FINANCIAL AID SPECIALIST

Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant (MI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI, seeks a Financial Aid Specialist to advise students and families on the financial aid process, eligibility, and alternative sources. The role includes outreach, processing forms, and professional judgment reviews.

The ideal candidate will have an associate’s degree, at least three years of related experience, strong knowledge of federal and Michigan programs, and the ability to work evenings and weekends while maintaining accurate records.

Qualifications

• Education equivalent to an Associate’s degree and 3 years of related experience.
• Strong knowledge of federal and Michigan financial aid programs.
• Experience with complex computer systems.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise students and families about the financial aid process and sources of aid.
• Represent the office at outreach activities and answer questions from applicants.
• Review and resolve professional judgment appeals and verify FAFSA data.
• Adjust and repackage financial aid based on outside aid and changes in circumstances.

Skills

Financial aid knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Effective communication

Record keeping

Evening/weekend hours flexibility

Education

Associate's degree

Tools

ProSAM

Campus Management (CM)

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified.

For best consideration, please submit application materials by November 30, 2026.

Position Information

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number S-4023

Position Number

Position Number 33370

Type of Recruitment

Type of Recruitment External

Position Title

Position Title FINANCIAL AID SPECIALIST

Position Summary

Advises students and families about the financial aid application process, financial aid eligibility and alternative sources of financial assistance. Includes participation in outreach activities and presentations to various internal and external audiences; reviews and resolves financial aid professional judgment appeals; performs institutional quality assurance/verification of financial aid applications; processes various forms of financial aid.

Required Qualifications

Education equivalent to an Associate’s degree.
Three years of increasingly responsible work experience of a qualifying nature.
Strong knowledge of financial aid including federal and State of Michigan financial aid programs and regulations.
Experience using complex computer systems.
Ability to maintain accurate records; strong attention to details.
Ability to perform the essential functions and requirements of the job.
Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.
Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and project a positive image.
Ability to perform the essential functions and requirements of the job.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in Financial Aid.
Public speaking experience.
Experience using Sigma’s Student Aid Management (ProSAM) system and the Campus Management (CM) student information

Duties & Responsibilities

Meets privately with students and their families to explain the financial aid process, advise on alternative sources of aid, and discuss personal concerns and appeals.
Represents CMU’s Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid at various outreach activities such as Admission and Orientation events; may present financial aid interest sessions.
Reviews and approves/denies professional judgment appeals such as requests from parents to be exempted from borrowing the federal parent loan so that the student has access to additional federal student loan.
Verifies the accuracy of information supplied by students and parents on the federal aid application ( FAFSA ); this requires a comparison of a multitude of source documents (tax returns, W-2’s, bank statements, etc.) to the FAFSA . Includes adjustments and repackaging aid.
Adjusts student aid packages due to the receipt of “outside” aid (e.g., private scholarships and loans).

Supervision Exercised

None.

Employee Group

Employee Group Supervisory Technical

Staff Pay Level 3

Pay Range

Pay Range Starting Rate Between: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Division

Division Student Recruitment & Retention

Department

Position Status

Position Status Regular

Position End Date

Employment Status

Employment Status Full-Time

FTE

FTE 1.0

Position Type

Position Type 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule

Weekly Work Schedule Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location

Location Mount Pleasant, MI

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you first learn of this job opportunity? Please list the specific advertising source or indicate if it was word of mouth.

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Are you currently an internal employee of CMU according to the university's definition?
  • Yes
  • No
• * If yes, to which employee group do you belong? (If not applicable, select "Not Applicable").
  • Not Applicable
  • Administrative Office Assistant
  • Dispatcher
  • Lieutenant
  • Medical Faculty
  • P&A, SO or Faculty
  • Police
  • Public Broadcasting
  • Sergeant
  • Service Maintenance
  • Supervisory/Technical
• * Do you have an education equivalent to an Associate's degree or higher?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have three years of increasingly responsible work experience of a qualifying nature?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have a strong knowledge of financial aid including general knowledge of federal and State of Michigan financial aid programs and regulations?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have experience using complex computer systems?
  • Yes
  • No

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

• Recommendation Letters
• Other Document (1)

Staff postings - Human Resources | Contact HR | [phone]| 109 Rowe

Faculty postings - Faculty Personnel Services | Contact FPS | [phone] | 308 Warriner

Posting Ends

Open Until Filled Yes

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

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About the Department

About CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions – Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more – are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:

Phone: [phone]

Office: 103 E. Preston St.

Bovee University Center, suite 306

Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Email: [e-mail]