Higher Ed Marketing Conferences Foster Connection and Innovation
The higher education marketing landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, driven by emerging technologies, shifting student expectations, and ever-changing digital platforms. For marketing professionals in the higher ed space, staying informed and inspired is more important than ever.
Higher education marketing conferences provide a great way to keep up with the latest trends, tools, and strategies shaping the industry. From AI-powered personalization and SEO changes to fresh approaches in social media storytelling and enrollment-focused campaigns, the opportunities to innovate are endless.
Attending higher ed marketing conferences like the ones below can help your institution’s marketing team stay ahead of the curve, while connecting with other professionals who are driving the future of education marketing.
Adobe Summit
The Adobe Summit is one of the largest digital experience conferences, offering over 200 sessions and hands-on labs across specialized tracks. Attendees can connect with other digital marketers and learn about cutting-edge digital marketing tools and trends.
When: March 18-20, 2025 (Preconference on March 17)
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center
Website: https://business.adobe.com/summit
UPCEA Annual Conference
Hosted by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), this conference focuses on professional, continuing, and online education. It features engaging keynote speakers, high-energy concurrent sessions, and ample networking opportunities. The 2025 conference will address topics such as access, affordability, student support, innovation, diversity, inclusion, and community.
Archer Education will be attending and exhibiting at this higher ed conference! Remember to stop by and say hello.
When: March 24-26, 2025
Where: Denver, Colorado, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
Website: https://conferences.upcea.edu/annual2025/
AACRAO Annual Meeting
The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) will hold its 110th annual meeting to advance higher education. This event offers opportunities for networking, discussing challenges in higher education, and collaborating on meaningful solutions.
When: March 30-April 2, 2025
Where: Seattle, Washington, at the Seattle Convention Center
Website: https://www.aacrao.org/events-training/meetings/annual-meeting
NAGAP Graduate Enrollment Management Summit
The Graduate Enrollment Management (GEM) Summit is tailored for professionals involved in graduate admissions and enrollment management. Hosted by NAGAP, The Association for Graduate Enrollment Management, the 2025 summit offers dynamic speakers and numerous educational sessions designed to provide new approaches and creative strategies across various topics in the higher education field. Attendees can also connect with fellow NAGAP members to share useful tips and exchange ideas.
Archer will be attending this conference! Remember to stop by and say hello.
When: April 23-26, 2025
Where: San Francisco, California, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis
Website: https://www.nagap.org/2025-summit-graduate-enrollment-management-summit
Conversion Conference
Conversion Conference focuses on conversion rate optimization, bringing together industry leaders, advertisers, and affiliates to foster innovation and collaboration. The 2025 event in Warsaw, Poland, features networking opportunities, keynote discussions, and a packed agenda of workshops aimed at helping global marketers deliver compelling user experiences and employ modern tactics and emerging technologies to fully engage users.
When: April 16-17, 2025
Where: EXPO XXI, Warsaw, Poland
Website: https://www.conversion-conf.com/
eduWeb Summit
The eduWeb Summit is a leading higher education conference focused on supporting marketing, enrollment, advancement, and digital teams from colleges and universities. The 2025 Summit offers master classes, workshops, and speakers addressing current challenges faced by attendees, ensuring each session provides valuable impact. Topics covered include enrollment growth, analytics, and the student experience.
When: July 15-17, 2025
Where: Portland, Maine, at the Holiday Inn Portland-by-the-Bay
Website: https://www.eduwebsummit.com/
PSEWeb
PSEWeb is Canada’s university and college digital marketing conference, bringing together insightful higher education communication and marketing leaders. The 2025 conference theme, Sustainability by Design, focuses on creating smarter, stronger, and more adaptable strategies to keep institutions thriving. Sessions will explore how sustainability influences marketing creativity, teamwork, and technological innovation, blending cutting-edge AI with tried-and-true strategies to inspire fresh ideas across campuses.
When: July 17-18, 2025
Where: Toronto, Ontario, at the Hart House, University of Toronto
Website: https://pseweb.ca/
SMX Advanced
SMX Advanced is a premier conference designed for experienced search marketers seeking advanced SEO and SEM tactics. After a four-year hiatus, the 2025 event marks its in-person return, offering cutting-edge sessions, live Q&A, and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the latest search marketing strategies and technologies.
When: June 11-13, 2025
Where: Boston, Massachusetts, at the Westin Boston Seaport District
Website: https://searchengineland.com/smx/advanced
Digital Collegium (formerly HighEdWeb) Annual Conference
The Digital Collegium (formerly HighEdWeb) Annual Conference is tailored for higher education professionals interested in exploring the role of digital media within their organizations. The 2025 conference will feature diverse learning sessions, providing valuable professional development opportunities for developers, marketers, designers, and strategists. Attendees can expect to find solutions to unique digital challenges and connect with other professionals in the higher education community.
