Drowning in scholarship applications?
Juggling applicant tracking, scoring, and reporting with limited resources is a constant struggle. It drains your time and energy from what matters most.
The worst part is that manual processes create endless administrative work, slowing your ability to help deserving students find critical funding.
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators reports 82% of financial aid offices already use technology. This signals a widespread need to move away from inefficient, manual systems.
The right software solves this by automating your entire workflow, from initial application submission to final reporting and compliance checks.
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In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best scholarship management software. I’ve focused on tools that will simplify your program and reduce administrative headaches.
You’ll discover a solution that saves you time, improves the applicant experience, and enhances transparency for your donors and stakeholders.
Let’s dive in.
Quick Summary:
| # | Software | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submit.com → | Small to mid-sized organizations | |
| 2 | WizeHive → | Small to mid-sized non-profits | |
| 3 | Reviewr → | Organizations seeking efficiency | |
| 4 | SmarterSelect → | Non-technical multiple program managers | |
| 5 | AwardSpring → | Organizations with complex workflows |
1. Submit.com
Struggling with complex scholarship application workflows?
Submit.com simplifies your program administration with intuitive forms and flexible workflow management. This means you can easily build multi-step applications and gather the exact data you need.
You’ll find it easy to manage everything in one place, allowing you to reduce administrative time and costs significantly. This frees up your valuable time.
Here’s how you can simplify program management.
Submit.com empowers you to streamline your scholarship management system, maximizing your impact. Its intuitive forms let you quickly build complex applications, including collecting media.
Additionally, the flexible workflows feature, backed by expert support, allows you to create simple or intricate processes. You can also evaluate effectively with scoring and tagging tools like auto-tag, auto-score, and user commenting.
Plus, you can communicate directly with candidates via an in-app mailbox and generate meaningful reports using powerful analytics tools. This comprehensive approach helps you manage entries, collaborate with judges, and track your program’s impact.
The result is a simplified, transparent selection process.
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Key features:
- Intuitive Smart Forms: Quickly build complex, multi-step application forms to collect all necessary data and media in your desired format.
- Flexible Workflow Management: Create simple or intricate workflows for managing applications, supported by expert advice, for efficient program progression.
- Secure Evaluation Tools: Effectively score and tag submissions with features like auto-tag, auto-score, and user comments, simplifying the review process.
Learn more about Submit.com features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: For small to mid-sized organizations seeking to streamline their scholarship management, Submit.com offers a robust solution. Its intuitive forms, flexible workflows, and powerful evaluation tools make it a strong contender for the best scholarship management software, enabling you to reduce administrative burden and enhance transparency.
2. WizeHive
Struggling with scholarship program complexities?
WizeHive simplifies your process by offering a robust platform designed to manage grants and corporate social responsibility efforts. This means you can centralize your applications.
This comprehensive solution helps you track applicants efficiently, automate scoring, and ensure compliance reporting, eliminating manual headaches. It significantly reduces your administrative burden.
Here’s how it solves your problems.
WizeHive, now part of Submittable, provides a powerful social impact platform built to accelerate mission-driven work. You can streamline multi-phase applications, automate document verification, and generate detailed reports for various stakeholders. This enhanced transparency in selection processes is vital for trust. Additionally, it helps you manage your entire program with ease, from initial outreach to final reporting. The result is an improved applicant experience and more impactful scholarship programming for your organization.
Key features:
- Centralized application management for grants and corporate social responsibility, simplifying applicant tracking and ensuring all data is in one place.
- Automated scoring and compliance reporting capabilities to reduce manual effort, ensure accuracy, and meet regulatory and donor requirements.
- Streamlined multi-phase applications and document verification, enhancing the applicant experience and accelerating your scholarship selection process.
Learn more about WizeHive features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: WizeHive offers a robust solution for small to mid-sized non-profits and educational institutions looking for the best scholarship management software. Its focus on automating workflows, ensuring compliance, and providing detailed reporting makes it an excellent choice for organizations aiming to reduce administrative burden and improve program transparency.
3. Reviewr
Tired of scattered scholarship management efforts?
Your current process likely involves multiple technologies, which Reviewr aims to consolidate into one dedicated platform. This means you can centralize all submissions, reviews, and data.
This dedicated tool simplifies collecting and managing various submissions, including scholarships, reducing the need for disparate systems. It frees up valuable administrative time by packaging essential tools into a proven formula.
Simplify your scholarship program management.
Reviewr transforms your entire applicant selection lifecycle with its comprehensive applicant submission management software. This system aims to significantly increase administrator efficiency.
It reportedly boosts administrator efficiency by an average of 84%, allowing your organization to focus on impactful activities rather than tedious manual tasks. Additionally, it leads to an average 31% increase in participation rates for applicants, fostering higher engagement and reducing support requests.
