What’s Coming in 2026: Bart’s Higher Ed Marketing Predictions (It’s not all AI)

Higher education is heading into one of the most pivotal seasons in decades, and the signals for 2026 are already here. In this special conversation, Bart Caylor steps into the guest seat as Troy Singer and Zach Coffin (VP, The Higher Ed Marketer) guide a candid, energetic deep dive into the headwinds reshaping higher ed. From cultural shifts and AI acceleration to leadership courage and marketing agility, this episode opens the door to the real conversations happening behind the scenes in campus strategy rooms.

🎧 Join us as we discuss:

• The cultural and enrollment shifts accelerating change on campuses

• The Trades Cliff

• How AI can serve as a strategic tool rather than a novelty

• The rise of curiosity content, peer to peer influence, and authenticity

• Why generalists will define the next generation of marketing teams

🎙️ Inside the Episode

03:02 - What the strongest and weakest campuses are revealing about 2026

05:02 - Why friction, tradition, and fear create slow change in higher ed

11:23 - Three cultural and marketing trends shaping the 2026 landscape

15:32 - Why peer to peer storytelling and authenticity now outperform polished marketing

17:33 - The rise of the marketing generalist and what teams must look like moving forward

21:27 - Data informed vs. data driven, and why over analysis is costing schools momentum

23:41 - How trust, consistency, and lived brand experience fuel long term enrollment health

26:19 - The biggest underutilized opportunity in AI for 2026

The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is powered by Caylor Solutions—your go-to partner for higher ed mission-fit marketing strategies, enrollment, AI expertise, and branding needs. 

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