How to make your college website stand out

Kate McLaughlin

13th September 2024

Your college website serves as the central hub for students and staff—providing access to crucial course information, facilitating the submission of coursework, and supporting academic and administrative needs.

Not to mention being the first impression a prospective student and their families will get of you.

So you need to keep it fresh.

Managing or updating a college website is a significant responsibility. To ensure your site goes beyond being a mere digital placeholder, we’ve highlighted key strategies to enhance its functionality and impact.

Prioritise user experience (UX)

A difficult-to-navigate website is frustrating and can immediately turn potential students away. Your college website should avoid this pitfall by focusing on a seamless and user-friendly experience. Here’s how you can achieve that:

Clear navigation

Your navigation should help users quickly locate essential information, such as admissions requirements, academic programmes, and campus life details.

Responsive design

With an increasing number of users accessing websites via smartphones and tablets, your site must be mobile-friendly and provide a smooth and easy browsing experience.

Fast load times

A slow-loading website can deter users and frustrate visitors. Optimise images, streamline code, and use caching techniques to enhance page load times.

Accessible design

Make your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Implement accessibility features such as text alternatives for images and colour contrast.

Engaging visuals

Use high-quality images and videos that reflect your campus culture and community. Engaging visuals can make your site more appealing and provide a better sense of what life at your college is like.

Clear CTAs

Make it easy for users to take desired actions, whether it’s applying for admission, contacting a department, or signing up for events. Use clear, compelling calls to action and place them prominently on your pages.

Runshaw College Website

Over 18 years working with the North West’s leading college

As Runshaw College’s trusted web development partner, our proven track record demonstrates our ability to deliver projects on time, within budget, and beyond expectations.

We’ve crafted innovative solutions that enable Runshaw College to effectively engage with current students and staff while also showcasing their courses and learning opportunities to a broader audience of prospective students and potential staff members.

Our websites are not only informative but also radiate a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. They provide easy access to learning resources and the latest college news, ensuring a dynamic and user-friendly experience for both students and staff.

Learn more about the work we do with Runshaw College.

Engage with compelling content

The quality of the information you share is crucial. You wouldn’t provide a student with a half-finished and outdated text book—so why should you let your website reflect this?

Engaging content can significantly enhance your college website, making it more appealing and informative, and improve SEO rankings.

Showcase campus life

Chances are, most of your prospective students know what course they want to join and if they don’t, they’re looking for a college that will help guide them. High-quality visuals of campus events, social activities, and everyday moments can create an immersive experience for visitors.

Consider adding a virtual tour to give prospective students and their families a real sense of what it’s like to be part of your community. This interactive feature allows users to explore campus facilities and landmarks from the comfort of their homes, enhancing their connection to your institution.

Highlight success stories

Share stories about successful alumni and current students to add a personal touch to your website. Testimonials and case studies can illustrate the positive impact of your college and inspire prospective students.

Feature interviews, achievements, and experiences that showcase the diverse paths and successes of your graduates. Highlighting these success stories builds credibility and demonstrates the tangible outcomes of your programmes and the supportive environment you offer.

Streamline admissions and information access

Your website is there to provide information about courses and make the admissions process as straightforward as possible.

By making the admissions process more accessible and user-friendly, you’ll reduce barriers for prospective students and make a strong first impression, helping to convert visitors into applicants.

Easy access to forms

Admission forms and application materials should be easy to find and complete. Have a dedicated admissions section where all relevant forms like applications, financial aid documents and course registrations sit in an organised and accessible way.

Better yet, integrate an online application portal that allows students to submit forms digitally, track their application progress, and receive updates in real-time. This kind of functionality not only simplifies the process for applicants but also streamlines your admissions workflow.

Clear deadlines and requirements

Avoid confusion by providing clear, concise information about admissions deadlines, entry requirements, and application procedures.

Create a timeline or checklist outlining key steps, including due dates for applications, financial aid submissions, and required documents.

Make this information highly visible on relevant pages, ensuring prospective students know exactly what to do and when to do it.

 

Little Lever High School Website

Bespoke online learning system for Bolton’s leading high school

Little Lever School partnered with us to develop a vibrant new website with integrated remote learning capabilities to support over a thousand pupils.

The initial brief provided by the school was for a bright, easy-to-navigate website that offered staff an easy-to-use content management system and the ability to create new pages, news items and events whenever they needed to.

The new website had a complete redesign with bright colours and a professional theme to reflect the personality of the school. The layouts had to be user-friendly and accessible, we ensured that the system was easy to use and straightforward to find the correct information, depending on year group and subject.

Learn more about the work we do with Little Lever High School.

Incorporate interactive features

Adding interactive features to your website can significantly boost engagement and provide users with a more dynamic, informative experience.

Chatbots

Implementing a chatbot is an excellent way to offer instant support and answer common questions in real time. Prospective students often have queries about admissions, programmes, and campus life, and a chatbot can provide immediate responses without needing human intervention.

This is especially useful during peak admission periods when enquiries can be overwhelming. A well-programmed chatbot can handle FAQs, guide visitors to the correct pages, and even assist with application-related questions, enhancing user satisfaction and reducing response times.

Event calendars

Incorporating a dynamic event calendar is a great way to keep your community informed and engaged. A live calendar that features upcoming campus events, workshops, open days, and important academic dates ensures that students, staff, and visitors are always aware of what’s happening.

You can allow users to filter events by category or date and sync them with their personal calendars. This feature not only enhances the user experience but also fosters a greater sense of connection and participation within your college community.

 

Focus on accessibility

An inclusive website is not just good practice; it’s essential.

Ensuring your site is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities, broadens your reach and demonstrates a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Alt text for images

Ensure all images on your site include descriptive alt text. This allows screen readers to convey image content to visually impaired users, improving their browsing experience and accessibility to the information you present.

Keyboard navigation

Your website should be fully navigable using a keyboard alone, which is crucial for users with mobility impairments who cannot rely on a mouse.

Test your site for keyboard compatibility, ensuring that all menus, buttons, and forms can be easily accessed through keyboard commands.

Need help making your college website shine?

If you’re ready to elevate your college website, we’re here to help. Our web design and development team specialises in building dynamic, user-friendly websites tailored to educational institutions. From intuitive navigation and engaging content to robust SEO and accessibility features, we can transform your site into a powerful tool for attracting students and supporting your entire academic community.

Ready to get started?Contact us today to learn how we can help you create a college website that stands out and delivers an exceptional experience for all users.

Continue reading