  # Best Enterprise Education ERP Suites

  *By [Emma Stein](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/emma-stein)*

   Products classified in the overall Education ERP Suites category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, enterprise business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Enterprise Business Education ERP Suites to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2&#39;s buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Enterprise Business Education ERP Suites category.

In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Education ERP Suites category, to qualify for inclusion in the Enterprise Business Education ERP Suites category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from an enterprise business.




  
## How Many Education ERP Suites Products Does G2 Track?
**Total Products under this Category:** 293

### Category Stats (May 2026)
- **Average Rating**: 4.23/5 (↓0.01 vs Apr 2026)
- **New Reviews This Quarter**: 11
- **Buyer Segments**: Mid-Market 48% │ Small-Business 28% │ Enterprise 24%
- **Top Trending Product**: PowerSchool (+0.054)
*Last updated: May 18, 2026*

  
## How Does G2 Rank Education ERP Suites Products?

**Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:**

- 30 Analysts and Data Experts
- 2,200+ Authentic Reviews
- 293+ Products
- Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

  
## Which Education ERP Suites Is Best for Your Use Case?

- **Best for Small Businesses:** [PowerSchool SIS](https://www.g2.com/products/powerschool-sis/reviews)
- **Best for Mid-Market:** [PowerSchool SIS](https://www.g2.com/products/powerschool-sis/reviews)
- **Best for Enterprise:** [Ellucian Student](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-student/reviews)
- **Highest User Satisfaction:** [OpenEduCat](https://www.g2.com/products/openeducat/reviews)
- **Best Free Software:** [OpenEduCat](https://www.g2.com/products/openeducat/reviews)

  
---

**Sponsored**

### Sycamore

Sycamore is a cloud-based school management software (SIS and LMS platform) that helps K–12 schools manage student data, classroom learning, communication, and financial operations in one centralized system. It is designed for administrators, teachers, parents, and students who need a reliable platform to handle academic and operational workflows efficiently. Sycamore integrates core student information management with tools that support daily classroom activities and administrative processes. Schools use it to track attendance, grades, schedules, and behavior records, while also managing communication between teachers and families. The system provides secure, role-based access for all users, ensuring data accuracy and accountability across every department. Key features and capabilities include: •&amp;nbsp; Comprehensive student information system (SIS) for attendance, grading, scheduling, and transcripts •&amp;nbsp; Learning management tools for lesson planning, assignments, and classroom communication •&amp;nbsp; Parent and student portals for transparency and engagement •&amp;nbsp; Reporting and analytics dashboards for data-driven decision-making •&amp;nbsp; Cloud hosting with secure access from any device A key component of the platform is Sycamore Payments, a built-in payment solution that allows schools to collect tuition, fees, and donations directly within the system. By integrating financial transactions with student records, Sycamore Payments helps schools reduce manual data entry, improve accuracy, and offer flexible payment options to families. Sycamore Payments offers: •&amp;nbsp; Support for credit cards, ACH, and recurring payments •&amp;nbsp; Real-time tracking and reconciliation of transactions •&amp;nbsp; Simplified billing and reporting for administrators •&amp;nbsp; A unified experience that connects financial and academic data Sycamore serves K–12 private, charter, and faith-based schools looking for a complete digital solution to manage their operations. It provides an all-in-one system that improves communication, reduces administrative workload, and keeps schools organized throughout the academic year. For schools exploring migration, the platform offers a clear transition process at https://sycamoreleaf.com/switch-now/



[Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&amp;secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&amp;secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=2368&amp;secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=1032&amp;secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&amp;secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&amp;secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=neighbor_category&amp;secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=1032&amp;secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&amp;secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=6851&amp;secure%5Bresource_id%5D=2368&amp;secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&amp;secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&amp;secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Feducation-erp-suites&amp;secure%5Btoken%5D=d13051bb050ab7e32fb4bfccd921d72fad37cd5100b12aaf3a1555f5bca94671&amp;secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fsycamoreleaf.com%2Fswitch-now%2F&amp;secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url)

---

  ## What Are the Top-Rated Education ERP Suites Products in 2026?
### 1. [Ellucian Student](https://www.g2.com/products/ellucian-student/reviews)
  Ellucian is the leading provider of higher education technology with a singular focus on the unique needs of colleges and universities. Their comprehensive, integrated ecosystem includes purpose-built solutions like Student Information Systems (SIS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools, all designed to put student success at the center. Ellucian’s AI-powered platform delivers predictive insights that help institutions proactively support students, optimize operations, and align programs with workforce needs. Built to scale and adapt, Ellucian’s solutions provide the flexibility that both small colleges and large universities need to navigate a rapidly changing higher education landscape, empowering them to drive outcomes that matter for students, faculty, and staff.


