The verdict in three sentences
A private engineering school with 1,800 students in Rabat should budget MAD 120,000 to 240,000 excl. VAT (about EUR 11,000 to 22,000) for a website built as an admissions engine, not a brochure. The three building blocks that make the difference are online applications with document upload, SEO-optimised programme pages in French, English and Arabic, and a connected admissions CRM (+MAD 35,000) to follow up every prospect. Maintenance at MAD 3,000 a month keeps the site up to date during application peaks from March to July.
Website budget, line by line
The ranges below are 2026 orders of magnitude for a private higher education institution with 1,000 to 3,000 students in Morocco.
| Item | 2026 budget (MAD excl. VAT) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, applicant journey, mock-ups | 15,000 to 30,000 | School leavers, direct entry, master's, parents |
| Website build (40 to 70 pages) | 40,000 to 80,000 | Next.js or headless CMS, responsive |
| Programme pages (preparatory cycle, engineering tracks, master's) | 15,000 to 30,000 | Careers, tuition fees, entry requirements |
| Online application + document upload | 25,000 to 45,000 | Transcripts, baccalaureate, ID card, application fee payment |
| Trilingual FR/EN/AR with RTL | 15,000 to 35,000 | Right-to-left layout for Arabic |
| SEO and content | 10,000 to 20,000 | 'private engineering school Rabat', 'computer engineering Morocco' |
| Total | 120,000 to 240,000 | 10 to 14 weeks |
Application fees (often MAD 500 to 1,000) can be paid online by card through the national payment centre, which filters out non-serious applications.
Online applications and admissions CRM: what they change
A school of this size typically receives 3,000 to 5,000 information requests and 1,500 to 2,500 applications a year for about 450 first-year places. Without a CRM, most information requests are never followed up.
| Funnel stage | Without connected CRM | With connected CRM (+MAD 35,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Information requests | Scattered emails | Single prospect record with source (Google, fair, Instagram) |
| Prospect follow-up | Occasional | Automated 3-step email and WhatsApp sequence |
| Incomplete files | Chased by hand | Automatic alert on missing document |
| Exam and interview invitations | Spreadsheet | Automated scheduling and reminders |
| Request-to-application conversion | 25 to 30% (estimate) | 35 to 45% (estimate) |
| Management reporting | Monthly, manual | Real-time dashboard by programme and source |
The CRM can be HubSpot, Zoho or a custom tool; the MAD 35,000 budget covers form connection, custom fields and the first sequences.
Moroccan compliance and requirements
- Law 09-08 and the CNDP: applicant data, often concerning minors, must be declared to the CNDP, with clear information and secure storage.
- Accreditation and recognition: display accredited programmes and state recognition, two decisive criteria for parents.
- Arabic and RTL: a polished Arabic version reassures families and improves rankings on Arabic searches.
Mini case study
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Youssef, development director of a private engineering school in Rabat (1,800 students), receives 4,000 information requests a year and converts 27% into applications. He invests MAD 185,000 excl. VAT in the site and MAD 35,000 in the connected CRM, MAD 220,000 in total, plus MAD 36,000 a year of maintenance. With automated follow-ups, conversion rises to 33%, 240 extra applications. At a 20% enrolment rate, the school gains 48 students. With tuition of about MAD 60,000 a year, that is MAD 2,880,000 of first-year revenue: the project pays for itself in the first intake, even if part of the gain comes from other actions.
FAQ
How long does a trilingual engineering school website take?
About 10 to 14 weeks. Ideally, start in October to be live before applications open in February or March.
Is an Arabic version really necessary?
For a school in Morocco, yes in most cases: it reassures parents and captures low-competition searches. It costs MAD 15,000 to 35,000 depending on the number of translated pages.
Can application fees be collected online?
Yes, by bank card through a Moroccan payment gateway, at about 1.5 to 2.5% commission per transaction. The receipt is generated automatically and attached to the file.
What does the MAD 3,000 monthly maintenance include?
Security updates, backups, uptime monitoring during peaks and 3 to 4 hours of changes per month, such as opening a new programme.
Can the site handle application peaks?
Yes with suitable hosting, for example a CDN and a server sized for 5,000 visits a day. Budget MAD 600 to 1,500 a month for hosting depending on the architecture.
Let's scope your project. Your number of programmes, languages and current CRM are enough to price a site between MAD 120,000 and 240,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 10 to 14 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
