Head-to-head · Higher Education Software
Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid vs openSIS
Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid leads on 0 checks, openSIS on 1, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreEllucian PowerCampus Financial Aid · 6.9/10
- Free planonly openSIS
Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid scores higher on our rubric for higher education software: 6.9 against 6.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.
openSIS offers free plan; Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid doesn't publish it.
Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid is the better fit for institutions managing complex financial-aid packaging. openSIS is the better fit for budget-conscious institutions needing core SIS functions.
- Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid fits best
Institutions managing complex financial-aid packaging
- openSIS fits best
Budget-conscious institutions needing core SIS functions
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Side by side
| Feature | Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid 6.9/10 Visit ↗ | openSIS 6.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 6.9 | 6.7 |
| Ranking | #6 in Higher Education Software | #8 in Higher Education Software |
| Best for | Institutions managing complex financial-aid packaging | Budget-conscious institutions needing core SIS functions |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Not published | $4/mo |
| Free plan | Not published | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs | Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs |
| Integrations | 3 integrations | 16 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid 0/4 · openSIS 0/4 | ||
| Student information system | Not published | Not published |
| Academic management | Not published | Not published |
| Admissions tools | Not published | Not published |
| Financial aid | Not published | Not published |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment | Cloud | Not published |
| Mobile access | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid handles financial-aid processing for colleges and universities, with particular relevance to small and mid-sized institutions. Its scope runs from application tracking and FAFSA-related processing through… Read the review → |
openSIS is a cloud-based student information system for K–12 schools, colleges, training programs, and virtual education providers. It brings student records, admissions, scheduling, attendance, grading, billing, communications, reporting,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid — where it wins
- Supports individual and batch aid packaging with configurable workflows.
- Covers FAFSA processing, need analysis, federal data and disbursement.
- Generates award letters and customized financial-aid reports.
Where it doesn't
- Pricing is available through a contact-sales model.
- Student self-service is provided through the companion Net Partner portal.
- The listed support channel is documentation.
openSIS — where it wins
- Core Startup covers records, scheduling, attendance, grading, and portals.
- Essential adds unlimited schools and student records plus billing and fees.
- Advanced includes admissions, degree audit, LMS links, API access, and SSO.
Where it doesn't
- Core Startup is limited to 50 students and 100 parent accounts.
- Advanced features such as degree audit and SSO require a higher tier.
- Enterprise pricing and scope are not presented as fixed per-staff rates.
- Ellucian PowerCampus Financial Aid6.9/10 · Pricing on request
A financial-aid system for tracking applications, analyzing need, packaging awards and processing funds.
Visit EllucianFull verdict → - openSIS6.7/10 · Free plan · paid from $4/mo (annual) · 15-day trial
A staff-priced SIS spanning records, academics, admissions, billing, and portals.
Visit openSISFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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