  **Average Rating:** 3.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 260
**How Do G2 Users Rate Ellucian Student?**

- **Ease of Use:** 6.3/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind Ellucian Student?**

- **Seller:** [Ellucian](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ellucian)
- **Company Website:** https://www.ellucian.com
- **Year Founded:** 1968
- **HQ Location:** Reston, VA
- **Twitter:** @EllucianInc (6,159 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2536305/ (4,302 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Top Industries:** Higher Education, Education Management
  - **Company Size:** 48% Mid-Market, 46% Enterprise


#### What Are Ellucian Student's Pros and Cons?

**Pros:**

- Centralized Information (1 reviews)
- Comprehensive Features (1 reviews)
- Customer Support (1 reviews)
- Ease of Access (1 reviews)
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Technical Issues (2 reviews)
- Access Limitations (1 reviews)
- Learning Difficulty (1 reviews)
- Poor Support (1 reviews)

### 2. [OpenEduCat](https://www.g2.com/products/openeducat/reviews)
  OpenEduCat is an open-source Education ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution designed to assist educational institutions in managing their academic and administrative operations through a unified platform. This software caters to schools, colleges, and universities, enabling them to streamline essential functions such as admissions, student management, course planning, attendance tracking, examinations, and communication. By integrating these critical processes, OpenEduCat provides a holistic approach to educational management. The software is particularly beneficial for a diverse range of educational organizations seeking to enhance their operational efficiency. With its modular and customizable components, OpenEduCat can adapt to the unique requirements of various institutions worldwide. Built on the Odoo/Flectra frameworks, it allows for seamless integration with existing modules, making it a scalable solution for institutions with multiple campuses or departments. This flexibility ensures that educational organizations can tailor the software to fit their specific needs and workflows. Key features of OpenEduCat include comprehensive student information management, which allows institutions to maintain detailed student profiles, academic histories, and attendance records. The course and curriculum planning tools enable efficient organization of courses, class schedules, and departmental structures. Additionally, the examination and grading system automates assessments and performance tracking, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Attendance tracking is digitized for both students and faculty, while integrated communication tools facilitate real-time interaction among students, parents, and faculty. The finance and fee management module streamlines tuition fee management, invoicing, and payment records. The benefits of using OpenEduCat are significant. Centralized data management enhances transparency and supports quick decision-making, while the software&#39;s customizable and scalable nature makes it suitable for institutions of all sizes. The open-source model provides full control over implementation and configuration, eliminating concerns about vendor lock-in. Integration with Odoo/Flectra allows institutions to extend functionality by incorporating additional ERP modules. Enhanced collaboration is another advantage, as the platform fosters improved communication among administrators, teachers, students, and parents. OpenEduCat serves as a practical solution for educational institutions aiming to reduce manual processes, improve operational efficiency, and embrace a digital-first approach. By centralizing critical functions such as student enrollment, course scheduling, fee collection, and performance evaluation, OpenEduCat empowers institutions to enhance learning experiences while maintaining administrative accuracy and cost efficiency. This makes it an ideal choice for schools, colleges, and universities looking to modernize their operations and create a connected, transparent academic environment.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 135
**How Do G2 Users Rate OpenEduCat?**

- **Ease of Use:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind OpenEduCat?**

- **Seller:** [OpenEduCat Inc.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/openeducat-inc)
- **Year Founded:** 2012
- **HQ Location:** Ahmedabad, IN
- **Twitter:** @openeducat (374 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/openeducat-inc/ (32 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Top Industries:** Education Management, Higher Education
  - **Company Size:** 46% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market


#### What Are OpenEduCat's Pros and Cons?

**Pros:**

- Centralized Information (37 reviews)
- Features (34 reviews)
- Ease of Use (33 reviews)
- Comprehensive Solutions (32 reviews)
- Comprehensive Features (29 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Difficulty (35 reviews)
- Limited Customization (26 reviews)
- Customization Issues (24 reviews)
- Technical Issues (20 reviews)
- Setup Difficulty (18 reviews)

### 3. [PeopleSoft Campus Solutions](https://www.g2.com/products/peoplesoft-campus-solutions/reviews)
  Oracle&#39;s comprehensive Campus Solutions suite alleviates higher education&#39;s requirements for a student system, enabling the transformation to a global campus.


