10 Best PPC Agencies for Higher Education in 2025 (Rated)
Pop quiz: Where do you think your next student is most likely to come from?
A. A campus tour walk-in
B. A guidance counselor referral
C. Google search results
If you picked C, congratulations! You’re thinking like the 74% of consumers who use search engines to find educational programs before contacting an institution.
The truth is this: Every time your college or university doesn’t appear in Google’s top sponsored results, that’s a qualified prospect enrolling somewhere else.
In 2025, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is the fastest way to consistently attract qualified student leads and fill your enrollment pipeline.
But here’s the catch: most PPC agencies don’t specialize in higher education marketing! Education PPC is a different beast with longer decision cycles, strict compliance requirements, and prospective students who are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives.
Below are the 10 best PPC agencies for higher education that know what it takes to drive enrollment and maximize your advertising investment.
Why Is PPC Important for Higher Education?
Imagine this scenario: a prospective student realizes they need a degree to advance their career.
What’s the first thing they do? Grab their phone and search “online MBA programs” or “nursing degree near me.”
If you’re not running targeted PPC campaigns, your institution won’t even be in the consideration set.
Here are just a few reasons your college or university needs strategic PPC advertising:
- 74% of consumers use search engines to find educational advice and programs
- Major universities spend over $1 million annually on digital advertising
- PPC delivers an average ROI of 200% across industries
- The average click-through rate for higher ed search ads on mobile is 4.45%
- Students begin researching programs 6-12 months before applying
As you can see, PPC is essential for almost any organization today, but it’s especially critical for colleges and universities competing for enrollment.
How Can a PPC Agency Grow Your Institution?
The best PPC agencies can help you win more qualified student applications by dominating paid search results and social media advertising. Not just once, but consistently, semester after semester. A top higher education PPC agency can help you:
- Increase visibility for your most competitive programs
- Drive more qualified traffic to your admissions pages
- Generate more applications from your target student demographics
- Improve cost-per-lead and cost-per-enrollment metrics
- Maximize your return on advertising spend (ROAS)
- Scale successful campaigns across multiple programs
How to Choose the Best Higher Education PPC Agency
So you need a PPC agency that delivers exceptional results for colleges and universities. But how do you find one that will actually drive enrollment and justify your marketing investment?
Here are the 5 things we looked for when ranking the best PPC partners for higher education:
- Experience in Higher Education Marketing. An agency focusing on education marketing will already understand the unique challenges of long decision cycles, diverse program offerings, and compliance requirements. They’ll generally get you results faster and at a higher ROI than a generalist PPC company.
- Proven Examples of Success. If your PPC provider has truly gotten results for institutions like yours, they should have case studies, testimonials, and hard data to prove it. Don’t be afraid to ask for enrollment metrics, cost-per-application, and ROAS numbers!
- A Focus on Enrollment, Not Just Clicks. Of course, you’ll want to compare pricing, but the cost is only relative to the results they deliver. The best agencies understand that applications and enrollments matter more than impressions and clicks. They should track campaigns all the way through to actual student enrollment.
- Strategic Partnership & Communication. All marketing depends on testing and optimization for success. Work with an agency that communicates regularly, provides transparent reporting, takes your feedback seriously, and uses data to make informed decisions that improve your results.
- Multi-Channel Expertise. The best higher ed PPC agencies don’t just run Google Ads. They should be proficient across Google Search, Display Network, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and emerging platforms. Your prospective students are everywhere—your ads should be too.
Top 10 Best PPC Agencies for Higher Education
We’ve sorted through the noise so you don’t have to. Here is our curated list of the best higher education PPC agencies in the market today:
1. Marketing LTB
Looking for a PPC agency that delivers measurable enrollment growth for colleges, universities, and online programs? Marketing LTB is one of the most results-driven higher-education PPC agencies in the industry.
With 10+ years of experience and 1,200+ clients served globally, Marketing LTB is a full-service digital marketing agency trusted across 100+ industries, including higher education. Our mission is simple: turn your marketing investment into measurable profit using data-driven PPC strategies that attract qualified students.
Core Services
Marketing LTB provides end-to-end PPC management for educational institutions:
Google Ads campaign strategy and management
Facebook & Instagram advertising
LinkedIn advertising for B2B and professional programs
YouTube video advertising
Display advertising & remarketing
Landing page development & optimization
Conversion rate optimization (CRO)
Advanced analytics & attribution modeling
Multi-channel campaign integration
Whether you need to promote undergraduate programs, graduate degrees, certificate courses, or online learning offerings, our campaigns are built to deliver qualified applications at the lowest possible cost.
Notable Results
Marketing LTB has a strong track record in education marketing, including:
30–60% lower cost per application (CPA) for higher-ed programs within the first 90 days
2x–4x increase in qualified leads for universities and online programs
40% average improvement in conversion rates after landing page and CRO enhancements
Consistent enrollment growth year-over-year for multi-program institutions
These results are powered by our proprietary AI-driven optimization system and full-funnel data modeling that ensures ad spend is always directed toward the highest-intent prospects.
