Most universities say they care about diversity and inclusion. But if their website isn’t accessible, they’re shutting out millions of potential students before they even apply.
1 in 5 adults has a disability. If your website isn’t ADA-compliant or following WCAG standards, you’re making it harder for those students to enroll. Harder for them to get information. Harder for them to feel like they belong.
And when something feels hard? People go somewhere else.
To avoid this, reading this guide is a good first step as it breaks down:
- How accessibility affects student enrollment
- Why ADA & WCAG compliance aren’t just legal requirements
- The exact steps universities need to take to create an inclusive student experience
Let’s dive in.
What Is Web Accessibility?
Most universities don’t think twice about making their campuses accessible—ramps, elevators, braille signs. It’s standard.
But their websites? A different story.
Web accessibility means designing and developing digital content so that everyone, regardless of ability, can navigate, understand, and interact with it without barriers. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define accessibility standards, ensuring websites are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users.
Deloitte reports that 1.3 billion people worldwide—nearly 17% of the global population—live with some form of disability. Some are visible, like mobility impairments. Others are non-visible, like dyslexia or neurological disorders.
That includes:
- Students with visual impairments using screen readers.
- Students with motor disabilities navigating with a keyboard instead of a mouse.
- Students with hearing impairments needing captions for videos.
- Students with cognitive differences who need clear, easy-to-digest content.
If your website isn’t accessible, you’re actively turning students away.
Higher education websites need to care about something more than just compliance (though ignoring ADA & WCAG standards can lead to lawsuits). They need to care about creating a university experience that’s truly inclusive, before students ever set foot on campus.
Because if they can’t access your website, they won’t apply. And they definitely won’t enroll.
Why Accessibility in Higher Ed Isn’t Optional
According to the latest statistics I’ve read, 1 in 5 adults has a disability.
That means 20% of the people visiting your university’s website may rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, captions, or other assistive technologies just to interact with your content.
If your site isn’t accessible, those students face immediate barriers. They can’t explore programs, apply for admission, or even find basic campus information.
And you already know that when something feels hard or frustrating, most people will give up. They will leave your website and possibly never come back.
An accessible website is a must-have because it signals that your institution values inclusivity. It expands your reach to a broader pool of prospective students and ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to engage with your university.
If you want to open your doors, both digitally and in the real world, accessibility is the answer.
What Higher Ed Websites Must Know About ADA & WCAG
Accessibility is more than a best practice, it’s a legal requirement.
If your university’s website fails to meet ADA compliance or WCAG standards, students with disabilities face unnecessary barriers. At the same time, your institution becomes vulnerable to lawsuits, financial penalties, and reputational harm.
Here’s what you need to know.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, long before digital accessibility became a widespread concern. Today, courts have made it clear, the ADA applies to websites.
If your university receives federal funding or offers public programs, your digital platforms must provide equal access to students, faculty, and visitors. This includes:
- Ensuring your website is compatible with assistive technologies.
- Making key content, such as admissions, course catalogs, and financial aid information, accessible.
- Avoiding legal risks associated with non-compliance, which can result in lawsuits and mandatory remediation.
Legal actions are increasing. In 2023, there were over 4,500 digital accessibility lawsuits filed under the ADA. That’s a 147% increase in just a few years. Even well-funded universities, including Ivy League institutions, have faced lawsuits for failing to provide accessible websites and digital course materials.
As you can see in these numbers, non-compliance creates serious legal and financial risks.
WCAG: The Global Standard for Web Accessibility
How can universities ensure compliance?
By following WCAG, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium, WCAG provides a clear set of guidelines for web accessibility. In 2024, the Department of Justice mandated that all public colleges and universities comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA under ADA Title II.
These guidelines focus on four core principles:
Perceivable – Information must be presented in ways that all users can perceive.
- Alt text for images allows screen readers to describe visuals.
- Captions & transcripts make videos accessible.
- Text resizing must work without breaking layouts.
Operable – Users must be able to navigate and interact with the site effectively.
- Keyboard accessibility ensures that no mouse is required.
- Consistent navigation helps users move through content intuitively.
- Avoiding automatic timeouts prevents users from being locked out of forms or processes.
Understandable – Content and interfaces should be clear, predictable, and easy to follow.
- Jargon and complex legal language should be minimized.
- Logical page structures should use proper headings, lists, and sections.
- Error messages should be helpful, not just “Invalid input.”
Robust – Content must be compatible with different devices and assistive technologies.
- Screen reader compatibility ensures visually impaired users can navigate the site.
- Voice navigation and speech-to-text tools provide alternative ways to interact.
- Future-proof designs adapt to evolving technology.
