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# Ellucian Advising vs Starfish Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Ellucian AdvisingStarfish[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Ellucian Advising** [

3.9/5(15)

](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-advising/reviews#reviews)

**Starfish** [

4.1/5(28)

](https://www.g2.com/products/eab-starfish/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Ellucian Advising**
No pricing available

**Starfish**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Ellucian Advising**
Not enough reviews yet

**Starfish**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Ellucian Advising**
Not enough reviews yet

**Starfish**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Ellucian Advising**
Not enough reviews yet

**Starfish**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Ellucian Advising**
Not enough reviews yet

**Starfish**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**Ellucian Advising**
Not enough data

**Starfish**
Not enough data

Screenshots

**Ellucian Advising**
 ![Ellucian Advising screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1609649/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-11.17.49-AM.png)

**Starfish**
No screenshot available

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Ellucian Advising**

9.4

9.413

**Starfish**

8.5

8.525

Ease of Use

**Ellucian Advising**

7.7

7.713

**Starfish**

7.8

7.825

Ease of Setup

**Ellucian Advising**

9.4

9.49

**Starfish**

5.0

5.05

Ease of Admin

**Ellucian Advising**

8.3

8.35

**Starfish**
Not enough data

Quality of Support

**Ellucian Advising**

9.2

9.212

**Starfish**

8.2

8.219

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Ellucian Advising**
Not enough data

**Starfish**
Not enough data

Product Direction (% positive)

**Ellucian Advising**

8.2

8.213

**Starfish**

9.0

9.024

Features

Academic Advising[Hide 11 FeaturesShow 11 Features](javascript:void(0);)

9.3

9

Not enough data

Planning

Creating plans

9.0(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Scenarios

8.3(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Progress monitoring

Degree progress

9.5(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Reporting and analytics

9.5(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Identifying at-risk students

9.8(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Recording notes

9.3(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Outreach

Messaging

9.8(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Appointment scheduling

8.8(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Alerts and Notifications

9.8(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Self-Service tools

9.0(won by default)

7

Not enough data

Mobility

10.0(won by default)

6

Not enough data

Show 1 feature category with incomplete data

School Management[Hide 65 FeaturesShow 65 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Faculty/Staff Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Class Scheduling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

K-12

Not enough data

Not enough data

Parent Portal

Not enough data

Not enough data

Attendance Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Classroom Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Records Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Progress Reports

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Reports

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Skills Assessment

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Online Payments

Not enough data

Not enough data

Communication Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Contact Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Calendar Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Financial Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Student Portal

Not enough data

Not enough data

Library Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Forms Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Event Calendar

Not enough data

Not enough data

Blended Learning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Payroll Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Student Information/Records

Not enough data

Not enough data

Independent/Private

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Learning Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Search/Filter

Not enough data

Not enough data

Enrollments/Onboarding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Email Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Curriculum Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Assessment Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Gradebook

Not enough data

Not enough data

Course Authoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Bookstore Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Housing Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Student Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Admissions Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electronic Payments

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Forms

Not enough data

Not enough data

Cafeteria Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Facility Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

For Higher Education

Not enough data

Not enough data

Online Calendar

Not enough data

Not enough data

Self Service Portal

Not enough data

Not enough data

Attendance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Role-Based Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Assignment Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

School District

Not enough data

Not enough data

Special Education

Not enough data

Not enough data

Registration Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Parent/Student Portal

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Ellucian Advising](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/c8d6a411a61efffd01a46972bec10f4e/ellucian-advising.svg "Ellucian Advising")](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-advising/reviews)

Ellucian Advising

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

15.4%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

69.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

15.4%

[![Starfish](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_021e4a1db9963dc22d7ec0dc16a84cc2/eab-starfish.png "Starfish")](https://www.g2.com/products/eab-starfish/reviews)

