Financial Aid Counselor

Counselor Above average in CounselingFull-Time

Listed compensation

$37,791 - $45,357

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 6mo ago

Job Description

Title: Financial Aid Counselor

Position Summary

In adherence with institutional, state, and federal guidelines, the Financial Aid Counselor assists in the administration of student aid programs for a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students.

Essential Job Functions/Job Duties and Responsibilities

Analyzes student verification files for accuracy and makes corrections as necessary. Evaluates students’ Satisfactory Academic Progress. Awards students federal and/or state aid. Counsel students regarding file completion, repercussions of drops/withdrawals and SAP appeals.

Processes reports for 3rd party awards, unusual enrollment, small comp list, selective service list, etc. Certifies Voc Rehab funds on FAST (state system).

Coordinates and works FAFSA workshops and presentations. Stays abreast of current student aid programs and requirements through ongoing training and by attending conferences and seminars.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in any field.
  • Two years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree related field, such as Accounting, Business or Counseling Prior experience in a financial service setting or in a higher education environment in a financial aid or student counseling role

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to communicate with a diverse group of students and parents regarding financial aid. Must be detail oriented and organized while maintaining high degree of accuracy. Knowledge of financial aid regulations. Ability to review, interpret, and make professional judgments on complex issues while maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations.

Open Until Filled: Yes

Rate of Pay: $37,791.00 - $45,357.00 depending on experience

Special Instructions to Applicants: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application process. Official transcripts are required upon hire. Applicants may be subject to a background check.

Key Responsibilities

The Financial Aid Counselor administers student aid programs by analyzing verification files, evaluating Satisfactory Academic Progress, and awarding federal and/or state aid in compliance with institutional and federal guidelines. This role also involves counseling students on file completion and processing various financial aid reports.

Requirements

Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in any field and two years of relevant experience. Preferred qualifications suggest a degree in a related field like Accounting, Business, or Counseling, along with prior experience in financial services or higher education financial aid.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Financial Aid AdministrationFederal Guidelines ComplianceState Guidelines ComplianceVerification File AnalysisSatisfactory Academic Progress EvaluationAid AwardingThird Party Awards ProcessingVocational Rehabilitation CertificationFAFSA Workshop CoordinationCommunicationDetail OrientationOrganizationRegulatory Interpretation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Financial Aid Counselor at Tennessee Board of Regents a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Counseling — ranked against 13,338 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc.

Financial Aid — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 46% are remote, 42% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$42k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $45k in an average-cost state. 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$42k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$3k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks22 jobs · 16 employers

401k / retirement match
82%
CME allowance
55%
Sign-on bonus
41%
Loan repayment
5%
Relocation assistance
5%

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.4this job 6.6
Better work-life than 60% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,338 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

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