In a world where 94% of first impressions are design related, can a university or university truly rely solely on its legacy or word-of-mouth to fill classrooms? Gone are the times.
Now, a student’s journey begins online, making the standard of upper education web site design an important consider their decision-making process. A well- designed university website acts because the digital front door of an establishment, welcoming prospective students right into a world of possibilities. It’s where first impressions are formed and where interest can either be ignited or extinguished.
In essence, the effectiveness of a better education website design can significantly influence a student’s alternative, making it an indispensable tool in an establishment’s arsenal to boost enrollment and stand out in a crowded educational space.
It is a incontrovertible fact that a standout digital presence is not any longer just nice to have. It is actually a make-or-break consider attracting the subsequent generation of learners. Thus, your institution’s website is a critical player in the sport of first impressions, engagement, and ultimately, enrollment success.
So, we’ve brought together the very best web site design examples for higher education institutions below for your inspiration.
16 Higher Education Website Design Examples
In the search to uncover essentially the most compelling higher education website designs, we’ve scoured the digital landscape to bring you a curated list of institutions that usually are not just leading the best way in modern design but are also setting benchmarks for user experience, accessibility, and engagement. These universities are effectively communicating their unique qualities and strengths to potential students, fostering a stronger connection, by utilizing modern design elements like virtual tours and customised content.
1. College of DuPage
Upon entering the College of DuPage website, we’re greeted by a homepage dominated by shades of green. As you’ll notice, most other examples below use a white background. The colours used and the massive visuals displayed set this website aside from other higher education web site design examples.
As soon as you enter, there are CTAs that may direct you to your most important purpose of visiting. Do you would like to apply to this school? You can easily do this by clicking the “Steps to Enrollment” button. If you don’t want to apply immediately and wish to get to know the college more, you may access detailed information in regards to the departments, tuition and scholarship options, and student life by examining the detailed menu positioned above. Additionally, the power to access success stories of former students by scrolling down helps prospective students set a goal while getting to know the college.
2. Duquesne University
The Duquesne University website impresses with its modern aesthetic and deal with user experience. This website also has a design that’s out of the unusual. It gives the look of a faculty that serves Gen Z, understands them, and speaks their language at first glance. Highlighting its vibrant campus life and academic excellence through compelling visuals and interactive elements, the location effectively communicates the university’s values and offerings to prospective students.
3. Ferris State University
Ferris State University embraces daring colours and dynamic content to draw users in. The website incorporates a well-organized structure, making it easy for users to navigate through their extensive academic programs and discover what makes Ferris State unique. Users may even immediately apply since unlike many other university web designs, the apply button is true on the highest menu, making it easy for students to start their enrollment process.
4. The New School
With its vibrant red colours and attention-grabbing design elements, this website, in fact, belongs to one in all the world’s leading schools. The New School is a well-liked alternative for many international students, particularly those desirous about art, architecture, and technology. As befits an art school, The New School’s website is designed in a way that’s each edgy and modern, making it quite charming. The use of huge visuals encourages users to explore the location further. If you’re looking for a design example that breaks away from the norm, this website is certainly an amazing one to consider. Perhaps you may collaborate with an online design company to bring the inspiration you’ve gained from The New School’s website to life!
5. Florida A&M University
At Florida A&M University, the web site design reflects the institution’s wealthy heritage and commitment to innovation. With vibrant imagery and comprehensive information on academic programs and student life, the location provides a radical and welcoming overview of the university experience. Crafting an internet site that effectively balances user experience with a novel brand identity like FAMU generally is a challenge. However, we imagine education marketing agencies bring a wealth of experience to the table if needed. Just take note that these specialists can create an internet site that’s each visually appealing and in addition optimized to attract and convert prospective students.
6. Ravensbourne University London
Ravensbourne University London impresses with its daring, creative approach to web site design. Reflecting its deal with digital media and design, the location is a vibrant showcase of student work and modern programs, inviting users to explore and have interaction. This website brings together different design elements to create a fun user experience.
7. St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University combines storytelling with visually appealing design elements to highlight its unique location and community. The website offers an immersive take a look at student life and academic opportunities, set against the backdrop of the scenic Adirondacks. The use of memorable and assured quotes to welcome users is a powerful opening move. Students considering St. Lawrence University are likely to be impressed by the college’s self-confidence conveyed through these quotes. However, a well-designed website goes beyond a powerful first impression. We imagine St. Lawrence successfully uses the remainder of the web site to further persuade prospective students by providing them with clear details about academics, campus life, and the applying process.
Clicking the three lines within the upper right corner reveals a minimalist menu. This menu prioritizes user experience by offering clear access to key information in regards to the school. Beyond basic sections like admissions, academics, and student life, St. Lawrence provides unique student-focused options. Notably, the “Athletics and Recreation” section caters to each aspiring student athletes and people in search of an lively lifestyle. Learning about dedicated outdoor and indoor training facilities generally is a big plus for many students. This highlights the importance of showcasing unique features in your higher education web site design!
8. IAAD – Istituto d’Arte Applicata e Design
When it comes to art schools, expectations and options are vastly different. IAAD’s website exemplifies this perfectly. The IAAD website stands as a testament to the institution’s deal with design, offering a clean, modern aesthetic that showcases its programs in communication design, fashion design, and more. The site utilizes daring typography, vibrant colours, and interactive elements, reflecting the college’s modern and inventive approach. Furthermore, the user-friendly interface invites exploration and discovery with intuitive navigation and interesting visuals, allowing prospective students to truly immerse themselves within the IAAD experience.
