Paula French Shares New AI Search in Higher Education Insights With UPCEA
October 20th, 2026 by
Search Influence Director of Sales and Marketing Paula French has written a guest blog for UPCEA, titled “Our New AI Search Research Study Shows Why the Shortlist Has Room for 3.”
The post focuses on AI search in higher education and draws on our newest research with UPCEA, How Prospects Search in 2026.
What Paula’s UPCEA Blog Covers
Paula unpacks findings from a survey of 1,057 qualified prospective adult learners interested in professional and continuing education programs. A few of the numbers she digs into:
- 56% of prospective professional and continuing education students seriously consider three programs or fewer before applying.
- 54% of prospects now use AI-powered tools for program research, up from 35% last year, alongside the 80% who still use traditional search engines.
- 64% of prospects say being cited as a source in an AI Overview makes them trust that institution more, up from 56% last year.
From there, Paula connects the data to what enrollment teams can do about it. Prospects use Google and AI tools in the same research session, so a program that shows up in only one channel can be left off the shortlist entirely. She also outlines what makes a program page easy for AI tools to understand and recommend, including a clear outcome, format, timeline, and cost.
Paula has spent years helping institutions connect enrollment strategy to how students actually search. You can hear more of her perspective in her recent webinar on the invisible enrollment funnel.
A Research Partnership Built on Search Behavior
Search Influence is a Platinum Partner of UPCEA, and this year’s study is the latest chapter in a collaboration focused on helping institutions understand search.
Our earlier joint research includes the 2025 AI Search in Higher Education Research Study, the Marketing Metrics Research Study, and the 2023 SEO Readiness Research Study. Each one gives marketers data they can use in their own planning.
The partnership also reaches into UPCEA’s leadership. Search Influence CEO and Co-Founder Will Scott serves on the UPCEA Board of Directors as Corporate Partner Representative.
Read Paula’s Post and Download the Study
Paula’s UPCEA blog, “Our New AI Search Research Study Shows Why the Shortlist Has Room for 3,” is the quickest way to see how AI search is reshaping program shortlists.
For the full data set, download How Prospects Search in 2026. It covers how prospects use AI tools, search engines, and social platforms, and what builds their trust as they narrow their options.