We Tested the 6 Best Higher Education Recruitment Software Solutions
Recruiting students to your college or university is no longer a “sit back and wait” game. With so many options all vying for a limited pool of potential students, it’s more important than ever to have a strong recruitment strategy in place.
One crucial element of that strategy that’s often overlooked? Your software.
In this Willo article, we explore six higher education recruitment software solutions, offering insights into their key features and benefits. By the end, you’ll have a solid idea about which will help you achieve your recruiting goals.
What Is Higher Education Recruitment Software?
Higher education recruitment software assists educational institutions in attracting, engaging, and enrolling prospective students.
As such, this software streamlines the recruitment process by automating tasks such as:
- Managing applications
- Scheduling interviews
- Tracking communications
Higher education recruitment software tools also often include features like customer relationship management (CRM) systems, email marketing tools, analytics, and reporting capabilities. This allows you to monitor the entire recruitment funnel, from the initial inquiry to final enrollment.
Why Is Higher Education Recruitment Software Important?
Higher education recruitment software offers several key benefits for institutions:
- Efficiency: Automating tasks like application tracking and communication management saves time and reduces administrative burdens, allowing recruitment teams to focus on engaging with potential students.
- Enhanced applicant experience: Clear communication and processes will improve the overall experience for prospective students, making it easier for them to apply and stay informed.
- Data-driven decisions: Analytics such as application conversion rates, geographic trends, and program popularity help you make more informed decisions about recruitment strategies and identify the best-fit candidates.
- Improve collaboration: Centralized platforms enhance teamwork by allowing anyone members to access and update applicant information, share notes, and coordinate recruitment efforts across departments.
Criteria to Consider When Choosing Higher Education Recruitment Software
To avoid going all in on the wrong solution, consider these key factors when selecting higher education recruitment software:
- User-friendly interface: The software should have an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface for both admissions staff and prospective students.
- Integration capabilities: Look for software that can seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, such as CRM platforms, student information systems, and communication tools.
- Customization options: Being able to customize workflows, templates, and communication preferences will make your job that much smoother.
- Compliance: As an institution, you’re handling sensitive data. Check that the tool you select is compliant with laws such as GDPR or other relevant regulations in your region.
- Scalability: Ensure the software can scale with your institution's growth; you don’t want to rip-and-replace after a couple of years.
- Support and training: Reliable customer support and comprehensive training resources are vital to help your admissions team use the software in their daily workflows.
6 Best Higher Education Recruitment Software Solutions
- Willo
- Ellucian
- Creatrix Campus
- LeadSquared
- TargetX
- HubSpot
1. Willo
Willo is an async video interviewing platform that streamlines the recruitment process for higher education institutions.
Source: Willo
Rather than relying entirely on live (in-person or virtual) interviews, you can use Willo to give students the freedom and flexibility of recording interviews at a time that's convenient for them. This not only makes the process less stressful for them, but also helps busy admissions teams win back hours of their time.
Key features
- Async interviews: Create simple, effective async interviews that gather the necessary info from applicants without the need for live interviews.
- Question settings: Choose from multiple question types and control settings for thinking time, redos, and more.
- Question generator: Willo’s question generation offers custom suggestions based on department, school, and academic level.
- Scorecards: Standardize interview reviews by giving reviewers a shared set of criteria to use when evaluating applicants.
- Seamless collaboration: Use our Showcase™ feature to quickly share your favorite async interview responses with stakeholders.
- Integrations: Integrate Willo with over 5,000 tools via Zapier to connect your admissions and marketing stacks.
Pricing
At Willo, our paid plans start at $90 per month for 5 open positions, $249 per month for 24 open positions, and $399 per month for 60 open positions. Custom pricing is also available for high-volume interviewing needs.
Source: Willo
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Affordable pricing plans
- High scalability
- Strong customer support
- Integration with over 5,000 apps and tools
Cons
- Might not integrate with all student information systems
2. Ellucian
Ellucian provides a suite of solutions to enhance recruitment and admissions processes.
Source: Software Advice
Key features
- Personalized communication tools: Customizable communication with prospective students through email, SMS, and social media for multichannel engagement.
- Workflow automation: Helps automate some tasks, like application processing and follow-ups, to reduce staff workload.
