5 Best CRM For College Admissions

So, you are in the market for a CRM that suits college admissions.

Ideal, because in this article we have our compilation list for our top picks, and we compare the features and pricing for you. 

If you just want the best choice, we’ve added that right at the top of the article as this was what is most requested by our customers. So, that’ll be the “can’t go wrong” option. 

Otherwise, feel free to explore all the options we’ve reviewed on the market to find something that might fit you a little better.

Enjoy the list!

What CRM would you recommend?

In short, It's Monday.com CRM

It's very well rounded, well priced, feature-rich with a large community of support and a very top-notch set of tutorials for every use case. You can't go wrong with Monday.com. It's the software we use with our clients at our ad agency.

“🚀Try Monday.com CRM For Free, It's my favorite webinar software to use and recommend.” -Scott Max

Monday.com is a user-friendly CRM platform that provides advanced solutions with its robust marketing tools. It allows larger companies with complex workflows to perform efficiently and produce nifty results. Monday.com has you covered for your: Service, Sales, CMS, Operations, and Marketing needs.

For more details, read our Monday.com Review.

The Best CRM specifically for College Admissions

College admission procedures can be quite tiresome for your staff as they involve going through several applications and verifying documentation for every applicant. A CRM that automatically sorts documents according to accounts and lets your staff focus; on choosing the top applicants will be the perfect fit for this category. Have a look at the products below to pick the best CRM for college admissions:

1. Netsuite

NetSuite Customer Relationship Management software is a cloud-based CRM that offers a 360-degree view of your customers in real time. NetSuite CRM provides a continuous flow of information across the entire customer lifecycle, from leadership to opportunity, sales order, fulfillment, renewal, up-sell, cross-sell or support.

Get Started with NetSuite🔥

NetSuite Features

NetSuite has developed over the recent years and was one of the first cloud-based ERP+CRM systems. It is a multi-tenant SaaS solution that helps small and medium-sized organizations grow faster with customizable workflows. NetSuite provides unmatchable visibility and control over your entire business with its cloud-based applications that improve organizational productivity.

Here are some fascinating features that make NetSuite unique:

• Enterprise Resource Planning: NetSuite provides businesses with complete control over data and resource planning. From handling financial operations to processing order-related information, you can automate all manual workflows with NetSuite’s ERP. You can increase the productivity of an organization with ERP as it provides a clear vision of each business procedure.
• Global Business Management: NetSuite’s Global business management provides unrivaled visibility into operations in real-time. It allows multi-National businesses to manage complexities due to currency differences, tax policies, and legal conformity. Such organizations need to consolidate in regional areas while adhering to the company’s essence, and GBM makes that happen.
• Sales Force Automation: NetSuite allows users to automate administrative actions and sales operations, reducing the employees' workload. You can identify potential issues, create financial projections and track employees' performance to get a better outlook on your business activities.
• OpenAir: NetSuite’s OpenAir optimizes resources and employee allotment according to the skills required for a particular task. OpenAir creates various scenarios for every lead to maximize revenue and improve the chances of securing an opportunity. You can automate customer engagement and let OpenAir choose the right employee for each interaction based on past work and favorable conditions.
• SuiteCommerce: NetSuite helps e-commerce businesses automatically update online orders to the back-end to manage them centrally and reduce the processing time while increasing accuracy. SuiteCommerce allows B2B and B2C websites in unifying the front-end and back-end to remove manual operations and get higher client engagement.
• Timesheet Management: NetSuite assists Project managers to review time-based tasks and recording the working hours of employees. You can view relevant information like “Start Date”, “Work Done”, and “Estimated completion time” to get an overview of performance. Moreover, you can reassign tasks through Timesheet Management to finish projects urgently.
• Project Analysis: NetSuite offers analytical tools that provide concurrent updates for every service rendered by your organization. You can track each lead individually to get a better statistical understanding of the client’s requirements. Moreover, you can share reports with colleagues through NetSuite to ensure everyone is on board with project advancement.

NetSuite Pricing

NetSuite does not offer a general subscription plan, and users have to fill in a form mentioning their requirements, business size, and budget. Once done, you’ll be contacted: by the customer executive regarding the best customizable tools for your organizational needs.

