AI Agents for Higher Ed: How Halda Helps Colleges Overcome Enrollment Challenges with Personalization

March 5, 2025, Provo, Utah

Founded in 2021, Halda.ai has developed AI Student Recruiter, a tool designed to help universities boost lead conversion and enrollment rates. The Provo-based startup has already partnered with over 170 universities, enhancing their enrollment management strategies. By working closely with enrollment marketers and admissions teams, AI Student Recruiter attracts and engages prospective students, quickly providing them with the necessary information and increasing the number of admitted and enrolled students.

The results speak for themselves: Halda’s tool has demonstrated a 200% increase in enrollment rates, with 92% of students reporting positive feedback. The platform also boasts a 97% gross retention rate and aims to further improve these metrics through expanded marketing and growth initiatives.

College Enrollment Challenges

A recent case study by Halda highlighted a sharp decline in college enrollments, showing a 28% drop since 2022. Nationally, higher education institutions are facing unprecedented financial strain, with nearly 100 schools shutting down between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.

“The higher education market is facing a demographic cliff,” said Jon Grover, Halda’s product lead. “Last year, there were about a third fewer high school graduates compared to the previous year.”

Additionally, more students are reconsidering the necessity of a four-year degree. “When I graduated, attending college was expected. Now, many students are opting for trade schools or pursuing careers through social media,” Grover noted.

Student loan debt is another major factor. “Many graduates spend 10-15 years repaying loans, leading them to question whether a college degree is worth the cost,” he added. “If I graduate with a liberal arts degree, can I really earn enough to pay back my student loans?”

The Need for Personalization in Admissions

Traditional college admissions processes struggle to offer a personalized experience due to the overwhelming number of prospective students. “Admissions counselors would love to provide individual attention to each student, but it’s just not feasible,” Grover explained. “Personalization leads to higher enrollment rates and a significantly better experience for students.”

Students often face an information overload when navigating the application, admissions, and enrollment processes. “One of our partners has over 750,000 pages on their website, while a Texas satellite school has over a million. Expecting students to find exactly what they need is unrealistic,” Grover said. “First-generation students, in particular, experience added pressure since they’ve never gone through this process before. For many, it’s the biggest financial decision of their lives.”

AI-Powered Personalization

Halda’s AI Student Recruiter, the newest addition to its Enrollment Management Platform, leverages recommendation models similar to those used by Netflix and Amazon. “These companies handle vast amounts of content while ensuring users receive personalized recommendations,” said Grover. “We applied the same concept to higher education.”

Prospective students using Halda answer a series of questions to customize their experience. “We ask: Why are you here? What are your concerns? Are you focused on tuition, student life, program fit, or post-graduation salary? These insights help us recommend the most relevant content,” Grover explained. “Just like Netflix suggests drama over action based on your preferences, Halda tailors content to each student.”

Initially launched in a limited pilot program with select institutions, AI Student Recruiter is now available to any college, university, or educational institution. Pilot partners include Lynn University, the University of Montana, and the University of West Florida.

"Halda has quickly become one of our most valuable resources for prospective student engagement, inquiries, and applicants. Their progressive approach to AI keeps us ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape," said Jenny Petty, Vice President of Marketing, Communication, Experience, and Engagement at the University of Montana.

Innovative AI Integration

Halda is fully invested in AI-driven solutions, integrating them in creative ways. “We have an AI-powered phone agent that provides real-time voice interactions. Our AI search tool summarizes website content using advanced models, delivering a highly personalized experience,” Grover said. “We also integrate with existing university technologies, such as virtual tours and student communities, to provide a seamless experience.”

Looking ahead, Halda remains focused on expansion.

The Bigger Picture

Halda's mission goes beyond university enrollment. “We’re helping students make one of the most critical financial decisions of their lives,” Grover concluded. “Choosing the wrong major or university can set students back for years, even decades. Our goal is to empower them with the right information to make informed choices.”

For more information, visit Halda's website.

To schedule a demo of Halda's AI Student Recruiter, click here.