Career Awareness Toolkit
The role of a financial aid administrator is frequently a position that talented individuals "fall into" by happenstance and then learn to love, grow, and find success. NASFAA, with the support of its members, has taken targeted steps to change the perception of our profession from an accidental career to a chosen professional pathway.
NASFAA convened the Career Path Awareness for Financial Aid Administrators Thought Force in October 2023 to deliver a report containing recommendations that could develop a framework to amplify the visibility of the financial aid administrator role.
In January 2025, NASFAA charged the Career Awareness Toolkit Task Force with creating tools that financial aid administrators can use to inform both internal and external stakeholders about the work of the financial aid office and its impact on the overall business of the university. Hear from chair Zack Goodwin about the task force's work on NASFAA’s Career Awareness Toolkit.
This toolkit provides practical strategies, ready-to-use resources, and actionable messaging to help financial aid professionals raise awareness about the value, complexity, and strategic importance of financial aid administration.
Use the guiding questions below to find the resources most relevant to your needs:
Explore the Toolkit
Strategy and Framework for Raising Awareness
- How do I build an effective strategy to raise awareness of the financial aid office?
- Are there sample campaigns I can learn from?
Communicating With Campus Leadership
- How can I communicate more effectively with campus leadership?
- What messaging strategies resonate with presidents, provosts, and CFOs?
- What resources should I use to support my case?
- How can I justify increased investment in the financial aid office to leadership?
Promoting Financial Aid as a Career
- How can I partner with career services and advisors to raise awareness of careers in financial aid?
- What resources can I use to introduce students and recent graduates to the profession?
- Why should students consider a career in financial aid and higher education?
- Where can I find and share job postings for financial aid?
- What do real financial aid professionals say about their careers, and how have their paths evolved?
Advocating for Financial Aid Staff: A Guide for Human Resources
- How can I educate HR about the regulatory and compliance demands on financial aid professionals?
- What resources and data can help me advocate for appropriate staffing and fair compensation?
- How can I get the attention of HR professionals?
Feedback and Evaluation
- How can I share feedback on this toolkit?
