About Carnegie

Who We Are.

For more than 35 years, Carnegie has been a leader and innovator in higher education marketing and enrollment strategy, offering groundbreaking services in the areas of Research, Strategy, Digital Marketing, Lead Generation, Slate Optimization, Student Search, Financial Aid Optimization, Website Development, and Creative that generate authentic connections.

We connect colleges with students through the power of human connection. We believe that genuine connection is the key to capturing attention and building affinity. Our core philosophy fuses the principles of human psychology with marketing and enrollment innovation; we measure and then market to a student’s unique behaviors and motivators to create deep connection and real conversation. This leads to action, enrollment, retention, and lasting affinity.

As partners, we are an extension of your team; your goals are our goals. We are honored by the partnerships we have made and the clients we work with day in and day out. We believe in earning your trust, nurturing long-lasting relationships, and igniting enthusiasm for whatever challenge you face.

We are Carnegie. 

What We Do.

Carnegie builds custom solutions with best-in-every-class services. Our approach is data driven, personified, targeted, and customized to solve our clients’ unique enrollment needs and challenges.

How We Deliver.

FASTER. LEANER. SMARTER. We deliver better results. We deliver what others simply cannot because we have what others do not—original technologies, powerful data, precision tools, and decades of market leadership experience.

What We Care About.

Our Corporate Social Responsibility

As a company, we have a responsibility to invest in our people, in their passions, in their communities, and in causes that improve the quality of life for everyone. To that end, our TeamCare initiative was created, channeling each employee’s positive energy toward sustainable, inclusive, equity-providing change in our local and national spheres of influence.

This employee-led initiative is comprised of three pillars of focus, each with a dedicated team spearheading efforts and investments:

+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

We believe in the power of differences. We embrace every piece of our humanity and desire to celebrate the backgrounds, perspectives, worldviews, and individual demographic and psychographic identifiers that have shaped and continue to shape who we are. We seek to nurture a culture of inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, sexuality, personality, cognition, physical ability, and other dimensions of identity. Finally, we are committed to actively working towards creating a more just, equitable environment for everyone—no exceptions.

To continue proactively fostering a culture of inclusion, we’ve established elective Employee Resource Groups to celebrate and advocate for various shared identities. These groups help employees find connection, support, and inspiration, as well as provide advocacy and resources for our company to further develop in our allyship with various identity groups.

BIPOC | DISABILITIES + CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS | EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS | FAITH + WORK | LGBTQIA+ | NEURODIVERSITY + MENTAL HEALTH | WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE | WORKING PARENTS

+ Sustainability:

Carnegie strives toward making a positive environmental impact by encouraging Earth-friendly choices within our offices and homes, providing sustainability-focused educational opportunities and philanthropy, hosting company-wide activities that put theory into practice, and advocating for long-term lifestyle changes to preserve the health of our planet.

+ Philanthropy:

Through employee volunteer days, as well as corporate activities that produce in-kind and financial donations, Carnegie aims to build partnerships with local and national nonprofits, schools, and neighborhoods by fostering human connections within our communities and a socially conscious culture within our workplace.

About CollegeXpress (A Carnegie Company)

CollegeXpress is the most powerful lead generation engine in higher education and has been since 1985. CollegeXpress.com is the go-to resource for the college and scholarship search for millions of students, parents, and counselors, which is why it’s a trusted tool for hundreds of colleges and universities. CollegeXpress has been a part of the Carnegie family since 1995, joining Carnegie’s long-standing lead generation division, established in 1985.

About Underscore (A Carnegie Company)

As the country’s largest dedicated Slate development and optimization team, Underscore is transforming the enrollment landscape by leveraging the power of Slate. Underscore’s team of higher education professionals are backed by decades of experience to help partner colleges and universities with Slate development and implementation, Student Search, and enrollment communications and strategy. Whether your goal is to increase enrollment, build in-house operations, or simply learn how to better utilize Slate, Underscore is ready to help. Underscore joined the Carnegie family, and became the Slate Optimization Team, in May of 2021.

About mStoner (A Carnegie Company)

As one of the industry’s most trusted web design and technology teams, mStoner builds elegant, creative, and effective web solutions for higher education. mStoner crafts powerful, tailored, human-centric online experiences to illuminate clients’ brands and allow institutions to tell the story only they can tell. Established in 2001, mStoner has worked with more than 350 colleges, universities, and professional schools in the U.S. and abroad. mStoner joined the Carnegie family, and became the Carnegie Web Team, in October of 2021.

About Maguire Associates (A Carnegie Company)

Founded in 1983, Maguire Associates introduced the concept of enrollment management to higher education. Since then, their innovations in research and predictive modeling have empowered educational institutions with the evidence-based information needed to achieve their goals. Maguire Associates combines sophisticated analytical techniques, customized research, and deep experience in education leadership with a genuine enthusiasm for client partnerships to achieve intended outcomes. Maguire joined the Carnegie family in July of 2022, augmenting Carnegie’s Research and Enrollment Strategy teams and establishing Carnegie’s Financial Aid Optimization team.

About NSCEC (A Carnegie Company)

The National Small College Enrollment Conference brings together peers, professionals, and thought leaders to support and increase the knowledge of individuals engaged in all aspects of the small college enrollment profession. NSCEC became a part of Carnegie’s conference offerings in 2023.

About CLARUS (A Carnegie Company)

CLARUS Corporation is the leader in community college marketing, helping these institutions manage and change constituents’ perceptions, identify market opportunities, and increase enrollment. Through custom digital marketing, research, and branding services, along with a well-honed understanding of its market, CLARUS Corporation delivers enrollment success for community colleges. CLARUS Corporation joined the Carnegie family in March of 2023.

About Fire Engine RED—Student Search (A Carnegie Company)

Fire Engine RED offers strategic enrollment management solutions, most notably Student Search. Fire Engine RED is known for its client-first experience and for delivering a custom Student Search offering. Fire Engine RED’s Student Search team joined the Carnegie family in December of 2023, augmenting Carnegie’s Student Search team.

About Sextant Marketing (A Carnegie Company)

Sextant Marketing is a fee-for-service marketing and consulting company delivering omnichannel marketing and end-to-end enrollment cycle solutions exclusively to higher education clients. Recognized by HolonIQ as a leading Global OPX company, Sextant is uniquely positioned to understand and articulate higher education brand and program value propositions and deliver effective, turn-key full-funnel recruitment, enrollment, and retention services. Sextant joined the Carnegie family in November of 2024.