Online learning has shown significant growth over the last few years. In many ways, the internet has allowed education to become more widely accessible to a greater number of people.
Many top universities are also democratizing education by offering online courses that students can complete at their own pace. I know I’ve benefited from many of these!
In this post, I’m going to review the 9 best WordPress plugins for schools and education. I’ll also look at how schools and educational institutions can use these to create learning management systems, student admission platforms, and other eLearning applications.
Let’s get started!
What kind of WordPress plugins do school websites need?
Schools need a way to effectively manage student data and educational materials. Different plugins can help solve different problems, allowing schools to streamline their day-to-day operations, reduce the workload for staff, and run more efficiently.
WordPress plugins can provide solutions for the following use cases and more:
- Student registration
- Online courses
- Event planning
- Document management
- Student portals
- Staff directories
- …And more!
All of these applications are possible to build using WordPress, but you’ll need the right plugins in order to do so.
Reviewing the 9 best WordPress education plugins for schools and universities
When building a new school website or web app with WordPress, it’s important to choose the right plugins for the job. The plugins you choose will depend on the functionality you need. That said, there are several plugins that can be used in a multitude of different ways!
Here are 9 of the best WordPress plugins that I’ve identified for schools and eLearning institutions.
1. Gravity Forms
Use cases: All forms including registration forms, admission forms, and contact forms.
Most school websites and education-related institutions require forms of one kind or another. This could include admission forms, contact forms, registration forms, and more.
When it comes to creating forms, Gravity Forms is the ultimate tool for the job. With Gravity Form, you can you to create powerful web forms using a visual interface (no code required!).
Here are some examples:
- Student registration forms
- Simple contact forms
- Assignment submission forms
- Forms for uploading files and documents
- School admission form
- … And much more!
The team behind Gravity Forms also offers several add-ons, enabling you to integrate your forms with other popular applications, such as CRM systems and email automation platforms.
Another advantage of using Gravity Forms is that you’ll gain access to a powerful ecosystem of Certified Developers that create and maintain a range of useful add-ons!
I know it’s tempting to use a free form builder plugin, but I would urge schools to invest in a premium tool like Gravity Forms. The benefits you’ll derive (such as support, ease of use, and reliability) far outweight the costs, in my opinion.
Key features
- Create an unlimited number of forms for your website
- Choose from a range of field types and build forms for any use-case
- Easily review and edit form submissions
- Send notification emails when a form has been submitted
Pricing
Starting at $59 per year for a single site license.
2. GravityView
Use cases: Creating student portals, databases, directories and resource hubs.
GravityView is an add-on for Gravity Forms that enables you to build powerful applications and information system on WordPress without any code.
While Gravity Forms allows you to collect data, GravityView enables you to display, manage, export, and edit that data directly on your website. GravityView is built for ease of use, with a simple interface requiring no technical knowledge. This is what makes it ideal for schools and universities.
GravityView is a plugin built by GravityKit (that’s us!). Several of our customers work for educational institutions or run agencies that have built solutions for schools. They choose GravityView because it simplifies the data management process that many schools struggle with and offers an affordable alternative to expensive pre-made platforms.
I am in awe of how easy it was to create a fully functioning system at the fraction of the cost of other SIS systems (Student Information Systems) on the market.
Rochelle Victor
Web developer for educational institutions
Rochelle Victor, a designer working in education, used Gravity Forms and GravityView to build a Student Information Management System (SIS) for her school. The platform includes an online library, a report approval system, and a job application portal!
Here are a few more examples of what you can create using Gravity Forms and GravityView:
- User profile pages for students or staff members
- Document management system (or resource portal) for staff or students
- Student portal for students to upload assignments, check their grades, and receive feedback
- A database or directory of staff members
- Automatic student report cards.
Key features
- Preset layouts and templates so you can get up and running in no time
- An intuitive drag-and-drop builder for creating interfaces, tables, and directories
- Detailed documentation and tutorials to help you get set up
Pricing
Starting at $129 per year for a single site license.
3. LifterLMS
Use cases: Hosting online courses and seminars.
