Head-to-head · Academic Advising Software
Watermark Student Success & Engagement vs Ellucian Advising
Watermark Student Success & Engagement leads on 0 checks, Ellucian Advising on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreWatermark Student Success & Engagement · 8.4/10
- Most featuresWatermark Student Success & Engagement · 4 of 5
Watermark Student Success & Engagement scores higher on our rubric for academic advising software: 8.4 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #6.
Watermark Student Success & Engagement is the better fit for institutions needing mobile student success tools. Ellucian Advising is the better fit for institutions focused on alerts and advising operations.
- Watermark Student Success & Engagement fits best
Institutions needing mobile student success tools
- Ellucian Advising fits best
Institutions focused on alerts and advising operations
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Side by side
| Feature | Watermark Student Success & Engagement 8.4/10 Visit ↗ | Ellucian Advising 8.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| Ranking | #3 in Academic Advising Software | #6 in Academic Advising Software |
| Best for | Institutions needing mobile student success tools | Institutions focused on alerts and advising operations |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Pricing on request | Pricing on request |
| Free plan | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud |
| Support | Tickets, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Docs |
| Integrations | 11 integrations | 2 integrations |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Watermark Student Success & Engagement 4/5 · Ellucian Advising 2/5 | ||
| Degree audit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Degree planning | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Early alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Intervention workflows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Student planning portal | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Mobile access | Mobile | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Watermark Student Success & Engagement brings advising, early alerts, engagement tracking, predictive risk indicators, intervention management, reporting, and student communication into one higher-education platform. It is designed for… Read the review → |
Ellucian Advising is advising software for colleges and universities, with tools for faculty, advisors, and higher-education teams supporting student progress. Its core capabilities include AI-powered alerts and dynamic indicators for… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Watermark Student Success & Engagement — where it wins
- Combines alerts, interventions, advising records, pathways, and planning
- Native iOS and Android student app available as an add-on module
- Integrates with major SIS, LMS, calendar, survey, and analytics tools
Where it doesn't
- Pricing requires institutional quotes rather than published plan rates
- Academic Planning is an add-on module with subscription-dependent availability
- Degree auditing is not part of the documented positioning
Ellucian Advising — where it wins
- AI alerts and indicators help identify at-risk students
- Case management and task automation support advising workflows
- Dashboards, scheduling, and communications connect advising activity
Where it doesn't
- Pricing requires contact with sales rather than published plan comparisons
- Its strongest emphasis is advising operations and student alerts
- Institutions may need to assess fit for broader academic planning needs
- Watermark Student Success & Engagement8.4/10 · Pricing on request
A broad advising and engagement suite for institutions prioritizing mobile student support.
Visit WatermarkFull verdict → - Ellucian Advising8.0/10 · Pricing on request
A strong fit for institutions prioritizing alerts, case management, and advising operations.
Visit EllucianFull verdict →
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All academic advising software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update







