Drowning in scholarship applications?
You’re likely juggling spreadsheets and emails, which makes tracking applicants, scoring, and reporting a huge administrative headache for your entire team.
The worst part? Managing complex application workflows with limited resources often leads to errors that can compromise your program’s integrity.
Many programs face this. A report shows 82% of financial aid offices use some form of technology, highlighting a reliance on digital tools despite lingering challenges.
Speaking of optimizing processes, exploring experience management software solutions can help you refine interactions beyond just applications.
The good news is that the right platform can change this, helping you simplify your entire program and automate tedious manual tasks.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best scholarship management software to help you cut down your administrative burden and improve your operations.
You’ll discover tools to automate everything from applicant tracking to compliance reporting, freeing up your time for more impactful work.
Let’s get started.
Quick Summary:
| # | Software | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submit.com → | Small to mid-sized non-profits | |
| 2 | WizeHive → | Small to mid-sized non-profits | |
| 3 | Reviewr → | Efficiency-focused organizations | |
| 4 | Submittable → | High-volume scholarship programs | |
| 5 | SmarterSelect → | Non-technical users & nonprofits |
1. Submit.com
Struggling with complex scholarship application workflows and limited resources?
Submit.com offers powerful solutions to simplify application management, data analytics, and compliance, addressing your core challenges.
This means you can easily build complex forms and gather all necessary data and media in the format you need, streamlining your entire scholarship program from start to finish.
Here’s how Submit.com simplifies your operations.
You can maximize your impact with their intuitive scholarship management system. Their flexible workflow management allows you to create simple or complex processes with expert support, and the platform offers secure evaluation tools with features like auto-tag, auto-score, and auto-reject, which simplify even the most complicated review process.
Additionally, efficient communication is built-in, allowing you to connect directly with candidates via an in-app mailbox. Plus, powerful analytics tools help you generate meaningful reports, giving you control over tracking, measuring, and illustrating the impact of your scholarships, which is essential for donor and regulator reporting.
Key features:
- Intuitive Smart Forms: Quickly build complex, multi-step application forms to collect all necessary data and media, ensuring a great candidate experience.
- Flexible Workflow Management: Create simple or complex workflows with options for secure evaluation, including auto-tagging, auto-scoring, and auto-rejection capabilities.
- Insightful Reporting & Communication: Generate powerful reports using analytics tools and communicate directly with candidates through an in-app mailbox.
Learn more about Submit.com features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: For small to mid-sized non-profits and educational institutions, Submit.com is an excellent choice for best scholarship management software. Its ability to simplify multi-phase applications, automate scoring, and provide insightful reporting makes it ideal for reducing administrative burden and enhancing transparency, even with budget constraints.
2. WizeHive
Overwhelmed by scholarship application management?
WizeHive simplifies the entire workflow, transforming how you handle applications from start to finish. This means you can say goodbye to manual processes.
Your team can easily track applicants, automate scoring, and generate compliance reports, freeing up valuable time for more impactful work.
Here’s how WizeHive helps.
This platform streamlines your multi-phase applications, making the process smoother for everyone involved. You can manage complex application workflows effortlessly.
It automates document verification, reducing your administrative burden and ensuring data accuracy without the manual effort. Additionally, it helps you maintain transparency in selection processes.
Plus, you can generate detailed reports for donors and regulators with ease, providing clear insights and enhancing accountability, even with limited resources.
The result is truly enhanced scholarship programming.
Key features:
- Comprehensive application management: Streamline multi-phase applications, track applicants, and automate document verification to save time and reduce manual effort.
- Automated scoring and reporting: Automate applicant scoring and generate detailed compliance reports for donors and regulators with built-in tools.
- Enhanced transparency and efficiency: Improve your selection processes, reduce administrative burden, and achieve greater transparency in your scholarship program.
Learn more about WizeHive features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: WizeHive excels at simplifying complex scholarship workflows, making it a strong contender as the best scholarship management software for small to mid-sized non-profits and educational institutions. Its automated features for tracking, scoring, and reporting significantly reduce administrative load, enabling more impactful programming despite resource limitations.
3. Reviewr
Is managing scholarships a burden for your team?