2. Pipedrive 

The Pipedrive CRM tool is intuitive and easy to use, providing a wealth of data of interest and future forecast for your customers and their interactions. It is a tool very focused on the sales area, not so much on marketing, and has a paid subscription. Currently, some of your customers are Amazon, Skyscanner or Vimeo. We have tested it to make an educational video on Youtube and have raised a special offer for readers of Marketing4eCommerce 1 month free trial (usually 14 days) and 25% discount on the first purchase. You can take advantage of it at this link.

Get Started with Pipedrive🔥

Pipedrive Features

Pipedrive makes sales-related tasks easier by fetching leads 24/7 and emphasizes the right opportunity so you can convert it into a deal from the sales pipeline. Pipedrive has a flexible and user-friendly interface that simplifies the transition to the CRM tool for businesses, lessening the workload of the sales team.

Here are some features offered by Pipedrive:

• Lead Management: Pipedrive offers an unsophisticated sales pipeline with several functionalities that provide a fully visual sales experience to improve efficiency and close deals faster. Users can track opportunities through all stages of the sales funnel and customize the dashboard to move all leads at one place for smoother interaction and prioritization. Moreover, Pipedrive provides users with an AI-powered sales mentor for personalized insights.
• Communication Tracking: Pipedrive allows businesses to manage contacts and group them into “People” and “Organization” so the sales representative knows the clients' role in the company and approaches them accordingly. Pipedrive provides a visual representation of call history and other modes of communication with the client giving a cutting edge to your business in negotiations. You can also make outbound phone calls within the Pipedrive and auto-link them with the relevant contacts.
• Sales Automation System: Pipedrive allows users to automate every sales process and take their business to the next level. You will be notified: at the earliest about any changes to the lead phases and account settings to prevent misuse of your CRM. Pipedrive’s Automation sends customized notifications to the clients at the right time to increase the chances of getting engagement and successfully closing a deal.
• Insights and Reports: You can create customizable fields for analytical reports regarding deals, leads, revenue, activities and add them to the dashboard for quick access. Pipedrive also offers employee management services to create goals for teams and individuals. It helps in evaluating the performances and assigning the tasks based on merit, which increases the chances of getting a positive outcome for every sales opportunity.
• Privacy and Security: Pipedrive offers a dedicated security dashboard to give users complete control and transparency over user permissions and privacy settings. You can see how many users are logged in to the Pipedrive account and prevent mischievous entities from getting hold of your data. Moreover, you can see how recently the password has been altered, devices using your account and whether there has been any attempt to change the admin settings.

Pipedrive Pricing

Pipedrive has 4 pricing options for users to choose between depending on their requirements.

The “Essential” plan is priced at $15/month, giving users access to pipeline management, customer support, and data importation.

The “Advanced” plan is priced at $29/month, providing all features of “Essential” plus email scheduling, click tracking, and workflow creation.

The “Professional” plan is priced at $59/month, providing all features of “Advanced” plus call tracking, document creation, and revenue forecasting.

The “Enterprise” plan is priced at $119/month and gives access to all features of Pipedrive.

You can get add-ons to get the most out of the Pipedrive CRM subscription.

LeadBooster add-on starts at $32.5/month upon annual billing and helps large businesses to engage with leads more frequently.

Web Visitors add-on starts at $41/month upon annual billing and helps you recognize how your clients found out about services that can improve your marketing strategy.

3. Salesforce

Another tool to highlight is Salesforce, quite similar in the mechanics of employment to Pipedrive, is one of the most popular CRM programs, despite having a paid subscription, recommended for large companies but not so much for entrepreneurs or SMEs. It is a program that adapts perfectly to the size of your company, with a great usability adaptable to any device and with the possibility of using it anywhere you have a network.

Get Started with Salesforce🔥

Salesforce Features

Salesforce is a sales, marketing, and collaboration powerhouse that lets users accomplish business tasks and share ideas smartly. It was launched: in 1999 with the idea of helping organizations build long-lasting relationships with clients and providing a seamless transition to CRM software. Salesforce has since established itself as one of the most sought-after CRM tools due to its constant strive for innovation and philanthropic values.