  **Average Rating:** 3.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 91
**How Do G2 Users Rate PeopleSoft Campus Solutions?**

- **Ease of Use:** 6.8/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 6.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 6.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 6.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind PeopleSoft Campus Solutions?**

- **Seller:** [Oracle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oracle)
- **Year Founded:** 1977
- **HQ Location:** Austin, TX
- **Twitter:** @Oracle (828,755 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1028/ (199,301 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NYSE:ORCL

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Top Industries:** Higher Education, Education Management
  - **Company Size:** 70% Enterprise, 27% Mid-Market


### 4. [PowerSchool SIS](https://www.g2.com/products/powerschool-sis/reviews)
  PowerSchool SIS is the leading student information system software solution for K-12 educational institutions, focused on driving your success. Power your operations with flexible, innovative, easy-to-use technology that plays a central role in your school or district.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 722
**How Do G2 Users Rate PowerSchool SIS?**

- **Ease of Use:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind PowerSchool SIS?**

- **Seller:** [PowerSchool](https://www.g2.com/sellers/powerschool)
- **HQ Location:** Folsom, CA
- **Twitter:** @MyPowerSchool (12,158 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/10114126/ (3,365 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NYSE: PWSC

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Who Uses This:** Teacher, Technology Director
  - **Top Industries:** Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  - **Company Size:** 66% Mid-Market, 17% Enterprise


#### What Are PowerSchool SIS's Pros and Cons?

**Pros:**

- Centralized Information (8 reviews)
- Ease of Access (7 reviews)
- Easy Integrations (7 reviews)
- Easy Customization (6 reviews)
- Ease of Use (4 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Difficulty (5 reviews)
- Technical Issues (5 reviews)
- Poor Usability (4 reviews)
- Customization Issues (3 reviews)
- High Cost (3 reviews)

### 5. [Skyward Student Management Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/skyward-student-management-suite/reviews)
  Our goal is the same as yours: get the right information in front of the right people at the right time. It doesn&#39;t have to be more complicated than that. Welcome to a better SIS and ERP experience.


  **Average Rating:** 3.8/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 177
**How Do G2 Users Rate Skyward Student Management Suite?**

- **Ease of Use:** 7.3/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind Skyward Student Management Suite?**

- **Seller:** [Skyward](https://www.g2.com/sellers/skyward-82670470-eb9c-470d-b0b8-2ac401ff31f6)
- **Year Founded:** 1980
- **HQ Location:** Stevens Point, WI
- **Twitter:** @Skyward_Inc (3,247 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/61181/ (651 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Who Uses This:** Teacher, Special Education Teacher
  - **Top Industries:** Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  - **Company Size:** 54% Mid-Market, 34% Enterprise


#### What Are Skyward Student Management Suite's Pros and Cons?

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- Centralized Information (1 reviews)
- Comprehensive Features (1 reviews)
- Ease of Access (1 reviews)
- Easy Integrations (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Difficulty (2 reviews)
- Poor Usability (2 reviews)
- Poor Support (1 reviews)

### 6. [Workday Student](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-student/reviews)
  Workday Student is an end-to-end student and faculty lifecycle information system that is designed to work seamlessly with Workday Financial Management, Workday Human Capital Management, Workday Payroll, and Workday Grants Management. It unites an entire campus under a single configurable, easy-to-use application that is delivered in the cloud.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 55
**How Do G2 Users Rate Workday Student?**

- **Ease of Use:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind Workday Student?**

- **Seller:** [Workday](https://www.g2.com/sellers/workday)
- **Year Founded:** 2005
- **HQ Location:** Pleasanton, CA
- **Twitter:** @Workday (52,271 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/17719/ (23,943 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NYSE:WDAY

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Top Industries:** Higher Education, Education Management
  - **Company Size:** 47% Enterprise, 43% Mid-Market


### 7. [Infinite Campus](https://www.g2.com/products/infinite-campus/reviews)
  Infinite Campus is a comprehensive, Web-based K-12 student information system (SIS) with real-time access to administration, instruction, communication, curriculum, reporting and more.


