Nearly 80% of people searching for degree information read AI‑generated overviews, a recent study found, shifting the first line of contact for prospective students from institutional websites to search engines' answer boxes. Colleges are now prioritizing Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to ensure AI summaries reflect correct program details, admissions deadlines and financial‑aid options. Admissions and marketing teams must produce structured, authoritative content that feeds the algorithms powering Google’s and other platforms’ generative responses; institutions that fail to adapt risk losing clicks and inquiries. Higher‑ed marketers told U.S. News they are auditing web content, FAQs and schema markup to improve promptable answers and verify data accuracy. The change forces admissions leaders to coordinate across academics, financial aid and registrar offices so the content AI surfaces is accurate and up to date—war room work that previously fell to separate units.