- Integration with campus systems: Integrates with existing campus systems like ERP, Student Information Systems (SIS), and LMS for a unified management platform.
- Analytics and reporting: Provides analytics and reporting tools to track recruitment performance and make data-driven decisions.
Pricing
Pricing is available upon request.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set tailored to higher education
- Customizable
- Robust data analytics
- Good integration capabilities
Cons
- Platform may require extensive training
- Can be expensive for smaller institutions
- Requires substantial IT resources
Pros and cons gathered from Capterra.
3. Creatrix Campus
Creatrix Campus offers an all-in-one solution for recruitment, assessment, and curriculum management, with extensive integration capabilities and customizable workflows.
Source: Software Advice
Key features
- Applicant tracking system (ATS): Manages the progress of each candidate from application through to onboarding.
- Data analytics and reporting: Offers robust tools for tracking key recruitment metrics, such as candidate sources and success rates.
- Integration capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with existing recruitment systems, facilitating smooth data flow and cross-platform management.
- Customizable recruitment workflows: Allows institutions to define and automate recruitment workflows, alerts, and tasks.
Pricing
Pricing is available upon request.
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Comprehensive management tools
- Support and training resources
Cons
- Complex setup process
- Can be costly for smaller institutions
- Limited financial management tools
Pros and cons gathered from Capterra.
4. LeadSquared
LeadSquared is a CRM platform designed to optimize recruitment through powerful automation and lead management tools.
Source: LeadSquared
Key features
- Automated workflows: Build workflows for student communication and follow-ups to ensure timely messaging.
- Analytics and reporting: Access analytics to track application completion rates and campaign performance.
- Integration capabilities: Centralize data from your SIS, CRM, and communication tools.
- Segmentation and personalization: Segment applicants for personalized, relevant outreach based on demographics and behavior.
Pricing
Pricing is available upon request.
Pros
- Strong automation capabilities
- Good customer support
- Flexible and customizable
- Effective lead tracking
Cons
- Some users report occasional bugs
- Requires ongoing training for optimal use
- Limited integration options compared to some competitors
Pros and cons gathered from Capterra.
5. TargetX
Built on top of the Salesforce platform, TargetX is a CRM solution for higher education institutions that focuses on student recruitment and retention.
Source: Liaison
Key features
- Mobile-first online application: Allow students to submit applications from any device with a browser and internet connection.
- Automated workflow: Automatically assign students to admissions staff, route applications to reviewers, and trigger email notifications.
- Integrated communication tools: Communicate via email, SMS, and online chat without leaving the platform.
- Student portal: Give students a personalized portal to view their application status, submit documents, review decisions, and engage with student and applicant communities.
Pricing
Pricing is available upon request.
Pros
- Informative dashboards
- Effective email communication tools
- Scalable platform
Cons
- High cost for smaller institutions
- Requires ongoing training
- Reporting could be more intuitive
Pros and cons gathered from Capterra.
6. HubSpot
HubSpot has solutions that you can customize to meet the unique needs of educational institutions. It offers a suite of tools to manage recruitment, track student engagement, and foster relationships with donors.
Source: HubSpot
Key features
- Personalized recruitment experiences: Build custom landing pages, forms, and emails to engage prospective students.
- Student engagement tracking: Access data about what content, pages, and experiences students engage with on their enrollment journeys.
- Donor management: Build and maintain relationships with donors to support ongoing fundraising.
- Integrated marketing tools: Manage email campaigns, social media, and online advertising from a single platform.
Pricing
HubSpot’s pricing ranges from free to $4,000+ per month. The amount you pay depends on the number of user seats you need, the products you want to buy, and the billing frequency you select.
Pros
- Great integrations with other tools
- Built-in marketing and recruitment tools
- Analytics and reporting capabilities
Cons
- Higher education institutions can expect high prices
- You may end up paying for unused features
Pros and cons gathered from Capterra.
Transform Your Recruitment Process Today
With the increasing challenges of higher education recruitment, the software you choose matters.
Willo is a powerful tool that not only simplifies the recruitment process but also enhances the candidate experience. Our innovative features and flexible plans make our software ideal for educational institutions with student-centric needs.
Ready to experience the benefits of streamlined student recruitment? Start your free trial today and see how Willo transforms your admissions process.