  **Average Rating:** 3.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 200
**How Do G2 Users Rate Infinite Campus?**

- **Ease of Use:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 7.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 5.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 6.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind Infinite Campus?**

- **Seller:** [Infinite Campus](https://www.g2.com/sellers/infinite-campus)
- **Year Founded:** 1993
- **HQ Location:** Blaine, MN
- **Twitter:** @InfiniteCampus (2,765 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/36110/ (634 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Who Uses This:** Teacher, Educator
  - **Top Industries:** Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  - **Company Size:** 53% Mid-Market, 33% Enterprise


### 8. [Anthology Student](https://www.g2.com/products/anthology-student/reviews)
  Anthology Student is a flexible, SaaS-based student information system (SIS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that promotes student success from acceptance to graduation through a combination of cloud-based tools, strategic implementation and training services, and AI innovation. As a true-SaaS offering, Anthology Student incorporates critical academic tools like degree auditing, academic planning, and financial aid management out-of-the-box. Premium selections allow institutions to extend the platform into broader ERP financial management, faculty workload management, and even operating payroll completing an institution’s enterprise resource planning needs.


  **Average Rating:** 3.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 42
**How Do G2 Users Rate Anthology Student?**

- **Ease of Use:** 7.0/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
- **Quality of Support:** 6.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Ease of Admin:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 5.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)

**Who Is the Company Behind Anthology Student?**

- **Seller:** [Ellucian](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ellucian)
- **Year Founded:** 1968
- **HQ Location:** Reston, VA
- **Twitter:** @EllucianInc (6,159 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2536305/ (4,302 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Who Uses This Product?**
  - **Top Industries:** Education Management, Higher Education
  - **Company Size:** 50% Enterprise, 45% Mid-Market



    ## What Is Education ERP Suites?
  [Education ERP Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/education-erp)
  ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Education ERP Suites?
    - [K-12 Student Information Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/k-12-student-information-systems)
    - [Education HR Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/education-hr)
    - [Education Finance Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/education-finance-software)

  
---

## How Do You Choose the Right Education ERP Suites?

### What You Should Know About Education ERP Suites

### What are Education ERP Suites?

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems were [originally developed](https://learn.g2.com/history-of-erp) to help large manufacturing companies run their businesses. In recent years, the education industry has increasingly turned to its own version of ERP software, giving institutions of learning the technology to help them maximize efficiency as their daily demands have grown more complex.

Education ERP suites are integrated systems with modules that manage the “back office&quot; functions of a school, college, or university. Because ERP suites are generally concerned with managing resources, this means most systems include core modules to automate daily tasks in the institution’s finance and human resources departments. But these systems often include functionality to manage a variety of other processes handled by education administrators, including admissions, student fee payments, transportation, scheduling, and curriculum planning. Education ERP systems can help administrators organize the volumes of data these systems gather about their institution’s operations and use analytics tools to understand how to make its processes more efficient and effective.

Key Benefits of Education ERP Suites

- Improve data accuracy and accessibility
- Automate complex and time-consuming business tasks
- Streamline interdepartmental communication and data sharing
- Use advanced data analytics to optimize operations
- Boost enrollment and retention with more personalized student experiences

### Why Use Education ERP Suites?

Education ERP suites can be transformative tools for any school, district, or university looking to improve management of the organization’s business practices.

**Streamline data sharing across departments —** ERP suites designed for education can help institutions reduce their reliance on manual processes for recording and sharing important data about their daily business processes. Depending on paper records to manage finance and HR documents means that data is less accessible to other departments, so different parts of the organization may be working with incomplete or inconsistent data sets. Even if the school has digitized its records, if that data is located on different systems that don’t “talk&quot; to each other, the siloing of that data could cause problems. Education ERP suites are designed with integration in mind, so administrators can be confident they are looking at the most up-to-date data, no matter the department. Making data sharing easier can also encourage greater cross-department collaboration on projects and initiatives, especially at large colleges and universities with thousands of staff and students.

