In a landscape marked by the challenges of declining enrollments and heightened student expectations, Modern Campus, the leader in the learner-to-earner lifecycle platform, recently unveiled its list of the Top Ten Higher Education Websites of 2023. These institutions have distinguished themselves for their outstanding website design and management, leveraging technology to enhance the student experience.
A Digital Front Door to Academia
Recognizing the pivotal role played by college and university websites, Modern Campus celebrated institutions that excelled in creating effective, engaging, and conversion-driven digital platforms. The announcement, made on December 6, 2023, highlighted the importance of these websites as the digital front door to academia and their impact on shaping prospective students' decisions.
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Criteria for Recognition
The ten winners were chosen from a pool of around 4,500 higher education websites powered by Modern Campus CMS, the only content management system purpose-built for higher education. Key factors leading to their recognition included engaging website design, easy navigation with clear calls to action (CTAs), mobile friendliness, integrated catalogs with up-to-date career data, personalized experiences, and brand consistency across subdomains.
Top 10 Higher Education Websites of 2023
In alphabetical order, the institutions recognized are:
1. College of DuPage
2. Duquesne University
3. Ferris State University
4. Florida A&M University
5. Kennesaw State University
6. Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)
7. Pepperdine University
8. Rock Valley College
9. University of Montana
10. University of Wyoming
Student-Centric Design as a Key Differentiator
Modern students' expectations were a focal point in the evaluation process, as revealed in a recent study conducted by Modern Campus and RNL. The winning websites not only met but exceeded these expectations, delivering online experiences that resonate with the target audience.
Empowering Institutions with Modern Campus CMS
Managing higher education websites has always been challenging, given the diverse audience they cater to. The Modern Campus CMS, formerly known as Omni CMS, emerged as a powerful tool, enabling institutions to design and build websites that cater to the expectations of every visitor. The Modern Campus Design Studio further empowers higher education institutions to elevate the design of their digital properties.
Insights from Ferris State University
Ferris State University, one of the recognized institutions, emphasized the extensive capabilities of Modern Campus' Website Personalization tool. Eric Hazen, Executive Director for Digital Experience and Marketing at Ferris State University, highlighted, "The recognition as one of Modern Campus's Top Ten Higher Ed Websites in 2023 underscores our dedication to the needs of our students, presenting a user-friendly website that truly highlightsopportunities offered by our university."
Encouragement for Innovation
Kimberly Prieto, Senior Vice President for Product at Modern Campus, expressed enthusiasm about the institutions' creative approaches to website development. Despite decreasing enrollment rates and increasing student expectations, colleges and universities are rising to the challenge by becoming creative with their websites and digital properties.
Prieto noted, "I'm thrilled about recognizing these institutions who deliver outstanding student experiences while still supporting their brand through their websites. These websites demonstrate their institution's commitment to quality, creativity, and student importance."
As institutions navigate the ever-changing landscape of higher education, the recognition of these ten colleges and universities serves as a beacon, inspiring others to embrace innovation in website design and management. In an era where a compelling online presence is indispensable, these institutions have proven that a well-crafted digital presence is not only an asset but a strategic imperative in attracting and retaining students.
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