New Award Advisor™ tool helps families easily compare financial aid offers

Concord, NH – Granite Edvance is pleased to share a new tool that can help students and families make sense of financial aid letters and compare offers with confidence. Award Advisor™ is a free app that offers a standardized, side-by-side comparison of financial aid offers. Created by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), a fellow nonprofit, Award Advisor™ also displays nonprofit lending options for families who might face a funding gap. As an Award Advisor Network Partner, Granite Edvance will be listed as a loan option in New Hampshire.  

“Comparing financial aid offers can be a difficult and stressful experience because so much is riding on this decision. Not only that, but there’s a lot of variation in how schools present their financial aid packages,” said Micha Sabovik, Vice President of Growth and Lending Solutions at Granite Edvance. “We’re excited to spread the word about this tool to help support students and families in this important step.”   

Typically, a college acceptance is accompanied by a financial aid package, detailed in an award letter. Each college award letter presents aid information differently, which can make it difficult to compare to other schools’ awards. As a result, students across the country are often making life-changing college decisions based upon a handful of award letters that may be inconsistent and confusing.  

Award Advisor™ translates each letter into clear, comparable terms, showing what’s free money, what needs to be repaid, and what the true cost is for each school. Families can view detailed breakdowns or simple side-by-side comparisons, export PDFs for discussions, and even model their own funds into the equation to see the full picture. 

Award Advisor™ is especially helpful for first-generation students and modest-income families, fostering informed “kitchen table” conversations about costs, obligations, and tradeoffs. High school counselors also benefit, saving time on calculations and explanations so they can focus on advising students. 

New Hampshire students and families can choose to use the platform on its own or pair it with personalized guidance from Granite Edvance’s Education and Career Pathways or Customer Experience teams. This flexible approach allows families to engage in the way that works best for them, while ensuring support is readily available for deeper conversations around goals and long-term planning.  

Students and families can download Award Advisor™ today and turn confusing award letters into clear, actionable insights. Award Advisor™ is available now on the App Store and Google Play, or at awardadvisor.org.  

About Granite Edvance 

Granite Edvance is a New Hampshire nonprofit that supports New Hampshire students and their families through free career and higher-education counseling and resources, as well as funding assistance including scholarships and competitive private student loans. Established in 1962, the organization rebranded as Granite Edvance in November 2023.  The Granite Edvance Corporation offers private student loan products, including the Granite Edvance Student Loan, the EdvestinU Private Student Loan, the Granite Edvance Refinance Loan, the EdvestinU Refinance Loan, and the Granite Edvance Parent Loan. Loans offered by Granite Edvance Corporation may be funded by Granite Edvance Corporation or Bank of Lake Mills, member FDIC.    

 About Award Advisor™ 

Award Advisor™ empowers students and families to navigate the financial aid process with confidence. By providing clarity, transparency, and actionable information, it transforms complex financial aid letters into understandable data, supporting smarter college choices and reducing financial stress.