A Guide to Education Contract Management Software

Managing contracts in the education sector can feel like juggling a dozen tasks at once. Between vendor agreements, research partnerships, employment contracts, and student-related documents, staff-related documents, there’s a constant flow of paperwork that demands attention.

And let's be honest, one missed deadline or misplaced document can create a ripple effect of administrative headaches. That’s where education contract management software comes in, allowing schools, universities, and other educational institutions to handle their contracts seamlessly.

In this guide, we’ll share a list of the top education contract management software, their standout features, and pricing to help you choose the best solution for your institution.

Top 8 contract management software for higher education

With so many options available, choosing the right contract management software can be overwhelming. We’ve rounded up eight of the best solutions that cater specifically to the needs of educational institutions.

Here's a closer look at their features, benefits, and what sets them apart.

1. Signeasy

Signeasy offers a user-friendly eSignature and contract management tool ideal for educational institutions. With secure digital signatures, automated workflows, and easy integrations, Signeasy helps streamline student admissions, faculty onboarding, and admin tasks securely. 

Take it from Moreland University. With hundreds of new candidates enrolling every month, their admin team was swamped with manual paperwork. However, once they integrated Signeasy’s API with their existing learning platform, their document turnaround time decreased by nearly 70%.

Shelbie Goodnow, who leads operations at Moreland, shared that enrollment agreements, MOUs, and verification forms now flow smoothly from sender to signer.

The result? Over 200 new candidates each month complete agreements from any device. The administrative workload dropped significantly, with fewer manual tasks. And, 43% of contracts are now signed within an hour. 

Pricing

Personal ($15/month), Business ($30/month), Business Pro ($40/month), and a custom plan

Standout features

• With its cross-platform accessibility, Signeasy allows users to access and sign documents from anywhere, promoting flexibility and convenience.
• With features like secure document storage, audit trails, and compliance with eSignature laws, such as ESIGN and eIDAS, Signeasy ensures that all contracts and agreements are handled securely and in compliance with legal standards.
• Users receive real-time updates and email notifications regarding document status, ensuring timely actions and reducing delays in contract processing.
• ​​Signeasy API helps educational institutions streamline administrative workflows, enhance security, and improve the student and staff experience through efficient, compliant, and remote-friendly eSignatures.
• Users can send multiple contracts (for example, faculty onboarding or student agreements) simultaneously to different recipients.

Pros

• It has a user-friendly interface with an intuitive design, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
• The platform offers multi-device support, allowing users to sign and manage contracts from anywhere via web, mobile, or tablet.
• It offers a library of reusable customizable templates.
• The platform uses AI to facilitate smarter contract reviews.
• It provides automated renewal alerts, reducing manual oversight.

‍Cons

• While Signeasy offers several integrations, it may not support all applications used by educational institutions, such as learning management systems (LMS) and student information systems (SIS), potentially requiring additional workflow adjustments.

2. PandaDoc

PandaDoc is an all-in-one document automation and education contract management software designed to simplify the creation, delivery, tracking, and electronic signing of documents.

Pricing

Starter ($19/month), Business ($49/month), Enterprise (custom)

Standout features

• It automates approval processes and integrates with various CRM systems, facilitating seamless transitions between different stages of document management.
• The platform enables team collaboration through commenting and editing features, enhancing communication and efficiency.

Pros

• It has a user-friendly interface.
• Users can monitor document status in real-time and access analytics to gain insights into engagement and performance.
• It integrates with popular tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Google Workspace, allowing seamless collaboration and document management.

Cons

• Some features may require higher-tier plans.
• May have a learning curve for advanced functionalities.

3. SignWell

An eSignature and document management platform, SignWell enables users to securely collect legally binding electronic signatures, track document status in real-time, and automate approval workflows.

Pricing

Free, Light ($10/month), Business ($30/month), and Enterprise (custom)

Standout features

• Users can customize documents with their own branding elements, such as logos and colors, to maintain a professional appearance and reinforce brand identity.
• SignWell can automatically send reminders to recipients who have not yet signed a document, helping to expedite the signing process and reduce delays.

Pros

• Each document includes a detailed audit trail that records all actions taken.
• Users can set specific access controls and permissions to ensure that only authorized individuals can view or sign documents.
• It integrates seamlessly with over 5,000 applications, including popular tools like Gmail, Dropbox, and Slack.

Cons

• Some users complained of encountering glitches during the signing process.
• Advanced features, such as custom branding and data validation, require higher-tier plans.
• It offers limited customization in the free plan.

4. ContractSafe

ContractSafe is a cloud-based education contract management software designed to help institutions efficiently store, manage, and track their contracts. It offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the complexities of contract administration, making it accessible to users without a legal background.

Pricing (based on features and contract volume)

Organize ($450/month), Finalize ($695/month), Maximize ($895/month)

Standout features

• ContractSafe emphasizes security with features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and single sign-on (SSO), ensuring that sensitive contract information is protected. 
• The platform provides search capabilities and allows users to quickly locate specific contracts or terms within documents.
• It allows the creation of custom fields and tags, enabling tailored categorization and organization of contracts to suit specific business needs.

Pros

• It has an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
• ContractSafe is noted for its excellent customer service, providing timely assistance and support to users.

Cons

• It does not offer advanced workflow automation or in-app contract authoring and editing capabilities.
• Users found the platform’s AI feature to be ineffective.
• Some users complained about limited customization options on the platform’s dashboard. 

