AwardSpring is a customizable, configurable scholarship management solution that helps manage applications, review processes, reporting, and more. You can also create customized apps, and identify/run insightful reviews to find the most qualified candidates. The pro version adds extra features such as tracking appreciation letters, managing renewable awards, and communicating with users. It also integrates with other learner information systems.

Website: https://www.awardspring.com/

What Users Love About the App

“In all honesty, what I like best is the pricing model. These guys seem to understand that the users of these platforms are often non-profits or groups that can’t spend a lot of money on software. In addition, I like that the platform has been built to make it very simple for the user and the platform administrator to oversee and use. Finally, the support model is exceptional, offering training for all users and responsive service when needed.”

“We began using AwardSpring for our scholarship needs about two years ago and as the primary user, I must say that their customer support is personable and super helpful. Once, a student overwrote our application while working with a financial aid counselor and AwardSpring was able to restore our original application overnight. The staff on the support lines have been responsive even in a work from home status during the pandemic. They make you feel appreciated as well.”

“I am so impressed by the support and the follow up. We have been so pleased with the time that our questions have been answered in, and how quickly we have been able to resolve any issues. This was so easy for everyone to learn and use and we were excited to move everything online. Our reviewers who can be challenged technologically sometimes were thrilled with the process and the ease of use! We also feel really pleased with the communication of the support teams. Anytime there is going to be an upgrade or even a general issue that they are working on, the lines of communication are wide open. In addition, we feel that because of this great software, we are getting great outcomes. It is really the way of the times as most students today are technologically sound and adapt better to the online platform than the “old fashioned” way of doing things.”

“I think AwardSpring’s customer service is top-notch. All my experiences working with their team have been pleasant and efficient interactions. They are knowledgable and quick to solve any problem at hand, including updating their website based off customer feedback.”

“I like how simple it is and easy to put together. It is very easy to add different qualifications and requirements. The program allows our organization to compile all of the data that we need to work with and incorporate scholarship opportunities to the students we serve by showing all of the opportunities that they have in one location. Our goal was to reduce a lot of redundancy that the students have to answer when applying for scholarships, including really basic questions that we were hoping to eliminate to streamline the process. With the help of AwardSpring, we were able to pull many varieties of reports and work with their organization to eliminate all of the redundancies, leaving us with a product that we are more than happy to put our name with and to continue to work with.”

What Users Dislike About the App

“If we had to say we dislike something, it would probably be the fact that we could not create our own reports. We would have to call in to request the parameters but even then, it was a very enlightening and pleasant experience to be able to have someone to speak to and get your questions answered.”

“There is not much that I dislike about AwardSpring other than the time it takes to launch. The buildout quote is 6+ weeks which I feel could happen faster.”

“Although now the option is there to have two open scholarship cycles at the same time, I wish that there was an option to have different scholarship applications as well. For example, I open two different types of scholarships each semester, tuition and textbooks. I wish there was a way to have a separate application that I can just copy from cycle to cycle for textbooks and a separate application for tuition. This way, I would not have to change the questions and make a mistake by removing an important question that is needed.”

“The master application questions have made it difficult to tailor the individual scholarship requirements in some cases. Aslo, I haven’t been able to use the integration tool to release some of the manual verification steps I take each award cycle.”

“I wish there were email logs/more tracking. I like that we can email students through the website but I can’t ever go back and reference what I sent. I make do by including myself in the emails I send but I can’t do that for the other people in the office who are also sending out notifications to students. I also wish there was a way to see the last time a student made changes to their application. Or if there is already, an easier way to find where that is! We have students who swear they had completed their application prior to the deadline and its always nice to have a record.”