Financial Aid Counselor

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; La Crosse (WI); On-site; USD 41,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Retirement benefits

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse invites applications for a Financial Aid Counselor. The role supports graduate, undergraduate, and professional programs, reviews FAFSA applications, determines aid eligibility, and communicates with students and families. Confidentiality and compliance with federal/state policies are essential.

Work hours are 7:45am–4:30pm, with a start review date of Oct 7, 2026. A Bachelor's degree and strong customer service are required; PeopleSoft experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree completed and strong customer service skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and independent judgment.
• Excellent time management and organizational abilities.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team.
• Effective communication with students and families.

Responsibilities

• Award and audit financial aid applications per policy and regulation.
• Counsel students and parents on financial aid matters.
• Process aid for various programs and revise aid as needed.
• Assist with cost of attendance figures and budget updates.
• Present to students and families; coordinate campus presentations.
• Triages processes and serves as liaison with stakeholders.

Skills

Customer service

Conflict resolution

Independent work

Time management

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree completed

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title

Financial Aid Counselor

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Financial Aid Officer

Job Duties

• Counseling students and parents regarding financial aid matters
• Performing FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application review
• Posting aid offers
• Using professional judgment to revise student eligibility under special circumstances
• Outreach and communication with prospective and current students
• Assisting with office phone calls, e-mails, and in-person visits
• Maintaining Confidentiality
• Remaining compliant with federal, state, UWL, and Universities of Wisconsin policies

This Position Will

• Process aid for graduate and doctorate programs of study
• Process aid for undergrad allied health programs
• Process aid for second degree and preparatory coursework
• Assist the Director with cost of attendance figures and aid budget updates yearly
• Assist the Director with campus presentations to students and families

Work hours: Monday through Friday from 7:45am-4:30pm

The review of applications starts on October 7, 2026. Applications received on or before October 7th are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled. Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus.

UW-La Crosse does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608-785-8013.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Awards financial aid to qualifying students
• Audits financial aid applications for awarding financial aid to qualifying students according to established policies and in compliance with federal and state regulations
• May hire, train, and supervise student employees
• Serves as a point of contact to third party stakeholders about financial aid information and processes
• Assists in collecting, preparing, and analyzing financial aid data for stakeholders
• Triages processes or applications if issues arise

Department

Financial Aid

Compensation

$46,000/ year

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree completed
• Effective customer service and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information appropriately
• Ability to problem-solve and exercise independent judgment and initiative
• Ability to make timely decisions and determine priorities
• Excellent attention to detail
• Effective time management and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Work experience with Federal student financial aid, or financial resources
• Work experience in Higher Education
• Experience with computer applications (especially student information systems such as PeopleSoft)
• Work experience with students and/or colleagues
• Familiarity with public speaking and group presentations

Application deadlines

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed 'First Review Date'. Applications received after that date may be considered at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin's Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin's Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of final candidates and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC & Reference Check Policy

All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.uwlax.edu/student-life/student-resources/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000.

Informationaboutyourbenefits

Your benefits add an additional 40%+ to the overall financial package from the university.

Highlights Include

• Paid vacation for 12-month positions.
• Excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
• Paid holidays and paid sick days.
• After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.
• Benefits atUWLare highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation.

Benefit eligibility is determined at the point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.