If you guessed digital, you’re absolutely right! The landscape of student enrollment in India is evolving faster than ever, with digital channels now leading the charge. But what does this shift mean for educational institutions? And how can they adapt to stay ahead?
Industry’s first ever Enrollment Index 2025 by Meritto dives deep into these trends, revealing that digital platforms now drive 72% of student leads, 78% of paid applications, and 62% of total enrollments. This transformation underscores the increasing reliance on tech-enabled strategies to attract and enroll students across different education levels and geographies.
The Rise of Digital in Student Enrollments
For years, offline methods—such as walk-ins, referrals, and campus visits—were the backbone of student recruitment. However, with the rapid digitalization of education, online channels have become the go-to method for institutions looking to scale their reach. The report highlights a few key trends:
- Brandpull Leads the Way: Brand-focused marketing efforts, including SEO, content marketing, and organic search, contribute significantly to enrollments. These strategies account for 26% of all enrollments, proving that students respond well to informative, engaging content.
- Chatbots Are Gaining Ground: AI-driven chatbots are making a remarkable impact, helping institutions nurture student inquiries with instant responses and personalized interactions.
- Paid Channels Drive Strategic Growth: Platforms like Google, Shiksha, Collegedunia, and CollegeDekho collectively contribute over 20.03% of enrollments, with Google leading at 10.13%.
![Carousel slide 1]()
![Carousel 2]()
![Carousel 3]()
![Carousel 4]()
Student Mobility: Where Are Students Going?
One of the most interesting findings from the report is the changing student mobility patterns. Major zones like North and West retain over 80% of their students locally, while the Central Zone is emerging as a new education hub, attracting students from the North and West. Institutions can use this data to fine-tune their outreach strategies, offering region-specific scholarships and engagement programs to attract students from high-mobility corridors.
Addressing the Mid-Funnel Challenge
While institutions are generating a high volume of leads, the challenge lies in converting them. The report identifies a critical gap—mid-funnel engagement. Many students show interest but don’t follow through with applications or enrollments. Institutions that integrate personalized follow-ups, automated communication, and AI-driven engagement tools are seeing improved conversion rates and better ROI on their marketing spend.
What This Means for Educational Institutions
Institutions that succeed in today’s competitive landscape are those that effectively combine high-volume digital outreach with precise, targeted engagement strategies. A one-size-fits-all approach no longer works in student recruitment. Instead, success hinges on data-driven decision-making to optimize marketing spend, ensuring that resources are allocated to the most effective channels.
AI tools like chatbots are becoming essential for enhancing student interactions, providing real-time engagement, and streamlining the enrollment journey. Additionally, investing in organic content strategies, such as SEO-driven campaigns and informative content marketing, ensures long-term growth and sustained visibility. Perhaps most importantly, institutions must focus on mid-funnel engagement to reduce drop-offs by implementing personalized follow-ups and leveraging technology to maintain student interest throughout the enrollment process.
Want to Dive Deeper?
The Meritto Enrollment Index 2025 is packed with insights, detailed enrollment patterns, and actionable recommendations for institutions looking to refine their recruitment strategies. Download the full enrollment index to explore the data and discover how to stay ahead in the evolving education landscape. To know what we do at Meritto & how our innovative solutions can help you to adapt to the fast-changing trends that drive enrollments across India, contact us today!
