Illinois Institute of Technology
Financial Aid Counselor
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $42K
💻 Financial Aid
🗓️ August 28th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
Illinois Institute of Technology is hiring a Financial Aid Counselor. The role entails managing student accounts and overseeing institutional, federal, and state funding programs. The counselor provides frontline student advising, manages scholarship programs, adjusts accounts for federal work-study payments, and supports office communications.
Highlights
- Counsel students on all financial aid aspects including FAFSA, awards, loans, and appeals via in-person, phone, and email.
- Manage compliance and account monitoring for federal and institutional funding.
- Handle scholarship program administration and collaborate with Student Accounting.
- Serve as first contact at the Welcome Desk and respond to inquiries via the ticket email system.
- Participate in university recruitment, orientation events, including some evenings and weekends.
- Required skills include analytical ability, strong communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and customer service skills.
- Bachelor's degree and prior customer service experience are mandatory; bilingual candidates preferred.
- Knowledge of financial aid regulations and ability to assist both traditional and non-traditional students is essential.
- Work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., full-time position.
- Benchmark salary listed as $42,000, with competitive benefits offered by the university.
Financial Aid Counselor Full Description
Financial Aid Counselor
Position Title | Financial Aid Counselor
Requisition # | S01474P
FLSA | Exempt
Location | IIT-Mies Campus (MC), 10 West 35th St., Chicago
Department | Financial Aid Office
GENERAL DESCRIPTION | A financial aid counselor is responsible for management of student accounts, as well as program management for different segments of institutional, federal, and state funding. This position serves the Office of Financial Aid as a first point of contact for counseling students, covering the Welcome Desk, managing specific scholarship programs, adjusting accounts for federal work study payments and serving as support for the office communications plan.
Benefits | Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package located here: https://www.iit.edu/hr/benefits
COMMUNICATIONS | Serves the IIT community regarding any issues pertaining to the financial aid process. This includes in person student and family appointments, email and phone counseling as well as in person events. Handles communication with any outside organizations required to process student aid, including the Department of Education and other organizations as needed.
CUSTOMER SERVICE | Excellent customer service required when working with university staff, outside vendors and current and prospective students. The ability to maintain student confidentiality is essential in this position.
Special Schedule Requirements |
EEOC Statement | Illinois Institute of Technology is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer committed to the principle of diversity and welcomes applicants who bring varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to the university community. The university provides equal employment opportunities of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, Veteran, or disability statues, and any other legally protected class. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.
Requisition # | S01474P
FLSA | Exempt
Location | IIT-Mies Campus (MC), 10 West 35th St., Chicago
Department | Financial Aid Office
GENERAL DESCRIPTION | A financial aid counselor is responsible for management of student accounts, as well as program management for different segments of institutional, federal, and state funding. This position serves the Office of Financial Aid as a first point of contact for counseling students, covering the Welcome Desk, managing specific scholarship programs, adjusting accounts for federal work study payments and serving as support for the office communications plan.
Benefits | Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package located here: https://www.iit.edu/hr/benefits
COMMUNICATIONS | Serves the IIT community regarding any issues pertaining to the financial aid process. This includes in person student and family appointments, email and phone counseling as well as in person events. Handles communication with any outside organizations required to process student aid, including the Department of Education and other organizations as needed.
CUSTOMER SERVICE | Excellent customer service required when working with university staff, outside vendors and current and prospective students. The ability to maintain student confidentiality is essential in this position.
Special Schedule Requirements |
EEOC Statement | Illinois Institute of Technology is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer committed to the principle of diversity and welcomes applicants who bring varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to the university community. The university provides equal employment opportunities of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, Veteran, or disability statues, and any other legally protected class. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.
Qualifications
Education & Experience | -Bachelors’ degree required
-Prior customer service experience required
-Analytical skills required
-Good communication skills (written and verbal) required
-Bi-lingual preferred
Knowledge & Skills | -Demonstrated ability to work in a team-based environment
-Excellent commitment to diversity and to service the needs of a diverse population
-Ability to work with traditional and non-traditional students
-Ability to handle multiple tasks
-Demonstrated communication, interpersonal and organizational skills along with the ability to function as team player
-Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
-Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively solve problems and initiate and implement projects independently
-Strong interpersonal skills necessary
-Works well in translating financial aid requirements into operational activities supporting overall enrollment efforts
-Interacts effectively with peers and superiors to address and resolve issues
-Influences management by supplying key data that assists in decision making
-Good customer service skills
-Ability to handle stress due to pace and volume of work
SUPERVISION & BUDGET AUTHORITY | N/A
Physical Environment and Requirements | Office environment
-Prior customer service experience required
-Analytical skills required
-Good communication skills (written and verbal) required
-Bi-lingual preferred
Knowledge & Skills | -Demonstrated ability to work in a team-based environment
-Excellent commitment to diversity and to service the needs of a diverse population
-Ability to work with traditional and non-traditional students
-Ability to handle multiple tasks
-Demonstrated communication, interpersonal and organizational skills along with the ability to function as team player
-Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
-Demonstrated ability to efficiently and effectively solve problems and initiate and implement projects independently
-Strong interpersonal skills necessary
-Works well in translating financial aid requirements into operational activities supporting overall enrollment efforts
-Interacts effectively with peers and superiors to address and resolve issues
-Influences management by supplying key data that assists in decision making
-Good customer service skills
-Ability to handle stress due to pace and volume of work
SUPERVISION & BUDGET AUTHORITY | N/A
Physical Environment and Requirements | Office environment
Certifications and Licenses
List any certifications or licenses that are either required or helpful in performing the job, designating whether required or preferred. | N/A
Key Responsibility | Counseling: serve students on the front line as first point of contact for general questions and counseling.
