AI Is Changing College Search. How Colleges Can Keep Up

Ellucian's 3rd Annual Higher Education AI Survey Signals Shift from Individual AI Use to Institutional Strategy, Data Privacy Still the Top Barrier

RESTON, Va., March 4, 2026

AI Is Changing College Search. How Colleges Can Keep Up

New search optimization strategies can help institutions attract engaged visitors.

The 2026 Signal: What Higher Ed Leaders Are Telling Us Now

Higher education stands at a pivotal moment. Traditional models — where learners enroll, earn a degree and depart — are being outpaced by the realities of rapid labor market evolution, shorter skill half-lives and learners’ expectations for ongoing relevance and connection throughout their careers. Instead of operating as static credentialing engines, institutions are being challenged to become dynamic ecosystems of continuous learning, mobility…