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How Colleges Actually Use Social Media [Infographic]

When it comes to reaching audiences, colleges are turning away from traditional media and toward social media.

Anuli is a writer and new-media enthusiast who dreams about becoming the sixth Spice Girl. Until then follow her on Google+ or Twitter: @akaanuli.

Colleges and universities are clamoring for the attention of today’s college students who are always connected. But with heavy competition from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, the attention of millennials can be hard to keep. With that, it is no surprise that colleges and universities have embraced social media as a means to engage students.

A study by the UMass Darmouth showed that, of the colleges surveyed, a whopping 100 percent are using social media. The results of the study are featured in a new infographic developed by bestcollegesonline.com.

When it comes to reaching a target audience, social media trumps traditional media: one in three schools find social media more efficient. In using social media, the primary goals are to engage alumni and maintain the college’s brand image.

For colleges and universities, Facebook reigns supreme as the social network most successful at meeting goals.

Are colleges successful when it comes to using social media? Sixty-five percent of colleges would say they are “somewhat successful.” A confident 2 percent of colleges would consider their social media strategies a “model of success.”

Check out the full infographic below to learn more about how colleges use social media.