**Identify areas for improved performance —** Institutions can gather mountains of data about their operations, but that information is useless unless school leaders have a way of compiling it and turning it into actionable insights. The interconnected nature of ERP suites means the institution’s data on finances, employees, and students is housed in a single system, providing a large data cloud that can be mined for insights. Education ERP suite developers are increasingly building in [analytics](https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data-analytics) functions into their products so administrators can better understand how their institution is performing. This data can often be customized depending on the role of the person viewing the data. For example, a leader of a K–12 school could create finance dashboards compiled from the data of multiple departments, potentially identifying areas that could be targeted for cost savings. An administrator at a university might analyze trends in student admissions and enrollment to better inform their recruiting strategy for the next admissions cycle. With analytics specifically designed for the needs of educational institutions, the data gathered by education ERP suites can be made more valuable.

**Automate business tasks —** Resources at many educational institutions are stretched thin, so improving efficiency is a major selling point for education ERP suites. Integrated ERP products for education have built-in automation tools that allow administrators to accomplish routine tasks more quickly. These automated tasks vary, depending on which department is using the software. An HR administrator might automate typical tasks like processing payroll or updating employee records. Academic counselors could run a degree progress audit to quickly determine which classes a student has taken and which ones they still need. Student bills could be sent automatically at custom intervals and payments accepted through an online self-service portal.

### Who Uses Education ERP Suites?

Education ERP suites are often expansive, interconnected systems that can touch nearly every aspect of an institution, so they can be used by a variety of school personnel. Most often, though, they are used by administrators who handle the back office functions that keep the institution’s daily operations in order.

**Human resources professionals —** HR administrators use the HR modules of ERP suites to manage employee information, store records, track absences, process payroll, and manage employee evaluations.

**Finance professionals —** Accountants and other finance department employees use the finance modules of ERP suites to keep track of expenses and revenues. Budgeting tools also enable finance employees to develop budget projections based on data from multiple departments.

**Institution leadership —** High-level administrators use ERP suites to get a global view of their institution’s operations. Analytics tools allow them to get insights into how the institution is performing in different areas and make strategic decisions based on that data.

### Kinds of Education ERP Suites

**K–12 vs. higher education —** Some education ERP suites are geared more toward the K–12 education market, offering features that might be used more often at a primary or secondary school, such as an online portal for parents to check a student’s grades. Other ERP suite products cater to higher education institutions, offering functionality that is more relevant to those institutions (managing financial aid or academic advising, degree planning for students, etc.).

**All-in-one products vs. modular systems —** Education ERP suite vendors sometimes sell their products modularly, so a customer could buy the entire suite or just one component of it. For example, an institution that already has an HR system they want to keep using could buy only the finance and accounting module from an ERP software vendor. In other cases, education ERP suites are sold as a single package, so when you buy the suite you get all of the modules included in it.

### Education ERP Suites Features

**Finance and accounting —** ERP suites for education contain modules or products for managing an institution’s finances. These tools typically include the ability to manage the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, budgeting, and other finance department functions.

**Human resources module —** A significant percentage of an organization’s budget is devoted to its human capital, so ERP suites typically help organizations manage their employees. Common HR tasks like maintaining employee records, recording employee absences and time off requests, tracking work assignments, and processing payroll are typically included. These products may also have more education-specific HR features like conducting evaluations of teachers or professors and maintaining records of an employee’s academic and professional credentials.

**User accounts —** Not every employee necessarily needs access to every part of an ERP suite. Some suites allow administrators to control which modules of a suite a given user has access to, so an academic advisor can be denied permission to peruse HR records.

**Analytics —** Built-in analytics tools give administrators the ability to use the data gathered by the ERP system to identify emerging trends, analyze changing demographics, or predict future outcomes. Analytics dashboards display the compiled data in graphical formats that can better illustrate the institution’s performance in a certain area. Administrators can use those insights to guide strategic decisions or set priorities.

**Reporting —** Educational institutions are often subject to oversight by regulatory agencies and must periodically report on topics like curriculum, financial aid, and student outcomes. Reporting functions in Education ERP suites can compile preconfigured reports that are ready to deliver to the proper agencies, reducing the time and effort it takes to compile the data manually. Reporting tools can also be used to generate reports on admissions, fundraising, marketing, or other topics for internal discussion and decision-making.

**Integrations —** Most education ERP suites either have a built-in student information system or integrate with an SIS so that information like student enrollments can be linked with the institution’s business performance. Other products that ERPs for education typically integrate with include advising software, financial aid management software, and admissions and enrollment software.

