Case Study: Eastern Washington University boosts engagement and enrollment with Mongoose texting

How Eastern Washington University Reinvented Communications with Texting

Eastern Washington University partnered with Mongoose to improve student communications as response rates declined and large portions of the class were made up of late-cycle transfer students. The university needed a better way to reach students who were difficult to engage through traditional channels and who often needed clearer, more direct guidance throughout the admissions process.

Mongoose’s texting platform helped EWU create a more personal, timely, and interactive engagement model for students. In just one cycle, opt-in rates rose from 77% to 87% for applicants and from 82% to 93% for deposited students, response rates increased to more than 40%, and 25,000 texts were sent over four months. EWU also cut housing campaign staffing from 11 to 6 people, shortened completion time from 6 weeks to 1 week, boosted event attendance, reduced summer melt by 30%, and increased overall enrollment by 3.5% with an 8% rise in net revenue.

Eastern Washington University

Jens Larson

Director of Student Communications