You’re likely juggling multiple tools, which fragments your workflow and consumes valuable administrative hours.
This inefficiency often leads to decreased participant engagement and potential compliance risks, ultimately preventing your program from maximizing its impact.
What if you could streamline everything?
Reviewr provides a dedicated, all-in-one platform for managing scholarship submissions from start to finish. This means you can transform your entire applicant selection lifecycle, freeing up valuable administrative time.
Here’s how Reviewr increases administrator efficiency by an average of 84%, allowing you to spend more time on high-impact activities. Additionally, it boosts engagement, leading to an average 31% increase in participation rates and better quality submissions. Plus, Reviewr ensures a 79% average reduction in review team workloads, empowering staff to provide a thoughtful, fair, and quality evaluation experience for applicants, all while ensuring privacy and compliance. The result is program integrity and confidence through accurate, transparent, consistent, and data-driven decision-making.
The experience your organization deserves.
Key features:
- All-in-one submission management centralizes collection, management, and review processes, eliminating the need for multiple disparate tools and reducing compliance risk.
- Intuitive applicant experience simplifies submission and profile management with dedicated tools for program landing pages and supplemental documents, boosting participant engagement.
- Streamlined review workflows enable command center access for assigning applicants, side-by-side evaluation, and document access, ensuring fair and compliant decisions.
Learn more about Reviewr features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Reviewr stands out as the best scholarship management software for organizations seeking to boost efficiency and engagement. Its all-in-one platform, intuitive design, and proven ability to increase administrator efficiency by 84% make it ideal for simplifying complex workflows and ensuring data-driven decision-making.
4. Submittable
Struggling with complex scholarship application workflows?
Submittable is your ally, offering a comprehensive platform designed to manage the entire lifecycle of your scholarship programs with ease. This means you can say goodbye to manual tracking and information overload.
You’ll find it streamlines applicant tracking, automates scoring, and ensures compliance reporting, making it simple to manage and collaborate on. This is how you reclaim valuable time.
Here’s how you can simplify your scholarship program.
Submittable allows you to build and run any application-based program to suit both yours and your applicants’ needs. You can accept any type of submission, review them collaboratively, disburse funds and awards, track program progress, and measure results—all in one place.
You can use a drag-and-drop form builder to create custom, automated review workflows, enabling you to launch programs in days or weeks, not months. This platform adapts to your specific team processes, ensuring seamless hand-offs and clarity at every stage.
Additionally, it provides automated and advanced reporting that’s simple to use and share, giving you a clear view of how your program fulfills your mission. The result is an intuitive, powerful, and accessible solution that scales to meet the needs of any size program, even accommodating 5,000 applicants in one day.
Speaking of efficient operations, you might also be interested in my review of best conversational AI platforms for enhanced support.
Key features:
- End-to-End Program Management: Manage submissions, reviews, fund disbursement, and impact measurement all from a single platform.
- Customizable Workflows & Forms: Utilize a drag-and-drop builder to create unique application forms and automated review processes tailored to your needs.
- Automated Reporting & Analytics: Generate automated, advanced reports to easily track program progress and demonstrate impact.
Learn more about Submittable features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: For scholarship administrators seeking to reduce administrative burden and enhance transparency, Submittable stands out as the best scholarship management software. Its ability to simplify workflows, support high application volumes (e.g., 5,000 applicants in one day), and provide robust reporting makes it an invaluable tool for impactful programming.
5. SmarterSelect
Drowning in scholarship application paperwork and manual reviews?
SmarterSelect tackles this by letting you build and modify applications without technical help. This means you can launch multiple programs quickly, cutting down on overwhelming paperwork.
If you’re tired of simple updates taking days or applicants being left in the dark, SmarterSelect helps streamline your entire scholarship process. Your staff can avoid burnout, and applicants stay informed with automated communications.
Ready for a simpler process?
SmarterSelect introduces an all-in-one application program builder that streamlines your entire program, from application to fund disbursement. Here’s how it works: you get custom applications and workflows, application integrations, plus email and text reminders.
Additionally, the software features smart evaluation with customizable scoring rubrics and multi-stage reviews for fairness. This ensures you can make better decisions faster, selecting the best candidates efficiently. Plus, it’s cloud-based and designed for non-technical users, allowing setup often in less than one day for one program or a thousand.
