2025 Year in Review
Last year was something special.
It’s one thing to claim you’re making a difference in the lives of college students; it’s quite another to have the industry, the community and the results to prove it. 2025 was a landmark year for GradGuard, marked by a powerful blend of corporate milestones and individual honors. From securing a spot on the Top 50 Financial Technology Companies list for the fourth consecutive year to being named one of the Top 5 Best Places to Work in Phoenix, the momentum is undeniable. This past year, company-wide and individual recognitions solidified that a company is only as strong as the people driving its mission. That’s GradGuard.
We’re growing because the need is growing.
84 new school partners
Nearly 700 partner schools
GradGuard strengthened its impact across higher education by welcoming 84 new school partners and expanding our partnerships with an additional 20 institutions nationwide. This continued growth reflects the trust campuses place in our programs and our ongoing commitment to supporting student success and institutional resilience. We’re proud to now serve nearly 700 colleges and universities in educating and protecting students from the risks of college life.
Helping students and families is what we do.
We have 2,713 Google reviews with a 4.9 star rating
We’ve protected nearly 2 million students with renters/tuition insurance since 2009
Launched our first ever college ambassador program
Launched
our first ever GradGuard Scholarship program
We’re not doing this alone.
Partnerships remained a cornerstone of GradGuard’s impact in 2025 as we deepened our collaboration with leading higher education and student success organizations. We were proud to serve as the matching corporate sponsor for the ACUHO-I Foundation and to work alongside trusted partners including The Clery Center, The JED Foundation, HigherEd Risk, College Life Protected, and others. Together, these partnerships strengthen campus communities, advance student well-being, and help institutions proactively address risk, amplifying our shared commitment to protecting students and supporting higher education nationwide.
With special thanks to our strategic partners.
More than 1 million on-campus housing beds access GradGuard’s renters insurance plan through the StarRez platform
Our tuition insurance programs now integrate within PayMyTuition
We attended 36 shows and 42 campus visits
And we’re always striving to do more.
GradGuard is commited to supporting national and local organizations that promote educational access and attainment, safety and support of college students and humanitarian work.
Giving back is core to who we are at GradGuard, and in 2025 our team came together to support the communities where we live and work. From organizing a water drive for individuals experiencing homelessness and a toiletry drive benefiting St. Vincent de Paul, to supporting organizations like Education Forward AZ and ElevateMeD, our employees were deeply engaged in making a difference. We also rolled up our sleeves to serve locally, whether cleaning Camelback Road in Phoenix or volunteering time and resources, reinforcing our belief that meaningful impact extends beyond campuses and into the communities we call home.
Raised $85,500 for JED
Gave $90,750 for grants, scholarships and support
Donated 4,000 water bottles to St. Vincent de Paul
Packed 54,000 meals at Feed my Starving Children
Made 68 blankets for Phoenix Children’s Hospital
And we’re thrilled you noticed.
4x growth in social media post impressions
5x growth in social media post shares
8x growth in social media post engagements
GradGuard’s award-winning culture continued to shine in 2025, reflecting our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact across higher education. This year, we were honored to be recognized as one of the top five Phoenix’s Best Places to Work and recognized nationally as one of the Top Financial Technology Companies of 2025. GradGuard was also recognized with the 2025 Outstanding Corporate Partner Award from SEAHO, the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers.
Our leadership was celebrated as well, with our CEO and co-founder John Fees named one of InBusiness Phoenix’s Top 16 Leaders of 2025; Heather Richmond, our SVP of Corporate Development, selected as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Software by Women We Admire; Jeff Hitchens, our Chief Operating Officer, named a Top 25 InsurTech Executive of 2025 by The Financial Technology Report; and Wimer Alberto, our VP of Industry Relations, recognized by the ACUHO-I Foundation for his contributions to the campus housing profession. These achievements underscore the strength of our team and the values that drive our mission forward.