Student Services Counselor Jobs
Student Services Counselor jobs are open across higher education, K-12 school districts, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations, at every level from entry-level advisor to senior director, with specializations in academic advising, career counseling, and financial aid. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 17+ Student Services Counselor jobs
Job Objective: At Roberts Wesleyan University, Student Financial Services comprises both Financial Aid and Student Accounts. The Student Financial Services Counselor is responsible for processing of financial aid and student account functions including counseling and supporting students regarding all aspects of paying for University.
Within a centralized student financial services structure, this position is responsible for supporting a variety of populations, including providing counseling to all students and parents on financial issues, financial aid packages, billing questions, and payment plan management. This position serves as the first point of contact for student inquiries in the Office of Student Financial Services.
Job Responsibilities:
Counseling (70%)
- Participate in meeting the guidance and informational needs of students and families through individual counseling, written correspondence, training sessions and orientation programs
- Completes proactive outbound call/email campaigns to move students through an aid application and financing processes
- Advise prospective and returning students and families regarding financial aid options, application processing, and other issues related to education finance including bill payment options and the status of their account
- Engage in proactive efforts to assist students in the completion of their applications, financial literacy activities, and the financing of their education including assisting students with payment arrangements
- Assist students with the completion of required financial aid forms and electronic processes such as the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA), master promissory notes, entrance loan counseling and other related documents
- Assists in outgoing call campaigns; deadline reminders, collection outreach and other notifications as necessary
- Maintains professionalism and exceptional customer service; even during occasional emotionally charged conversations
- Responds to inquiries with accurate and timely information
- Communicates and works with other student services offices to timely and effectively resolve student inquiries
- Timely documents pertinent information or discussions with students in PowerFAIDS and PowerCAMPUS
- Serves as “on-call” counselor when necessary. This includes phone, walk-in, and appointment counseling
Program Management (25%)
- Helps to ensure the effective operation of the student financial services office by utilizing knowledge and expertise in systems management and applying it to the office operations
- Ensures effective operation of the area of responsibility within the Student Financial Services Office by developing and recommending policies, adapting the systems to maximize efficiency, working collaboratively with colleagues, and performing duties as assigned
General Responsibilities (5%)
- Responsible for providing high quality correspondence, informational materials, and program documentation
- Make recommendations on policies and procedures, content and design of forms, office operations and customer service matters
- Engage in University-wide initiatives to support student success, achieve strategic growth, and build sustainable foundations
- Special projects and additional duties as assigned to enhance the level of service and commitment to students, their families and the University
Skills and Characteristics:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Excellent listening and counseling skills, including the ability to discern information, handle sensitive situations with confidence and formulate the best plan/resource to assist students
- Expert understanding and proficiency with computerized information and billing and financial aid systems and experience in PowerFAIDS or PowerCAMPUS preferred
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate with credibility and confidence to various constituencies and across different departments, as well as government and other agencies
- Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to handle sensitive situations with confidence and display unconditional positive regard
- Strong ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems and develop cohesive and practical solutions that fit the department policies, practices, and methods
- Commitment to detail and quality work that is reliable and consistent
- Ability to organize work in a systematic way and manage time effectively
- Excellent math and calculations with speed and accuracy
- Working knowledge of federal financial aid regulations
- Proficiency in Google and Microsoft suite software
- Value teamwork and work well with others
Job Objective: At Roberts Wesleyan University, Student Financial Services comprises both Financial Aid and Student Accounts. The Student Financial Services Counselor is responsible for processing of financial aid and student account functions including counseling and supporting students regarding all aspects of paying for University.
Within a centralized student financial services structure, this position is responsible for supporting a variety of populations, including providing counseling to all students and parents on financial issues, financial aid packages, billing questions, and payment plan management. This position serves as the first point of contact for student inquiries in the Office of Student Financial Services.