You can create intuitive program landing pages, streamline applicant submissions, and manage supplemental documents, ensuring a simple, fair, and compliant review experience for your team with an average 79% reduction in review team workloads. The result is program integrity and confidence through data-driven decisions.
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Key features:
- Centralized Submission Management: Collect and manage a wide variety of applicant submissions, including scholarships, in one dedicated, integrated system.
- Streamlined Review Workflows: Create and manage multi-phase application workflows, assign applicants for review, and access evaluation results from a central command center.
- Enhanced Applicant & Administrator Experience: Offers an intuitive design for applicants to submit forms and documents, while empowering administrators with tools to boost efficiency and ensure compliance.
Learn more about Reviewr features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Reviewr offers a modern, all-in-one approach to scholarship management, ideal for organizations seeking to boost operational efficiency and applicant engagement. Its proven formulas, including an 84% average increase in administrator efficiency and a 79% reduction in review team workloads, make it a strong contender for the best scholarship management software.
4. SmarterSelect
Tired of scholarship application paperwork overload?
SmarterSelect tackles this by streamlining your entire scholarship program, from application to fund disbursement. This means you can [launch multiple programs quickly], cut paperwork, and significantly boost your completion rates.
It helps you avoid overwhelming paperwork, reduce staff burnout risk, and ensures simple updates take minutes instead of days. Plus, [applicants stay informed] with automated updates.
So, how does SmarterSelect ease your workload?
SmarterSelect allows you to build and modify applications yourself, without needing any technical help. You can also customize scoring rubrics and conduct multi-stage reviews for fairness.
Additionally, the software provides automated updates to keep applicants informed through scheduled communications. It’s an all-in-one application program builder with custom applications and workflow, email/text reminders, and enhanced reporting, designed for non-technical users.
The result is a streamlined, efficient process.
Key features:
- Easy Applications: Build and modify custom applications quickly without technical assistance, enabling rapid program launches and reduced setup time, often within 24 hours.
- Smart Evaluation: Utilize customizable scoring rubrics and multi-stage review processes to ensure fair evaluations and efficient decision-making for all your programs.
- Automated Updates: Keep applicants informed throughout the process with scheduled communications, reducing manual efforts and improving the overall applicant experience.
Learn more about SmarterSelect features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: SmarterSelect excels as a top-reviewed best scholarship management software, designed to streamline your entire scholarship process. It offers rapid setup (often in under 24 hours), eliminates per-program fees, and helps organizations manage multiple programs efficiently, as seen with one foundation managing 15 programs with no extra cost.
5. AwardSpring
Is managing your scholarship program a complex maze?
AwardSpring offers a streamlined solution designed to simplify your entire scholarship management process. This means your administrative burden is significantly reduced.
You can effortlessly track applicants, automate scoring, and ensure compliance reporting, making your workflow smoother. This will save you valuable time and resources.
Let’s make scholarship management simple.
AwardSpring provides a comprehensive platform that handles everything from application to award. You’ll gain access to powerful tools for a seamless applicant experience and efficient back-end management.
This includes features like customizable application forms and automated eligibility checks, significantly improving your program’s efficiency. Plus, the system allows for integrated communication with applicants, review committees, and stakeholders, all within a centralized hub.
Additionally, detailed reporting capabilities mean you can easily generate comprehensive reports for donors and regulatory bodies, ensuring full transparency and accountability. You’ll have all the data you need at your fingertips to demonstrate the impact of your scholarship programs.
The result is a more impactful program.
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Key features:
- Comprehensive application management including customizable forms, automated eligibility checks, and integrated communication tools to streamline your entire workflow.
- Automated scoring and review processes that significantly reduce administrative burden by simplifying applicant tracking and accelerating the selection phases.
- Robust reporting and compliance tools providing detailed insights for stakeholders and regulators, ensuring transparency and accountability for your scholarship program.
Learn more about AwardSpring features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: AwardSpring stands out as the best scholarship management software for organizations seeking to simplify complex workflows. Its ability to automate critical processes, from application to reporting, directly addresses the pain points of administrators, making your program more efficient and impactful, regardless of your team’s size.
6. Submittable
Overwhelmed by managing complex scholarship applications?
Submittable offers a unified platform to simplify your program workflows, handling everything from submission to awards. This means you can streamline your application process and focus on impactful programming.
You can launch programs in days, not months, by using its intuitive drag-and-drop form builder. This allows you to quickly adapt to your needs and focus on what truly matters: selecting the right candidates.
A social impact platform good for all.
Submittable solves your pain points by letting you build and run any application-based program to suit your and your applicants’ needs. You can accept any submission type, review them collaboratively, and disburse funds efficiently. The platform enables collaborative reviews and follow-up communications, ensuring your team stays on the same page.
Additionally, you can track program progress and measure results with automated and advanced reporting, giving you a clear view of how your program fulfills its mission. This creates an efficient and equitable process, making your program more successful and impactful. The result is a reduced administrative burden.