5. Ironclad

Ironclad is a cloud-based contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform that enables legal and business teams to create, automate, and manage contracts digitally. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Ironclad serves organizations of various sizes across multiple industries.

Pricing

Custom pricing based on needs

Standout features

• The platform’s AI-powered contract data analysis lets users automatically scan contracts to extract key legal terms and assist with contract redlining.
• Ironclad provides a secure, searchable repository for all signed contracts.
• Users can design and customize templates to quickly build any type of contract

Pros

• Users appreciate Ironclad's intuitive interface.
• The platform's features, such as in-line commenting and activity feeds, promote effective collaboration among internal and external teams during contract negotiations.
• Suitable for large institutions

Cons

• Pricing plans are not available on the platform’s website.
• Some users have reported that configuring workflows to accommodate various contract scenarios can be time-consuming and challenging. 
• Non-legal professionals may find the system's processes unfamiliar, indicating a need for additional training or user-friendly enhancements.

6. Juro

Juro is an AI-powered education contract automation software designed to streamline the creation, negotiation, approval, and management of contracts. It serves various teams within organizations, including legal, sales, HR, and finance, by automating the contract lifecycle and integrating with multiple business tools.

Pricing

Custom pricing based on institutional needs

Standout features

• Juro's AI Assistant helps users draft, summarize, review, and extract data from contracts up to 10 times faster.
• Users can generate contracts from pre-defined templates by answering simple questions.
• Juro offers a centralized, searchable repository for all contracts, allowing teams to find, query, filter, and report on contracts in seconds, improving visibility and management.

Pros

• The platform has an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
• The platform's features, such as mass contract creation and sending functionalities, have been highlighted as powerful tools for managing large volumes of contracts efficiently.

Cons

• Pricing is not publicly disclosed.
• Some users have noted that Juro's integration capabilities could be improved to better align with other tools used within their organizations.
• Users have identified areas for improvement in Juro's reporting functionalities, suggesting that more robust reporting capabilities would enhance the platform's utility. 

7. CobbleStone Contract Insight

CobbleStone Contract Insight is an AI-enabled enterprise contract lifecycle management and eProcurement software solution developed by CobbleStone Software. Designed to streamline and automate the entire contract management process, it caters to organizations of various sizes across multiple industries, including government, healthcare, education, legal, banking, and retail.

Pricing

Custom pricing

Standout features

• The platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance contract analytics, risk assessment, and decision-making processes, transforming static documents into dynamic digital assets.
• Users can tailor workflows to align with specific organizational processes.

Pros

• The system effectively manages and tracks a large volume of contracts, improving organizational efficiency.
• Users commend CobbleStone's customer service for being professional, prompt, and helpful.

Cons

• Some users find the initial setup and configuration challenging, especially when customizing workflows.
• New users may experience a learning curve due to the platform's extensive features and capabilities.
• Implementation timelines can vary based on institutional needs

8. Icertis

Icertis is an education contract management software that helps organizations streamline and automate the entire contract process. It is known for its AI-driven contract intelligence, offering advanced capabilities for managing contracts across industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and technology.

Pricing

Custom pricing

Standout features

• It manages all types of contracts throughout their entire lifecycle, from creation and negotiation to execution and renewal.
• The platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to extract and analyze data, identify risky clauses, monitor obligations, and ensure compliance.
• It integrates seamlessly with various enterprise systems, including ERP, CRM, and procurement solutions.

Pros

• Advanced AI capabilities enhance contract efficiency.
• Users appreciate having a single platform to store and manage all contracts, enhancing accessibility and organization.

Cons

• Some users feel that the platform could be more user-friendly and intuitive, suggesting that the user interface may require improvements to enhance the overall experience.
• Some users reported difficulties during the implementation phase, particularly when working with third-party implementation partners.

How to choose the right contract management platform for your institution

Choosing the right contract management platform for your educational institution comes down to features that align with your operational needs. Whether your priority is scalability, automation, compliance, or integration with existing systems, the platform you choose should provide a structured, efficient way to manage contracts across departments.

Key factors to consider when selecting a contract management platform

1. Automation and workflow management: Does the platform automate contract approvals, renewals, and compliance tracking? Can it handle bulk contract processing for faculty, students, and vendors?
2. Scalability and customization: Can the platform adapt to your institution's growth? Does it support multi-campus contract management and integrations with SIS (Student Information Systems) or ERP tools?
3. Security and compliance: Does it meet GDPR, and other education-related regulations? Does it provide audit trails and version control to ensure transparency and accountability?
4. Centralized Storage and retrieval: Does the platform offer a secure, searchable repository where all contracts — faculty agreements, student waivers, vendor contracts — can be easily accessed?
5. Integration capabilities: Does it seamlessly integrate with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, finance software, or HR systems used by your institution?

Why Education Leaders Choose Signeasy

Signeasy simplifies contract management by providing a secure, automated, and scalable solution tailored for educational institutions.

1. Automated workflows: Set up approval chains for student enrollments, faculty contracts, and vendor agreements.
2. Legally compliant eSignatures: Ensure compliance with ESIGN, UETA, and GDPR without relying on paper-based processes.
3. Centralized contract repository: Securely store, retrieve, and track contract versions across departments.
4. Real-time visibility: Know exactly who has signed, who is pending, and what’s causing delays.
5. Seamless integrations: Works with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and other tools used in educational settings.

By adopting Signeasy, educational institutions can reduce administrative burden, improve contract turnaround times, and maintain compliance effortlessly — allowing staff and faculty to focus on what truly matters: education.