-Counsel students (in person, over phone and email) on all aspects of the financial aid process, including FAFSA completion, cost of attendance, awarding of federal funds, loan borrowing and management, financial hardship situations, etc.
-Serve as member of counseling team to assist with student appointments (in-person & virtual) and walk-in needs.
-Assist with the ticket email system to answer general inquires to the Office of Financial Aid. Troubleshoot issues with other staff as needed.
-Advise prospective co-terminal students on aid eligibility upon entry to the program.
Percentage Of Time | 50
Key Responsibility | Eligibility Review: monitor accounts for compliance cross-check and assist students in processing aid appeals.
-Monitor accounts on a daily basis for over awarding of federal funds. Adjust according to federal and institutional guidelines and communicate/ counsel changes with students.
-Review reports and required federal documents to keep accounts in compliance with institutional and federal awarding regulations.
-Process appeals for students, including but not limited to need based award evaluation and professional judgment for EFC adjustments and recalculations.
-Assist students in navigating unaccompanied homeless youth determinations and dependency status reviews.
Percentage Of Time | 35Key Responsibility | Program Management: serve as a point of contact for special populations served by the office.
-Process outside scholarships in collaboration with the Office of Student Accounting. Ensure students are not over awarded through this process.
-Serve as point of contact for students and families utilizing the Net Price Calculator. Answer questions pertaining to inquiries from calculator usage.
Percentage Of Time | 10Key Responsibility | Events: represent the university at various events.
-Work several events each aid year to assist students and families in understanding the financial aid process.
-Presentations required during admission recruitment events and undergraduate and graduate orientation.
-Some nights and weekends required for university events.
Percentage Of Time | 5
-Counsel students (in person, over phone and email) on all aspects of the financial aid process, including FAFSA completion, cost of attendance, awarding of federal funds, loan borrowing and management, financial hardship situations, etc.
-Serve as member of counseling team to assist with student appointments (in-person & virtual) and walk-in needs.
-Assist with the ticket email system to answer general inquires to the Office of Financial Aid. Troubleshoot issues with other staff as needed.
-Advise prospective co-terminal students on aid eligibility upon entry to the program.
Percentage Of Time | 50
Key Responsibility | Eligibility Review: monitor accounts for compliance cross-check and assist students in processing aid appeals.
-Monitor accounts on a daily basis for over awarding of federal funds. Adjust according to federal and institutional guidelines and communicate/ counsel changes with students.
-Review reports and required federal documents to keep accounts in compliance with institutional and federal awarding regulations.
-Process appeals for students, including but not limited to need based award evaluation and professional judgment for EFC adjustments and recalculations.
-Assist students in navigating unaccompanied homeless youth determinations and dependency status reviews.
Percentage Of Time | 35Key Responsibility | Program Management: serve as a point of contact for special populations served by the office.
-Process outside scholarships in collaboration with the Office of Student Accounting. Ensure students are not over awarded through this process.
-Serve as point of contact for students and families utilizing the Net Price Calculator. Answer questions pertaining to inquiries from calculator usage.
Percentage Of Time | 10Key Responsibility | Events: represent the university at various events.
-Work several events each aid year to assist students and families in understanding the financial aid process.
-Presentations required during admission recruitment events and undergraduate and graduate orientation.
-Some nights and weekends required for university events.
Percentage Of Time | 5
Posting Information
Work Hours | Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Position Category | Full Time
Posting Date | 08/26/2025
Closing Date |
Posted Until Filled | Yes
Quicklink for Posting | https://iit7.peopleadmin.com/postings/11420
Position Category | Full Time
Posting Date | 08/26/2025
Closing Date |
Posted Until Filled | Yes
Quicklink for Posting | https://iit7.peopleadmin.com/postings/11420
Budget Information
Budget Amount
Benchmark Amount | 42000
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents
- Resume
Optional Documents
- Cover Letter
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