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
Best-case scenario: Your website creates frustration, limits accessibility, and deters potential applicants.
Worst-case scenario: Your university faces an ADA lawsuit, is forced to make costly website modifications under legal scrutiny, and suffers reputational damage.
Universities have already paid millions in legal settlements due to accessibility violations. Ignoring compliance is not worth the risk.
How to Make Your Higher Ed Website Accessible
Creating an accessible website isn’t a one-time fix, but an ongoing commitment. Universities must ensure their digital platforms meet ADA compliance and WCAG standards to provide equal access for all students.
Here’s how to get started:
Conduct Accessibility Audits
If you’re not testing for accessibility, you’re operating in the dark. Regularly assess your website to identify and fix barriers that might prevent students from accessing critical information. Automated tools can catch basic errors, but manual testing with assistive technology users provides a clearer picture of real-world accessibility issues.
Implement Inclusive Design from the Start
Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought. Designing with inclusivity in mind means using high-contrast colors for readability, ensuring that all images and videos have text alternatives, and making sure students can navigate your website without a mouse. A clear, consistent layout with well-structured content helps everyone, including those using screen readers.
Train Your Staff and Faculty
Even the best accessibility guidelines won’t help if your staff doesn’t know how to follow them. Faculty, web developers, and content creators need ongoing training to ensure course materials, PDFs, and website content meet accessibility standards. Without this, inaccessible content will keep creeping in, creating barriers for students.
Work With Accessibility Experts
Digital accessibility is constantly evolving. Collaborating with accessibility consultants ensures your university stays ahead of compliance requirements and best practices. Regular consultations and usability testing help refine your strategy, making sure your website remains inclusive as technology advances.
A commitment to accessibility is a commitment to equity in education. The universities that prioritize it are avoiding legal risks and building a more inclusive future for every student.
How Universities Can Boost Student Enrollment Through Accessibility
Making your university website accessible is just the beginning. True inclusivity means ensuring that every digital and in-person experience is designed to support students of all abilities.
Here’s how to make that happen:
Ensure Digital Accessibility Across All Platforms
Your website is the first point of contact for most prospective students. If it’s not accessible, they may never take the next step.
Universities need to audit their entire digital presence, including admissions portals, student dashboards, course materials, and virtual learning environments. Every piece of content, whether a PDF, video, or interactive form, should follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines to ensure usability for all students.
Provide Flexible Learning Options
Not every student learns the same way. Offering multiple ways to engage with course material helps create a more inclusive learning environment. This means:
- Providing transcripts and captions for lectures and recorded content.
- Ensuring that online learning platforms work with assistive technologies.
- Offering alternative formats for course materials, such as braille, large print, or screen-reader-friendly documents.
Train Faculty and Staff on Accessibility Best Practices
Even the most accessible website won’t help if faculty and staff don’t know how to create inclusive content. Universities should provide ongoing training on:
- How to structure online courses for accessibility.
- Why plain language and clear formatting improve comprehension.
- The importance of captioning, alt text, and accessible PDFs in all course materials.
Create a Support System for Students with Disabilities
A truly inclusive university experience goes beyond compliance. Institutions should establish clear, well-communicated support services that help students with disabilities navigate both academic and campus life. This includes:
- A disability services office with an easy-to-access website and clear guidance on accommodations.
- Dedicated accessibility coordinators who work with students and faculty to remove barriers.
- Online and in-person forums where students can provide feedback on accessibility challenges.
Engage with Students to Identify Barriers
No one understands accessibility challenges better than the students who face them.
Universities should create spaces for students to share their experiences and recommend improvements. Regular accessibility audits should include input from students with disabilities to ensure that real-world usability issues are being addressed.
An inclusive student experience means creating a university where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. The institutions that prioritize this will not only meet legal requirements but also grow a stronger, more diverse, and engaged student body.
How OPTASY Helps Universities Build Inclusive Digital Experiences
Creating an accessible student experience requires more than just checking compliance boxes, it demands a thoughtful, well-executed digital strategy.
We, at OPTASY, can help you with this.
As a leading web development company specializing in Drupal, OPTASY helps universities design and implement fully accessible, WCAG-compliant websites and digital platforms.
Whether it’s building an ADA-compliant admissions portal, optimizing learning management systems, or enhancing student dashboards for usability, OPTASY ensures that every digital touchpoint supports an inclusive learning environment.
With expertise in accessibility audits, UX design, and web development, OPTASY helps higher education institutions meet compliance requirements while creating seamless, user-friendly experiences for every student, regardless of ability.
Get in touch today to learn more about how to start your accessibility journey.
