Checklist for redesigning your educational institution's website in 2026

The website of an educational institution is much more than a digital showcase: it is the main point of contactwith prospective students, parents and, in many cases, even with companies and institutions interested in establishing agreements. In the digital age, a well-designed website not only conveys credibility, but also acts as a driver of attraction, conversion and loyalty.

But here a problem arises: many educational websites were designed several years ago, and although they still work, they no longer meet the expectations of today's users. A redesign is not only aesthetic, but also strategic, as it must respond to new trends in user experience, accessibility, technological integration and process optimization.

In this article you will find a complete checklist to redesign the website of your educational institution in 2026, designed to improve student recruitment, optimize admissions and strengthen the digital presence of your brand.

Initial audit: assess the current state of your website

Before starting a redesign, you need to understand what's working and what's not.

Elements to evaluate:

• Loading speed: a slow site reduces permanence and affects SEO.

• Visual design: does it look modern or outdated?

• Navigation experience: do users easily find what they are looking for?

• Content: is it clear, up-to-date and well-structured?

• Mobile compatibility: does it work on all devices?

• Current SEO: does your site appear in relevant searches?

An initial audit will allow you to identify critical areas and define priorities for the redesign.

Define clear objectives for the redesign

It's not about "making a pretty site," it's about designing a platform that meets strategic objectives.

Key questions:

• Do we want to increase admissions applications?

• Do we want to highlight specific programs?

• Do we want to improve communication with current students?

• Do we want to rank better in search engines?

Having clear objectives avoids generic redesigns and helps focus resources on what will really make an impact.

User experience (UX) as a priority

Most users who arrive at an educational institution's website are looking for specific information: programs, costs, requirements, scholarships, admission processes. If they don't find these answers in a clear way, they abandon.

UX recommendations:

• Simple, hierarchical menus.

• Program pages with all the information in one place.

• Visible call-to-action (CTAs): "Request information", "Schedule a visit", "Apply now".

• Accessible navigation with maximum 3 clicks to any key section.

Responsive and accessible design

In 2026, more than 70% of higher education prospects consult sites from mobile devices. Therefore, aresponsive design is a must.

Key points:

• All pages to load and display correctly on mobile and tablets.

• Buttons and forms optimized for touch screens.

• Comply with accessibility standards (WCAG): color contrast, alternative texts in images, compatibility with screen readers.

Accessibility is not only a legal issue, but also an opportunity to reach a wider audience.

Search engine optimization (educational SEO)

An educational website must beeasily found on Google. To this end, the redesign must include an SEO plan.

Essential actions:

• Keyword research: "bachelor's degree in X", "master's degree in Y", "university in Z".

• Creation of blogs and optimized academic content.

• Friendly and well-structured URLs.

• SEO meta descriptions and titles on each page.

• Load speed optimization (key factor in SEO).

Integration of the website with an educational CRM

A common mistake is to see the websiteas a passive showcase. The reality is that it should be a channel of active recruitment. Integrating the site with a CRMlike HubSpot allows you to:

• Capture leads from forms, chatbots or downloads.

• Segment prospects according to their interest in specific programs.

• Automate follow-up emails and reminders.

• Measure which pages generate the most inquiries.

Here's the key: with CRM integration, the site stops being a "digital brochure" and becomes an admissions machine.

Clear, up-to-date and persuasive content

Content is what really convinces a prospect. A good redesign includes aneducational content marketing strategy.

Best practices:

• Update programs with up-to-date dates, costs and requirements.

• Use student and alumni testimonials as social proof.

• Include videos and virtual campus tours.

• Create frequently asked questions (FAQs) sections.

• Maintain an active blog with topics of interest to students and parents.

Incorporate automation and chatbots

24/7 customer service is critical. Prospects don't want to wait 3 days for a response.

With chatbots integrated to CRM you can:

• Answer frequent questions in seconds.

• Offer personalized information according to the program of interest.

• Automatically schedule appointments with admissions counselors.

• Record all data in the CRM for later follow-up.

Digital security and trust

Users share personal data in admissions forms. Therefore, digital security is critical.

Security checklist:

• SSL certificate throughout the site.

• Visible privacy and data management policies.

• Compliance with local data protection regulations.

• Automatic backups and protection against cyber-attacks.

Analytics and continuous improvement

A website is not redesigned and forgotten; it must be constantly evolving.

Recommended tools and metrics:

• Google Analytics 4: to measure traffic, conversions and user journey.

• Heatmaps: to understand which parts of the site generate the most interaction.

• Educational KPIs:

  • Number of leads captured.

  • Conversion from forms to interviews.

  • Conversion from interviews to enrollments.

With this data, the site is constantly adjusted to obtain better results.