Who It’s For
Marketing LTB partners with a wide range of educational institutions, including:
Four-year colleges & universities
Community colleges
Online education providers
Graduate & professional schools
Continuing education programs
Vocational & trade schools
With a team of seasoned higher-education PPC specialists, Marketing LTB helps institutions stay ahead of the competition using cutting-edge ad strategies, real-time reporting, and AI-powered optimizations.
2. Silverback Strategies
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Silverback Strategies is a performance marketing agency with an impressive track record helping higher education institutions drive measurable enrollment growth.
Based in Washington D.C., Silverback combines deep industry expertise with data-driven optimization. They’ve worked with prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins University, eCornell, and OSU Ecampus.
What sets Silverback apart? Their focus on speed, impact, and accountability. They run thousands of marketing experiments annually, allowing higher education clients to capture quick wins while building foundations for long-term success.
Core Services
- Google Ads and Microsoft Ads management
- Paid social media advertising (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- Display advertising and remarketing
- Performance creative development
- Landing page optimization
- Analytics and attribution modeling
- Enrollment-focused campaign strategies
Silverback doesn’t just optimize for clicks and conversions—they tie campaigns directly to tuition revenue and program enrollment, helping marketing leaders clearly explain results to stakeholders across admissions, finance, and leadership.
Notable Results
Clients have reported:
- More than doubled conversion rates at two-thirds of previous ad spend
- 70% of important keywords reaching top-ten positions within eight months
- Significant improvements in qualified lead generation
Who It’s For
Silverback Strategies is ideal for:
- Universities with online and hybrid programs
- Graduate and professional schools
- Institutions seeking enrollment-driven results
- Marketing leaders with ambitious goals and realistic budgets
3. Thrive Internet Marketing Agency
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Thrive Internet Marketing Agency provides comprehensive PPC management services specifically tailored for higher education institutions looking to enhance their advertising strategy and attract more students.
With offices across the United States, Thrive specializes in creating data-driven PPC campaigns that generate high-quality leads and drive student engagement.
Core Services
- Higher education PPC management
- Keyword research and targeting strategies
- Ad copy optimization and A/B testing
- Landing page design and CRO
- Conversion tracking and analytics
- Remarketing campaigns
- Google Ads certification and expertise
Thrive’s team includes Google Ads-certified experts who specialize in education marketing. They employ sophisticated techniques like ads split testing, creating multiple ad versions that run simultaneously to identify top performers.
Notable Results
- Helped a STEM learning program achieve 1-2X ROAS goals
- Consistent improvements in qualified lead generation for education clients
- Enhanced online visibility for multiple higher education institutions
Who It’s For
Best for institutions offering:
- Online learning programs
- Professional development courses
- Graduate programs
- Adult learning initiatives
4. ATRA
Average Rating: 4.6/5
ATRA is a boutique digital marketing agency known for highly targeted PPC strategies specifically tailored to education clients.
They excel in local and program-specific campaigns that help institutions stand out in competitive markets. Their approach combines precision targeting with creative messaging that resonates with prospective students.
Core Services
- Local PPC campaigns for regional recruitment
- Program-specific advertising strategies
- Audience segmentation and targeting
- Google Ads and paid social management
- Creative development and ad copywriting
ATRA’s strength lies in their ability to create hyper-focused campaigns that speak directly to specific student segments, whether that’s traditional undergraduates, adult learners, or international students.
Who It’s For
Perfect for:
- Regional colleges and universities
- Institutions with specific program niches
- Schools looking for boutique agency attention
5. HawkSEM
Average Rating: 4.7/5
HawkSEM is a digital marketing agency that specializes in high-ROI PPC campaigns for industries with complex buyer journeys, including higher education.
They understand that the path from awareness to enrollment can span months, and they build campaigns designed to nurture prospects through every stage of the decision-making process.
Core Services
- Multi-touch attribution modeling
- Full-funnel PPC strategies
- Paid search and paid social integration
- Remarketing and audience nurturing
- Creative testing and optimization
- Performance analytics and reporting
HawkSEM’s data-driven approach ensures that every dollar of your advertising budget is working efficiently to move prospects closer to application.
Who It’s For
Ideal for:
- Institutions with longer enrollment cycles
- Universities offering multiple program types
- Schools seeking sophisticated attribution modeling
6. Perfect Search Media
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Perfect Search Media helps universities and online education providers drive enrollment growth with data-focused PPC campaigns.
They excel in paid search and paid social integration, creating cohesive campaigns that cover multiple student touchpoints throughout the consideration and decision-making process.
Core Services
- Integrated paid search and social campaigns
- Cross-platform campaign management
- Student journey mapping
- Multi-channel attribution
- Creative development and testing
- Performance optimization
Perfect Search Media’s strength is their ability to coordinate messaging and targeting across multiple platforms, ensuring prospective students receive consistent, compelling messages wherever they encounter your institution online.