The result is drastically reduced administrative burden.
Before diving deeper into features, understanding how organizations manage their digital assets with CMDB software for compliance can also be beneficial.
Key features:
- Easy Application Builder: Create and modify scholarship applications yourself without needing any technical assistance, enabling quick program launches and reducing paperwork.
- Smart Evaluation System: Utilize customizable scoring rubrics and multi-stage review processes, ensuring fair and efficient evaluation of candidates for your scholarship programs.
- Automated Communication & Workflow: Keep applicants informed with scheduled updates and streamline the entire process from application to fund disbursement with integrated reminders.
Learn more about SmarterSelect features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: SmarterSelect is an excellent choice for organizations seeking the best scholarship management software. Its focus on easy application building, smart evaluation, and automated communications directly addresses pain points, allowing you to streamline workflows, reduce administrative hours, and manage multiple programs without extra cost, as highlighted by existing users.
6. Good Grants
Struggling with complex scholarship application workflows and limited resources?
Good Grants offers sophisticated, intuitive software to streamline your entire program, from planning to post-award, at an affordable price. This means you can manage applications, reviews, and reporting with ease.
This allows you to be more efficient, make confident funding decisions, and minimize your grantmaking risks effectively.
Here’s how Good Grants simplifies your scholarship program.
Good Grants solves your challenges by providing a highly configurable platform that handles any grantmaking approach, whether open, closed, competitive, or formulaic. It’s built for flexibility.
It offers robust application management features, including a privacy-conscious form builder, moderation, auto-scoring, and eligibility screening, helping you save time and reduce stress. Plus, its five powerful review modes and multiple review rounds ensure confident funding decisions.
Additionally, the platform supports opportunity announcements with features like broadcast services and branded domains, while its post-award tools allow for monitoring performance with dedicated dashboards, grantee reports, and payment tracking, ensuring you keep tabs on your impact.
The result is a more organized and efficient scholarship program.
Key features:
- Comprehensive Application Management: Effortlessly build forms, moderate submissions, auto-score applications, and screen for eligibility, reducing your administrative burden.
- Advanced Review Tools: Utilize five powerful review modes, manage multiple review rounds, and employ panel management for confident, transparent selection processes.
- Flexible Program Support: Design and execute open, closed, competitive, or formulaic scholarship programs with highly configurable and internationally friendly features.
Learn more about Good Grants features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Good Grants is built for flexibility and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for the best scholarship management software, particularly for organizations seeking to streamline complex workflows and ensure compliance. Its robust application, review, and post-award tools help you manage your program efficiently and make confident funding decisions.
7. Blackbaud
Simplify your scholarship program management today.
Blackbaud’s Award Management streamlines the entire scholarship lifecycle for higher education institutions. This means you can track applicants, manage funds, and report with ease.
This directly addresses your need to simplify complex application workflows and reduce administrative burden. Their solutions are built for wins, not workarounds.
Here’s how Blackbaud helps.
Blackbaud provides purpose-built solutions for education, allowing you to manage scholarships more efficiently. This includes tools for financial aid management, ensuring your giving programs are strategic and efficient.
You can streamline your processes from application to award, freeing up valuable resources. This comprehensive approach enhances transparency in selection processes and improves the overall applicant experience. Additionally, Blackbaud offers robust support with training resources like Blackbaud University and a knowledge base, helping you unlock your solution’s full potential and support future program growth.
You’ll achieve greater impact with less effort.
While we’re discussing efficient scholarship management, don’t forget data security. My analysis of best authentication software is vital for compliance.
Key features:
- Award Management: Designed specifically for higher education, this feature simplifies the entire scholarship lifecycle from application to award.
- Financial Aid Management: Offers tools to efficiently manage financial aid, ensuring your programs are strategic and outcome-focused.
- Flexible Ecosystem: Grow your scholarship program without outgrowing your technology, supported by an extensive partner network and developer tools.
Learn more about Blackbaud features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Blackbaud offers a comprehensive suite for scholarship management, making it a strong contender for the best scholarship management software. Its focus on higher education, financial aid management, and flexible ecosystem directly addresses the pain points of administrators needing scalable, efficient solutions.