When: September 28-October 1, 2025
Where: DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Online
Website: https://events.digicol.org/digicol25
VidCon
VidCon is a premier convention where digital culture takes center stage, bringing together the world’s leading digital creators, platform innovators, and their fans. The event offers various tracks tailored for community members, creators, and industry professionals, providing insights into the latest trends in online video and digital content creation.
When: June 19-21, 2025
Where: Anaheim, California, at the Anaheim Convention Center
Website: https://www.vidcon.com/anaheim/
Content Marketing World
Content Marketing World is the largest content marketing conference, offering sessions and workshops on content strategy, storytelling, and ROI. Attendees gain insights from industry leaders to enhance their content marketing efforts.
When: September 15-17, 2025
Where: San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center
Website: https://www.contentmarketingworld.com/
OLC Accelerate
OLC Accelerate, presented by the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), is devoted to driving quality online learning, advancing best practice guidance, and accelerating innovation in learning for academic leaders, educators, administrators, digital learning professionals, and organizations around the world. Topics include blended learning, research, student engagement, and technology platforms.
Archer will be attending and exhibiting! Remember to stop by and say hello.
When: November 17-20, 2025
Where: Orlando, Florida, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Hotel
Website: https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/conferences/olc-accelerate2025/
AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education
The American Marketing Association (AMA) Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education is a premier event dedicated to advancing the field of higher education marketing. The 2025 Symposium offers a peer-reviewed program designed to help marketers refine strategies, strengthen institutional reputations, and ensure long-term financial health. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with peers, share insights, and learn from industry leaders.
Archer will be attending and exhibiting! Remember to stop by and say hello.
When: November 9-12, 2025
Where: National Harbor, Maryland, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
Website: https://www.ama.org/events/conference/2025-ama-symposium-for-the-marketing-of-higher-education/
UPCEA MEMS Conference
The UPCEA Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success (MEMS) Conference is the premier event for leaders and practitioners responsible for online and professional continuing education marketing and enrollment management. The 2025 conference will focus on strategies and tools to grow enrollments, support students, and address modern challenges. Attendees can expect engaging keynote speakers, insightful sessions, and ample networking opportunities.
Archer will be attending and exhibiting at this higher ed marketing conference! Remember to stop by and say hello.
When: December 2-4, 2025
Where: Boston, Massachusetts, at the Westin Boston Seaport District
Website: https://conferences.upcea.edu/marketing25/
Benefits of Attending Higher Education Marketing Conferences
While some of these higher ed marketing conferences may be costly to attend, the value each event provides can be worth every penny if they help you improve your strategies and performance.
Learning About Changes in Marketing for Higher Education
Higher education has seen drastic changes in the last few years, and it hasn’t been easy to keep up. Two examples are the shifts in the in-classroom education model and the different types of students seeking higher education. With new students and new expectations, higher ed professionals have a lot to digest and reimagine. Conferences provide an opportunity to get a wide variety of insights from an open group of people looking to learn, grow, and push the field forward.
Innovation and Optimization: Digital Marketing for Higher Education
To keep your finger on the pulse of higher ed marketing trends, you probably read newsletters and follow thought leaders on social media. But nothing compares to real-life communication and collaboration, especially when it comes to emerging technologies. Outside of the higher ed marketing realm, the digital world is also evolving at an intense speed. With new technology comes new strategies and vice versa. While these new ideas and ways of accomplishing them will eventually become widespread, conferences are where a lot of firsts and big reveals happen, giving attendees a competitive edge.
Networking With Higher Ed Marketing Peers
The key to playing a role in pushing the higher ed marketing field forward is connecting with others in the community. Having a set time and place to imagine the future of higher ed with professionals as passionate as you are is a privilege that leads to true collective growth. Some of the most important benefits of attending a higher education marketing conference are getting inspired by leaders, connecting with like-minded colleagues, and building what could be lifelong professional relationships. You never know when a professional connection will pay off, and these conferences are the perfect place to create them.
Let Us Know Which Higher Ed Marketing Conferences You’re Attending!
Archer Education partners with dozens of institutions to help them overcome enrollment challenges using tech-enabled, personalized enrollment marketing and management solutions. We encourage all of our clients to use higher education marketing conference opportunities to find ways to supplement their existing strategies. If you’ll be at any of the conferences Archer is attending, drop us a line and let’s schedule a time to chat!
