What is the difference between Course Compass and DegreeWorks?

DegreeWorks is a university-provided audit tool that shows what requirements you've completed. Course Compass is an AI-powered planning tool that creates personalized 4-year course plans, recommends electives based on your goals, and works across 6,600+ universities with 1M+ courses.

Is Course Compass better than using Excel for course planning?

Yes. Unlike Excel, Course Compass automatically validates prerequisites, tracks degree requirements, provides AI recommendations, and updates in real-time. Excel requires manual tracking and can't check if your plan is actually valid.

Can Course Compass replace my academic advisor?

Course Compass complements your advisor by doing the heavy lifting of course planning. You'll arrive at advisor meetings with a complete plan to discuss rather than starting from scratch. Advisors love students who come prepared.

COMPARISON GUIDE

Course Compass vs The Alternatives

See how AI-powered course planning compares to DegreeWorks, Excel spreadsheets, and traditional advising.

Feature	Course Compass	DegreeWorks	Excel/Sheets	Advisor Only
Creates 4-Year Plans	✓	✗	Manual	Limited
AI Recommendations	✓	✗	✗	✗
Prerequisite Validation	✓	View Only	✗	Manual
Works Across Universities	6,600+	Your School	✓	Your School
Course Database Size	1M+ Courses	Your School	✗	Your School
Professor Ratings	✓	✗	✗	✗
Real-Time Progress Tracking	✓	✓	Manual	✗
Grad School Planning	✓	✗	✗	Limited
Transfer Credit Analysis	✓	Manual	✗	Manual
Cost	Free - $9.99/mo	Included	Free	Included

Course Compass vs DegreeWorks

DegreeWorks is a degree audit tool provided by many universities. It shows what requirements you've completed and what's left.

Course Compass goes further by actually creating your plan. It tells you exactly which courses to take each semester, validates prerequisites, and recommends electives based on your career goals.

Key Difference: DegreeWorks shows where you are. Course Compass shows where to go and how to get there.

Course Compass vs Excel Spreadsheets

Many students try to plan courses in Excel or Google Sheets. While flexible, spreadsheets can't:

✗ Validate prerequisites automatically
✗ Track degree requirements
✗ Recommend courses based on your goals
✗ Update when course catalogs change

Course Compass does all of this automatically with AI assistance.

Why Academic Advising Alone Isn't Enough

Academic advisors are valuable, but they're often overloaded. The average advisor manages 300-500 students, meaning:

⚠ Limited appointment availability
⚠ Short meeting times (15-30 minutes)
⚠ May not know every course option
⚠ Can't help you plan on your own schedule

Best Approach: Use Course Compass to create your plan, then review it with your advisor. Come prepared, not empty-handed.

For Transfer Students

Transferring schools? Course Compass is especially valuable because:

✓ Works across 6,600+ institutions
✓ AI analyzes your transcript for transfer credits
✓ Shows how credits apply to new school's requirements
✓ Creates a plan from your current standing

DegreeWorks and other school tools don't help until after you've transferred. Course Compass helps you plan the transfer itself.

Ready to Try the Smarter Way?

Join thousands of students who've switched to AI-powered course planning. Start free, no credit card required.

Start Planning Free