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Student finance aid manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a student finance aid manager. Student finance aid managers usually study business, liberal arts, or accounting. 58% of student finance aid managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 164 real student finance aid manager resumes to see exactly what student finance aid manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for student finance aid managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online student finance aid manager courses to help get the education required to be a student finance aid manager.

What education do you need to become a student finance aid manager?

What degree do you need to be a student finance aid manager?

The most common degree for student finance aid managers is bachelor's degree, with 58% of student finance aid managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 58%
  • Associate, 18%
  • Master's, 15%
  • High School Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a student finance aid manager?

You should major in business to become a student finance aid manager. 33% of student finance aid managers major in business. Other common majors for a student finance aid manager include liberal arts and accounting.

Most common colleges for student finance aid managers

Student finance aid managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of North Texas, and Northern Illinois University. Here are the most common colleges for student finance aid managers in the US based on their resumes.
Student finance aid manager common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix12.12%
University of North Texas9.09%
Northern Illinois University9.09%
University of Kansas6.06%
North Carolina Central University6.06%

Best majors for student finance aid managers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business33.0%
2Liberal Arts8.5%
3Accounting6.4%
4Sociology5.3%
5Education5.3%

Best colleges for student finance aid managers

The best colleges for student finance aid managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon University.

A student finance aid manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for student finance aid managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become student finance aid managers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

4. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

6. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

7. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

10. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

20 best online courses for student finance aid managers

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1. Enhance Student Learning through Kahoot

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By the end of this project, you will have created a Kahoot collection that will engage your students during virtual learning or as a more engaging way to encourage practice and review at home or in the classroom. Teaching is constantly evolving. As we learn more about our students, we uncover new ways to ensure that they are not just learning - they are thriving. When we can connect our tech-savvy students to tech-connected learning, our students are more likely to enjoy learning. We can also...

2. Increase Student Buy in with Google Slides

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By the end of this project, you will have created a student punchcard that will engage your students during virtual learning or as a more engaging way to encourage buy in during classroom learning. Teaching is constantly evolving. As we learn more about our students, we uncover new ways to ensure that they are not just learning - they are thriving. Using a punchcard will not only provide your students with more choice and independence, it will also provide your classroom with the procedures and...

3. Microsoft Excel for Finance, Accounting & Financial Analysis

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Excel tips & tricks for Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis. Learn from the Bestselling Accounting Instructor...

4. Complete Financial Modeling for Project Finance in Excel

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Learn Financial Modeling for Project Finance and Infrastructure Valuation ( DCF and IRR )...

5. Creating a Student Profile in Google Docs

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By the end of this project, you will have created a Student Profile in Google Docs that will allow you identify student needs and differentiate instruction. We will work together to learn how to use Google Docs as we create a Student Profile template and complete it for a particular student you have in mind. You will be provided with additional resources that will help improve your teaching practice through identification of students needs and ensuring that the appropriate accommodations are...

6. Engage and Assess Students with Quizizz

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By the end of this project, you will be ready to use Quizizz with your students to create gamified quizzes, polls, and lessons. Whether you are teaching online or in the classroom, Quizizz allows you to gather valuable assessment data while your students are actively engaged in a friendly competitive game. Throughout each task, we will set up your Quizizz account and learn how to create your own quizzes as well as use the reporting feature to see how your students are progressing. Engage your...

7. The Complete Introduction To Accounting and Finance

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The Original Course on Accounting & Finance! It's easy once you know the basics. Learn introductory accounting & finance...

8. First Aid

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9. Unleash Student Creativity with Buncee

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By the end of this project, you will be able to use Buncee to unleash your students’ creativity. Buncee is “a creation and communication tool… to create interactive content, allowing those of all ages to visualize concepts and communicate creatively.” With Buncee, learning becomes more personalized as students are able to share through engaging multimedia projects using Buncee’s templates, stickers, and animations. Throughout this project, we will work together to ensure that you are confident...

10. Encouraging Student Collaboration with Padlet

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By the end of this project, you be able to use Padlet to create a collaborative classroom fostering interactive student engagements, creating virtual lessons, and more. With Padlet, teachers and students can collaborate in real time on lessons, projects, and anything else you can imagine. Together, we will learn how to use Padlet to connect with students during virtual learning, for in class collaboration, and discover ways to improve our ability to differentiate instruction using Padlet. The...

11. The Complete Finance Manager Course

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Financial Management, ERP systems, Accounting, Capital budgeting, Presentation design, Management, and Negotiation...

12. Finance for Non Finance Executives

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Accounting and Finance Fundamentals for Non Finance Executives...

13. Using Google Forms for Student Success

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By the end of this project, you have used Google Forms to create several tools to use with your students and parents in order to ensure a successful school year. With volunteer sign-up forms, you can simplify your volunteer process within your classroom and across the school. Through exit tickets and assessments, you will be able to check your student’s understanding of the content taught that day or during a unit so that you can adjust instruction to address misunderstandings or gather...

14. Student Self-Assessment with Microsoft Word

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15. Thermodynamics for Engineering Students

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16. Finance & Accounting for Management Consultants and Analysts

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A practical guide that will help you understand financial statements & do financial analyses during consulting projects...

17. A Law Student's Toolkit

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Whether you are an advanced law student looking to review the basics, or an aspiring law student looking for head start, this course will help you build the foundation you will need to succeed in law school and beyond. This course will introduce you to terminology, concepts, and tools lawyers and legal academics use to make their arguments. It will help you follow these arguments—and make arguments of your own. This course consists of a series of short lectures and assignments. A reading list...

18. Law: A Comprehensive Summary for LLB Students

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19. Personal Finance: Financial Security Thinking & Principles

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20. Learn and Master the Basics of Finance

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Top 10 most affordable universities for student finance aid managers

The most affordable schools for student finance aid managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for student finance aid managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for student finance aid managers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

5. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for student finance aid managers

The hardest universities for student finance aid managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Some great schools for student finance aid managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for student finance aid managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for student finance aid managers

The easiest schools for student finance aid managers to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and gwynedd mercy university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a student finance aid manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for student finance aid managers.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

3. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

8. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

10. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

Average student finance aid manager salary by education level

Student finance aid managers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $71,192 annually. With a Master's degree, student finance aid managers earn a median annual income of $63,370 compared to $53,732 for student finance aid managers with an Bachelor's degree.
Student finance aid manager education levelStudent finance aid manager salary
Master's Degree$63,370
Bachelor's Degree$53,732
Doctorate Degree$71,192

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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