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Head-to-head · Student Success Software

Watermark Student Success & Engagement vs Jenzabar Retention

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Watermark Student Success & Engagement #2 in Student Success Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Watermark
Jenzabar Retention #7 in Student Success Software 8.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Jenzabar

Watermark Student Success & Engagement leads on 0 checks, Jenzabar Retention 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 · 9.0/10
  • Most featuresJenzabar Retention · 4 of 6

Watermark Student Success & Engagement scores higher on our rubric for student success software: 9.0 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

Watermark Student Success & Engagement is the better fit for higher education advising and engagement. Jenzabar Retention is the better fit for higher education retention workflows.

  • Watermark Student Success & Engagement fits best

    Higher education advising and engagement

  • Jenzabar Retention fits best

    Higher education retention workflows

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Side by side

Feature Watermark Student Success & Engagement 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Jenzabar Retention 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.0
Ranking #2 in Student Success Software #7 in Student Success Software
Best for Higher education advising and engagement Higher education retention workflows
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
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Tickets, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs · 24/7 Phone · 24/7
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Watermark Student Success & Engagement 1/6 · Jenzabar Retention 4/6
Progress tracking Not checked yet ✓ (best)
At-risk alerts Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Intervention workflows ✓ ✓
Case management Not checked yet ✓ (best)
SIS integration Not checked yet Not checked yet
LMS integration Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Student limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Combines alerts, advising, interventions, pathways, messaging, and reporting
  • Connects with major SIS, LMS, calendar, survey, and analytics platforms
  • Provides web, iOS, and Android access for institutional and student workflows
  • Predictive risk modeling with customizable factors and automated alerts
  • Intervention assignment, tracking, reporting, and outcome analysis
  • Shared profiles, notes, communications, and cohort outreach
Cons
  • Institutional pricing is provided through sales quotes
  • Academic Planning is an add-on module
  • The Watermark Student mobile app is an add-on module
  • Pricing is handled through a contact-sales model
  • Web-only access may not suit teams seeking native desktop or mobile apps
  • Its higher-education focus limits fit for general-purpose case management
Our verdict

Watermark Student Success & Engagement is designed for higher education advisors, faculty, student affairs professionals, retention teams, success coaches, and institutional leaders. Its scope covers early alerts, predictive risk…

Read the review →

Jenzabar Retention is student success software for colleges and universities that need structured retention workflows from enrollment through graduation. It brings academic and administrative information into comprehensive student…

Read the review →
  1. Watermark Student Success & EngagementStudent Success Software 9.0Pricing on request
  2. Jenzabar RetentionStudent Success Software 8.0Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Watermark Student Success & Engagement — where it wins

    • Combines alerts, advising, interventions, pathways, messaging, and reporting
    • Connects with major SIS, LMS, calendar, survey, and analytics platforms
    • Provides web, iOS, and Android access for institutional and student workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Institutional pricing is provided through sales quotes
    • Academic Planning is an add-on module
    • The Watermark Student mobile app is an add-on module

  • Jenzabar Retention — where it wins

    • Predictive risk modeling with customizable factors and automated alerts
    • Intervention assignment, tracking, reporting, and outcome analysis
    • Shared profiles, notes, communications, and cohort outreach

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing is handled through a contact-sales model
    • Web-only access may not suit teams seeking native desktop or mobile apps
    • Its higher-education focus limits fit for general-purpose case management
  • Watermark Student Success & Engagement9.0/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad advising and engagement suite for institutions managing student success workflows.

    Visit WatermarkFull verdict →
  • Jenzabar Retention8.0/10 · Pricing on request

    A focused system for identifying risk and coordinating student interventions.

    Visit JenzabarFull verdict →

More comparisons

All student success software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update