Should I be a student affairs coordinator?

• Do you enjoy supporting others through personal, social, or academic challenges?

• Are you ready to plan programs, solve problems creatively, and build campus community?

• Do you have (or want to pursue) a degree in psychology, education, sociology, or a related field?

If you answered YES, it might be time to explore a career as a student affairs coordinator!!

Thinking about it? Before you decide, what exactly does this job involve?

• 1-on-1 student support: Listening, advising, and helping students navigate personal or academic challenges 🎯

• Planning events & programs: From orientation week to workshops, student affairs coordinators bring students together 📆

• Collaboration across campus: Working with professors, career advisors, and student leaders to support student success 🤝

• Crisis management & conflict resolution: When problems arise, Student Affairs Coordinators step in with empathy and solutions 🛠️

• Administrative work: Tracking student involvement, writing reports, and making sure programs follow school policies 📋

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

Meet Rachel — she’s always been the kind of person who enjoys helping others, so she became a student affairs coordinator after graduation.

Let’s walk through a typical day in her shoes.

9:00 AM: One-on-One Student Meetings

Meet with students who are feeling overwhelmed, need help or advice.

11:00 AM: Team Collaboration

Join a meeting with academic advisors and mental health counselors to coordinate student support strategies.

1:00 PM: Event Prep

Finalize logistics for a diversity workshop happening next week.

3:00 PM: Crisis Response

Provide immediate support after a residence advisor reports a student in distress.

5:00 PM: Paperwork & Reports

Update student records, file an incident report, and draft next month’s program calendar.

What About Other Possible Working Hours?

Student affairs coordinators don’t always stick to a strict 9–5 schedule. Depending on the institution and the time of year, work hours can vary. For example:

• Some roles follow school-day hours, like 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, especially in K–12 or community college settings.

• During orientation weeks, events, or emergencies, you may need to work evenings or weekends.

• While most of the job is on-site and student-facing, some schools may allow remote or hybrid hours for administrative tasks.

While there’s no single path into student affairs, here’s what most employers look for:

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree is typically required (any field, but majors like psychology, sociology, or education are common).

• A Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, or Counseling is preferred for more senior roles or advancement.

Key Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Conflict resolution and crisis management.

• Event planning and project coordination.

• Cultural sensitivity and commitment to equity & inclusion.

Experience

• Experience in student leadership, residence life, peer mentoring, or volunteering in student services during college is highly valued.

• Internships or graduate assistantships in student affairs or student life offices give a major boost.

Student affairs coordinators are needed in many educational environments, including:

• Universities and colleges (both public and private)

• Specialized schools (e.g., art, design, business, international schools)

• Educational nonprofits focused on student development

• International or private high schools with student support departments

There’s more than one path! Here’s how many people land the role:

Set job alerts on multiple platforms, like LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. Filter by keywords like “Student Affairs Coordinator”.

Look for job opportunities on university or school websites, under "Careers" or "Work With Us" section.

Many people begin their careers by volunteering or taking on part-time roles in student services.

Build connections actively and take the chance to connect with classmates, professors, student service staff, etc.

In Canada, the annual salary typically ranges from $38,000 to $61,000 CAD, with higher pay at large universities.

Average: around $48,000 CAD.

In the US, the salary generally ranges from $46,000 to $77,000 USD, with top-tier universities offering more in some cases.

Average: about $60,000 USD.

This role might be a great fit if you...

• Enjoy helping others and find meaning in supporting students through challenges.

• Love planning events, building programs, and seeing them come to life.

• Value inclusion and diversity and want to make campus more welcoming for everyone.

• Build strong relationships easily and enjoy being part of a campus community.

Look for another career path if you...

• Dislike emotional work or supporting people through tough personal issues.

• Feel overwhelmed by handling conflict or crisis situations.

• Would rather work alone or behind the scenes than interact with people daily.

• Prefer clear, fast-tracked promotions or high-paying corporate titles.

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

Still not sure if you’d enjoy working as a student affairs coordinator?