Title: How to Market to College Students in 2021 [A Complete Guide]
Headings: Marketing to College Students
Marketing to College Students
Contents
What is College Marketing?
Why Use College Marketing?
Socioeconomic background
College students have money to spend
What should you consider when marketing to college students?
Digital natives
Social Media
Newfound freedom and responsibility
Wariness of traditional marketing
Need for authenticity
‘Convenience, on the go’
How much money do students spend?
HSBC’s Value of Education Study
Deloitte Back-to-College Report
How can you use the college life cycle to your advantage?
What are college students’ values?
Marketing to college students during Coronavirus
How has Coronavirus affected the college lifecycle?
How will Coronavirus affect college students’ lifestyles?
How do you choose Colleges to market to during Coronavirus?
Which marketing channels are best to use during Coronavirus?
How can QR Code Marketing help during Coronavirus?
Is OOH college advertising still worth it?
How should my messaging change during the Coronavirus pandemic?
Resources for businesses during the Coronavirus
How can you market to college students?
Don’t: Advertise in the local paper and TV
Do: Sponsor College Organisations
Target Incoming Students at Orientation
Penetrate Students’ Space
Stand for something
Ditch the flyers
Visit Classes
What Experiences can be used for College Event Marketing?
Student events and activations
Contests
Giveaways
Offer free stuff
Off-Campus Experiential Marketing
How can you best use Peer-to-Peer Marketing?
College Brand Ambassadors
Sorority and Fraternity Marketing
College Street Team Distribution
College Student Discount
How can you utilise Cross-Platform College Marketing?
Advertise on Social Networks
Encourage User-Generated Content
Video Advertising
Speak to them in their voice
Which brands target college students?
Red Bull ‘gives wings’ to college students
Victoria’s Secret PINK gets the girls together
Resources
Bryan Carbone

Content: This makes graduates eager and relatively affluent consumers still looking to establish their brand loyalty. Marketing to college students early on gives you a head start against competitors to build trust and loyalty with the affluent, eager and loyal graduate consumer group. Socioeconomic background
Research has shown that young people from the highest quintile of socioeconomic status (taking into consideration their parents’ education, occupations and household income) are 50% more likely to be enrolled in college than classmates from the lowest quintile [2]. Today’s college students are therefore more likely to have come from privileged backgrounds and have disposable income. Then take into account that median earnings for young adults with bachelor’s degrees is $50,000 (nearly $20,000 above the national average [3]), and it becomes apparent why it’s worth marketing to these people at a young age. College students have money to spend
It would be fair to argue that just because an average college student is likely to come from a higher socioeconomic background does not guarantee that they will necessarily spend the money that they have been bequeathed from their status. This might be true, especially as one survey has suggested that up to 74% of college students work whilst studying to supplement the contributions made by their parents [4]. 86% of respondents to this survey also worked full or part-time jobs over the summer, however, it’s worth noting that on average a college student will spend $99,417 over the course of their degree [5]. What should you consider when marketing to college students? Today’s college students belong to the ‘Generation Z’ generational group.