Find Financial Aid Officer Schools near you.

Financial Aid Officers and loan officers are involved in the day-to-day operations of educational institutions that package, approve, and disburse financial funds to potential students who need help paying for education programs.

Those with training in financial aid often work in schools, colleges and universities and help in the management and balancing of student funds, as well as:

• Submitting financial aid packages.
• Reporting financial applications.
• Staying abreast of state and federal financial aid regulations and compliance with all Title IV regulations and procedures.
• Ensure all processes adhere to default management guidelines.
• Process applications and exit interviews.

Financial Aid Officers are usually available to applicants both in person and on the phone to answer questions and often guide applicants through the entire financial aid process, from reviewing the forms for completeness, verifying facts, reviewing transcripts, scores and more.

Financial Aid Officers are also well versed in the various kinds of financial aid available at different institutions including:

• Federal Pell Grant (PELL)
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal PLUS Loan
• Federal Family Education Loan (FFELP)
• Federal Work Study Program (FWSP)
• Loans through the institutions themselves
• Grants
• Scholarships

Financial Aid Officers must have exceptional organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to crunch numbers and work with various MS Office products. Most loan officers must have at least a bachelor’s degree in finance, economics or other closely related field.

The employment field for loan officers is supposed to grow by 11% between 2006 and 2016, with the economic environment dictating a higher demand for loans.