Higher Education

Lehigh Graduate Program Interest Soars in 3 Months

How we revitalized one of the nation’s top graduate colleges, boosting brand recognition from modest to magnetic.

Services:
Campaign, visual language, digital marketing

The Client

Lehigh University, recognized among the nation’s top research universities, established their Graduate College of Education to launch professionals who aim to impact the world—one classroom, school, and community at a time.

Well There’s Your Problem

Despite offering a range of impressive degree programs, low awareness kept these opportunities from reaching those who needed them most. Lehigh knew they needed to make some noise—and not the kind that fades into the endless hum of academic marketing. They needed to connect with the right people and get them excited enough to click “Apply.” The kicker: as this was their biggest push to date behind a dedicated campaign, it had to hit the mark. Spoiler alert: it did. Big time.

Write on Target (see what we did there?)

Lehigh needed more than a campaign—it needed brand positioning that defined its purpose and elevated its reputation. The college wasn’t just awarding degrees; it was building a community of educators who see equity, opportunity, and transformation as core values. So, our work began by refining their identity, crafting a voice that radiated personality and purpose. At the heart of the campaign was the theme, “Your Best Work is Ahead.” This aspirational message put educators front and center, reflecting their role as champions for change while aligning seamlessly with Lehigh’s longstanding “Inspiring Future Makers” platform.

Key Messages

  1. Make a Positive Impact
    Work started at the college lays the foundation for equity, opportunity, and transformation, shaping lives and communities for the better.
  2. Be a Champion for Change
    Educators can lead the charge in addressing social injustice, even creating opportunities for communities across the globe.
  3. Shape the Future of Education
    Through innovative models of instruction, counseling, and administration, graduates can tackle the most pressing challenges in education today.

Together, these elements created a clear, cohesive narrative that united mission with story, firmly positioning the College of Education as a standout choice for developing educators who are equipped to tackle any challenge, drive progress, and make a lasting impact.

The Visual Flavor

At the heart of this campaign is a simple but powerful symbol: a book. (Remember books? They’re like the internet, but with fewer ads.) We implemented this iconic shape to serve as both a signifier for the College of Education (COE), and a frame that placed students within it. The result captures a sense of belonging to a community of like-minded professionals, allowing students to envision their path to success.

High Performance for Higher Ed

Over three months, we rolled out a sharp mix of ads across social platforms and streaming services, zeroing in on the tri-state area (PA, NY, NJ). Each ad pointed to a dedicated landing page built to convert, offering quick access to resources, info requests, or applications.

But we didn’t stop there. Captured leads were nurtured with follow-up emails packed with helpful content to keep prospects engaged. And with new insights from the initial launch, we were able to fine-tune future campaigns, resulting in exponential growth in conversions and engagement.

Just to be clear, the impressive numbers below come from the first three months alone.

1M Impressions

delivered across surrounding regions

50 Downloads

of essential program content

50 App. Requests

from prospective students

Talk to us

If you're a motivated marketer and this is making you think "I might want to work with this crew," smash that button below and get in touch. We can't wait to hear from you.