When I spoke with Manny Smith, the founder and CEO of EdVisorly, and Melanie Scott, VP of Growth, Marketing and Analytics, I quickly realized this wasn't just another education app—it's a complete reimagining of how community college students navigate their path to a four-year degree. Their company is tackling one of higher education's most persistent challenges: the shockingly low transfer rate from community colleges to universities.
Here's what I learned from our conversation about this game-changing platform.
What is EdVisorly?
EdVisorly is an AI-enabled platform that bridges the gap between community colleges and four-year universities. The company addresses a critical problem: despite millions of students starting at community colleges with the intention of transferring, only 18% actually complete their bachelor's degree at a four-year institution.
Manny explained that their mission is to democratize access to education by providing students with the tools, connections, and clarity they need to successfully transfer and complete their degrees. Melanie added that from a growth perspective, they've seen incredible organic adoption as students share the platform with their peers—a testament to how much it's needed in the market.
How does the platform work?
The process is designed with simplicity in mind. Students download the EdVisorly mobile app and can immediately start exploring transfer-friendly universities that align with their academic goals and interests.
Through the platform, students can browse university programs, check financial aid information, and even message admissions counselors directly. What sets EdVisorly apart is its course planning feature—students can determine exactly which credits they need to transfer and map out their community college coursework accordingly.
Manny emphasized that one of their most popular features is the ability to apply to universities completely free through the app, eliminating application fees that often serve as barriers for students.
What services are available to students?
The student-facing app offers comprehensive transfer support, including:
University Discovery: Browse transfer-friendly institutions based on academic programs, location, and student interests
Direct Communication: Chat directly with university admissions counselors through the app
Academic Planning: Determine transfer credit requirements and plan community college coursework strategically
Peer Connections: Join student chat groups organized by major or geographic region to connect with other transfer students
Free Applications: Submit university applications through the platform without paying application fees
Financial Information: Access up-to-date tuition costs, financial aid details, and available scholarships
Manny pointed out that the platform also includes a social component, allowing students to connect with peers who are on similar transfer journeys, creating a supportive community around what can often be an isolating process.
Melanie emphasized how their data analytics show that students who engage with the community features are significantly more likely to follow through with their transfer applications, highlighting the importance of peer support in the transfer journey.
How does EdVisorly help universities?
While students get the consumer-facing experience, EdVisorly has built an entire suite of institutional tools that universities use to streamline their transfer enrollment processes.
Their flagship product, EddyAI™, uses artificial intelligence to automate transcript evaluation—a process that traditionally requires significant manual work. Manny told me that partner institutions are now automating over 60% of their transcripts with nearly 100% accuracy, dramatically reducing the workload on admissions teams.
EddyDB™, their credit evaluation database, helps universities make faster, more consistent decisions about credit transfers. Meanwhile, EddyNavigate™ gives prospective students real-time visibility into how their credits will transfer before they even apply.
How is EdVisorly measuring success?
Melanie shared some compelling metrics that demonstrate the platform's impact. The team tracks not just app downloads and university partnerships, but more meaningful indicators like student engagement rates, successful transfer applications, and degree completion outcomes.
"We're seeing students who use EdVisorly are 3x more likely to submit transfer applications compared to traditional pathways," Melanie explained. "But what really excites us is that these students are also more informed about their choices, leading to better institutional fit and higher retention rates."
The company has built sophisticated analytics to track student journeys from community college enrollment through degree completion, providing valuable insights for both students and university partners.
What makes EdVisorly different?
According to Manny, most existing solutions focus on either the student experience or the institutional side, but rarely both. EdVisorly's integrated approach creates value for everyone in the transfer ecosystem.
For students, it removes the guesswork and bureaucratic friction that often derails transfer plans. For universities, it provides advanced AI tools that increase efficiency while helping them identify and recruit motivated transfer students who are more likely to succeed.
Manny's background as a first-generation college student and Air Force veteran gives him unique insight into the challenges students face when navigating complex educational systems.
What's the bigger vision?
At its core, EdVisorly is about equality of opportunity. Manny believes that a student's zip code or financial situation shouldn't determine their access to a four-year degree.
The potential impact is enormous: with over 7 million students currently enrolled in community colleges, even modest improvements in transfer rates could help hundreds of thousands of additional students complete their bachelor's degrees.
"We're not just building software," Manny explained. "We're building pathways to economic mobility and breaking down systemic barriers that have existed in higher education for decades."
What's next for EdVisorly?
The company has been gaining significant momentum, with recent partnerships including Rice University, John Carroll University, and Sweet Briar College. They've also been recognized by major organizations, earning spots in EY's Entrepreneur Access Network and Google's 2024 Black and Latino Founders Fund.
Manny mentioned they're actively hiring and expanding their university partnerships. For students interested in the platform, they can download the app and start exploring transfer options immediately. Universities interested in partnering can reach out to learn more about their institutional tools.
How can people get involved?
Students can download the EdVisorly app from the App Store or Google Play to start their transfer journey. The platform is free for students to use.
Universities interested in improving their transfer enrollment processes can connect with the EdVisorly team to learn about their institutional tools and partnership opportunities.
For more information, visit edvisorly.com or connect with the team directly through their website.
EdVisorly isn't just solving a logistics problem—they're addressing an equity issue that affects millions of students and families across America. By combining technology with deep understanding of the student experience, they're creating a future where completing a four-year degree is accessible to everyone, regardless of where they start.
And that's a mission worth supporting.
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