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Key features:
- End-to-End Program Management: Manage the entire lifecycle of your scholarship program, from launching applications to disbursing funds and tracking results, all in one centralized place.
- Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Builder: Quickly create custom application forms and automated review workflows in days, allowing you to launch programs with minimal training and adjust as needed.
- Advanced Reporting & Collaboration: Gain clear insights into program impact with automated reporting and facilitate seamless team collaboration through shared reviews and follow-up communications.
Learn more about Submittable features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Submittable truly stands out as the best scholarship management software for organizations aiming to simplify complex workflows. Its ability to streamline the entire program lifecycle, from applicant tracking to impact reporting, allows you to manage thousands of applications while saving valuable time, as seen with their 55% increase in submissions and 40+ hours saved per month for users.
7. Blackbaud
Struggling with complex scholarship application workflows?
Blackbaud’s Award Management is specifically designed for higher education, streamlining your scholarship processes. This means you can simplify multi-phase applications and manage student data more efficiently.
This solution helps you move past manual hurdles, ensuring your team isn’t bogged down by administrative tasks. You can focus on making a bigger impact.
Here’s how to simplify your scholarship program.
Blackbaud offers an end-to-end education management system, from student information to tuition management. This comprehensive approach means you can integrate various aspects of your program into one cohesive platform.
The system helps manage academics, athletics, and schedules, offering a unified approach to student data management. This capability reduces the administrative burden and enhances transparency for donors and regulators alike.
Additionally, Blackbaud offers specific solutions for financial aid management, helping you gain powerful insights for prospect research and fundraising. Your team can utilize these integrated tools to increase revenue and efficiently track budgets, donations, and taxes.
Fueling bigger, bolder impact, everywhere.
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Key features:
- Award Management: Streamlines scholarship processes for higher education, including application tracking, scoring, and compliance reporting, reducing administrative burden.
- Education Solutions: Provides end-to-end school management, encompassing student information systems, learning management systems, and tuition management for K-12 and higher ed.
- Financial Aid Management: Simplifies financial operations by enabling efficient tracking of budgets, revenue, and donations, and offers tools for payment processing.
Learn more about Blackbaud features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Blackbaud is a robust solution tailored for educational institutions, making it the best scholarship management software for those needing a comprehensive system. Its focus on education management and financial aid simplifies complex workflows, helping you manage scholarship programs more efficiently and transparently, ultimately maximizing your impact.
8. Kaleidoscope
Struggling to simplify your scholarship program management?
Kaleidoscope offers an end-to-end scholarship and grant management software, connecting sponsors with applicants. This means you can streamline complex application workflows with ease.
This platform helps you navigate financial and operational complexity, allowing you to manage programs and disburse funds directly.
Here’s how to simplify your program.
Kaleidoscope introduces a unified platform to fund future scholars, addressing the need for a simple way to manage awards. You can build and manage all your programs in one place, reaching millions of applicants.
This focus allows you to concentrate on reaching those who need it most, ensuring your impact is on-brand. The white-label solution lets you customize your color scheme, logos, and notifications. Additionally, you get full-service support from a devoted team, assisting with everything from question creation to application review, ensuring personalized assistance every step of the way. Plus, a high dashboard visibility feature provides end-to-end insights on application counts, awards disbursed, and overall progress, helping you measure your impact effectively.
The result is reduced administrative burden and improved transparency.
Key features:
- End-to-end management allows you to manage scholarship and grant programs from start to finish, including disbursing funds directly to recipients.
- Configurable white-label solution enables you to customize your program with your branding, including logos, color schemes, and notifications.
- High dashboard visibility provides clear insights into application counts, awards disbursed, and application progress, helping you measure your program’s impact.
Learn more about Kaleidoscope features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: For small to mid-sized non-profits and educational institutions, Kaleidoscope stands out as a strong contender for the best scholarship management software. Its end-to-end platform, customizable branding, and high dashboard visibility directly address challenges like managing complex workflows and reporting, simplifying your program administration significantly.
Conclusion
Managing scholarships can be overwhelming.
Choosing the right tool from so many options is a tough decision. It’s easy to feel stuck when trying to balance features, budget, and implementation.
SmarterSelect reports that institutions using dedicated systems achieve streamlined workflows and improved efficiency. This shift saves your team from drowning in manual tasks and tracking errors, freeing you up for more impactful work.
So, what’s the best option?
Based on my evaluation, Submit.com is the clear winner. Its intuitive forms and flexible workflows directly solve the complexity of managing multiple scholarship programs.
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You can manage entries, collaborate with judges, and track your program’s impact all in one seamless platform. Choosing the best scholarship management software like this streamlines everything.
I highly recommend you book a free demo of Submit.com to see exactly how it can transform your own unique scholarship program.
You’ll reduce your administrative burden almost immediately.
