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School can already be stressful, especially when thinking about how to pay for it. That’s why financial aid officers are needed.

Financial aid officers assist students with their institutional funding needs.

A graphic depicting a hand grabbing a bill that reads '$185 billion in financial aid.'

What do financial aid officers do?

Financial aid officers support students with various financial issues, which can determine their ability to complete school.

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Their daily tasks and responsibilities include:

  • Review students' financial aid applications

  • Assess student financial needs and determine funding eligibility

  • Facilitate between loan programs and the student

  • Review student's accounts and assist with tuition payments

A graphic of a dollar sign with eyes.

Quiz

What does a financial aid officer NOT do?

Did you know?

For some loan programs, financial aid officers need to assess student grades to ensure loan eligibility. Unsatisfactory grades may result in disqualification from the loan program.

Where & how they can get work?

Financial aid officers are typically employed at post-secondary institutions.

A point-of-view shot of someone walking across a college campus. 

To become a financial aid officer, employers require a minimum of a college diploma. There is no specific certification for becoming a financial aid officer, but a business-related diploma is strongly preferred.

The average pay

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In Canada, the average salary is CAD $43,642.

An icon of The United States of America flag.

In the United States of America, the average salary is US $44,816.

What would make someone love the job?

  • You like interacting with students. Financial aid officers spend many hours of their day talking and interacting with students.

  • You're good with numbers. While the job does not require solving complicated analytical problems, having a grasp of basic math is helpful in solving financial calculations.

  • You're a problem solver. Every student is different and may require a unique solution to their financial issues. Financial aid officers can help find resources and think of out-of-the-box answers.

A woman stating. 'I try to help students but you're not listening!'

What would make someone hate it?

  • You dislike conflict. Financial aid officers may need to deliver bad news to students regarding various financial issues. In these instances, they can become the target of a student's frustration and anger.

  • You'd prefer to avoid handling documentation. Financial aid officers deal with a lot of confidential documentation on a daily basis.

  • You don't like sitting at a desk. Financial aid officers are typically at a desk for the majority of their shifts.

A person in a restaurant exclaiming 'Ooh, conflict. We hate that here.'

Quiz

Which traits make for a good financial aid officer?

Take Action

Does being a financial aid officer sound like your dream job?

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License:

This Byte has been authored by

AP

Alyssa Paul

Curriculum Designer

English

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