HR Software for Education Institutions: 10 Tools That Help Educators Focus on Students, Not Paperwork

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Many young adults decide to further their education once they graduate high school, whether it’s to a post-secondary university or college, or even a trade school. There are many types of job positions available where different skills and knowledge is crucial to succeed in the role, and it’s up to the teachers, professors, and administrators to ensure that students get the most out of their classes to solidify their future. With the help of an HR software, universities, colleges, and other educational institutions can help students succeed by focusing less on the day-to-day tasks and the students more.

Aiken House understands the struggles and the triumphs of starting a small business where over 17+ startups have gotten their success with our help. We’re here to help guide you through the best HR software programs for educational institution purposes with important topics ranging from:

• Focuses on improving workflow efficiency for teachers and staff
• Highlights HR software that automates administrative tasks
• Positions Aiken House as an expert in small business startup and success

How to Choose the Right HR Software for Your School or University

When students enroll in a school, college, or university, they’re looking for the best education possible to prepare them for the future. But behind the scenes, educators, administrators, and staff work hard to keep everything running smoothly—handling payroll, hiring new teachers, managing schedules, and ensuring compliance with labor laws. Without the right tools, these tasks can take up valuable time that could be better spent focusing on students. In fact, a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 72% of HR professionals say automation has helped them work more efficiently, yet many schools still rely on outdated manual processes.

That’s where HR software comes in. The right platform can help educational institutions streamline administrative work, reduce paperwork, and improve overall efficiency. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best one? Here are some key factors to consider when selecting HR software for your school or university:

• Ease of Use – The system should be simple for both administrators and educators to navigate.
• Payroll & Benefits Management – Automating payroll and tracking employee benefits can help prevent errors.
• Compliance & Reporting – Schools need to stay on top of labor laws, tax regulations, and teacher certifications.
• Hiring & Onboarding Features – Tools for tracking applicants, digital onboarding, and background checks can make hiring easier.
• Time & Attendance Tracking – Helps manage substitute teachers, contract employees, and hourly staff.
• Employee Self-Service – A portal where teachers and staff can access pay stubs, request time off, and update personal details.
• Integration with School Systems – The software should connect with student information and financial systems.
• Scalability – Whether you run a small private school or a growing university, the software should grow with you.
• Mobile Accessibility – Administrators and educators should be able to manage HR tasks from anywhere.
• Cost & Support – Budget-friendly pricing and reliable customer support are important for smaller institutions.

Choosing the right HR software can help schools and universities stay organized, save time, and ensure that educators can focus on what matters most—helping students succeed.

Top 10 HR Software Solutions That Empower Educators and Administrators

Educational institutions have unique HR needs—whether it’s managing payroll for teachers and staff, tracking certifications, ensuring compliance with labor laws, or streamlining recruitment. The right HR software can help schools, colleges, and universities stay organized while reducing administrative work, so educators can focus on what truly matters: their students.

To help you find the best solution, we’ve rounded up ten HR software programs that are well-suited for educational institutions. Each of these platforms offers features that support the specific challenges faced by schools, from affordability and scalability to compliance and integration with school management systems.

1. BambooHR

Website: BambooHR

BambooHR is an excellent choice for small to mid-sized educational institutions looking for a simple yet powerful HR platform. It offers a suite of tools for hiring, onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, and performance management, all within an intuitive interface. With its automated onboarding system, schools can efficiently process new hires, ensuring that teachers, administrative staff, and support personnel get up to speed quickly. Additionally, BambooHR provides a self-service portal where employees can access pay stubs, request time off, and update personal details, reducing the administrative burden on HR teams.

2. Paycor

Website: Paycor

Paycor is a well-rounded HR and payroll solution trusted by many schools and universities. Its automated payroll processing ensures accurate and timely compensation for full-time, part-time, and contract employees. Paycor also excels in compliance tracking, helping institutions adhere to tax laws, labor regulations, and reporting requirements. Additionally, its built-in applicant tracking system streamlines the recruitment process, making it easier to hire qualified teachers and administrative staff. The software also includes workforce analytics that provide insights into employee performance, helping schools optimize their HR strategies.

3. Rippling

Website: Rippling

Rippling is an advanced HR software that integrates payroll, benefits, and IT management into a single platform. This makes it an excellent choice for educational institutions that need a highly automated and scalable HR system. Rippling's automation features help HR teams save time by eliminating manual administrative tasks. Schools and universities can also integrate Rippling with their existing school management software, ensuring a seamless flow of data across different systems. Its mobile-friendly interface allows teachers and administrators to manage HR tasks on the go, making it a convenient choice for modern education environments.