8. SurveyMonkey
Tired of scholarship application headaches and endless admin work?
SurveyMonkey Apply simplifies how you collect, review, and manage applications with intuitive online portals and automated workflows. This means you can easily coordinate reviews, track applicants, and make faster, data-driven decisions.
Here’s how: the software enables you to reduce administrative workload and free up time. You can transform your program by focusing on impact, not just file management.
It’s time to refocus on your mission.
SurveyMonkey Apply offers an all-in-one system for grants, scholarships, and awards, helping you streamline applications and increase fund utilization. You can seamlessly integrate it with your existing workflows, automating reviews and simplifying decision-making. This allows your staff to save a ton of time. Additionally, you gain access to personalized training, seamless implementation, and expert guidance to maximize your impact. Plus, organizations using SurveyMonkey Apply have seen measurable improvements, including a 220% increase in completed scholarship applications.
This empowers your staff and students.
Key features:
- All-in-one management system: Simplify how you collect, review, and manage applications for grants, scholarships, and awards through branded online portals.
- Automated workflows and review: Coordinate reviews, capture real-time feedback, and automate application processes to make faster, data-driven decisions.
- Reduced administrative burden: Free up time with intelligent automation that tracks progress and simplifies decision-making, allowing you to focus on your mission.
Learn more about SurveyMonkey features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: SurveyMonkey Apply is a strong contender for the best scholarship management software, offering smart technology to simplify complex application workflows. Its automation features, like those that led to a 220% increase in completed scholarship applications for the University of Ottawa, directly address the need to reduce administrative burden and streamline processes.
9. AwardSpring
Is your scholarship management causing administrative headaches?
AwardSpring offers a comprehensive platform designed to alleviate the burden of complex application workflows. This means your team can focus on what truly matters: your students.
You’ll find a single, intuitive system that centralizes everything from applications to awards, helping you streamline your entire scholarship program.
Here’s how AwardSpring helps you reclaim your time.
AwardSpring simplifies the entire scholarship lifecycle, from student applications to award distribution. You can reduce administrative burden, improving the applicant experience.
The platform provides a customizable, easy-to-use application process, allowing students to apply for multiple scholarships with a single application. This dramatically cuts down on redundant data entry and frustration for applicants.
Additionally, it automates scoring, facilitates committee reviews, and generates compliance reports, which empowers your organization to manage a growing number of applications efficiently and transparently. Plus, you can easily track progress and ensure accountability at every step.
Simplify, automate, and excel with AwardSpring.
While we’re discussing software efficiency, you might also be interested in my guide on best AR visualization software.
Key features:
- Customizable applications allow students to apply for multiple scholarships through one streamlined process, significantly reducing their effort and your data entry needs.
- Automated scoring and review workflows simplify the evaluation process for committees, ensuring fairness and efficiency in selecting the most deserving candidates.
- Comprehensive reporting capabilities provide detailed insights for compliance and donor relations, offering transparent tracking of your program’s impact and financial distribution.
Learn more about AwardSpring features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: AwardSpring stands out as the best scholarship management software for organizations seeking to reduce administrative burden and improve their applicant experience. Its ability to simplify multi-phase applications, automate document verification, and generate detailed reports makes it an excellent choice for budget-conscious non-profits and educational institutions aiming for scalable solutions.
Conclusion
Still managing scholarships manually?
I get it. Choosing the right platform feels overwhelming. You need a tool that simplifies workflows, not one that just adds more complexity to your day.
Modern systems are proven to improve efficiency and reduce critical errors through automation. This shift is crucial for your program’s integrity, freeing up your team for much more impactful work.
Here’s what I recommend.
From my experience, Submit.com stands out as the clear winner. It directly solves the challenge of complex workflows with its flexible and intuitive system.
I love how its smart forms and automated scoring simplify even the most complicated review process. Choosing the best scholarship management software like this ensures total program transparency.
For additional insights into streamlining operations, my analysis of best vendors management software provides valuable perspectives.
I suggest you book a free demo of Submit.com to see how it can streamline your entire process from day one.
You’ll reclaim valuable time for your mission.
