Profile

GradGuard is the authority on helping schools educate and protect students from the risks of college life. As the #1 provider of college tuition and renters insurance, GradGuard’s pioneering protections have served more than 1.7 million students at more than 1,900 unique institutions. GradGuard’s national technology platform embeds its innovative insurance protections within the enrollment process of more than 600 institutions in the United States, helping schools increase college completion and reduce the cost of college by covering preventable financial losses.

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Key Products

Tuition insurance

Most colleges and universities do not provide 100% refunds, but GradGuard Tuition Insurance can protect one’s investment. Their Tuition Insurance provides reimbursement when a student can’t complete an academic term due to an unforeseen, covered accident, injury, or other covered reason.

Renters insurance

Colleges, universities, and off-campus property management companies don’t typically replace stolen bicycles or backpacks, but GradGuard College Renters Insurance can. Its coverage is specifically tailored for college life, offering exclusive features for students and families that aren’t available through other insurance providers.

Customer Insights

Nice to have and prices are affordable.

I was quickly connected to a live person when I called to discuss my plan. The lady I spoke to was very helpful! I had my plan registered to whatever dorm I was in college, which was helpful because the policy followed whatever dorm the college had on file for me. Overall it was nice to have. – Nick S.

Easy to use website and excellent customer service.

This is our second year insuring our daughter’s tuition and renter’s insurance and GradGuard along with their team are simply amazing! – Mack H.

Great company to be in business with.

You can never tell how good your insurance is until you actually need it. The agent at GradGuard was extremely helpful, empathetic and easy to deal with. They are one of the few companies that provide excellent coverage for a low cost yet providing premium insurance and customer service all while treating you like an extended family member! I feel comfortable knowing what to do if something were to happen. – Jno858

See more customer testimonials here: GradGuard Videos

Key Executives

John Fees, Co-Founder and CEO

John is the Co-Founder and CEO of GradGuard. His vision to deliver affordable and relevant protections through a digital technology platform enables GradGuard’s talented team to fulfill its mission to help schools educate and protect students from the risks of college life. He is a graduate of Arizona State Sun Devil and Harvard Business School.

Jeff Hitchens, Chief Operating Officer

Jeff is the Chief Operating Officer and joined GradGuard in December 2020, bringing extensive experience in the insurance and financial services industries. He attributes his passion for delivering exceptional customer satisfaction to the eight years he spent at the credit card bank MBNA. He has held a variety of operational and analytics positions, including helping launch MBNA Insurance Services.

Robert Ward, Chief Experience Officer

Robert is the Chief Experience Officer. Robert works to plan GradGuard projects across the organization from start to completion, involving deadlines, milestones, processes, and budgets. Robert is an expert on processes, procedures, project and program management and has a diverse background, including IT, marketing, and business administration.

Chris Bailly, Chief Technology Officer

Chris is GradGuard’s dedicated Chief Technology Officer. Chris holds a BA from NYU and a JD from Northeastern, bringing a unique blend of technical expertise and legal insight to his role. Over the years, he has been the driving force behind many of GradGuard’s systems, building them from the ground up with a vision of innovation and efficiency. As the leader of GradGuard’s Technology Team, Chris is committed to fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking environment that pushes the boundaries of what technology can achieve in the field of education protection.

Colin Brennan, Chief Financial Officer

Colin is the Chief Financial Officer and joined GradGuard in October 2022. He brings extensive experience in the higher education industry and finance operations. He is passionate about analytics and key performance indicator reports to make smart data-driven decisions and ensure the company is on pace to hit financial goals.

Leticia Gastelum, Chief People Officer

Leticia is GradGuard’s Chief People Officer, who brings a holistic approach to the workplace, fostering both professional growth and personal well-being. A graduate of Arizona State University, Leticia is a results-driven leader with excellence in sourcing talent to scale high-performing teams. Known for improving employee engagement, productivity, and cost efficiency, Leticia has consistently contributed to increased revenue. With an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, she champions company culture and the communities they serve.

Corporate Responsibility

GradGuard is deeply committed to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, with a strong emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

GradGuard has focused on equity and social impact, starting with their product design. Prior to the founding of GradGuard, only students attending private elite institutions could purchase tuition insurance. Their product design for tuition insurance also was the first national program to provide 100% refunds for both physical and mental health conditions. The equity commitment helps reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues facing students. Today, thanks to GradGuard, all 18 million students attending public universities and community colleges can protect themselves with the coverage they need.

In 2020, GradGuard created College Life Protected, a social purpose entity, to fulfill its impact-driven work. In addition to relevant research and funding of organizations such as the JED Foundation that promote mental health programs in colleges, the Clery Center promotes greater transparency and campus safety. Their engagement in national and local charities underscores their commitment to social responsibility; they fund and provide support to Education Forward Arizona, the leading attainment organization, by donating laptops to students in need, promoting educational access and equity.

Environmentally, GradGuard has made the commitment to keep their streets clean and green. They adopted a section of Camelback Road in Phoenix, AZ, and employees volunteer their time to remove litter and debris five times a year.

Reflecting their core values of Respect, Grow, and Thrive, they also prioritize their employees’ well-being with enhanced benefits. This year, we’re covering 100% of medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, with significant contributions for dependents. They also support further education and student loan repayment with reimbursements of up to $2,500 per employee annually. These initiatives collectively demonstrate their dedication to creating a supportive, inclusive, and thriving environment for both their employees and the communities they serve.