Distinctive Edge: Competitor Differentiation Blueprint
A data-driven blueprint comparing your programs with your competitors to reveal where your graduate, online, and adult programs shine, where they blend in, and how to claim a distinctive competitive edge.
Overview
In today’s crowded higher education market, prospective graduate, online, and adult students have more choices than ever — and too many programs sound the same. Distinctive Edge cuts through the noise, giving you a clear, evidence-based blueprint for how your programs stand out, where they converge with competitors, and what it will take to claim a true competitive edge.
Why Distinctive Edge?
Your programs are competing for students like never before. Today’s students compare tuition, delivery format, career relevance, and outcomes with just a few clicks. Distinctive Edge examines 18 high-impact attributes across your programs and those of your real competitors to reveal:
Where you’re distinctive — the features that truly set your programs apart.
Where you’re converging — attributes that look and feel the same as others.
Where you can lead — gaps in the market you’re positioned to fill.
The result is a clear, actionable roadmap to sharpen positioning, refine messaging, and shape student-responsive programs that win in a competitive landscape.
What's Included
- Pinpoint differentiators — highlight the features, benefits, and outcomes that make your programs unique.
- Competitive comparison — side-by-side analysis of curriculum, delivery, and career alignment across peer institutions.
- Expectation check — assessment of how well your promotional content aligns with what students actually value.
- Best practices scan — identify competitor tactics and positioning strategies that resonate in the marketplace.
- Content and curriculum insights — from delivery format to employer alignment, see exactly how your programs stack up.
- Source & Resource Guide — transparent documentation of data sources, frameworks, and supporting materials.
Deliverables
- Comprehensive Differentiation Report — with a clear roadmap to strengthen positioning and stand out.
- Competitor Program Profiles — detailed snapshots of how peer programs are positioned.
- Quick-Reference Scorecards — concise summaries to guide conversations with leadership and faculty.
- Executive Presentation Deck — ready-to-use slides for leadership alignment and decision-making.
- On-campus working meeting and presentation of findings.
What Our Clients Say
Scott gives a thoughtful qualitative approach through data-informed analysis. He makes the complicated understandable and, more importantly - actionable. Scott is my first call if I want insights on opportunities and challenges in higher education enrollment.
— Cherron Hoppes, Chief Academic Officer, The Community Solution Education System
