher education leaders.