Starfish

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

7.1%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

39.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

53.6%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

15.4%

7.1%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

69.2%

39.3%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

15.4%

53.6%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Ellucian Advising](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/c8d6a411a61efffd01a46972bec10f4e/ellucian-advising.svg "Ellucian Advising")](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-advising/reviews)
Ellucian Advising

Higher Education

38.5%

Computer Software

15.4%

Telecommunications

7.7%

Leisure, Travel & Tourism

7.7%

E-Learning

7.7%

Other

23.1%

[![Starfish](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_021e4a1db9963dc22d7ec0dc16a84cc2/eab-starfish.png "Starfish")](https://www.g2.com/products/eab-starfish/reviews)
Starfish

Higher Education

64.3%

Education Management

28.6%

Research

3.6%

Mental Health Care

3.6%

‐

Other

0.0%

FAQs

## Ellucian Advising vs Starfish FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 15, 2026

### What is the difference between Starfish vs Ellucian Advising?

Starfish and Ellucian Advising differ most in their reviewer satisfaction scores, with Ellucian Advising leading in both Ease of Setup and Quality of Support.

| [Starfish](https://www.g2.com/products/eab-starfish/reviews) | [Ellucian Advising](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-advising/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.1/5 (28 reviews) | 3.9/5 (15 reviews) |
| 5.0 | 9.4 |
| 8.2 | 9.2 |
| Proactive student engagement and retention | Comprehensive student record management and tailored support |

### How do the pricing models of Starfish and Ellucian Advising compare?

Ellucian Advising is rated higher for value, as reflected in its superior satisfaction scores on price and cost-related dimensions.

- **Starfish:** In recent reviews, some users note that Starfish requires purchasing additional integration time and has a lot of a la carte items, which can affect perceived value.
- **Ellucian Advising:** Reviewers highlight satisfaction with the range of features provided, though some mention limited customization and integration challenges.

### What are the best alternatives to Starfish and Ellucian Advising?

The top 3 alternatives to Starfish and Ellucian Advising are Ellucian Student, Agentforce Education (formerly Salesforce Education Cloud), and PowerSchool SIS.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Starfish](https://www.g2.com/products/eab-starfish/reviews) | 4.1/5 (28 reviews) | — | — | Proactive student engagement and retention |
| [Ellucian Advising](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-advising/reviews) | 3.9/5 (15 reviews) | — | — | Comprehensive student record management and tailored support |
| [Ellucian Student](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-student/reviews) | 3.4/5 (263 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Systematic student profile management |
| [Agentforce Education (formerly Salesforce Education Cloud)](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-education-formerly-salesforce-education-cloud/reviews) | 4.2/5 (42 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Flexible education cloud platform |
| [PowerSchool SIS](https://www.g2.com/products/powerschool-sis/reviews) | 4.2/5 (742 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Robust SIS functionality for schools |

### Which Student Information Systems (SIS) features should I prioritize when comparing Starfish and Ellucian Advising?

Buyers comparing Starfish and Ellucian Advising should prioritize Ease of Setup, Quality of Support, Meets Requirements, and Ease of Use.

- **Ease of Setup:** Starfish scores 5.0, while Ellucian Advising scores 9.4, indicating a significant advantage for Ellucian Advising.
- **Quality of Support:** Starfish scores 8.2, Ellucian Advising scores 9.2, showing higher satisfaction with Ellucian Advising support.
- **Meets Requirements:** Starfish scores 8.5, Ellucian Advising scores 9.4, with Ellucian Advising leading in fulfilling user needs.
- **Ease of Use:** Starfish scores 7.8, Ellucian Advising scores 7.7, indicating near parity in usability.

### What are the pros and cons of Starfish vs Ellucian Advising?

Starfish's headline strength is proactive student engagement, while Ellucian Advising excels in comprehensive student record management and tailored support.

