Transylvania University
From a Deposit Low to a Five-Year High
The Challenge
Transylvania University is a small liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky with a history dating back to 1780 and a reputation built on exactly the kind of intimate, high-touch education that today’s students say they want. What it needed was a strategy to make sure more of them said yes.
Applications, admits, and deposits have been a struggle, with deposits hitting just 206 in 2024, the lowest in recent memory. The pipeline was weakening at every stage, and the institution needed new leadership and a strategic partner to help it stabilize and grow.
(Numbers posted as of May 4, 2026 for 2026 and for year-over-year comparisons.)
The Turning Point
In the winter of 2025, a new Senior VP of Enrollment was hired to drive the turnaround, and Waybetter was brought in to fix the entire enrollment journey. Together with the Transylvania enrollment team, the entire student and parent journey was drastically improved. Through all touchpoints and channels, the student and parent user experience was built on best practice and seamless integration inside of Slate. When campaigns were launched in Fall 2025, applications were down 36%, but not for long.
The Work
Swiftly, Waybetter delivered Sophomore to Census:
- A single, evolving portal for students and parents that guides every stage—from prospect to enrollment. A go-to place to explore, take action, and stay connected year after year. The foundation was built.
- Unified outreach across email, text, print, online and digital ads which covers every key cohort: prospects, inquiries, incomplete apps, admits, deposits, and parents–combining lead generation & nurturing into one seamless flow with full transparency and trackability.
- Real-time insights into student behavior and engagement, simplifying prioritization and follow-up for admissions teams. Turns data into clear, actionable next steps.
The Results
The results tell a story of real and sustained recovery.
Compared to Fall 2025:
- Applications went from down 36% at launch to down only 5%
- Admits went up 3%
- Deposits up 9%—279 total, the highest in five years
After seeing only 206 deposits in Fall 2024, Transylvania’s enrollment picture has changed meaningfully. Applications and admits are heading up, and the deposit total is now stronger than it has been in five years—the product of a rebuilt funnel, more personalized outreach, and a team that refused to settle for the status quo.
Here we are — beating the model in ways we couldn't have predicted. Waybetter's (yield) campaign is a huge part of that story."
The Road Ahead
Transylvania is well-positioned to build on this momentum. Waybetter is continuing to deepen the student experience and now focusing on three class years at a time to build lasting momentum and a healthy pipeline to continue to drive visits, applications, admits, and ultimately deposits. Great job by all laying the foundation for continued success!