A nationwide 2026 salary survey of higher‑education marketing professionals finds modest pay gains — median salary rose to $75,000 from $72,000 — but large retention risks: 74% of respondents said they’d considered leaving higher ed for other industries. Compensation was the top reason cited for potential exits, outweighing workload or management concerns. The report also shows hybrid work is now the most common arrangement and that demand for fully remote roles exceeds availability. While three‑quarters of respondents received raises in the past year, more than half still judge campus pay non‑competitive with private‑sector alternatives. For enrollment officers and chief marketing officers, the findings flag a growing talent pipeline problem: institutions face rising recruitment costs and potential loss of institutional knowledge unless compensation strategies, hybrid work policies and clearer career paths are revised to retain experienced marketing staff.