Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) has made an impressive leap in this year’s social media rankings, securing the #3 spot among Division II schools in RivalIQ‘s 2024 Higher Education Social Media Engagement Report.
“With twice the followers, 18x the videos, 23x the engagement total, and 14x the views as their average D2 competitor, it’s safe to say the Owls knocked it out of the park on nearly every metric we studied,” the RivalIQ report reads.
RivalIQ surveys all DI and DII colleges and universities annually between June 1 and May 31, analyzing their performance on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. The top-ranked accounts demonstrate high engagement rates, large audience sizes, and above-average posting volumes compared to division peers.
“Southern embraces a social media strategy that prioritizes connectivity and relatability—whether you’re a current student, alum, prospective Owl, proud parent, or friend of the university,” said Jason Edwards, social media coordinator within the Office of Integrated Communications and Marketing. “Our approach is rooted in authenticity, drawing out the Owl experience through Instagram takeovers, alumni spotlights, and impactful short-form videos.”
This year, SCSU stood out once again on student-centric platforms, placing 4th on TikTok and 10th on Instagram. With the popularity of photo, video, and meme-based content continuing to surge, these platforms will remain vital for the foreseeable future, amplifying Southern’s impact.
With active contributions from student creators, Southern doubled its TikTok video output per week and creatively leveraged key moments like graduation and athletic achievements to engage its diverse audiences. The approach resonated with everyone — from prospective students and parents to alumni and university partners.
A highlight of the year was the viral success of Disney Channel alum Corbin Bleu’s graduation speech, which garnered nearly a million views and a 20.3% engagement rate on TikTok alone. Moreover, heartfelt content such as a graduation proposal video and New Haven fourth graders delivering encouraging notes during finals week helped foster a sense of community and connection, driving engagement rates far above the Division II median.
“This accomplishment doesn’t happen without the energy, affection, and deep loyalty that our community has for Southern,” said Allison O’Leary, assistant director of social media and media relations. “We are indebted to our incredible partners across campus, whose innovative and impactful work forms the core of our strategy, and to our proud community of Owls who consistently celebrate with us on social and share our content — thank you!”
For those who haven’t yet joined the Southern Social bandwagon, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, Linked In, and Threads. The university’s extended network of social media accounts can be followed here.