Job Responsibilities:
Counseling (70%)
- Participate in meeting the guidance and informational needs of students and families through individual counseling, written correspondence, training sessions and orientation programs
- Completes proactive outbound call/email campaigns to move students through an aid application and financing processes
- Advise prospective and returning students and families regarding financial aid options, application processing, and other issues related to education finance including bill payment options and the status of their account
- Engage in proactive efforts to assist students in the completion of their applications, financial literacy activities, and the financing of their education including assisting students with payment arrangements
- Assist students with the completion of required financial aid forms and electronic processes such as the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA), master promissory notes, entrance loan counseling and other related documents
- Assists in outgoing call campaigns; deadline reminders, collection outreach and other notifications as necessary
- Maintains professionalism and exceptional customer service; even during occasional emotionally charged conversations
- Responds to inquiries with accurate and timely information
- Communicates and works with other student services offices to timely and effectively resolve student inquiries
- Timely documents pertinent information or discussions with students in PowerFAIDS and PowerCAMPUS
- Serves as “on-call” counselor when necessary. This includes phone, walk-in, and appointment counseling
Program Management (25%)
- Helps to ensure the effective operation of the student financial services office by utilizing knowledge and expertise in systems management and applying it to the office operations
- Ensures effective operation of the area of responsibility within the Student Financial Services Office by developing and recommending policies, adapting the systems to maximize efficiency, working collaboratively with colleagues, and performing duties as assigned
General Responsibilities (5%)
- Responsible for providing high quality correspondence, informational materials, and program documentation
- Make recommendations on policies and procedures, content and design of forms, office operations and customer service matters
- Engage in University-wide initiatives to support student success, achieve strategic growth, and build sustainable foundations
- Special projects and additional duties as assigned to enhance the level of service and commitment to students, their families and the University
Skills and Characteristics:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Excellent listening and counseling skills, including the ability to discern information, handle sensitive situations with confidence and formulate the best plan/resource to assist students
- Expert understanding and proficiency with computerized information and billing and financial aid systems and experience in PowerFAIDS or PowerCAMPUS preferred
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate with credibility and confidence to various constituencies and across different departments, as well as government and other agencies
- Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to handle sensitive situations with confidence and display unconditional positive regard
- Strong ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems and develop cohesive and practical solutions that fit the department policies, practices, and methods
- Commitment to detail and quality work that is reliable and consistent
- Ability to organize work in a systematic way and manage time effectively
- Excellent math and calculations with speed and accuracy
- Working knowledge of federal financial aid regulations
- Proficiency in Google and Microsoft suite software
- Value teamwork and work well with others
Student Services Counselor Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsStudent Services Counselor Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in student services counselor jobs.
- Master's degree in counseling, student affairs, higher education, or a related field
- Experience with student information systems such as Banner, Ellucian, or Colleague
- Knowledge of FERPA regulations and student privacy compliance requirements
- Previous advising or counseling experience with a defined student caseload
- Strong case management and crisis intervention skills for at-risk student populations
- School counselor licensure or state certification for K-12 district positions
Tips for Your Student Services Counselor Job Search
Tailor your resume to advising outcomes
Student services counselors are judged on student outcomes, so quantify your impact where you can. Highlight retention rates you influenced, caseload sizes you managed, and specific populations you served, such as first-generation students, veterans, or students on academic probation.
Match your credentials to the institution type
Community colleges, four-year universities, and K-12 districts each weight credentials differently. A school counselor license matters most in K-12, while a master's in student affairs or higher education carries more weight at universities. Read each posting carefully and lead with what that employer values.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists student services counselor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a case management scenario for interviews
Hiring panels almost always ask how you handle a student in crisis or at risk of dropping out. Prepare two or three specific scenarios from your experience that show your assessment process, the interventions you used, and the outcome, keeping student privacy intact in how you frame them.
Address your technology fluency directly
Most postings now require experience with student information systems such as Banner, Ellucian, or Colleague, and sometimes case management platforms. If you've used these systems, name them explicitly in your resume rather than listing generic phrases like 'student database software.'
Negotiate start date around academic calendar cycles
Student services roles are heavily tied to enrollment periods. If an offer comes in July or December, the hiring team likely needs someone before the next semester starts. Knowing this gives you a realistic window to negotiate your start date without appearing inflexible.
Student Services Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most student services counselors?
Thomas College, Grand Canyon Education, and Mercy University are hiring the most student services counselors right now, with openings concentrated in Arizona, Maine, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Institutions with large enrollment or ongoing student support initiatives tend to post the most consistently throughout the year.
How many student services counselor jobs are remote?
About 67% of student services counselor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with remote roles most common in online program advising, financial aid counseling, and career services. Roles requiring in-person crisis intervention, on-campus workshops, or direct walk-in advising remain predominantly on-site.
How do you become a student services counselor?
Most student services counselor roles require a master's degree in counseling, student affairs, or a related field, plus supervised practicum or internship hours. Start by completing an accredited graduate program, accumulate direct advising or counseling experience through practicum placements, and obtain any state licensure your target institution type requires, particularly for K-12 settings.
Can you get hired as a student services counselor with little experience?
Entry-level student services counselor roles do exist, particularly at community colleges and nonprofit college access organizations, and they often prioritize relevant practicum or internship hours over years of full-time work. Highlight any graduate assistantship, tutoring, mentoring, or peer advising roles you held, and emphasize direct experience working with the student populations the employer serves.
What does the student services counselor interview process look like?
Most hiring processes include an initial phone screen with HR, a panel interview with advising staff and a supervisor, and sometimes a practical component such as a mock advising session or a presentation on a student success topic. Panels typically ask behavioral questions about handling at-risk students, managing a high caseload, and collaborating with faculty or external referral partners.
Where can I find and apply to student services counselor jobs?
You can find and apply to student services counselor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from institutions and organizations across the United States. Search for roles that match your credentials and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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