Financial Aid Counselor

University of San Diego; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of San Diego is seeking a Financial Aid Counselor in the Office of Financial Aid in San Diego. The role supports Veteran and Undocumented students, coordinates progress, and assists students and families with complex aid needs.

You will review and award aid in line with USD policies and federal regulations. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree and at least two years’ full-time financial aid experience, with strong knowledge of need analysis, Title IV regulations, VA

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree is required for consideration.
• 2 years full-time experience in financial aid is required.
• Knowledge of need analysis and student aid is essential.
• Extensive knowledge of Title IV regulations, VA benefits, and Yellow Ribbon guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for Veteran and Active Duty students, Undocumented Students, & Torero Renaissance Scholars.
• Coordinate Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Counsel students (and parents) with financial aid and personal matters.
• Determine student financial aid eligibility and revise awards as needed.

Skills

Public Speaking

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

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Posting #: 5715
Position Status: Full-time regular
Location: San Diego
Position Type: Administrator, Office of Financial Aid

Position Title & Department:

Financial Aid Counselor; Office of Financial Aid

Department Description:

Department Description: The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) is responsible for the awarding of Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid to Undergraduate and Graduate students at the University of San Diego. The OFA is also responsible for maintaining Federal, State, and Institutional compliance to ensure proper delivery of financial aid. This includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. The OFA determines student eligibility using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CA Dream Act Application, and the USD Dream Act Application. 76% of USD students receive some type of financial aid.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges .

Detailed Description:

• Provide support for all Veteran and Active Duty students, Undocumented Students, & Torero Renaissance Scholars
• Coordinate Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Counsel students (and parents as needed) who have complicated situations
• Perform Form Review and Analysis functions, awarding, and re-evaluations
• Attend state/federal training workshops and conferences for Financial Aid as needed
• Views webinars as needed

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Point of contact for all Veteran and Active Duty students. Work with the Epstein Family Military Center (EFMC) to coordinate VA benefits with financial aid package.
• Work closely with the Provost’s Office and Veterans Center to manage the VA/Yellow Ribbon Scholarship Program, including updating the Terms and Conditions of Yellow Ribbon Scholarship Program for both undergraduate and graduate students.
• Create an UG & GR worksheet which serves as an audit trail and is updated annually for internal use in calculating the amount of Yellow Ribbon Scholarship funding to award to a student each semester and coordinate VA/YR with other financial aid.
• Award and revise, as required, each undergraduate student recipient of the VA Chapter 33, Chapter 33Y and Chapter 31 VR&E.
• Liaison with Navy ROTC, Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC to award all ROTC Scholarships and appropriate Room & Board Grants and coordinate with other financial aid per federal regulations and USD policies.
• Point of contact for all Undocumented students. Download California Dream Act Application data (CAL ISIRs) from CSAC, l load ISIR data from USD Dream Act apps and package financial aid. Work with Admissions team in identifying undocumented students and clarifying status as needed. Tracking the selection of 10 USD Room & Board Grants, Preparing Offers of Financial Aid for all CADAA and USD Dream Act applicants every academic year.
• Point of contact for Torero Renaissance Scholars. Represent Office of Financial Aid on the Torero Renaissance Scholars Program.
• Conduct Satisfactory Academic Progress Review for all students; notify affected students; monitor responses and, using professional judgment, review appeals.

Application and File Processing

• Determine student financial aid eligibility based on Federal Methodology and USD Guidelines by participating in ANA/INAS processes.
• Determine & revise students’ Financial Aid Award using USD, federal, and state guidelines
• Adhere to guidelines; however, identify and recommend exceptions for professional judgment consideration as needed
• Perform re-evaluations of Financial Aid Awards
• Ensure that students/parents receive excellent customer service by providing accurate and prompt information, and serve as part of the FAST shift rotation, and COD Cases rotation
• Counsel students (and parents as needed) who have complicated situations on financial aid/personal matters with sensitivity to emotional contexts
• Act as liaison with other USD offices with regard to students’ concerns. Ex: Torero Hub, EFMC, Deans Offices, TCCs, SSS and others as needed.

Other

• Represent USD by creating and making Financial Aid presentations at various campus events especially the annual Transfer Orientation for the EFMC.
• Serve as integral part of financial aid team in formulating and implementing OFA policies and procedures for office management and modifications to packaging and processing guidelines
• Attend state/federal training workshops and state/regional conferences relevant to financial aid; Also view webinars, as needed

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Ability and availability to work additional hours at peak processing times
• Ability to make difficult and critical decisions
• Ability to make independent decisions
• Ability to assist emotionally sensitive students and parents with financial aid issues

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 2 years full time experience in financial aid
• Knowledge of need analysis and student aid
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of Title IV regulations, VA benefits, and Yellow Ribbon processes & guidelines

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Banner

Performance Expectations- Knowledge, Skills andAbilities:

• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Familiarity with ED Connect and COD software
• Extensive knowledge of USD policies and procedures
• High degree of mathematical accuracy
• Ability to function as an effective team member
• Effective organizational skills
• Ability to make independent decisions
• Ability to adjust to a changing environment
• Mastery of need analysis and student aid policies and regulations
• Capacity to listen and respond to students with knowledge and understanding
• Public Speaking Skills

$5,859-5,983 per month; Excellent Benefits. The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.

Advertised: September 10, 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled

Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at www.sandiego.edu/safety/documents/annualreport.pdf . This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response stands and protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. To request a paper copy, please contact the Clery Act Compliance Manager via email at [e-mail] , by calling [phone], or in-person in the Hughes Administration Center, room 150.