This page answers some of the frequently asked questions about NASFAA. If you have additional questions, email Membership@NASFAA.org or call (202) 785-0453, Ext. 1.

Our Mission

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) promotes the professional preparation, effectiveness, support, and diversity of persons and organizations involved in the administration of student financial aid, and facilitates communication throughout its community. NASFAA encourages and promotes programs that remove financial barriers to ensure student access to postsecondary education.

Association Governance and Membership Committee
Adopted by the Board of Directors, May 2005

Our Goal

The primary goal of the Association is to promote maximum funding and effective delivery of financial assistance to students who are in need of additional funds to pursue their education beyond high school.

As a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 12,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities and career schools across the country, NASFAA is the largest postsecondary education association with institutional membership in Washington, D.C. And the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.

Our History

• Founded in 1966 as an outgrowth of six regional professional associations, NASFAA was incorporated in 1973 as a nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia.
• Until 1977, NASFAA was comprised of individual members at institutions of postsecondary education. At that time, 84% of the members voted to amend the Articles of Incorporation to change from individual to institutional membership.
• The first NASFAA Newsletter was published June 1970. In 2001, members began receiving Today's News via e-mail, with links to complete articles on the association's web site.
• The first NASFAA conference was held July 1975 in Aspen, Colorado, with 570 participants. Today, the NASFAA conference attracts more than 3,000 individuals with an interest in the federal student aid programs.

Our Governance and Staff

• NASFAA is governed by a Board of Directors, 3 Commissions, and 18 committees with more than 170 volunteers.
• Over 170 members volunteer each year to serve on NASFAA Committees and the Board of Directors. These volunteers carry out the goals of the Association's Strategic Plan and are involved in need analysis, reauthorization, training, and many other student aid issues.
• NASFAA employs 38 permanent staff members.

Our Members

• NASFAA's membership brings together all sectors of postsecondary education, representing a broad diversity of students, to enhance the support and administration of student aid.
• More than 12,000 aid administrators at nearly 3,000 member institutions nationwide benefit from information and professional services provided by NASFAA. No Washington-based higher education association represents more campus members than NASFAA.
• Each year, members help more than 8 million students receive funding for postsecondary education.

Our Members In Detail

There are four main classes of membership, each with its own dues and entitlement structure.

Institutional membership is open to institutions of postsecondary education having an interest in promoting the effective administration of student financial aid and that meet certain criteria.

Affiliate membership is only open to practicing student financial aid administrators employed full-time by an institution of postsecondary education that is not an institutional member of the association, or who are employed full-time in an institutional system office that is an institutional member of the association.

Constituent membership is open to educational associations, governing agencies, or other organizations involved in providing services and products to postsecondary institutions, and individuals having an interest in promoting the effective administration of student financial aid. Constituent Members cannot vote or hold office.

Student membership is open to individuals enrolled full-time in institutions of postsecondary education who have an interest in promoting the effective administration of student financial aid.

Our Products & Services

• Advocacy: Legislative and Regulatory 
• Annotated Bibliographies 
• AskRegs, provides guidance to schools with regulatory questions or concerns 
• Award Letter Evaluation Tool 
• Awards for contribution to the profession
• Cash for College, a booklet describing the basic facts about financial aid for students 
• College Goal Sunday and other early awareness initiatives
• CORE, a comprehensive in-service staff training tool 
• E-Aid Office 2000: Financial Aid Software Selection, Implementation, and Operation 
• Encyclopedia of Student Financial Aid 
• Fall Training Workshops 
• Forms Bank
• Guidance on Planning and Conducting a Financial Aid Night 
• Guidance on Using Federal Tax Return in Need Analysis 
• High School Counselor Training Materials 
• In Search of Best Practices - A NASFAA Symposium, training for advanced aid administrators
• Job Classified Ads 
• Journal of Student Financial Aid 
• Leadership Conference for state and regional association officers 
• LearnStudentAid.org, web-based training for aid administrators 
• Membership Directory 
• NASFAA Catalog 
• NASFAA National Conference 
• Policies & Procedures Tools
• Self-Evaluation Guide for Institutional Participation in Title IV Federal Aid Programs 
• Standards of Excellence Review Program 
• Sponsored Research Grants 
• Staffing and Salary Predictor Model 
• Student Aid Research: A Manual for Financial Aid Administrations 
• Student Aid Transcript magazine, features articles on management issues 
• Title IV Eligibility Checklist 
• Today's News daily email 
• Understanding the Hope Scholarship 
• Understanding the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit 
• Web site for members
• Web site for students, parents and counselors 
• Webinars
• And more!

Questions and Comments

Membership Services staff is available to help. If you have additional questions or you would like more information on becoming a member, email Membership@NASFAA.org or call (202) 785-0453, Ext. 1. To join, click here.