Best Academic Advising Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Ellucian Degree Works is ranked #1 of 18 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Civitas Advising and Slate. The best-ranked option with a free plan is FlightPath. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Slate at $2,500/mo.
When you are comparing academic advising software, start with the tasks students and advisors need to handle. Degree audits and degree planning show how entries address requirements and progress, while student planning portals and mobile access are useful distinctions. Early alerts and intervention workflows add further criteria to compare. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing can help you consider cost. The ranking opens with Ellucian Degree Works, Civitas Advising, and Slate, followed by Watermark Student Success & Engagement and FlightPath. Use the listed features to weigh how each option aligns with advising needs in your setting.
18 academic advising software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Ellucian Degree Works iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 2 Civitas Advising iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 3 Slate iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1$2,500/mo
- 4 Watermark Student Success & Engagement iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Degree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 5 FlightPath No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 6 ConexED Retain No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Degree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 7 Stellic No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 8 CoreCampus No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 9 Ellucian Advising No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Early alerts: Yes
- 10 HighPoint Degree Planner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 11 Kuali Financials No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 12 Starfish No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Degree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 13 uAchieve Planner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: Yes
- 14 Ellucian Smart Plan No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: Yes
- 15 Kuali Advisor No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 16 Upswing Advising & Early Alerts No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Early alerts: Yes
- 17 AdviseU No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Degree audit: YesDegree planning: YesEarly alerts: Yes
- 18 TracCloud No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Early alerts: Yes
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which academic advising software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Ellucian Degree Works is ranked #1 of 18 with a score of 7.4. Civitas Advising is second and Slate third.
How many of these have a free plan?
1 of the 18 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Slate has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2,500/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.