9. Stanford University
The quality of a faculty’s website may not at all times be indicative of the college itself. A flashy website from an Ivy League school or a world-renowned institution like Stanford or MIT can’t be the only real consider your decision-making process. However, there’s no reason not to use them for instance! After all, within the competitive world of upper education marketing, even essentially the most prestigious schools understand the importance of a powerful online presence.
As mentioned, Stanford University needs no introduction, and its website lives up to the institution’s fame for excellence. The design is each elegant and functional, offering quick access to information on its groundbreaking research, diverse academic programs, and campus life. The homepage, greeted by vibrant red colours related to the college and enormous visuals of the stunning campus, naturally features recent developments and successes. While attracting a broad range of scholars is undoubtedly a goal for Stanford, highlighting their cutting-edge research and unique programs may be especially effective for students in search of a selected academic focus.
10. Architectural Association School of Architecture
It’s quite natural for one in all the world’s best architecture schools to have high-quality visuals of art and architecture on its website, with little or no text. As you browse the homepage, which embodies all impressions of art with its impressive minimalist design, you’re feeling such as you’re touring an art gallery. When you click on the three lines within the upper left corner, you’ll discover a menu listed for you to explore the depths of the web site.
There’s a novel feature within the menu that sets it aside from other sites. First, it opens to cover half the page. A gray but barely transparent background is used to list many vital categories. However, a big circle element with the apply button is placed for prospective students. We imagine that one of the crucial vital features of a faculty’s website is the power to easily access the applying page despite all the small print.
Although prestigious architectural or art schools could have a more unique design and content, most institutions still don’t tackle the workload of making an internet site by themselves. Web design agencies partner with many renowned universities for an intuitive web site design that converts students. This approach offers several advantages, even in the event you’re not an art school. Partnering with an expert agency can assist you achieve a novel design for your higher education institution while leveraging their expertise in creating user-friendly interfaces that resonate with prospective students.
11. Imperial College
The website of Imperial College London seems to have a unique style compared to many other higher education institution web sites. At first glance, it gives the look of being a news site somewhat than a faculty website. The focus is on student achievements and developments at the college. Together with this content, it’s presented that it’s one in all the world’s leading universities and that prospective students can see where they will go together with the successes of current or alumni students and academic staff.
12. University of Cambridge
Upon entering the University of Cambridge website, you’re greeted by a surprising murals, immediately showcasing the college’s wealthy history. One of essentially the most successful design elements is the clear guidance for prospective students. After being welcomed by a big visual, the “Undergraduate” and “Postgraduate” tabs positioned directly below provide quick access for those desirous about applying. News and events are also prominently featured on the homepage, keeping you informed about all things Cambridge.
The website utilizes a contemporary and clean aesthetic. While the standard school colours aren’t the first focus, using subtle shades of pink and green hints at Cambridge’s modern spirit alongside its established legacy. High-quality visuals and pops of color enhance the user experience without overwhelming the viewer. In essence, the web site strikes a balance between clean minimalism and interesting design elements.
13. Sorbonne University
The website of Sorbonne University is one of the crucial unique higher education website examples now we have come across. With its unconventional design, it offers users an enjoyable visit. The A+ etc. buttons within the upper left corner assist you easily enlarge the font. In addition, this website also has options to make it easily accessible to disabled visitors.
It is just not correct to say that the web site has a hard and fast color scheme throughout, but one of the crucial striking design features is the columns on the suitable side. In a novel design, the colleges are placed in horizontal columns on the suitable side, taking the web site beyond being a mainstream school site. On the homepage, many headings are divided into sections, and the presence of relevant CTAs in each area greatly increases the likelihood of users browsing the web site.
14. University of Lille
The website of the University of Lille, one other popular school in France, boasts a comparatively more complex design. On the homepage, interactive videos showcasing student life at Lille greet you, alongside quick access to news and college details. However, several features truly set this website apart.
A 3-line menu within the upper right corner provides access to site content. Adjacent to the menu is a novel button allowing users to switch between light and dark mode for a customized browsing experience. Furthermore, the web site prioritizes accessibility with a special design for users with disabilities, reflecting the university’s commitment to inclusivity.
The ability to take a 360-degree virtual tour of the campus is one other noteworthy feature. Prospective students can explore the university environment virtually, getting a feel for the atmosphere and potentially saving time and travel costs related to a physical campus visit.
15. Technical University of Munich
The presentation of the campus, courses, and student life through videos elevates the web site of the Technical University of Munich to a better level. The use of navy blue as the first color creates a clean and skilled appearance.
One of the most beneficial features for prospective students is the clarity of knowledge presented on the homepage. The “TUM in Figures” section stands out for its clear presentation of detailed statistics corresponding to student population, awards won, and other vital details that may significantly influence a student’s decision-making process.
The colourful and user-friendly menu within the upper right corner utilizes categorized icons to represent different user groups (students, faculty, alumni), making it easy for visitors to navigate and find the knowledge they need. This approach adds a touch of vibrancy to the web site while also enhancing user experience.
16. Ludwig Maximilian University
The LMU website could have essentially the most unique design on this list. The school’s primary color, green, may be found throughout the location. Geometric shapes play a central role in the web site’s aesthetic. While this unconventional approach might require slight adjustments in information discovery, the well-organized top menus provide a transparent and intuitive navigation system. As a result, visitors can still easily access a wealth of knowledge in regards to the school.
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