{"question": "best student information systems for colleges", "category": "student-information-systems", "category_name": "student information systems", "audience": "colleges", "audience_name": "colleges", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-11T00:14:28Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/student-information-systems-colleges-2026-10-11", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/student-information-systems/colleges", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Fedena", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Infinite Campus", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Ellucian", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Ellucian Banner", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Workday", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Workday Student", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Ellucian Colleague", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Oracle", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Jenzabar", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Jenzabar One", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Populi", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "UK", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 14, "brand": "Anthology", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 15, "brand": "Anthology Student", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/", "domain": "listedtech.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://newsroom.workday.com/2026-04-06-Workday-Named-a-Leader-in-2026-Gartner-R-Magic-Quadrant-TM-for-Higher-Education-Student-Information-Systems", "domain": "newsroom.workday.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.ellucian.com/ellucian-named-leader-2026-gartner-magic-quadrant-two-consecutive-years", "domain": "ellucian.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.ellucian.com/newsroom/ellucian-completes-acquisition-anthologys-sis-and-erp-business", "domain": "ellucian.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://campustechnology.com/Articles/2026/01/05/Ellucian-Officially-Acquires-Anthologys-SIS-and-ERP-Business.aspx", "domain": "campustechnology.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/higher-education-student-information-systems", "domain": "gartner.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://listedtech.com/blog/which-products-is-workday-student-replacing/", "domain": "listedtech.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "## The honest short answer\n\nFor a US degree-granting college, the real market is about five vendors. Most of the \"top 10 SIS\" listicles you'll find rank K-12 products like openSIS, Fedena, and Infinite Campus at the top - those are not higher-ed systems of record and you should ignore those lists for this decision.\n\nHere's who I'd actually name, in order:\n\n**1. Ellucian Banner (with Banner SaaS)** - The default choice for mid-size and large institutions, and the market leader at ~24% share in North America. It handles complex academic structures, financial aid, and state/IPEDS reporting better than almost anything else, and the integrator/consultant talent pool is deep. Ellucian was named a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for the second straight year in 2026, positioned highest in Ability to Execute. Downside: the underlying product is old, and \"Banner SaaS\" is largely managed hosting rather than a true multi-tenant rebuild.\n\n**2. Workday Student** - The one I'd put head-to-head with Banner if you're already a Workday HCM/Financials shop, or if you're willing to fund a genuine transformation. More than 200 North American institutions have selected it with nearly 100 live (LSU, UBC, W", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}