What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for student information systems (colleges) on 2026-10-14

Claude (Anthropic) with web search claude-opus-5 asked 2026-10-14

Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

The question asked, verbatim: best student information systems for colleges

Brands named, in the order the engine gave

1. Ellucian mentioned
   On December 31, 2025, Ellucian completed its acquisition of Anthology's SIS and ERP business out of Anthology's October Chapter 11 restructuring - 260+ customers (https://erp.today/ellucian-completes-anthology-sis-and-erp-acquisition-adding-260-higher-education-customers/) moved over.
2. Anthology mentioned
   On December 31, 2025, Ellucian completed its acquisition of Anthology's SIS and ERP business out of Anthology's October Chapter 11 restructuring - 260+ customers (https://erp.today/ellucian-completes-anthology-sis-and-erp-acquisition-adding-260-higher-education-customers/) moved over.
3. Anthology Student mentioned
   Ellucian now owns Banner, Colleague, PowerCampus and Anthology Student.
4. Workday recommended
   Workday Student - My default recommendation for institutions that can afford it and have HR/Finance already on Workday or are willing to move there.
5. Workday Student recommended
   Workday Student - My default recommendation for institutions that can afford it and have HR/Finance already on Workday or are willing to move there.
6. Ellucian Banner mentioned
   Ellucian Banner - The incumbent leader at 24% and the safe institutional choice for mid-size and large institutions, especially publics with heavy regulatory reporting.
7. Ellucian Colleague mentioned
   Ellucian Colleague - Worth naming separately because it's the right answer for a different buyer: small-to-mid private colleges and community colleges that want Banner-class depth with less administrative overhead.
8. Jenzabar mentioned
   Jenzabar (Jenzabar One / SONIS) - The one I'd genuinely shortlist against Ellucian for small institutions.
9. Jenzabar One mentioned
   Jenzabar (Jenzabar One / SONIS) - The one I'd genuinely shortlist against Ellucian for small institutions.
10. Oracle mentioned
    Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions - Only if you already run it.
11. Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions mentioned
    Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions - Only if you already run it.
12. Named mentioned
    Anthology Student - Named with an explicit warning.
13. Fedena mentioned
    My first search returned openSIS, Fedena, Infinite Campus, Alma, and Classe365 ranked at the top.
14. Infinite Campus mentioned
    My first search returned openSIS, Fedena, Infinite Campus, Alma, and Classe365 ranked at the top.
15. Alma mentioned
    My first search returned openSIS, Fedena, Infinite Campus, Alma, and Classe365 ranked at the top.
16. Classe365 mentioned
    My first search returned openSIS, Fedena, Infinite Campus, Alma, and Classe365 ranked at the top.