4. UKG Ready

Website: UKG Ready

UKG Ready is an ideal solution for educational institutions that require strong workforce management capabilities. It offers comprehensive time and attendance tracking, which is particularly beneficial for managing substitute teachers, hourly staff, and adjunct faculty. The platform also supports compliance tracking, helping schools stay in line with federal and state labor regulations. Additionally, UKG Ready features flexible payroll options and robust scheduling tools, making it easier to manage large teams of educators and support staff across multiple locations.

5. ADP Workforce Now

Website: ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a well-known cloud-based HR solution that provides powerful automation and compliance features. Educational institutions can use ADP to handle payroll, tax filings, benefits administration, and employee management in one centralized platform. The software also offers customizable reports, allowing administrators to track HR metrics, monitor compliance, and make data-driven decisions. Additionally, ADP includes an employee self-service portal that gives teachers and staff easy access to HR documents, pay information, and benefits details.

6. Gusto

Website: Gusto

Gusto is an excellent HR solution for smaller educational institutions that need an affordable and easy-to-use platform. It offers payroll processing, benefits management, and onboarding tools tailored to small private schools, independent learning centers, and trade schools. Gusto’s automated payroll system ensures accurate tax filings and direct deposits, reducing the workload for HR teams. The platform’s user-friendly interface makes it accessible for administrators with limited HR experience, making it an attractive choice for institutions with smaller budgets.

With all of our work at Aiken House, we love Gusto and the HR services that it provides for us on easy-to-use software. Consider signing up for Gusto using our link to get $100 off your first payroll!

7. Workday

Website: Workday

Workday is a robust enterprise-level HR solution that provides payroll, benefits, and workforce planning tools. It is best suited for larger educational institutions, such as universities and multi-campus schools, that require a comprehensive HR system. Workday’s advanced analytics help administrators make data-driven decisions about staffing, budgeting, and workforce management. The platform also includes talent and performance management features, which are useful for tracking teacher evaluations and professional development progress.

8. TriNet

Website: TriNet

TriNet is a professional employer organization (PEO) that offers comprehensive HR solutions tailored to small and mid-sized organizations, including educational institutions. It provides full-service HR support, including payroll processing, benefits administration, compliance management, and risk mitigation. Schools and universities benefit from TriNet’s extensive experience in handling regulatory requirements and offering high-quality employee benefits, making it an excellent choice for institutions that need hands-on HR support. Additionally, TriNet’s industry-specific expertise ensures that educational institutions receive tailored HR solutions that align with their needs.

9. PeopleAdmin

Website: PeopleAdmin

PeopleAdmin is one of the best HR software solutions specifically designed for the education sector. It specializes in talent management and compliance tracking, making it an ideal choice for schools, colleges, and universities. PeopleAdmin’s recruitment and hiring tools streamline the process of finding and onboarding new teachers and administrative staff. The platform also includes professional development tracking, allowing institutions to monitor training and certification progress for educators. Additionally, its compliance management features help ensure that schools meet accreditation and labor law requirements.

10. Factorial HR

Website: Factorial

Factorial HR is a modern, cloud-based HR software that works well for small to mid-sized educational institutions. It offers payroll automation, time tracking, and HR documentation management, making it an all-in-one solution for schools looking to streamline their HR processes. The platform’s user-friendly interface ensures that HR teams, administrators, and educators can easily navigate the system. Factorial HR is also highly scalable, making it a great option for institutions that anticipate future growth and expansion.

With so many excellent HR software options available, choosing the right one depends on the specific needs of your institution. Whether you’re running a small private school, a mid-sized college, or a large university, having the right HR system in place can help streamline operations, save time, and ensure compliance. By investing in a solution that reduces administrative burdens, schools can focus on their primary goal—providing quality education and shaping the future for students.

Scaling Smart: How Aiken House Helps Small Businesses Succeed

Starting your own business or education system can be tough, but with the right direction, services, product, and advice, your dream of being successful can be just right around the corner. At Aiken House, we provide tons of services to help you get up and running, from website development, marketing, branding, and even software design.

Consider scheduling a consultation with us to see how we can help direct your business for success!

In the meantime, consider checking out the top ten best HR software programs for educational institutions!