Although nearly 20 million students are projected to enroll in college in the fall of 2024, troubling enrollment trends continue to turn up the heat for institutions around the country. 

As competition for each prospective student increases (especially for smaller schools and community colleges), now is the time to prepare for handling new applications and enrollments easily and quickly. Fortunately, admissions software and CRMs can better equip your teams to hit those enrollment stretch goals and reach your share of those 20 million learners.

A modern admissions software or enrollment platform efficiently moves students through every step of the admissions and enrollment process, from first inquiry to acceptance. It connects the dots, allowing you to save time, maximize resources, and build stronger connections.

Already weighing your options for admissions and enrollment software this year? We’ve reviewed and rated the top platforms in 2024.

Top 10 Admissions & Enrollment Software for Higher Education Institutions

As we considered the top admissions software for the enrollment process, we looked for platforms that provide features and capabilities such as:

• Student portals and real-time student data
• Applications
• Automatic email and SMS marketing
• Integrations (as part of a connected enrollment solution) 
• Analytics and insights 
• Artificial intelligence (AI) features and insights

Institutions such as colleges, universities, and — in some cases — high schools or private schools can use these software to capture leads, enroll students, and provide an excellent learner experience. As you research the best option for you, we recommend keeping an eye out for:

• Responsive customer support
• The ability to accept payments
• Positive online reviews 
• Customizable features and process 
• Mobile-friendly platform

Let’s jump into our list of the highest-rated enrollment management software for educational institutions.

1. Element451

Element451 is the only AI-first CRM and student engagement platform. This student admissions software uses artificial intelligence to power a more connected student experience. Student AI assistants, staff AI assistants, and knowledge discovery assistants help everyone on campus find the information they need and complete the tasks on their list — maximizing productivity and satisfaction. 

From marketing to applications to retention, Element451 uses AI for everything, and the result is a campus that's perfectly ready to thrive and grow.

Benefits of Element451

• Leverage Bolt AI Assistants to increase response time across every channel and expand internal team capabilities and resources
• Create an automated, fully customizable application and student registration process 
• Automate effective marketing campaigns in minutes
• Engage students in every interaction using multi-channel communications, insights, and forms
• Engage students with a conversational experience across the institution's website with Bolt Discovery, a revolutionary AI search tool that transforms how students get answers 

What Customers Are Saying

Element451 customers appreciate the flexibility, customization, and customer support — and the results. After adopting Element451’s AI-powered CRM tools, Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston Salem, North Carolina saw a 12% increase in enrollment in 2023!

2. AdmissionPros

AdmissionPros is a comprehensive solution for admission management. Designed by admissions professionals, this CRM offers a suite of features to help manage recruitment, admissions, application management, and even data analytics. 

The platform also integrates with third-party providers for advanced workflow automation and centralized payment processing. 

Benefits of AdmissionPros

• Automate emails, SMS, and other marketing communications
• Automatically import official test scores
• Use highly customizable tools and integrations (plus, request new features)
• Access unlimited training days and customer support options

What Customers Are Saying

AdmissionPros is an affordable admissions portal for the value it provides, while tailoring features and functionality to each institution’s needs. The platform's online customer reviews are largely positive, particularly for institutions that have gone paperless or needed an customized enrollment system (rather than out-of-the-box).  

3. EDlumina Admissions (Cyanna Education Services)

If your top goal is to improve student engagement, you might be interested in EDlumina. This user-friendly software from Cyanna Education Services tracks students from the status of brand new lead to proud alumni. 

EDlumina is there to engage students at every stage in the student lifecycle. It's suitable for fully online schools and hybrid programs, as it offers additional features like admissions processing, attendance tracking, and content delivery in one convenient place.

Benefits of EDlumina Admissions

• Access Edlumnia across any smart device
• Use virtual reality and 360-degree video to build immersive educational content
• Accept online payments with advanced billing tools

What Customers Are Saying

Customers enjoy Edlumnia's key features including mass email campaigns, a student portal, and robust reporting. Keep in mind, however, that EDlumina does not have a free version or a free trial. 

4. Salesforce Education Cloud

Salesforce Education Cloud is a powerful platform for managing student data, monitoring higher ed interactions, and using marketing automation to advance student programs. For innovative colleges and universities in search of intelligent automation, Salesforce has what you're looking for—industry-leading apps for admissions staff, recruitment, alumni relations, and academic operations. 

Benefits of Salesforce Education Cloud

• Provide a connected application experience
• View a unified student record with data from integrated systems 
• Plan degree programs with an intelligent drag-and-drop builder
• Take advantage of the powerful Salesforce CRM ecosystem and community

What Customers Are Saying

According to its vibrant community of users, Salesforce Education Cloud is easy to navigate and offers the full package for many colleges and universities. However, it’s priced higher than comparable tools and may not be the best school management system for smaller institutions on lower budgets. 

5. Embark

Embark is widely recognized as an online application solution with a proven track record of powering dynamic student interactions. 

This end-to-end admissions software assists with student recruitment, application processing, integrated admissions, and enrollment. In addition to servicing traditional undergrad and graduate schools, Embark specializes in fellowship, scholarship, and grant programs. Programming also extends to independent music programs, study abroad, and volunteer options as well.

Benefits of Embark

• Benefit from trusted IT and compliance reviews
• Create detailed candidate portfolios, including in-app video interviews
• Integrate with your database or Student Information System (SIS) 

What Customers Are Saying

Customers appreciate the responsive, friendly support team at Embark, but say that applicants often get frustrated trying to upload materials and complete their applications.