LifterLMS is one of the best WordPress LMS plugins that turns your website into a powerful learning management system. LifterLMS is an affordable and robust solution for schools looking to move online.
Educational institutions that are planning to conduct online courses are often overwhelmed at the work and expertise it requires to set up an integrated online learning platform. LifterLMS removes these barriers by offering a complete solution. Simply install the plugin and you’re ready to go!
LifterLMS enables you to create online courses, manage student enrollments, maintain security and privacy, and export analytics reports. One advantage of LifterLMS is that you can start small and scale up as your institution increases in size.
LifterLMS also integrates with other popular plugins like WP Fusion, enabling you to automate communication with your students around important events like course completions, quiz attempts, and video plays. For example, if a user signs up for free access to a course, you can use WP Fusion to ensure that they automatically receive a welcome email from your email marketing platform.
Key features
- Create course with multimedia lessons
- Offer downloadable worksheets and files for offline learning
- Offer certifications upon completion of a series of courses
Pricing
The basic plugin is free with a premium version starting at $199 per year ($149.50 for your first year).
4. LearnDash
Use cases: Hosting online courses and seminars.
Like LifterLMS above, the LearnDash education plugin also provides a learning management solution for WordPress.
LearnDash offers an easy-to-use interface for schools looking to create online classes, enroll students and deliver content dynamically. With the drag-and-drop course builder, you can create new courses in minutes.
LearnDash also integrates with several other WordPress plugins and applications, including Gravity Forms, MailChimp and more. While LearnDash is easy enough to set up, make sure it’s compatible with your website’s theme. This will prevent you having to do extra work to get it looking the way you want!
Key features
- An advanced quiz module with eight different question types
- Ability to drip feed content and require videos to be viewed
- Control access to courses and modules through setting prerequisites
- Enabling student communication through discussion forums
Pricing
Starting at $199 per year for a basic license.
5. Elementor
Use cases: Building a good-looking website quickly, without code.
Elementor is a page builder plugin for WordPress that makes it easy to design attractive websites and construct complex layouts without writing any code. The plugin includes an intuitive, drag and drop interface, allowing you to build page layouts using a visual interface.
While it’s not strictly an eLearning plugin, but if you’re designing a new website for your school, Elementor may be the tool you need to bring your ideas to life! The Elementor plugin is free and includes over 100 different modules for all different needs.
In fact, Elementor has a library of preset website templates, including some that are tailored for schools and educational institutions!
Key features
- Drag and drop, no code editor for less technical users
- Premade website designs that you can use as a starting point
- 100+ widgets for adding any kind of content to your website
Pricing
The core plugin is free with a Pro version starting at $59 per year for a single site license.
6. Yoast SEO
Use cases: Optimizing written content, readability analysis, and structured data.
Yoast SEO is a plugin for WordPress that helps you optimize your website for search engines. While by no means essential for schools, Yoast does offer some neat ways to optimize your site’s pages and posts for increased exposure.
If your school’s website also serves as a marketing channel, configuring Yoast can increase the chances of your website ranking higher in search results. This can lead to more exposure for your school, or online institution.
Yoast SEO also includes a feature called “Workouts” which are short tutorials that “guide you through important routine SEO tasks and help you identify optimization opportunities”. This can improve the overall structure and feel of your site, ensuring it’s well-optimized for marketing purposes.
Key features
- Create SEO-friendly content targeting important keywords
- Prevent your site visitors from ending up on dead links
- Add structured data to your pages, helping Google to understand your content
Pricing
While the core Yoast plugin is free, they also offer a premium version starting at $99 per year.
7. Events Calendar
Use cases: Managing events, selling tickets.
The Events Calendar plugin makes it easy to manage events on WordPress. This makes it a powerful education plugin, as it allows schools to manage their upcoming events, display them to the public, and manage attendees—all from their own website.
Using the Events Calendar ticket bundle, you can also sell event tickets directly from your website! Although the plugin calls itself a calendar, there are other views that you can use when displaying events on your site. This includes the month, list, day, and map view.