Here are some features offered by Salesforce that can affect your business experience positively:

• Industry-focused services: Salesforce provides tailor-made CRM services for every business, irrespective of its niche or size. It is a multi-feature platform that allows every industry to benefit from its wide range of tools. Users can select their line of business to get recommendations on services or customize their own CRM plan.
• Salesforce Sustainability Cloud: Salesforce enables the inflow of your entire business data on a single platform, making it easier to accurately analyze your carbon footprint. In today’s age, when environmental awareness is more significant than ever, Salesforce Sustainability cloud lets you conceive a detailed plan to limit carbon emissions and provide a detailed report to the energy regulatory authorities.
• Slack Collaboration: Salesforce recently acquired Slack, and users can now integrate both platforms for secured communication and collaboration purposes. Slack has a unique interface that allows users to create distinct workflows for each task and automated responses to keep clients engaged till you assign a customer representative. Moreover, it brings different subsections of a business together and facilitates sharing of ideas.
• Workplace Command Centre: Salesforce tracks employee health and ensures their well-being during the pandemic; by carefully managing work hours. It builds a strong community where your company’s employees can connect with each other and resolve issues while you can dispatch resources faster.
• Lightning Platform: Salesforce provides an app development platform with the latest technologies like blockchain and AI. Users can handle every aspect of the process and customize a mobile application that empowers the company's ecosystem. It's an unequaled innovative experience that streamlines IT-related tasks and lets anyone contribute towards app development.
• AppExchange: Salesforce has an inbuilt marketplace where users can integrate the additional application to get a more customized experience. It amplifies your sales experience and browsing through several applications while using external tools within a unified platform for business purposes.

Salesforce Pricing

Salesforce has a multifunctional ecosystem where you can add services based on your requirements.

Sales Cloud’s “Essentials” plan is priced: at $25/month/user, “Professional” plan is priced at $75/month/user, “Enterprise” plan costs $150/month/user and “Unlimited” plan is worth $300/month/user.

Small businesses can get a generalized subscription to enjoy Salesforce and choose from the following packages:

The “Essentials” plan is priced: at $25/month/user and can be used; by up to 10 users.

The “Sales Professional” subscription is priced: at $75/month/user.

The “Service Professional” plan is priced: at $75/month/user.

The “Pardot Growth” plan is priced at $1250/month/user and offers automation capabilities for every business.

4. Creatio

Creatio is defined as a tool that allows the management of each client, in a particular way, at each stage of the life cycle. From the initial origin or lead, through the moment the sale is generated and up to the after-sales service. It has a simple, friendly and responsive interface that, at a glance, allows the particular situation of each client to be conceptualised. In addition, it allows the processes between marketing, sales and customer service to be connected.

Get Started with Creatio🔥

Creatio Features

Creatio is designed; for businesses looking to expedite their sales and marketing services. It enables a seamless transition to the CRM and requires no coding while also providing a marketplace where users can avail templates and relevant applications. You can orchestrate customer journeys with Creatio and maximize the ROI by marketing your product to the right audience.

Here are some central features offered by Creatio:

• Marketing Plans: It is the hub of all your marketing strategies throughout the years, where you can access each activity, schedule meetings, and sort data. You can create new entries or update the older ones to meet your current requirements. You can also set access permission and distribute the workload among the organization effectively.
• Website event tracking: Creatio lets you track specific user actions on your website; to help you know the customer preferences and structure your marketing tactics accordingly. You can add commands to remind the customer about the cart items and nurture them towards a potential purchase. You have to enter the unique tracking code into your website’s source code and set the guidelines to get started.
• Case appraisal: Here, you can access all customer-related queries, assign cases to employees, and import new data from your system. You can access each inquiry to see the relevant details and progress, add new attachments or escalate the incident to a higher authority. It allows you to satisfy the customer by providing a quick resolution.
• Service Changes assessment: Creatio gives you access to all the recent changes made in the interface and the system. You can see who assigned the work to whom and add notes to inform the responsible entity about the nature of the task. Moreover, you can also sort these changes according to the execution time and priority level.
• Knowledge base: It is the perfect place for your employees to find educational material regarding the company's working process, plus add new relevant content for other users. As an administrator, you can set access rights and tag the articles to make them easily discoverable.
• Sales homepage: Here, you get an in-depth analysis of the sales process and recent negotiation activities. You can see how many leads have been; converted or lost and formulate a plan to close more opportunities. Moreover, you can access the sales pipeline through the homepage and group the leads according to the phases.

