From Isolation to Impact: What Graduate Enrollment Teams Can Learn from the Latest NAGAP Research

July 2025

Graduate enrollment has always been a nuanced challenge—but today, the stakes are higher, the audiences more complex, and the paths less linear.

To help institutions navigate this new landscape, PeopleGrove partnered with NAGAP to co-author a research paper that examines how graduate students are evaluating programs, building connections, and defining success. We recently sat down with Charles Ramos (PeopleGrove) and Keith Ramsdell (Ashland University) to discuss the paper’s findings in a live webinar.

Here’s what stood out—and what enrollment leaders should take back to their teams.

Today’s Graduate Students Are Purpose-Driven and Time-Conscious

Prospective graduate students are older, busier, and more outcomes-focused than their undergraduate counterparts. As Keith Ramsdell noted, “They’re making these decisions while managing careers, families, and financial constraints. Time is their most valuable resource.”

That means institutions must move beyond program descriptions and lead with value:

• How does this program accelerate a career?
• What kind of flexibility is built in?
• Are there fast, clear pathways to completion and ROI?

Whether on your website, in outreach campaigns, or during advising sessions, your message must be clear: “This program is worth your time—and here’s why.”

Connection Is a Critical (and Often Missing) Layer

Charles Ramos emphasized a common gap: graduate students frequently go through their entire program without forming meaningful relationships with peers, alumni, or mentors. “We’re asking them to navigate alone,” he shared.

This isn’t just a student experience issue—it’s a retention and outcomes issue.

Creating opportunities for connection—from application to alumni status—is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s essential. And it doesn’t have to be resource-intensive. Tools like PeopleGrove can automate intelligent matching, deliver scalable mentorship, and give students visibility into the networks that support them.

Your CRM Isn’t Built for This Work

A recurring theme in the conversation: CRMs are helpful, but they’re only part of the picture. Today’s graduate enrollment teams need systems that go beyond recruitment workflows and help students thrive once enrolled.

PeopleGrove’s Platform brings engagement, mentorship, advising, and community together—providing not just a better experience, but better data. As Keith put it, “You can’t improve what you can’t see. We need tools that give us real insight into what students are doing and what they need.”