Higher education, Full-Funnel

Higher education is one of the most competitive verticals in digital advertising. Every institution is targeting the same broad audience, prospective students, and competing for the same attention across the same channels.

The result is predictable: high costs, low conversion, and campaigns that feel more like awareness plays than actual enrollment drivers.

The problem usually isn't the creative or the offer. It's the targeting logic.

The Campaign

A university came to Klever with a straightforward goal: increase program awareness and drive online registrations, with a target CPA well below what they'd been hitting with previous campaigns.

We built a multi-channel campaign across CTV, DOOH, Native, and Display, structured around the full decision cycle of a prospective student. Awareness first. Visibility in the right places. Retargeting for anyone who'd shown intent. And Klever GRID AI optimizing performance across all channels throughout the flight.

How It Worked

CTV reached prospective students in their households at the top of the funnel. DOOH drove local visibility in high-traffic areas, keeping the university front of mind in the physical spaces where students spend time. Native and Display picked up retargeting, capturing anyone who'd engaged earlier and moving them closer to a decision.

The logic was simple: show up early, stay visible, and be there when the moment to act arrives.

The Results

725 applications generated. $168 cost per application. CTR came in at 15x the industry benchmark. CTV reached 1.2 million households with a 78% video completion rate.

The campaign worked because it treated enrollment as a process, not a moment. Most digital campaigns try to convert at first contact. This one built familiarity first and let the retargeting close. That sequence matters more than the budget.

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