After countless hours of development (and hand-wringing), your new online program launched six months ago. But enrollment? Not what you had in mind. Student engagement? Lower than expected. Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. While full enrollment is the ultimate goal, few online programs are an overnight success. The difference between programs that fail and programs that thrive isn’t luck—it’s strategy.
Successful institutions know building a thriving online program isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon that requires patience, time, and financial investment to stay relevant for the long haul.
The good news? We’ve got seven helpful steps that can help you deliver results year after year.
1. Plan for Ongoing Investments Beyond Launch
Here’s where most programs go wrong: They budget for development and launch, then expect the program to sustain itself. Successful programs require continual investment in areas you might not have considered, like:
- Innovative, unique course content and offerings that keep you competitive
- Accomplished faculty
- Program resources
- Marketing and student support services
While this isn’t an exact dollar figure, it does provide a clearer picture of what goes into your long-term investment.
2. Develop Thoughtful, Forward-Thinking Online Programs
For a program to be successful long-term, it should focus on an emerging field. Your online program should meet the demands of an evolving workplace—and it shouldn’t take years to complete.
Once you’ve chosen your focus, the real work begins: designing and developing the curriculum. As you’re aware, this alone can take years. You’ll need to:
- Film lecture modules
- Create presentations and course materials
- Set up your LMS and other technology infrastructure
- Provide necessary training to program faculty
Today’s students demand engaging, interactive, and relevant content. Make sure to include features like:
- Video content, including live action and animation/graphics where possible
- Discussion forums with optional live sessions
- Inspiring case studies that help students envision their own future success
These elements will help define a quality program for students—one they’re more likely to recommend to friends.
3. Master the Art of Repetition (Without Overload)
Social media, SEO, GEO, email, SMS, and word of mouth all help with reaching your audience. But there are a lot of people to reach. And it sometimes takes reaching a person multiple times before they’re moved to action.
Repetition and consistency will put your program front and center in their minds. Overload, on the other hand, will make them never want to hear about it again. So, send those emails and SMS messages. Share social media posts—text, images, and videos. But stagger your content so you don’t overwhelm your audience.
4. Prioritize Speed in Your Enrollment Process
Here’s a reality check: When prospects show interest, they’re probably looking at other institutions, too. You’re in the running, but your competitive advantages and response speed and quality often seal the deal.
An interest form submission marks just the start of an ongoing conversation that will include student success representatives, advisors, and others. Timely, thoughtful responses to all their questions help prospective students feel confident that you’re the right choice. Remember—every delay gives your competitors an advantage.
And speed remains crucial even after prospects apply. Processing applications quickly and streamlining your admissions process is just as critical. A prospect who’s ready to commit can easily lose momentum if they’re waiting weeks for an admissions decision while your competitor gets back to them in days.
5. Track Leading Indicators Before Problems Start
Most institutions measure their success too late. By the time graduation rates drop or enrollment falls, they’re already behind. Smart program heads track the leading indicators that predict problems before they become crises.
Peer mentors and personalized success coaches can help keep online students on track. Be sure to provide as many support services as possible from the on-campus experience and any specific to remote students.
6. Use Data to Predict Future Performance
Several semesters have passed since your online program launched. Its first graduates are accepting their diplomas. This is a time to celebrate your success, but it’s also time for a deeper analysis of your performance.
Pull existing data for answers to questions like:
- Are enrollments increasing?
- Are you attracting more prospects?
- Is your cost-per-lead going down?
- Are student surveys mostly positive?
- Are graduates getting the jobs they’re looking for?
Also, use predictive analytics to peek into your online program’s future. You can use student college search data to pinpoint likely enrollment barriers and proactively address them across your recruitment efforts.
Data removes guesswork, empowering you to make the best decisions for your online programs.
7. Keep Your Program Current and Competitive
Here’s a hard truth that successful program heads know: This “race” doesn’t have a finish line. You can’t sit back and expect your online program to flourish on autopilot. Regular curriculum updates ensure you’re giving current students what they need to thrive post-graduation.
Measure long-term program success by:
- Accreditation, rankings, and other accolades from respected outside sources
- Continuing and increasing enrollments
- High graduation rates
- Alumni engagement
These metrics take time and effort to achieve but are the true indicators of sustainable success.
The Bottom Line
Building a successful online program isn’t about quick wins—it’s about sustained effort. From ongoing investment and curriculum development to marketing, student support, and continuous improvement, every step requires patience and persistence.
With consistent efforts and adjustments, your program can become a lasting success. Focus on these fundamentals, and you’ll set countless students up for professional and personal success.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the key to a successful online program?
It takes multiple, ongoing efforts to make a program successful. Offering an interactive program in a field that students and employers want and that can be completed quickly is crucial. Without that foundation, your program may fall behind. You’ll regularly need to assess the progress of your program to judge success. - How long does it take to make a program successful?
As you probably already know, it can take months or years just to create one course. Creating a program from existing courses saves time, but there are many steps to success. Persistence is a must throughout. There’s no guarantee a program will succeed, or when it will succeed, but making the right moves can improve your chances of having a popular program. - What should my institution focus on to help a program succeed?
Use best practices at all stages. This includes identifying your ideal student and reaching them through targeted marketing that highlights your competitive advantages. Nurture relationships from first contact through graduation and beyond. Make their decision easy and continue to support it.
Choose Us as Your Team Partner
Apollidon Learning will be right beside you for the entire marathon of your online program’s launch and sustained growth. Rely on us to:
- Help identify programs you should be offering
- Target your ideal students
- Offer robust front- and back-end development
- Nurture positive student relationships from first contact
- Provide reliable data on program progress
- Guide your student retention efforts
Request a tailored consultation today.
Sources:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10758-024-09750-5
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/scaling-online-education-five-lessons-for-colleges
https://er.educause.edu/articles/2010/12/sustaining-students-retention-strategies-in-an-online-program
https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-can-you-ensure-cost-effective-sustainable-lxr5e
https://pathify.com/blog/strategies-to-increase-online-student-retention/