Granite Edvance presents 2025 Annual Impact Report

Concord, NH — Granite Edvance, a New Hampshire nonprofit dedicated to helping students and families plan and pay for their college and career pathways, has released its 2025 Annual Impact Report, sharing highlights of a year that included record investment in scholarships, expanded college-and-career services, and deeper partnerships across the state.

The report demonstrates how Granite Edvance strengthened personal connections with students, families, schools, employers, and community partners, while also expanding the ways those connections intersect to support New Hampshire’s future workforce. 

“In 2025, we found exciting new ways to meet students and families where they are and help them reach their goals,” said Christiana Thornton, President and CEO of Granite Edvance. “Whether we were helping a family navigate financial aid, supporting a student through an unexpected financial crisis, or connecting young people with career pathways they hadn’t previously considered, our work this year reinforced how deeply interconnected our communities truly are.” 

According to the report, Granite Edvance awarded $795,000 in scholarships to 335 New Hampshire students in 2025—a 120% increase since 2020. The organization also donated $200,000 to student aid funds across the Community College System of New Hampshire and the University System of New Hampshire, helping more than 290 students overcome short-term financial challenges related to housing, transportation, food, and childcare. 

One such student, Jenna, a massage therapy student at Great Bay Community College, said emergency aid made it possible for her to stay enrolled during a difficult semester. “I wouldn’t have been able to survive the school year without it,” she said. 

Granite Edvance also continued to expand its free college-and-career planning services, reaching students earlier and supporting them longer along their education journeys. In 2025, the organization recorded more than 22,000 touchpoints with New Hampshire residents through events, appointments, and phone assistance. These included:  

• Destination College, Granite Edvance’s 26-year-old college planning event, which welcomed more than 560 students and family members. 

• ApplyNH, which supported students in completing more than 6,000 college applications across 86 ApplyNH events, with application fees waived statewide. 

• Expanded use of Xello, a college-and-career readiness platform now used in 67 New Hampshire high schools, supporting over 10,000 student accounts. 

Meanwhile, Granite Edvance’s private student loan program helped students and families cover funding gaps and refinance student loans. In 2025, the organization provided $93.8 million in loans, including $17.3 million in private student loans and private parent loans to NH borrowers, while maintaining or reducing interest rates across all products. Additionally, it provided $52.8 million in refinance loans to both NH and out-of-state borrowers.  

Behind those numbers is personalized support: Granite Edvance’s Customer Experience team handled more than 18,000 calls, introduced a new live chat feature, and provided in-person and virtual appointments across the state. 

Granite Edvance Board Chair Paul Provost said the organization wants to build on this momentum in the years ahead.  

“We want to position Granite Edvance as the best resource in the state for advice about college and career planning, including adult learning and skill enhancement,” Provost said. “And we’re strongly committed to ensuring these resources are accessible to all.” 

The full 2025 Annual Impact Report is available here.