Creatio Pricing

Creatio allows you to customize the plan, so you only pay for the services you require. There are three tools available in Creatio: Marketing, Sales, and Service. To get a quote, Fill in the relevant details. You also have to add a “Support package” to get technical assistance from the Creatio team. You can opt for a “Basic”, “Business”, or “Premium” plan, which cost 5%, 12%, and 20% of the subscription package, respectively.

5. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a tool quite similar to Salesforce, integrated by different tools and functionalities that you can use according to the needs of your company. It has a number of free options and paid PRO versions, which you can evaluate according to your needs. One of its great advantages is that it can be integrated with a multitude of other tools that are not necessarily complementary to its use.

Get Started with ZohoCRM🔥

Zoho CRM Features

Zoho CRM is a robust software that fulfills all your business requirements, from closing the deal and managing company data to collaborating with your colleagues. It provides CRM solutions according to the niche and size of your organization for an ideal sales experience which makes it one of the most coveted CRM tools in the market. Zoho CRM thrives in solving unique business scenarios with a quick turnout time and produces compelling results.

Here’s a wide range of features offered by Zoho CRM:

• Canvas design studio: Every business has different requirements, so it's weird why you should not be able to personalize your software experience. Zoho CRM allows users to makeover their homepage, tabs and menu bar with Canvas design studio. You can add aesthetic background to your CRM software and work efficiently by placing the frequently accessed; tabs on your homepage.
• Journey orchestration: Zoho CRM allows users; to create flowcharts that will determine the next step in the customer journey depending upon the response. Zoho Command Centre provides a unique interactive experience to potential clients and existing customers by analyzing the customer’s intentions.
• Omnichannel: Zoho CRM integrates all of your communications sources in one platform and smoothens proceedings with incoming leads. Moreover, you can hold web conferencing, set up service portals and live chat, collaborate with colleagues, and get real-time updates within the Omnichannel.
• Sales Enablement: Zoho CRM provides surfeit options for sales tools and lets you conduct every sales-related activity with comfort. It increases visibility into the client interactions and empowers your business portal by constantly adhering to the pre-entered commands. You can prioritize specific leads, get alerts regarding opportunities and build up a document library to assist the sales rep in negotiations.
• Performance management: Zoho CRM allows you to set targets for your employees to provide added motivation and track their performance with the SPM tool. You can also classify clients according to region, budget, and services required. Moreover, it lets you deal with multiple currencies and see exchange rates that can bolster your business.
• Developer platform: Zoho CRM’s developer platform helps you make custom solutions; for your business needs without much coding. You can integrate and unify your data from various applications, create automation, and run deluge codes to configure the CRM. It’s a perfect platform to help your developers get familiar with CRM services and build exciting products.

Zoho CRM Pricing

Zoho CRM offers subscription plans for every business, whether small, medium, or large.

The ” Standard” plan is priced: at ₹1300/month/user. It offers custom dashboards, multiple pipelines, and 1 canvas design creation.

The “Professional” plan is priced: at ₹2100/month/user. It offers SalesSignals, validation rules, and inventory management.

The “Enterprise” plan is priced: at ₹3000/month/user. It offers CommandCenter, a Multi-user portal, and advanced customization.

The “Ultimate” plan is priced: at ₹3200/month/user. It offers Enhanced feature limits, Zoho Analytics, and 25 customizable canvas designs.

Small businesses can opt for “Bigin” by Zoho, priced at ₹550/month/user.

There’s also a free edition of Zoho CRM which offers essential management tools.

