Welcome to the SOE Web site!

NASFAA’s Standards of Excellence (SOE) Review Program is an objective, confidential peer review program that assesses an institution’s delivery of financial aid. Since 1999, NASFAA has conducted SOE Reviews at private and public, four-year and two-year institutions across the country.

The links on the left side of this page provide additional information about SOE, including options and pricing. You may also be interested to learn more about the Peer Reviewers and read some of the advice they offer. The SOE Informational Packet, which can be downloaded as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file, includes additional information not covered on this site.

Why was SOE developed?

SOE was created to promote the highest standards in the administration of financial aid.

Today's financial aid administrators are forced to deal a mountain of regulations, as well as issues such as: Can we serve more students? Can we serve our students better? Can we limit our liabilities? Can we improve operations? Can we justify more staff?

Also, in today's competitive educational environment, it is essential that an institution's financial aid program provide students and their families with quality customer service, while at the same time deliver financial aid funds in a cost-effective manner, maximizing resources and minimizing institutional liability.

To help with these issues and others, NASFAA developed the Standards of Excellence Review Program.

What is so special about an SOE Review?

Each SOE Review is customized and confidential, and the unbiased reports highlight strengths and weaknesses without penalties or fines. The review can help answer questions such as:

• Has your institution taken steps to limit its exposure to liability?
• Are your financial aid resources used effectively?
• What is the quality of customer service?

Also, an SOE Review can help prepare your financial aid office for its next annual evaluation, compliance review or institutional effectiveness assessment.

Next Steps

If you are ready to take the next step, simply complete the no-obligation Cost Estimate Request Form, which is an online form, or download and print the Cost Estimate Request Form as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file and fax it to 202-785-1487.

Please direct all questions about SOE to Susan Luhman, program coordinator, at Excellence@NASFAA.org or (202) 785-6972.