- **Starfish strengths:** Reviewers highlight proactive student retention, early alert features, and ease of tracking student needs.
- **Starfish trade-offs:** Users mention a clunky interface, lack of mobile-friendliness, slow load times, and a learning curve for implementation.
- **Ellucian Advising strengths:** Reviewers praise comprehensive student records, effective alerts for at-risk students, and strong reporting capabilities.
- **Ellucian Advising trade-offs:** Users note complexity in setup, navigation challenges, limited customization, and occasional slow performance with large data sets.

### Is Starfish or Ellucian Advising better for small businesses?

Ellucian Advising is better suited for small businesses, as recent reviews reflect higher satisfaction with setup and support.

- **Starfish:** No largest segment data available; reviewers note a learning curve and challenges with customization and integration.
- **Ellucian Advising:** No largest segment data available; reviewers highlight ease of setup (score 9.4) and strong support (score 9.2), making it more accessible for smaller organizations.

### Which Student Information Systems (SIS) platform has better integrations?

There is no clear reviewer preference for integrations between Starfish and Ellucian Advising.

- **Starfish:** Reviewers mention integration with Blackboard and Canvas in recent reviews.
- **Ellucian Advising:** Reviewers cite integration challenges but do not specify third-party tools by name.

### How do Starfish and Ellucian Advising compare on customer support?

Ellucian Advising leads Starfish in Quality of Support by a material margin, with scores of 9.2 versus 8.2.

- **Starfish:** Reviewers describe support as generally responsive but note occasional slow response times and the need for additional integration assistance.
- **Ellucian Advising:** Reviewers consistently report high satisfaction with support, citing helpfulness and effective problem resolution.

### Which is easier to implement, Starfish or Ellucian Advising?

Ellucian Advising is significantly easier to implement than Starfish, with an Ease of Setup score of 9.4 compared to 5.0.

- **Starfish:** Reviewers report a steep learning curve, challenges during rollout, and the need for extra integration time.
- **Ellucian Advising:** Reviewers highlight straightforward setup, high satisfaction with implementation, and effective onboarding support.

Alternatives

**Ellucian Advising Alternatives**

 ![Salesforce Education Cloud](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_08446fff96e11c8687f2834e31d2d35b/agentforce-education-formerly-salesforce-education-cloud.png "Salesforce Education Cloud")

[
Salesforce Education Cloud
](/products/agentforce-education-formerly-salesforce-education-cloud/reviews)

 ![Navigate360](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_005dc358a2d8f522ec736221e273e8f0/eab-navigate360.png "Navigate360")

[
Navigate360
](/products/eab-navigate360/reviews)

 ![Achieve](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b3765eaa3044cb700f2c231e120181e9/e2e-advising-achieve.svg "Achieve")

[
Achieve
](/products/e2e-advising-achieve/reviews)

 ![TargetX](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/78b33345bff26aeb90c2829ceeed1673/targetx.svg "TargetX")

[
TargetX
](/products/targetx/reviews)

**Starfish Alternatives**

 ![Ellucian Student](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/c8d6a411a61efffd01a46972bec10f4e/ellucian-student.svg "Ellucian Student")

[
Ellucian Student
](/products/ellucian-student/reviews)

 ![Salesforce Education Cloud](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_08446fff96e11c8687f2834e31d2d35b/agentforce-education-formerly-salesforce-education-cloud.png "Salesforce Education Cloud")

[
Salesforce Education Cloud
](/products/agentforce-education-formerly-salesforce-education-cloud/reviews)

 ![PowerSchool SIS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/06e1b127350e02b543147e1c14493c34/powerschool-sis.svg "PowerSchool SIS")

[
PowerSchool SIS
](/products/powerschool-sis/reviews)

 ![SchoolStatus](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a7541ac48c56a7c7020e522e07200fee/schoolstatus.svg "SchoolStatus")

[
SchoolStatus
](/products/schoolstatus/reviews)

## Ellucian Advising vs Starfish

- Reviewers felt that Ellucian Advising meets the needs of their business better than Starfish.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Ellucian Advising is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Starfish over Ellucian Advising.