Sometimes the best way to honor tradition is by setting the future alight.

The Opportunity
Bryn Mawr College, a distinguished liberal arts institution outside Philadelphia, has been empowering women through education since 1885. As competition in higher education intensifies, Bryn Mawr sought a unifying brand position that would honor its legacy of gender equity while embracing its forward-thinking vision. The goal was to strengthen the College’s identity, attracting right-fit prospective students while gaining buy-in from internal stakeholders. SimpsonScarborough partnered with Bryn Mawr to help the College reclaim its place among top-tier liberal arts institutions.


The Insight
Our research revealed that while Bryn Mawr’s prospects perceived the College as academically excellent, many were hesitant about attending a women’s college, fearing they wouldn’t fit in. At the same time, internal audiences wanted the College to move beyond traditional definitions of a women’s college to embrace inclusivity across gender identities

The Solution:
To address this, we developed a brand platform that highlighted the value of a Bryn Mawr education and showcased the institution as a place for intellectual rigor and non-conformist thinkers beyond the traditional ideals of a women’s college. The new messaging emphasized that Bryn Mawr
motivates its students to push for what’s next, leading with the student experience and aligning current students’ realities with the expectations of prospective students.