6. Community Brands

Next on our list of the best enrollment software is Community Brands, an integrated software solution for admissions and enrollment management. Community Brands is your solution to engage families at every touchpoint during the admissions process. 

Choose from multiple products that help with admissions, financial aid management, student data upkeep, and much more.

Benefits of Community Brands

• Enjoy a single interface for schools, parents, and students
• Manage all billing needs and tuition payments in one platform
• Access real-time information to facilitate informed admissions decisions 

What Customers Are Saying

Although public online reviews for Community Brands are scarce, the platform is unique in that it maintains a dedicated network of partners. This group includes tech, business, implementation, AMC channel, and industry alliance partners who can testify to the platform's strategic value.

7. Blackbaud Enrollment Management System

Blackbaud Enrollment Management System is geared for private schools and higher education institutions. Create a seamless admissions and enrollment experience that rolls directly into education management and tuition management. The whole time, you’ll receive performance analysis data and optimization services to help you capture brand new leads for future opportunities and student outcomes.

Benefits of Blackbaud

• Engage with real-time admissions inquiry alerts 
• Customize and personalize the admissions process
• Access Blackbaud’s intuitive fundraising software
• Enjoy having enrollment, student information (SIS), learning management (LMS), and billing systems in a centralized platform

What Customers Are Saying

Customers appreciate how all of Blackbaud’s systems integrate with one another, but many are wary about the cost. The software’s limitations when creating contracts or lists is also a flag for potential customers. 

8. Wisenet

Wisenet provides connected learner management applications that are designed to help you take students from their first admissions question to their graduation ceremony. 

The education-specific CRM makes the application process easy, while the student management system covers the learner lifecycle. You can even publish online courses or, if needed, convert and migrate your data from your former student management system. 

Benefits of Wisenet

• Create custom digital forms for enrollment (no coding required)
• Easily accept payments when leads convert to accepted students
• Map out personalized student courses and timelines
• Provide a mobile-friendly learning experience 

What Customers Are Saying

Customers state that some integrations and updates are difficult to use — but at the same time, they appreciate how Wisenet streamlines the entire student experience from start to finish. They also note Wisenet’s excellent customer support. 

9. Slate by Technolutions

Slate.org is known for its college admissions software that’s free forever for students, counselors, and colleges. Higher ed organizations can use Slate to share applications and student data, creating a portal where each student can log in to view their personalized information. Counselors can organize, upload, and track materials on behalf of students. 

Benefits of Slate

• Share information such as campus visit details with counselors
• Review applications and other materials submitted by students
• Create a more transparent admissions process

What Customers Are Saying

Users appreciate how simple Slate is to navigate. They also note that Slate can easily accept all different types of files, which is helpful when it comes to submitting required application materials. Slate doesn’t often add new features, however, and it’s largely up to users to customize the software. At times, customer service is reportedly less impressive than competing platforms.

10. TargetX

Our final recommendation for best school management software on the market is TargetX from Liaison, a higher ed CRM solution that handles the full student lifecycle. 

Use the Recruitment Suite’s mobile-first functionality to manage applications, enrollment, and admissions. Then, sync the Recruitment Suite’s features with the Retention Suite — the second half of the TargetX software, which equips you to provide a stellar student experience post-enrollment.

Benefits of TargetX

• Connects student prospects with admissions counselors with Chat
• Set smarter enrollment goals with detailed insights
• Engage walk-ins with appointment scheduling and automatic SMS alerts
• Meet targets with helpful implementation services

What Customers Are Saying

According to many customers, the TargetX platform is simple to use with good support and seamless integrations. Because it's built on the Salesforce platform, it may be best suited for schools who already leverage Salesforce.

Benefits of Admissions & Enrollment Software

How can the best admissions software help your team and your institution cater to more students? Enrollment platforms hold benefits for both staff and newly recruited attendees. Take a look at a few of the biggest perks that make a difference in your campus culture.

Improved Staff Efficiency

You can use admissions software to automate administrative processes and eliminate manual tasks. This improves productivity and efficiency for staff, saving time for other initiatives. One university saved an estimated 28,000 hours a year by implementing enrollment automation.

Personalized Student Experience

Everyone wants a personalized customer experience. Students are no different. A good admissions software equips you to provide the personalized interactions and a stellar admissions journey that truly make a difference when students have multiple college options to choose from.

Stronger Relationships

Automation is a valuable tool, but there’s nothing like a sincere and honest human touch. Make strategic use of enrollment software to build meaningful connections with prospective students and their families. Even when managing routine processes, relationships are the foundation of healthy student services.

Data-Driven Decisions

One final, crucial benefit of admissions and enrollment software: This kind of platform provides you with access to real-time information and analytics about who your students are and what they're doing next. This visibility helps campus leaders make smart, informed decisions to move forward (and hit major admissions targets) with confidence. 

Element451: AI-Powered Admissions and Enrollment Software

We recommend tapping into our AI-powered features at Element451 to better manage the student experience. With responsive chatbots, stress-free modern marketing, and an advanced CRM designed for educational organizations, our platform has everything you need to connect with students wherever they are in their learning journey.

Let’s Chat

Want to learn more and start revamping your enrollment processes? Let’s connect! 

Schedule a free demo to see how our AI-powered features can streamline admissions and enrollment for your school.