Ad Astra Information Systems
Ad Astra Information Systems provides AI-powered Smart Scheduling™ software for higher-education institutions, serving 550+ colleges and universities across North America with course, faculty, room, and event scheduling plus predictive analytics and student-demand forecasting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersOverland Park, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Ad Astra Information Systems does
Ad Astra Information Systems, L.L.C. is a privately held higher-education software company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The company builds Smart Scheduling™, an AI-powered platform that unifies course scheduling, faculty assignment, room scheduling, and event management into a single solution for colleges and universities. Its core product surface is organized into four solution families: Essential Scheduling (academic, event, room, and faculty scheduling), Data-Informed Scheduling (Classroom Optimization, Registration Monitoring, and HESI® benchmarking reports), Student-Centered Scheduling (Student Demand Forecasting, Early Momentum/Degree Velocity®, and DFW Analysis), and Integrated Planning (Annual Schedule Planning, Faculty Capacity Planning, and Pathway Alignment). The platform includes bi-directional, real-time integrations with leading Student Information Systems such as Ellucian Banner, a public API, and proprietary IP including the registered Degree Velocity® trademark and the HESI® benchmarking system covering 375+ indicators across 1.3 million+ students.
The company serves 550+ higher-education institutions across North America, with a primary focus on community colleges and four-year universities and a secondary focus on state college and university systems. Its go-to-market is a direct enterprise field-sales motion with dedicated consultants conducting 1:1 discovery and implementation engagements, supported by a broader partnership ecosystem including AACRAO, AASCU, Achieving the Dream, Complete College America, Excelencia in Education, and NACUBO. The team of 100+ higher-education professionals includes former registrars, provosts, and enrollment VPs who provide domain credibility. Revenue is generated through annual SaaS subscriptions sized by institution and scope, supplemented by implementation, consulting, and training services, with pricing quoted rather than publicly disclosed. The company remains founder-led under CEO Tom Shaver and has operated continuously for 30+ years without disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or ownership changes.
Ad Astra Information Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ad Astra Information Systems
- Legal name
- Ad Astra Information Systems, L.L.C.
- Website
- https://aais.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ad Astra Information Systems provides AI-powered Smart Scheduling™ software for higher-education institutions, serving 550+ colleges and universities across North America with course, faculty, room, and event scheduling plus predictive analytics and student-demand forecasting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ad Astra Information Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Academic Scheduling Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Attendance, Scheduling, Timetabling & Calendar Management (EDAFAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Degree Planning, Course Planning & Academic Progress Monitoring (EDAFAMAI), Learning Data Infrastructure & Interoperability (LRS, xAPI/LTI/OneRoster, Data Pipelines) (EDAFAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Ad Astra Information Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Overland Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ad Astra Information Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription: Annual subscription-based software licensing model for access to the Ad Astra Smart Scheduling platform. Subscriptions include access to technical support team and standard releases of the licensed product. Clients pay an annual fee with pricing based on institution size or usage scope.
- Professional Services: Implementation, consulting, and training services including onboarding, strategic consulting, and custom training engagements. These support the core software deployment and ongoing optimization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise SaaS subscription with annual billing |
| Other | Annual | Quote-based pricing for institutions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Ad Astra Information Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ad Astra Information Systems develops and licenses Smart Scheduling™, an AI-powered SaaS platform that helps colleges and universities unify course scheduling, faculty assignment, room scheduling, and event management. The platform layers predictive analytics (Student Demand Forecasting, Degree Velocity®, DFW Analysis), AI-driven Classroom Optimization, and bi-directional real-time integrations with student information systems such as Banner. Revenue is generated through annual enterprise SaaS subscriptions plus professional services for onboarding, consulting, and training.
Product overview
Ad Astra Information Systems offers Smart Scheduling™, an AI-powered academic scheduling platform for higher education that unifies Essential Scheduling, Data-Informed Scheduling, Student-Centered Scheduling, and Integrated Planning into a cohesive suite. Essential Scheduling provides foundational course, room, event, and faculty scheduling tools. Data-Informed Scheduling delivers real-time enrollment analytics through Registration Monitoring, HESI® Reports benchmarking, and Classroom Optimization. Student-Centered Scheduling leverages predictive analytics via Student Demand Forecasting, Early Momentum/Degree Velocity® tracking, and DFW Analysis for bottleneck identification. Integrated Planning enables annual/multi-term scheduling with Faculty Capacity Planning and Pathway Alignment. The platform integrates with student information systems like Banner and offers API extensibility for system connectivity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Monitor: Targeted registration monitoring solution allowing institutions to track how courses are filling and offering easy-to-use reporting based on registration data.
- HESI (Higher Education Scheduling Index)
- Smart Scheduling
- Degree Velocity
Products and services
- Essential Scheduling Collaborative academic scheduling software that provides foundational scheduling capabilities including Academic Scheduling, Event Scheduling, Room Scheduling, and Faculty Assignment in a unified platform. Targets higher education institutions seeking to improve operational efficiency.
- Data-Informed Scheduling Smart scheduling systems that facilitate targeted schedule optimization with real-time enrollment analytics, registration monitoring, classroom utilization optimization, and HESI® benchmarking reports. Designed for higher education institutions seeking data-driven scheduling insights.
- Student-Centered Scheduling Intelligent scheduling insights that maximize student outcomes and minimize disruption through Student Demand Forecasting, Program Pathway Management, Early Momentum/Degree Velocity® tracking, and DFW Analysis. Serves institutions focused on retention, completion, and equity outcomes.
- Integrated Planning Annual planning software that aligns stakeholders and optimizes student and financial outcomes through multi-term scheduling. Includes Annual Schedule Planning, Faculty Capacity Planning, and Pathway Alignment capabilities for institutions seeking long-horizon academic planning.
