Graduate Financial Aid Counselor

Job Description

The Graduate Financial Aid Counselor supports Syracuse University’s mission to attract and retain graduate students by advising a diverse population of approximately 4, enrolled and prospective students on federal and private loans, graduate aid, and financial planning. The role involves guiding students through eligibility, sensitive family financial circumstances, payment options, and academic progress while applying knowledge of rapidly changing federal regulations and institutional policies. Operating in a high-volume, fast-paced environment, the counselor ensures compliance with U.S. Department of Education and University policies, provides individualized advisement tailored to the unique challenges of graduate students, and coordinates with campus partners to resolve concerns. In addition, the counselor represents the office at on- and off-campus graduate events throughout the year, supporting recruitment, retention, and student success. Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s preferred.
• Two plus years of financial aid experience preferred, though counseling experience in other higher education student services area could be a reasonable substitution.
• NASAFAA credentials recommended: Fundamentals in Student Financial Aid, Application Process, Need Analysis, Satisfactory Academic Progress and Professional Judgment.

Skills and Knowledge

• Possess comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs and regulations, with specialized expertise in graduate and certificate programs, including online and flexible-format offerings.
• Skilled in evaluating the impact of graduate awards and stipends on aid eligibility and providing clear, empathetic counseling to diverse student populations.
• Demonstrated ability to advise with professionalism, tact, discretion, diplomacy, and compassion while thriving in a high-volume, fast-paced environment that requires attention to detail, initiative, and the ability to prioritize multiple deadlines with minimal guidance.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering an office culture where students and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, accepted, and supported.
• Actively contributes to financial literacy initiatives that help students overcome barriers to college access and success.
• Experienced with PeopleSoft, OnBase, and Microsoft Office products, with flexibility to work overtime during peak award seasons to ensure exceptional service.

Responsibilities

• Counsel graduate students, both prospective and currently enrolled, on all aspects of financial aid through approximately in-person or virtual appointments annually, along with several hundred phone and email communications, with the heaviest activity during admission and returning award seasons.
• Manage a population of about 4, graduate students, including 1, who receive federal or private loans, providing advisement that is sensitive to the unique challenges of independent graduate students while adhering to evolving U.S. Department of Education and University policies.
• Monitor aid eligibility weekly and adjust awards as needed throughout the year to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Participate in outreach programs such as FAFSA filing nights held over multiple evenings and weekends during the fall and spring, as well as numerous on-campus Admissions events, supporting both recruitment and retention goals.
• Determine and review financial aid eligibility for approximately 4, graduate students on the main campus, applying federal, state, and institutional regulations to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Responsibilities include evaluating enrollment changes, monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress, reviewing scholarships and graduate awards, resolving federal match issues, and assessing eligibility for AmeriCorps, veterans¿ benefits, and refunds.
• Conduct weekly reviews of an average of students receiving graduate awards to ensure federal financial aid limits are not exceeded. This review process is most intensive at the beginning of each semester, when enrollment and award adjustments peak, but continues throughout the year as changes in student status, awards, or enrollment require ongoing monitoring and recalibration.
• Develop and deliver financial aid and financial literacy programming to support University recruitment and retention goals.
• Provide 25 to 30 presentations annually through in-person sessions, webinars, online chats, and community filing events, with numbers expected to grow alongside graduate program expansion and the Financial Literacy initiative.
• Conduct in-person presentations for undergraduate First Year Forum classes to promote financial literacy early in the student lifecycle. Collaborate with individual schools and colleges to determine the most effective outreach strategies for graduate students, tailoring content to meet the needs of diverse populations.
• Provide one-on-one loan exit interviews for 20 to 25 graduating students each semester, ensuring they understand repayment responsibilities, loan management strategies, and available resources to support long-term financial wellness.
• Serve as backup for the quarter-term Graduate Counselor and Loan Processor during peak processing periods or staff absences, ensuring continuity of service and compliance with federal and institutional requirements. This includes assisting with loan processing, aid adjustments, and student communications during high-volume times, as well as stepping in to manage workflow when staffing levels are reduced.
• By providing flexible support across roles, ensure that service standards remain consistent and that students continue to receive timely, accurate financial aid guidance regardless of staffing fluctuations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements Not Applicable Tools/Equipment Not Applicable