Reaching college students online
Research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project sheds light on Internet access by young adults.
American 18- to 24-year-olds have more broadband access, access the mobile web more often, and use social networking sites more than the national average of all adults. Once the data is broken down into groups of non-students, community college students, undergraduates, and graduate students, some differences emerge.
Differences between web usage of students and non‑students
For instance, community college students and non-students use the Internet less, are less likely to have broadband access, and use wireless less than undergrads and grads in four-year programs. If you have an online-only marketing plan to reach these young adults, you’ll be missing some of your audience.
Social media usage by students and non‑students
Non-students use social media more than any one of the college groups—undergrads, grad students, community college students—so a social-media-only program will again miss some of your target student customers.
Mobile usage by students
Finally, college students are more likely to access the Internet on their cell phones than the national adult population, so including a mobile version of your online marketing materials is a good idea.
To learn more, check out the full Pew Internet College Students and Technology Report.