Key features
- Set timezones for your events so everyone is on the same schedule
- Display your events by day, month or in a list
- Sync events with Google or Apple Calendar
- Set up recurring events that happen every day, week or month (e.g. school assemblies)
Pricing
The core plugin is free, with a premium version starting at $149 per year.
8. UpdraftPlus
Use cases: Website backups and security.
UpdraftPlus isn’t known as an education plugin, but it does provide functionality necessary for almost every website—automated backups! If you run an education site, the last thing you want is for your site to get hacked, or suffer from some form of technical problem.
UpdraftPlus helps mitigate these issues by allowing you to perform scheduled backups of your site and restore your data when needed. The plugin will create copies of all your important files, databases, plugins, and themes, keeping your site safe in case of hacks, server crashes, or user error.
Key features
- Scheduled backups of all your websites important content, databases and files
- The ability to migrate your website data from one site to another
- Store website backups on your Google Drive or other locations
Pricing
The core plugin is free, with the premium version starting at $70 per year.
9. MasterStudy LMS
Use cases: Hosting online courses and seminars.
MasterStudy is a powerful WordPress education plugin that allows you to create and sell online courses. If your school is looking to move into the eLearning space, this is a plugin that you may want to try out.
MasterStudy is a Learning Management System (LMS) designed for WordPress educational websites that offer courses or other educational materials. The plugin allows you to design and host courses on your website without writing any code.
While MasterStudy isn’t as established as LifterLMS or LearnDash, they offer attractive pricing, and they provide a free onboarding call for all paid users (a nice touch!).
Key features
- Assign students to courses and review their performance
- Award students for thier achievements with custom certificates
- Communicate with students via direct messages, and email notifications
Pricing
The basic version of the plugin is free with a premum version starting at $99 per year.
What should you look for in a WordPress education plugin?
There are thousands of WordPress plugins out there. Selecting the right ones for your website can be a challenge unless you know what to look for. Here are three factors that schools should prioritize when selecting a WordPress education plugin.
Ease of use
Schools should prioritize WordPress plugins that are user-friendly because they often have a diverse range of staff members, some of whom may not have advanced technical skills.
A plugin that is easy to use ensures that various staff members can efficiently manage and update the school website without extensive training. This accessibility encourages regular content updates, which are crucial for keeping the website current and engaging for students, parents, and the community.
Affordability
Budget constraints are common in educational institutions, making cost-effectiveness a vital consideration. Schools should select WordPress plugins that offer the necessary features without burdening the institution with high expenses.
Affordable plugins allow schools to allocate their resources more efficiently, investing in other essential areas of education while still maintaining a functional and dynamic website.
Easy to maintain
Selecting plugins that are easy to maintain is crucial for schools because it minimizes the need for continuous IT support and troubleshooting.
Plugins that are well-documented and regularly updated ensure the website’s longevity and security, reducing the risk of downtime or vulnerabilities. This, in turn, helps schools maintain a reliable online presence, which is essential for communication and information dissemination to students, parents, and the wider community.
Answering common questions related to WordPress and education
If you’re wondering whether WordPress is the best platform for your school or education website, we’ll help you decide by answering some commonly asked questions.
Is WordPress good for a school management system?
Yes. Although WordPress itself is a content management system, you can use it for a school management system too by installing one or more plugins with the functionality you need.
What’s the best wordpress plugin for school management?
The best WordPress plugin for school management depends on the unique needs of your school. Gravity Forms, GravityView, and LifterLMS are all powerful plugins that may work for you.
What’s the best free wordpress plugin for school management?
This will depends on the needs of your school. However, LifterLMS, and MasterStudy LMS are both powerful education plugins that have free versions available.
Do universities use WordPress?
Yes! In fact, several universities and higher educational institutions use WordPress to powerful their websites, including the Indiana University School of Medicine, and New Mexico State University.
Build your education website using the best WordPress plugins for school management
Online education has seen a dramatic rise in recent years. Because of this, more and more schools and educational institutions are looking to build online platforms for their students.
In this post, we introduced you to 9 of the best WordPress plugins for education. Whether you run a school, college or online learning platform, these plugins can help you create online courses, build student information management systems, improve your page designs, and more.
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