Best Email Marketing Strategies for Education Businesses in United States

Apr 4, 2025

Education businesses in the United States have one superpower knowledge. But knowledge alone isn’t enough if no one hears about it. That’s where education email marketing comes in. Done right, it can turn casual browsers into lifelong learners. Done wrong, it’s just another email lost in the spam abyss.

We’re here to help you craft United States email campaigns that stand out, engage, and convert. Let’s dive into some industry best practices with real-life examples, expert insights, and a touch of humor.

Personalization

People don’t want to be just “Dear Student” anymore. They want emails that feel like a one-on-one conversation.

Example: Harvard Business School increased its email open rates by 25% simply by using students' first names and past course interests in emails.

Tip: Go beyond names and recommend courses based on past enrollments, learning behavior, or even preferred study times. The more tailored your education email marketing, the better.

Subject Lines

Your email subject line is like a college application essay it determines whether you get a second look.

🚫 "You should enroll for our new courses"

✅ "Master AI in 3 Months - It Starts Today for You" (inviting and goal-oriented)

The Power of Value-Based Content

Really a good email campaign for North America is not just promotion-it's education. Think of the extension of your material.

Example: Coursera sends its students a new email today of free learning resources, besides the paid courses. Thus, they keep education interesting and build trust.

Not: 80% worth 20% promo-that's the industry standard rule. That way, the students are kept engaged but not feeling one has been sold to all the time.

Mobile Optimization

Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your email looks like a messy textbook on a phone, expect an instant delete.

Use single-column layouts

Keep CTA buttons big and tappable

Make text readable without zooming

Example: The University of Phoenix revamped its emails for mobile, leading to a 30% increase in enrollments.

Timing: When to Hit Send for Maximum Engagement

Sending emails at random times is like throwing a pop quiz without warning—it won’t end well.

📅 Best Days: Tuesday & Thursday (students and professionals are most active)

⏰ Best Times: 8 AM - 10 AM (morning focus) or 6 PM - 8 PM (post-work relaxation)

Industry Best Practices: A/B test different send times to find your sweet spot.

Automation: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Who has time to send emails manually? Not you. Automate!

Welcome emails for new subscribers

Follow-ups for abandoned applications

Reminder emails for upcoming deadlines

Example: Udemy’s automated reminder emails increased course completion rates by 30%.

CTAs That Drive Action (Not Just Exist)

A good United States email campaign needs strong calls to action (CTAs).

🚫 “Click here for more” (Too vague)

✅ “Start Your Free Trial Today” (Action-oriented, clear)

Make CTAs bold, short, and benefit driven. Harvard’s online courses saw a 15% increase in enrollments after tweaking CTAs from “Learn More” to “Start Learning Today.”

Test, Track, Tweak, Repeat

What works today might flop tomorrow. Regularly analyze your education email marketing performance.

Open Rates (Is your subject line working?)

Click-through Rates (Is your content engaging?)

Conversion Rates (Are people signing up?)

Conclusion

Email marketing thrives rather than merely survives. You can create campaigns that educate by personalizing, writing engaging copy, designing for mobile access, and adopting strategic calls to action.

It's highly individual; however, one or two emails every week keep them engaged but not overwhelmed.

Following industry best practices ensures your United States email campaigns aren’t just another unread email but a powerful tool to connect with students and educators alike.

As technology evolves, so will email strategies. The key is continuous adaptation, test, learn, and refine. After all, education itself is about growth and learning. Ready to apply these strategies and transform your email marketing game? The inbox is waiting!