Who It’s For
Great fit for:
- Online universities and programs
- Schools with diverse program offerings
- Institutions seeking integrated campaigns
7. Vital
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Vital has worked with higher education institutions for over a decade, though they’ve been in digital marketing since 2001.
They’ve been recognized for their marketing philosophy and metrics-driven approach to managing paid advertising campaigns. During that time, Vital has identified key trends in the elements required for successful campaigns that result in student applications and enrollments.
Core Services
- Paid search advertising (Google and Microsoft)
- Paid social media campaigns
- Display advertising
- Bid management and optimization
- Ad copy optimization
- Keyword strategy and adjustments
- Geo-targeting improvements
Notable Clients
- University of New Hampshire
- University of San Diego
- Colorado State University
Who It’s For
Excellent for:
- Established universities
- Institutions seeking proven track records
- Schools wanting time-tested strategies
8. OHO Interactive
Average Rating: 4.7/5
OHO Interactive is a premier web and digital marketing agency with over 20 years of experience working with ambitious marketing leaders in higher education.
They specialize in helping colleges and universities target prospective students, from undergraduates to adult learners, through effective enrollment marketing campaigns.
Core Services
- PPC campaign strategy and management
- Website design and user experience
- Comprehensive data and insights
- Click-to-conversion optimization
- Landing page development
- Creative services
- Analytics and reporting
OHO is equipped to provide comprehensive support from click to conversion, ensuring that digital marketing efforts are optimized to their full potential.
Who It’s For
Best suited for:
- Institutions needing integrated web and PPC services
- Schools targeting diverse student populations
- Universities seeking full-service partners
9. EducationDynamics
Average Rating: 4.6/5
EducationDynamics is one of the leading agencies focused exclusively on higher education marketing.
Their solutions are designed to support the entire student lifecycle, from initial consideration through enrollment and beyond. By combining lead generation, enrollment management, and digital marketing, they help institutions achieve sustainable growth.
Core Services
- Digital advertising campaigns
- SEO and PPC management
- Social media advertising
- Market research and insights
- Enrollment management consulting
- Lead generation and nurturing
- Proprietary data and analytics
EducationDynamics leverages best-in-class technology and market research to deliver customized strategies that drive measurable results in student recruitment.
Who It’s For
Trusted by:
- Colleges and universities nationwide
- Institutions seeking lifecycle marketing
- Schools needing enrollment consulting
10. Sixth City Marketing
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Sixth City Marketing is a dedicated higher education marketing specialist with extensive experience managing PPC campaigns for colleges and universities.
Currently managing over $2 million in paid campaigns for 25+ education clients, they bring proven expertise to every engagement.
Core Services
- Google Ads campaign management
- Facebook and Instagram advertising
- PPC strategy and planning
- Landing page optimization
- Remarketing campaigns
- Budget management and optimization
- Enrollment-focused metrics tracking
Notable Work
Worked with various Kent State University departments including:
- College of Business Administration
- Public Health
- Modern & Classical Language Studies
- Executive MBA program (exclusive partnership)
Who It’s For
Excellent choice for:
- Public universities
- Individual college departments
- Graduate and professional programs
- Schools seeking specialized attention
Final Thoughts on the Best Higher Education PPC Agencies
Whew—that was quite the list! So what’s the takeaway?
- Hiring the right PPC agency can transform your institution’s enrollment
- This means more visibility, qualified applications, and a stronger student pipeline
- But hiring the wrong one? That’s how you burn your budget, waste precious recruitment cycles, and watch competitors fill their classrooms
If you’re serious about enrollment growth in 2025, don’t guess.
The agencies on this list have proven track records in higher education PPC. They understand the unique challenges of education marketing, from long decision cycles to diverse student populations to compliance requirements.
Before you sign with any agency, make sure to:
- Review their higher education portfolio and case studies
- Ask for enrollment metrics, not just vanity metrics
- Understand their reporting and communication processes
- Clarify how they track campaigns through to actual enrollment
- Discuss their experience with your specific program types
- Get clear on contract terms and performance expectations
Remember: the best PPC agency for your institution is one that understands your goals, communicates transparently, and delivers measurable enrollment results.
Ready to grow your enrollment with strategic PPC advertising? Start your conversations with these top-rated agencies today.
About Marketing LTB
Marketing LTB is a full-service marketing agency offering over 50 specialized services across 100+ industries. Our seasoned team leverages data-driven strategies and a full-funnel approach to maximize your ROI and fuel business growth. Discover how our expertise can drive revenue for your business>
About the author, Bill Nash
Bill Nash is the CMO of Marketing LTB with over a decade of experience, he has driven growth for Fortune 500 companies and startups through data-driven campaigns and advanced marketing technologies. He has written over 400 pieces of content about marketing, covering topics like marketing tips, guides, AI in advertising, advanced PPC strategies, conversion optimization, and others.