- Monitor Standalone registration monitoring software providing visibility into course fill rates, access to enrollment visualizations, threshold monitoring for enrollment ratios, and notifications for course enrollment status. Sold separately under its own terms of service for higher education institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 19.4% increase in Degree Velocity at Mohawk Valley Community College
- +11 more outcomes
Companies that use Ad Astra Information Systems
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ad Astra Information Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability6 records
Feature8 records
Ad Astra Information Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers)coreAACRAO is a non-profit professional association of more than 11,000 higher education professionals representing approximately 2,600 institutions. Ad Astra collaborates with AACRAO on research, white papers (including the SPOT Advantage report and Operational Efficiency report), and professional development initiatives. The partnership provides Ad Astra access to a broad network of registrars and admissions professionals.
- AASCU (American Association of State Colleges & Universities)coreAASCU represents nearly 400 public colleges, universities, and systems. Ad Astra partners with AASCU on webinars and educational content to promote student-centered scheduling practices among member institutions.
- Achieving the DreamcoreAchieving the Dream is a champion of leaders at more than 300 community colleges across the country. The partnership focuses on building customized growth plans and providing actionable solutions for student success using Ad Astra's scheduling tools.
- Complete College AmericacoreComplete College America is a national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates. The partnership supports scaling structural reforms and promoting policies that improve student success through strategic scheduling.
- Excelencia in EducationcoreFounded in 2004, Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education. Ad Astra supports this mission through data-driven scheduling solutions that help address equity gaps and support diverse student populations.
- NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers)coreNACUBO provides strategic and practical support for campus business and finance professionals. The partnership helps Ad Astra connect with institutional leaders focused on financial sustainability and operational efficiency.
- Student Information System (SIS) PartnerscoreAd Astra partners with the industry's leading student information systems including Banner and other platforms for seamless, real-time bi-directional integrations. These integrations enable data synchronization and unlock real-time scheduling insights directly within the institutional SIS.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Ad Astra Information Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Modern Campus: Modern Campus is a modern student engagement platform offering curriculum, catalog, and scheduling modules for higher education, increasingly competing with Ad Astra's Integrated Planning and Student-Centered Scheduling products.
- Civitas Learning: Civitas Learning provides student success analytics and predictive advising for higher education, partially overlapping with Ad Astra's Degree Velocity, DFW Analysis, and student demand forecasting capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Ellucian: Ellucian is the dominant student information system (SIS) provider in higher education with Banner and Colleague, serving as both an integration partner to Ad Astra and a potential competitor if it deepens native scheduling capabilities.
- Jenzabar: Jenzabar offers student information systems for higher education including SIS, CRM, and ancillary modules that can compete with or bundle against best-of-breed scheduling tools like Ad Astra.
- EAB Navigate: EAB provides a broad portfolio of higher education services including student success, enrollment, and analytics platforms that touch scheduling-adjacent decisions at four-year institutions.
- Workday Student: Workday Student is an enterprise SIS competing with Ellucian, often deployed at large four-year universities; its expanding academic and facilities modules overlap with Ad Astra's scheduling scope.
Direct peers
- Coursedog: Coursedog is a direct competitor offering academic scheduling, course catalog management, and curriculum planning software for higher education institutions, overlapping substantially with Ad Astra's Essential Scheduling and Integrated Planning modules.
- CollegeNET: CollegeNET provides higher education scheduling and registration software including class scheduling and 25Live event management, competing directly with Ad Astra's Academic, Event, and Room Scheduling solutions.
- EMS Software: EMS Software provides enterprise room and event scheduling solutions widely deployed at universities and colleges, directly competing with Ad Astra's Room Scheduling and Event Scheduling modules.
- Schedule 25 / CollegeNET 25Live: 25Live is a higher-ed-focused event and room scheduling product from CollegeNET, widely used at universities and directly competing with Ad Astra's Room and Event Scheduling modules.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ad Astra Information Systems social profiles
Digital presenceAd Astra Information Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ad Astra Information Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Ad Astra Information Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ad Astra Information Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ad Astra Information Systems
What does Ad Astra Information Systems do?
Ad Astra Information Systems develops and licenses Smart Scheduling™, an AI-powered SaaS platform that helps colleges and universities unify course scheduling, faculty assignment, room scheduling, and event management. The platform layers predictive analytics (Student Demand Forecasting, Degree Velocity®, DFW Analysis), AI-driven Classroom Optimization, and bi-directional real-time integrations with student information systems such as Banner. Revenue is generated through annual enterprise SaaS subscriptions plus professional services for onboarding, consulting, and training.
Is Ad Astra Information Systems a public or private company?
Ad Astra Information Systems is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ad Astra Information Systems founded?
Ad Astra Information Systems was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ad Astra Information Systems based?
Ad Astra Information Systems is headquartered in Overland Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ad Astra Information Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription is the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Ad Astra Information Systems's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Modern Campus and Civitas Learning. Broad incumbents are Ellucian, Jenzabar, EAB Navigate and Workday Student. Direct peers are Coursedog, CollegeNET, EMS Software and Schedule 25 / CollegeNET 25Live.
Does Ad Astra Information Systems have an API?
Yes. Ad Astra offers a publicly available API with flexible APIs to connect systems, share insights, and extend scheduling intelligence. The API supports integrations with student information systems, enabling real-time data synchronization. Rate limits and usage policies are governed by the API Terms of Service. Developer documentation is at info.aais.com/api-terms-of-service.
What industry is Ad Astra Information Systems in?
Ad Astra Information Systems's product category is Higher Education Academic Scheduling Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAEAF, Attendance, Scheduling, Timetabling & Calendar Management, with a secondary code of EDAFAMAI, Degree Planning, Course Planning & Academic Progress Monitoring. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.