Benefits of Implementing a CRM in College Admissions

The college admissions landscape is evolving, and a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is vital for attracting and enrolling suitable students. Here are key benefits of implementing a CRM:

Enhanced Efficiency

A CRM automates many admissions tasks like document submissions and notifications, reducing the administrative burden on staff and speeding up the process. Centralized applicant data enhances coordination among admissions staff, improving collaboration and minimizing errors.

Improved Communication

Effective communication is crucial in guiding prospective students. A CRM facilitates personalized communication through automated emails and texts, allowing institutions to segment outreach based on applicant profiles. Self-service portals offer students real-time application tracking and access to resources, leading to a positive experience and higher enrollment rates.

Data-Driven Decisions

CRMs collect and analyze data about applicants, letting admissions teams make informed decisions. Insights can refine marketing strategies and optimize recruitment efforts, allowing institutions to proactively shape their admissions strategies.

Strengthened Alumni Relations

A CRM supports building lasting relationships with alumni and donors by tracking the entire student lifecycle. This enables effective outreach campaigns, keeping alumni informed and engaged, which can lead to increased donations and institutional support.

Key Features of an Effective College CRM

In the fast-evolving landscape of higher education, a robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is essential for colleges and universities seeking to enhance their admissions processes, improve student engagement, and foster collaboration across departments. Here are the key features that make an effective college CRM:

Centralized Data Management

An effective college CRM centralizes all student data for easy access by departments like admissions, marketing, and financial aid. This feature eliminates redundancy and promotes seamless communication among stakeholders.

Real-Time Communication Tools

To enhance student experience, a college CRM should offer real-time communication tools, like messaging and alerts, keeping students updated on financial aid, acceptance letters, and contact changes to strengthen relationships.

Automated Workflows

Automated workflows streamline processes like lead nurturing and follow-ups, allowing staff to focus on strategic initiatives, improving efficiency and student satisfaction. Personalized outreach based on student engagement can be achieved through real-time drip marketing.

Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics

A powerful CRM provides real-time analytics to monitor KPIs, enabling data-driven decisions. Departments can refine strategies and improve enrollment and retention by analyzing campaign ROI and team performance.

Integration Capabilities

An effective college CRM integrates with essential tools like LMS and accounting software, synchronizing student data across platforms. This integration enhances management throughout the student lifecycle and fosters collaboration between admissions and financial aid.

Why use a CRM at all?

Managing a business involves several complexities, and you need to overcome all of them efficiently; to successfully achieve your objectives. Having a dedicated system that empowers your employees during tasks and helps them with customer data can enhance productivity.

CRM offers an optimized solution for businesses to manage all activities within a single interface. It's the lifeblood for organizations that revolve around a customer-centric approach and depend upon clients for revenue generation.

CRM assists your sales representatives during negotiations by providing previous interactions for reference so they can communicate fluently and nurture the lead.

Why should you use a CRM for college admissions?

CRM offers a suite of products and services specifically for the higher education market. CRM lets you easily configure a portal where prospects and applicants can track their status and engage with staff or peers.

You have access to live chat, email templates and text messaging within one platform to make communication simpler. It has automated tools for decision management, reports helping you find the students most likely to apply and customizable dashboards.

The system gives you access to relevant and unified data that you can view anywhere. Students can log in to their accounts to build their schedules and register for classes. They can work with the advisors to plan goals and track progress.

Only relevant personnel have the access to academic planning and real-time counselling tools, making CRM completely immune; to data manipulation.

Other admin tools let you define models to support activities, streamline processes for posting grades and import data from other learning management systems. CRM also offers reports to provide you with details, trends and insights from data such as student attendance.

You can use the financial management module within the CRM to view a customizable chart of accounts and standard-based Ledger's. You can audit and manage admission processes, improve budget controls and comply with accounting practices.

CRM for college admissions, A Summary

CRM includes tools for automating tasks that streamline operations; of financial aid and admission procedures. You can easily sort applications according to scholarship details and award packages, plus reconcile finances. It helps you maintain transparency throughout the admission process and ensures you pick the right candidates.

Netsuite offers; a customizable platform for colleges that simplifies admission processes by improving efficiency and using workflows to segment data. It is our suggested pick for a CRM that suits college admissions. Visit the website to get started.