IASystem

IASystem is a course-evaluation system for colleges and universities that want to assess teaching and learning across a campus. It is best suited to institutions seeking configurable instructor evaluations, LMS access, and analytical reporting. Its annual per-student rates are modest, but setup and paper-processing charges affect the total cost.

Overview

IASystem brings online and paper-based course evaluations into one system. Administrators can configure forms for the institution, a college, or a department, while instructors can add course-specific scaled or open-ended questions. That balance suits campuses seeking consistent evaluation practices without restricting instructors to a single template.

Students can access evaluations through Canvas, Blackboard, and other learning management systems using LTI. A web API also supports campus integrations such as evaluation links in a student portal. These options can fit evaluations into existing student workflows rather than requiring a separate access point.

Key features

Reporting includes course and combined-course summaries, administrative high/low and ratings summaries, survey lists, and data exports. Institution-specific reliability estimates, item-level deciles, and regression analyses help assessment teams interpret results and account for context. That analytical depth is useful for institutional assessment, though campuses seeking only basic survey collection may not need it.

IASystem uses HTTPS, role-based permissions, and server-side processing for calculations, validations, and reports. Reports and data extracts omit student names, IDs, and login information, which supports respondent privacy. The system is not anonymous feedback; institutions should distinguish the privacy protections described for reports and extracts from an anonymity guarantee.

Ongoing phone and email support is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific Time. The University of Washington’s Institutional Assessment & Evaluation team backs the system, a relevant fit for institutions looking for a higher-education-focused provider.

Pricing

A one-term pilot license costs nothing, billed for one term. It gives an institution a way to pilot IASystem on campus, but it is not an ongoing free plan.

Paid enrollment categories charge annually per enrolled student and include institution-wide access with no course limit. Category 1 is $1.90 a year for institutions under 2,000 FTE students; Category 2 is $1.85 a year for 2,000–4,999; Category 3 is $1.79 a year for 5,000–9,999; Category 4 is $1.74 a year for 10,000–14,999; Category 5 is $1.64 a year for 15,000–19,999; and Category 6 is $1.59 a year for 20,000+ FTE students. Each paid category also carries a $5,404 one-time setup fee. The per-student rate falls with larger enrollment, but the fixed setup charge and separately priced paper forms and scanning should be included in a campus cost assessment. Paper costs depend on usage.

Platforms

IASystem is available via web and API. Its LTI integration connects students to evaluations through Canvas, Blackboard, and other LMS applications.

Who it's for

IASystem is a strong fit for colleges and universities that need institution-wide instructor evaluations, flexible forms, LMS access, and advanced reporting. It is less suitable for small teams looking for a free, continuing survey tool, or for institutions that require anonymous feedback. Campuses relying on paper should also account for the additional processing charges.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Institution-, department-, and course-level form customization supports both campus consistency and course-specific questions.
• Pros: LMS access and a web API give institutions options for integrating evaluations into student-facing systems.
• Pros: Advanced summaries, exports, reliability estimates, deciles, and regression analyses support deeper institutional review.
• Cons: Paid plans require a $5,404 one-time setup fee in addition to annual per-student charges.
• Cons: Paper forms and scanning cost extra, with charges depending on usage.
• Cons: IASystem does not offer anonymous feedback.

Alternatives

Course Evaluation Software is the category overview for comparing options. Choose Qualtrics if an individual user needs a free survey plan capped at three active surveys and 500 total responses. SmartEvals is worth considering for schools currently using paper that want its free Lite on-the-go version.

HelioCampus Course Evaluations & Surveys is another paid option, available on Android, iOS, web, and API. QuestionPro offers a free Essentials plan for one user with 200 responses per survey and 30 question types; choose it when those survey limits suit your needs. Creatrix Campus Course Evaluation uses custom quotes for institutional needs, while IOTA360 Evaluations uses customized pricing based mostly on annual faculty and student users, with possible additional charges for custom reports.

EduAdmin and Eval25 are also paid alternatives.

Verdict

Choose IASystem if your college or university needs configurable course evaluations, LMS integration, and institution-focused analysis in one campus-wide system. Its strongest case is the combination of flexible forms, reporting depth, and respondent-data protections. Look elsewhere if anonymity is essential, or if the setup fee and separate paper-processing costs outweigh the value of its assessment capabilities.