With the end of the fiscal year coming up, now’s the time for community colleges to make the most of any remaining Perkins V funds. In higher ed, so many of us are being asked to do more with less, so its critical schools make the most of every funding opportunity available to them. 

Perkins funding is all about improving access to CTE programs, promoting equity, and making sure what you’re offering lines up with real-world workforce demands. Now is a great time to find creative ways to make full use of the money to prep for future programs set yourself up for more success in the future. 

Here are some digital tools and strategies that can help you hit those goals quickly, at scale, and with clear results.

Why digital investments are ideal for end-of-year Perkins spending:

• Quick to launch: Digital campaigns and tools can be up and running fast—no long setup times needed.
• Easy to scale: Reach the right audience without waiting on new infrastructure or resources.
• Backed by data: Get real-time insights that not only show impact but also help make the case for future funding.

H2: Strategic Ways to Use Remaining Perkins Funds

H3: 1. Use Digital Outreach to Boost CTE Enrollment
If students don’t know about your CTE programs, they can’t sign up for them, so getting the word out is key. Targeted digital campaigns can help you connect with the right people at the right time.
By investing in digital outreach, you can:

• Raise awareness about high-demand career pathways through tools like geofencing, search ads, and social media.
• Re-engage students who’ve checked out your programs but haven’t enrolled yet.
• Reach adult learners and underrepresented groups who are a great fit for workforce-driven programs.

Use Case: Use your remaining Perkins funds to launch CTE-focused digital campaigns now, helping drive student enrollment and show impact before the next funding cycle kicks off.

 

H3: 2. Use Enrollment Matching to Back Up Your Funding Requests
When you can show there’s real student interest in your CTE programs, it’s a lot easier to make the case for more funding. That’s where enrollment-matching tools come in—they help connect the dots between outreach and actual enrollment. With the right data, you can:

• Pinpoint which students are most likely to enroll in high-priority programs.
• Back up decisions to grow or adjust your CTE offerings with real insights.
• Fine-tune your recruitment strategy to better match what the local job market needs.

Use Case: Pair your digital campaigns with enrollment-matching tech to show a clear return on investment. It’s a smart way to use your remaining Perkins dollars while also setting the stage for stronger grant applications down the line.

 

H2: Final Steps: Make the Most of Your Perkins Funds With Digital Marketing

The clock’s winding down on this year’s Perkins funding—don’t let those valuable dollars go to waste. By putting them toward digital strategies that boost CTE enrollment, improve workforce alignment, and deliver real data you can act on, you’re not just making an impact now—you’re also setting yourself up for even stronger funding opportunities in the future.

 

H2: Want to share this opportunity with colleagues?
We’ve made it easy. Download our ready-to-send email template to share with program directors, grant holders, or anyone on your campus who oversees Perkins funds. It outlines why now’s the time to invest in digital strategies that support CTE enrollment and workforce alignment—and how to get started.

 

Ready to get started? Start the conversation today about how you can put these digital strategies to work—boosting CTE enrollment and setting your college up for success in the year ahead.