Put School Pride To Work With Promo School spirit isn’t just for students. Branded merchandise brings together alumni, families and faculty, too. By Audrey Sellers STROLL THROUGH ANY CAMPUS, from elementary schools to major universities, and you’ll spot promo in action. It could be custom pencils in kindergarten classrooms or logoed lanyards displaying student IDs. You might also spot alumni hoodies out in the community or proud parents cheering in the bleachers with branded blankets. Promotional products are the MVPs of campus life. They show up in classrooms, quads, stadiums and campus events. These logoed items not only spark a sense of pride but also build community. Seeing people repping your school with promo can spark instant camaraderie. With enrollment on the rise again, there’s renewed opportunity for campuses to build on that camaraderie and boost school spirit. This past spring, total post-secondary enrollment grew 3.2% from last year, with over half a million more students on the nation’s campuses. Community colleges saw the biggest increase, with a 5.4% jump in undergraduate numbers. Which programs lead the charge? Some of the biggest momentum is happening in certificate programs, which have seen a 20% enrollment boost since 2020. Trade-focused schools are booming, too, with enrollment rising nearly 20% over the past five years. When it comes to which populations are heading back to campus, Black undergraduate enrollment rose 10.3% this past spring, with multiracial student numbers not far behind, increasing by 8.5%. More students in their 20s are also heading back to class, with a 5.9% increase in students ages 25 to 29. 48 • JULY 2025 • PPAI Must Read |
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