How to Measure the ROI of Tech in Higher Education

Investing in new technology is always a big decision — especially in the world of higher education, where every budget line needs to show value. But how can you know whether the tech you’ve adopted is actually making a difference?

In most cases, measuring the return on investment (ROI) of university tech is not only possible, it’s essential. And when it comes to student recruitment and admissions, the impact can often be seen in very real, tangible numbers.

Let’s break it down.

‍

A Simple ROI Formula for Higher Education Tech

Here’s a straightforward equation:

ROI = (average tuition fee × number of new students) – investment cost

Say you invest £30,000 in a new admissions platform, and it helps you bring in 15 additional students. If your average tuition fee is £20,000, your return on investment would look like this:

ROI = (15 × £20,000) – £30,000 = £270,000

Not bad, right?

But beyond the numbers, it’s important to zoom out and ask: what’s working well in your current process — and where are the gaps that technology can help fill?

To get the most out of your investment, you’ll want to focus on three key areas.

1. Converting More Leads into Qualified Applicants

It all starts with visibility. If you can’t track where your leads are in the journey, you’re flying blind.

Let’s imagine a promising prospective student — we’ll call him Rob. Your CRM shows that Rob is 80% through his application, but hasn’t logged in for two weeks. That’s a red flag.

With the right tech in place, your team can identify this kind of stall in real time — and act. Maybe it’s an automated nudge email, a check-in call, or personalised content that addresses whatever hurdle Rob might be facing.

To measure ROI here, keep an eye on:

• Lead-to-applicant conversion rate.
• Time taken to move between funnel stages.
• Abandonment points and follow-up effectiveness.

It’s all about catching leads before they lose momentum.

‍

2. Simplifying Admin to Save Time (and Sanity)

Not everything has to be about increasing applications — sometimes, success looks like streamlining your team’s day.

If your recruitment and admissions staff are spending hours answering the same questions or copy-pasting data across systems, there’s serious potential for automation.

Think about areas like:

• Application error alerts.
• Internal status updates.
• FAQs and support queries.
• Follow-ups on missing documents.

These repetitive tasks can often be handled automatically, freeing your team to focus on interviews, academic evaluations and the kind of human touch that can’t be replaced by software.

To measure impact here, look at:

• Time saved on repetitive tasks.
• Fewer back-and-forth emails.
• Happier staff (and fewer burnout symptoms).

Time is money — and time saved is ROI earned.

‍

3. Creating a Better Experience for Applicants, Students and Alumni

Let’s be honest — if your system is clunky, slow or confusing, it doesn’t matter how powerful it is under the hood.

User experience (UX) matters. In fact, it’s often the first impression a student has of your institution.

Does your application portal make it easy to upload documents, find deadlines and track progress? Can students get the answers they need without getting stuck in a support ticket loop?

Here’s how to gauge success:

• Lower application abandonment rates.
• Fewer support requests.
• Higher satisfaction in applicant and student surveys.

Better experiences mean better engagement. And when people feel confident in your processes, they’re more likely to convert — and to stay.

‍

Final Thoughts

Technology isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a tool for transforming how your institution connects with prospects, supports staff and drives growth.

But to get the full picture, you need to look beyond the cost of the software and dig into how it improves your outcomes. Whether it’s saving time, boosting conversion rates or creating a standout student experience, the ROI of the right tech is hard to ignore.

Curious how Full Fabric can help you track, measure and maximise your admissions ROI? Request a demo today.