By Business Wire
Publication Date: 2026-05-11 15:00:00
As students search for outcomes rather than institution names, brand name alone is no longer enough to drive enrollment.
CHICAGO, May 11, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Everspring released this today AI Search Trends 2026: Brand (In)Visibility Briefthe latest installment of his ongoing research into how AI is transforming student discovery. The results suggest a measurable shift: As students move away from searching for university names and toward results-oriented questions, traditional brand-oriented searches are weakening.
Everspring analyzed more than 120 university divisions from flagship and research universities, private nonprofit institutions and regional comprehensive universities. The data shows that search volume for brands has declined across all types of institutions, with the decline being even greater for private and regional schools.
“AI has forever changed the competitive landscape in higher education,” said Beth Hollenberg, CEO of Everspring. “In a world where students…
