Case Study: Wichita State University achieves 3.6x online enrollment growth with Anthology Online Program Experience

How Wichita State University achieved ongoing online enrollment growth in a turbulent market

Wichita State University, a four‑year public institution serving more than 16,000 students, faced uneven results after launching online programs in 2013 and contended with statewide enrollment declines and the disruption of COVID‑19. In 2016 WSU engaged Anthology and its Anthology Online Program Experience to diagnose why programs underperformed and to build a sustainable online enrollment strategy in a turbulent market.

Anthology deployed a data‑led Research and Performance Marketing approach—market and demographic analysis, targeted creative and paid media, proactive lead outreach, and continuous optimizations (dedicated microsites, SEO, paid social, expanded geo‑targeting, and refreshed creative). The effort delivered sustained growth: WSU’s fully online student cohort increased 3.6x over the partnership, new enrollments rose from 167 in 2016 to 743 in 2021, and the university achieved more than half a decade of continuous online enrollment growth with Anthology’s support.

Wichita State University

Amber Anderson

Online Enrollment Management