College Increases Applications by 30%

"Lifting a page from the marketing playbook of credit card companies". This is how one company describes their Variable Data Direct Mail Campaign designed to increase college applications.

Last year, over 100 colleges sent out Ready-to-Submit applications to prospective students. All of the student's information was filled out, and the application fee was waived. All the receiver had to do was sign their name, and mail it back to the school.

The result of these campaigns has been a significant spike in the number of applications. At the College of Saint Rose, in Albany, NY:

• Increase in Percentage of Men: from 28% to 35%
• Number of Enrolled Students from outside Albany area: from 53% to 63%
• Increase in Students who identify themselves as African American, Asian or Hispanic: from 7% to 18%
• Campaign Value: Priceless

See the full New York Times article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/education/26admit.html?pagewanted=1