Sources the engine cited

The answer, as recorded

## Short version The honest answer is that this market just consolidated dramatically, and that fact should drive your shortlist more than any feature comparison. On **December 31, 2025**, Ellucian completed its acquisition of Anthology's SIS and ERP business out of Anthology's October Chapter 11 restructuring - [260+ customers](https://erp.today/ellucian-completes-anthology-sis-and-erp-acquisition-adding-260-higher-education-customers/) moved over. Ellucian now owns Banner, Colleague, PowerCampus *and* Anthology Student. Combined with [ListEdTech's January 2025 share data](https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/) (Banner 24%, Colleague 11%, Anthology 10%), that's roughly 45% of North American higher ed SIS under one roof. Real choice in this market is narrower than it was 18 months ago. Who I'd actually name, in order: **1. Workday Student** - My default recommendation for institutions that can afford it and have HR/Finance already on Workday or are willing to move there. It's the only genuinely modern, true-SaaS option at scale, and the maturity objection has largely expired: [650+ institutions have selected Workday with 85+ live on Workday Student](https://www.fullfabric.com/articles/top-student-information-systems-2026), and current implementations (Miami University, Williams, UMW, University of Florida) are going considerably more smoothly than the early cohort. Caveat: at [2% SIS share](https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/) it's still small, it's the most expensive path, and the value case collapses if you *only* buy Student without the ERP. **2. Ellucian Banner** - The incumbent leader at 24% and the safe institutional choice for mid-size and large institutions, especially publics with heavy regulatory reporting. Deep functionality, huge consultant and peer ecosystem, nobody gets fired for picking it. Notably, [its growth comes from upgrades and migrations off Colleague and PowerCampus rather than net-new wins](https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/) - you're buying stability and a known quantity, not innovation. **3. Ellucian Colleague** - Worth naming separately because it's the right answer for a different buyer: small-to-mid private colleges and community colleges that want Banner-class depth with less administrative overhead. Go in knowing Ellucian has been steering Colleague sites toward Banner, so ask pointed questions about long-term roadmap commitment. **4. Jenzabar (Jenzabar One / SONIS)** - The one I'd genuinely shortlist against Ellucian for small institutions. Jenzabar reports being [the most-selected SIS among institutions under 2,500 FTE in 2025, with 100+ institutions selecting its solutions in the first half of the year](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250730745865/en/Jenzabar-Solutions-Selected-by-Over-100-Institutions-in-the-First-Half-of-2025-Driving-SIS-Leadership-and-Student-Success-Across-Higher-Education) - that's vendor-sourced, so discount accordingly, but it matches what I see in the market. Strong fit for small privates, seminaries, and specialized schools. Its 11% overall share is in [slow steady decline](https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/), which is the main thing to weigh. Post-acquisition, it's also now the most credible non-Ellucian alternative for small colleges, which may improve your negotiating position. **5. Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions** - Only if you already run it. [Share has held flat at 10% despite slow cloud progress](https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/), and Oracle's cloud successor story for Campus Solutions remains thin - I could not find a credible 2026 roadmap for Oracle Student Cloud, which tells you something. Staying put is defensible; buying in new is not. **6. Anthology Student** - Named with an explicit warning. Still a [configurable, well-built system](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/product/anthology-student/alternatives) that's strong in proprietary and non-traditional/term-flexible institutions. But it arrived at Ellucian via bankruptcy, and Ellucian has committed to "support and maintain" it - language that historically precedes a migration path, not sustained investment. The Claremont Colleges [selected Anthology to replace Jenzabar](https://www.pitzer.edu/offices/dsi/new-student-information-system-sis-portal-tool-and-faq) and now find themselves an Ellucian customer. If you're on it, your near-term job is getting roadmap commitments in writing. ## Two things worth flagging **Be careful with generic "best SIS 2026" listicles.** My first search returned openSIS, Fedena, Infinite Campus, Alma, and Classe365 ranked at the top. Those are K-12 district or small-school/international products - Infinite Campus is a K-12 SIS, and the $4/month-per-staff pricing tier is not a serious higher-ed registrar system. They do not handle degree audit, financial aid packaging, IPEDS reporting, or academic-term complexity at college scale. [Sites like these](https://www.itechguides.com/best/student-information-systems/) blend K-12 and higher ed into one ranking, and it makes them useless for your purpose. **I don't know your institution type, and it's the single biggest factor** - so rather than ask, here's the decision rule: under ~2,500 FTE, run Jenzabar against Colleague. Mid-size to large with budget and ERP appetite, run Workday Student against Banner. Community college system, Banner and Colleague, with your state system's existing footprint likely deciding it. Already on Anthology, treat this year as a roadmap-assurance exercise before committing to anything. Sources: - [ListEdTech - North American SIS Higher Ed Market Share, January 2025](https://listedtech.com/blog/north-american-sis-highered-market-share-january-2025-update/) - [Campus Technology - Ellucian Officially Acquires Anthology's SIS and ERP Business](https://campustechnology.com/articles/2026/01/05/ellucian-officially-acquires-anthologys-sis-and-erp-business.aspx) - [ERP Today - Ellucian Completes Anthology Acquisition, Adding 260 Customers](https://erp.today/ellucian-completes-anthology-sis-and-erp-acquisition-adding-260-higher-education-customers/) - [Ellucian - Welcome Anthology SIS and ERP Customers](https://www.ellucian.com/anthology) - [FullFabric - Top Student Information Systems 2026](https://www.fullfabric.com/articles/top-student-information-systems-2026) - [ListEdTech - Which Products is Workday Student Replacing?](https://listedtech.com/blog/which-products-is-workday-student-replacing/) - [Businesswire - Jenzabar Solutions Selected by Over 100 Institutions in H1 2025](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250730745865/en/Jenzabar-Solutions-Selected-by-Over-100-Institutions-in-the-First-Half-of-2025-Driving-SIS-Leadership-and-Student-Success-Across-Higher-Education) - [Pitzer College - New Student Information System FAQ](https://www.pitzer.edu/offices/dsi/new-student-information-system-sis-portal-tool-and-faq) - [Gartner Peer Insights - Anthology Student](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/product/anthology-student/alternatives) - [Virginia Business - Ellucian Acquires Anthology Division in Chapter 11 Process](https://virginiabusiness.com/ellucian-acquires-anthology-division-in-chapter-11-process/)

Near this answer

The same question, recorded on other dates: 2026-10-11, 2026-10-08, 2026-10-06, 2026-10-03, 2026-10-01, 2026-09-29, 2026-09-27, 2026-09-25, 2026-09-23, 2026-09-20, 2026-09-16.

student information systems, asked for other audiences: schools (asked 2026-10-14).

Other categories with a recorded answer: childcare management software, church management software, construction management software, dental practice software.

Markdown edition · JSON record · the question page, with every recording · Answer Watch · AEO Watch

Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.