**Billing and fee payments —** Bills can be automatically generated and sent out to students or parents, who may have the option to pay using an online payment portal.

**Mobile device compatibility —** Education ERP systems may offer mobile apps that can expand access to the system’s data. For example, an employee might use the app to check their paycheck or benefit status. Students and parents may have their own version of the app for making payments or reviewing a student’s finances.

**Single sign-on —** Systems that offer SSO functionality allow users to log in with a single click, even if they are accessing multiple systems.

### Trends Related to Education ERP Suites

**Rise of analytics, AI, and predictive modeling —** As enrollment in colleges and universities has declined nationwide, the pressure on higher education administrators to attract and retain qualified students has gotten [even more intense](https://research.g2.com/insights/how-tech-is-changing-college-admissions). The advanced analytics tools that come with a growing number of education ERP suites offer a potential solution, giving education leaders new insights into the data they collect on their institution’s operations. Analytics tools could develop a report on the school’s most recent recruitment campaigns and how effective the marketing was in engaging prospective students and boosting tuition revenues, for example. Financial analytics could help administrators analyze the institution’s performance and determine where investments or cutbacks could be helpful. More advanced tools are incorporating artificial intelligence and predictive modeling to determine which students might be in danger of failing, allowing academic advisors to proactively reach out and offer support.

**Shift to the cloud —** While many businesses have moved to cloud computing, many educational institutions have been slow to adopt that model. Many legacy systems at educational institutions are installed on-premises, possibly on servers managed by the university’s IT administrators. Moving data to cloud-based ERP suites gives administrators greater flexibility to increase their systems’ capacity to manage demand, such as during registration periods when many students are trying to enroll in classes at the same time. Cloud-based systems also make the institution’s data more accessible across departments because that data can be accessed from anywhere. That increased flexibility and agility allows large institutions to adapt to changing student needs. There are also potential security benefits with having the institution’s data managed 24/7 on servers that are frequently updated, rather than relying on an institution’s internal IT employees, who likely have many other technology-related responsibilities on campus.

### Potential Issues with Education ERP Suites

**Ineffective integrations —** One of the biggest reasons organizations turn to an ERP suite is because the different functions or modules within that suite work seamlessly together. However, if an institution wants to adopt an education ERP suite—while also retaining some of its legacy software—it is important for administrators to verify that their existing software will work with the new system. For example, a university might have [accounting software](https://www.g2.com/categories/accounting) its staff wants to keep using, while also adding modules from an ERP system for academic advising, human resources, and managing student information. Before pulling the trigger on the ERP, it would be important to verify that the new system will integrate with the existing accounting system. Otherwise, employees in those different departments may be looking at different data sets or be forced to enter the same information twice into two different systems, creating inefficiencies and greater potential for errors. Even if school leaders are buying a single interconnected education ERP suite, they should verify that the system’s components will share information in a way that will help them accomplish their institution’s goals.

**Data security —** Protecting an institution’s data can no longer be an afterthought as cybersecurity attacks increasingly target schools and universities. When an organization&#39;s essential systems are all interconnected, as they are with education ERP suites, it is even more important to build strong defenses against potential breaches. A ransomware attack that takes down an organization’s finance and human resource software, for example, would seriously impair the organization’s ability to conduct daily business. Administrators should ask hard questions about how the vendor for their cloud-based ERP suite is ensuring the security of their data. For institutions hosting their ERP suite data on local servers, IT managers must ensure they have the proper [security software](https://www.g2.com/categories/security) and staff trainings in place to protect their valuable data.

### Software and Services Related to Education ERP Suites

[**Student information systems**](https://www.g2.com/categories/student-information-systems-sis) **—** Some education ERP suites have a built-in SIS to manage student data, grades, curriculum, and enrollment. In some cases, the ERP suite focuses solely on business functions and an institution will need to use an outside SIS that integrates with the business modules.

**Education finance and accounting software —** These products manage and automate essential finance processes for an educational institution, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, and budgeting. Education ERP suites typically include a finance component, but some organizations may choose to use a different finance or accounting product in conjunction with an ERP suite.

**Education HR software —** Education ERP suites may include an HR module to manage payroll, employee absences, personnel records, evaluations, and other human capital needs. Some organizations may use more general-purpose HR software that integrates with their ERP suite.



    
