CDS GRADUATE FINANCIAL AID SPECIALIST, Office of the Provost

Boston University • Boston, MA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The CDS Graduate Financial Aid Specialist supports all graduate-level financial aid and related operational processes primarily in support of BU’s online at scale programs, and with residential graduate programs as needed. This role is responsible for the planning, management, and communication of financial aid, including federal aid (FAFSA, Direct Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans), scholarships, external funding for master’s students. Reporting to the CDS Assistant Director of Graduate Financial Aid and Operations, this position works closely with prospective and enrolled online students, online graduate program leadership, and BU-wide partners on financial aid strategy and processing. The role requires strong attention to detail, cross-functional collaboration, organizational skills, customer service orientation, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced academic environment.

Requirements

• Strong attention to detail
• Cross-functional collaboration skills
• Organizational skills
• Customer service orientation
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced academic environment
• Knowledge of federal aid (FAFSA, Direct Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans)
• Experience with scholarships and external funding for master’s students
• Familiarity with BU SIS systems, email, and website updates
• Understanding of federal and institutional financial aid regulations
• Knowledge of alternative and private loan options
• Familiarity with payment plan options
• Understanding of financial aid implications of withdrawal or leave of absence
• Experience with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) monitoring
• Ability to advise students on multi-year borrowing strategies

Responsibilities

• Overseeing all financial aid and scholarship processing for online master’s students, ensuring compliance with federal and institutional financial aid regulations, and updating policies and procedures to reflect best practices.
• Managing communications through BU SIS systems, email, and website updates, processing student refunds, and participating in university-wide financial aid meetings and training.
• Providing financial aid counseling to prospective and current students on cost of attendance, federal loan eligibility including Direct and Grad PLUS loans, alternative and private loan options, external scholarships, and payment plan options.
• Advising students on the financial implications of withdrawal or leave of absence, conducting one-on-one counseling with students and families, and serving as a liaison to key BU offices including the Office of Financial Assistance, Student Accounting, GPAC, and the SIS renewal team.
• Collaborating with colleagues across program home colleges to ensure student needs and program-specific requirements are effectively supported, while aligning financial aid processes and communications across multiple colleges to promote consistency and clarity for students.
• Serving as a liaison between CDS and partner colleges to coordinate policies, timelines, and student support strategies, identifying and resolving cross-college operational challenges related to financial aid, admissions, and the student experience, and ensuring compliance with varying college and university policies while maintaining a seamless student experience.
• Tracking part-time eligibility, adjusting awards based on enrollment changes, and assisting with the term-by-term monitoring of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), including issuing warnings, managing ineligibility notifications, and reviewing appeals.
• Advising students on multi-year borrowing strategies and the financial aid implications of part-time enrollment status.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed