Financial Aid Specialist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Financial Aid Specialist roles at U.S. colleges and universities regularly sponsor H-1B visas, and many qualify as cap-exempt through their institutional affiliation. A bachelor's degree in a related field is required for specialty occupation status, and your financial services or higher education background travels well across both public and private institutions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Financial Aid Specialist Scholarships and Systems provides operational support for institutional scholarship administration, the University's One-Stop Scholarship Application, and financial aid technology processes. The position serves as the coordinator of the University's One-Stop Scholarship Application, organizing the annual application cycle, maintaining application information, coordinating with academic departments and campus partners, monitoring application activity, and supporting scholarship review and awarding processes.
The position also assists with the day-to-day administration of Dynamic Forms and monitoring of Automic automated processing outputs. Responsibilities include maintaining documentation, conducting routine reviews, identifying discrepancies, and referring technical issues to appropriate staff for resolution. The position works under established departmental policies and procedures and collaborates with the Associate Director of Scholarships, other Financial Aid & Scholarships staff, academic departments, Information Technology, and other campus partners to support accurate, efficient, and student-centered processes.
Primary Responsibilities/Functions:
One-Stop Scholarship Application Coordination:
- Coordinates the University's annual One-Stop Scholarship Application cycle, including preparation, opening, monitoring, closing, and reporting.
- Serves as the primary operational contact for questions regarding the centralized scholarship application process.
- Maintains application questions, deadlines, eligibility information, instructions, and supporting documentation.
- Coordinates with academic colleges, departments, and scholarship committees to maintain accurate scholarship information.
- Monitors application completion, reviewer assignments, outstanding requirements, and application activity.
- Assists with routing applications to appropriate reviewers and committees.
- Supports scholarship selection, awarding, student notifications, and reconciliation activities.
- Prepares routine reports related to applicants, application completion, and scholarship activity.
- Responds to student and campus inquiries and refers complex questions to appropriate staff.
- Maintains procedures, instructions, and records related to the application process.
- Assists with training campus partners on application procedures and timelines.
- Identifies recurring questions or process concerns and communicates recommendations to the Associate Director of Scholarships.
Documentation, Customer Service, and Process Support:
- Maintains standard operating procedures, process instructions, and reference materials for assigned duties.
- Provides routine training and assistance to students, staff, and campus partners regarding scholarship application procedures.
- Responds to questions and refers complex or unusual situations to appropriate personnel.
- Identifies recurring operational issues and communicates potential improvements to departmental leadership.
- Participates in departmental meetings, technology projects, and implementation activities as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Dynamic Forms and Workflow Support:
- Maintains assigned electronic forms and workflows in accordance with established procedures.
- Assists with routine form updates, configuration, testing, and implementation.
- Reviews form submissions and workflow activity to identify incomplete submissions, routing issues, and processing errors.
- Monitors outstanding forms and assists with follow-up communications.
- Documents form requirements, workflow steps, and routine troubleshooting procedures.
- Coordinates with Information Technology, vendors, or designated system administrators when issues require additional technical assistance.
- Assists with testing forms and workflows following approved changes.
- Maintains accurate records of form updates and assigned workflow activities.
- Refers complex configuration, access, security, or system design decisions to appropriate personnel.
Automic Monitoring and Operational Support:
- Performs daily reviews of assigned Automic processing outputs and reports.
- Checks routine automated processes for completion and identifies errors or exceptions.
- Documents unsuccessful processes and notifies the appropriate staff of issues requiring attention.
- Assists with tracking reported errors through resolution.
- Coordinates with Information Technology and Financial Aid & Scholarships staff as directed.
- Verifies and documents the completion of assigned follow-up activities.
- Maintains reference materials and procedures for recurring processes.
- Escalates issues that may affect student records, financial aid awarding, disbursements, reporting, or compliance.
- Assists with testing and validation following approved system changes.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Operations:
- Assists with the processing and administration of federal, state, institutional, and scholarship programs.
- Reviews student records and documentation for accuracy and completeness.
- Assists with routine financial aid adjustments, corrections, and award processing.
- Reviews assigned reports and exception lists to identify records requiring follow-up.
- Supports scholarship reconciliation and quality-control activities.
- Assists with validating system results and identifying discrepancies.
- Maintains appropriate records and documentation for assigned responsibilities.
- Provides supporting documentation for internal and external audits as requested.
Competencies/Qualifications
- Ability to coordinate recurring administrative processes and annual application cycles.
- To communicate deadlines, requirements, and procedures clearly.
- To review information for completeness and accuracy.
- To recognize routine errors and follow established troubleshooting procedures.
- To maintain documentation and track outstanding assignments.
- To learn new systems, applications, and business processes.
- To protect confidential information and follow University policies.
- To recognize when an issue requires escalation to a supervisor or technical resource.
- Strong customer service, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Experience in higher education, financial aid, or scholarship administration.
- Experience with Banner, Oracle, or similar student information systems.
- Experience with electronic forms, workflow applications, or scholarship management systems.
- Experience with data entry, reporting, document management, or quality assurance.
- Familiarity with institutional scholarship processes and student service operations.
Application Review
Review of applications will begin 11/18/26 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration.
Minimum Qualifications: Associates degree. Experience in administrative support, customer service, student services, business operations, or a related area. Basic computer skills and the ability to learn enterprise applications and electronic workflow systems. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to maintain accurate records and follow established procedures and handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive student information appropriately and to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s. Experience in higher education, financial aid, or scholarship administration. Experience with Banner, Oracle, or similar student information systems. Experience with electronic forms, workflow applications, or scholarship management systems. Experience with data entry, reporting, document management, or quality assurance. Familiarity with institutional scholarship processes and student service operations.
Work Location:
- University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, TN Campus
- This is a fully on-site position.
Compensation and Benefits:
- UT Market Range: MR05
- Anticipated hiring salary: $41,000 - $44,000
students thrive, faculty inspire, and partnerships create real impact.
INTRODUCTION
The Financial Aid Specialist Scholarships and Systems provides operational support for institutional scholarship administration, the University's One-Stop Scholarship Application, and financial aid technology processes. The position serves as the coordinator of the University's One-Stop Scholarship Application, organizing the annual application cycle, maintaining application information, coordinating with academic departments and campus partners, monitoring application activity, and supporting scholarship review and awarding processes.
The position also assists with the day-to-day administration of Dynamic Forms and monitoring of Automic automated processing outputs. Responsibilities include maintaining documentation, conducting routine reviews, identifying discrepancies, and referring technical issues to appropriate staff for resolution. The position works under established departmental policies and procedures and collaborates with the Associate Director of Scholarships, other Financial Aid & Scholarships staff, academic departments, Information Technology, and other campus partners to support accurate, efficient, and student-centered processes.
Primary Responsibilities/Functions:
One-Stop Scholarship Application Coordination:
- Coordinates the University's annual One-Stop Scholarship Application cycle, including preparation, opening, monitoring, closing, and reporting.
- Serves as the primary operational contact for questions regarding the centralized scholarship application process.
- Maintains application questions, deadlines, eligibility information, instructions, and supporting documentation.
- Coordinates with academic colleges, departments, and scholarship committees to maintain accurate scholarship information.
- Monitors application completion, reviewer assignments, outstanding requirements, and application activity.
- Assists with routing applications to appropriate reviewers and committees.
- Supports scholarship selection, awarding, student notifications, and reconciliation activities.
- Prepares routine reports related to applicants, application completion, and scholarship activity.
- Responds to student and campus inquiries and refers complex questions to appropriate staff.
- Maintains procedures, instructions, and records related to the application process.
- Assists with training campus partners on application procedures and timelines.
- Identifies recurring questions or process concerns and communicates recommendations to the Associate Director of Scholarships.
Documentation, Customer Service, and Process Support:
- Maintains standard operating procedures, process instructions, and reference materials for assigned duties.
- Provides routine training and assistance to students, staff, and campus partners regarding scholarship application procedures.
- Responds to questions and refers complex or unusual situations to appropriate personnel.
- Identifies recurring operational issues and communicates potential improvements to departmental leadership.
- Participates in departmental meetings, technology projects, and implementation activities as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Dynamic Forms and Workflow Support:
- Maintains assigned electronic forms and workflows in accordance with established procedures.
- Assists with routine form updates, configuration, testing, and implementation.
- Reviews form submissions and workflow activity to identify incomplete submissions, routing issues, and processing errors.
- Monitors outstanding forms and assists with follow-up communications.
- Documents form requirements, workflow steps, and routine troubleshooting procedures.
- Coordinates with Information Technology, vendors, or designated system administrators when issues require additional technical assistance.
- Assists with testing forms and workflows following approved changes.
- Maintains accurate records of form updates and assigned workflow activities.
- Refers complex configuration, access, security, or system design decisions to appropriate personnel.
Automic Monitoring and Operational Support:
- Performs daily reviews of assigned Automic processing outputs and reports.
- Checks routine automated processes for completion and identifies errors or exceptions.
- Documents unsuccessful processes and notifies the appropriate staff of issues requiring attention.
- Assists with tracking reported errors through resolution.
- Coordinates with Information Technology and Financial Aid & Scholarships staff as directed.
- Verifies and documents the completion of assigned follow-up activities.
- Maintains reference materials and procedures for recurring processes.
- Escalates issues that may affect student records, financial aid awarding, disbursements, reporting, or compliance.
- Assists with testing and validation following approved system changes.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Operations:
- Assists with the processing and administration of federal, state, institutional, and scholarship programs.
- Reviews student records and documentation for accuracy and completeness.
- Assists with routine financial aid adjustments, corrections, and award processing.
- Reviews assigned reports and exception lists to identify records requiring follow-up.
- Supports scholarship reconciliation and quality-control activities.
- Assists with validating system results and identifying discrepancies.
- Maintains appropriate records and documentation for assigned responsibilities.
- Provides supporting documentation for internal and external audits as requested.
Competencies/Qualifications
- Ability to coordinate recurring administrative processes and annual application cycles.
- To communicate deadlines, requirements, and procedures clearly.
- To review information for completeness and accuracy.
- To recognize routine errors and follow established troubleshooting procedures.
- To maintain documentation and track outstanding assignments.
- To learn new systems, applications, and business processes.
- To protect confidential information and follow University policies.
- To recognize when an issue requires escalation to a supervisor or technical resource.
- Strong customer service, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Experience in higher education, financial aid, or scholarship administration.
- Experience with Banner, Oracle, or similar student information systems.
- Experience with electronic forms, workflow applications, or scholarship management systems.
- Experience with data entry, reporting, document management, or quality assurance.
- Familiarity with institutional scholarship processes and student service operations.
Application Review
Review of applications will begin 11/18/26 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration.
Minimum Qualifications: Associates degree. Experience in administrative support, customer service, student services, business operations, or a related area. Basic computer skills and the ability to learn enterprise applications and electronic workflow systems. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to maintain accurate records and follow established procedures and handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive student information appropriately and to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s. Experience in higher education, financial aid, or scholarship administration. Experience with Banner, Oracle, or similar student information systems. Experience with electronic forms, workflow applications, or scholarship management systems. Experience with data entry, reporting, document management, or quality assurance. Familiarity with institutional scholarship processes and student service operations.
Work Location:
- University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, TN Campus
- This is a fully on-site position.
Compensation and Benefits:
- UT Market Range: MR05
- Anticipated hiring salary: $41,000 - $44,000
students thrive, faculty inspire, and partnerships create real impact.
See all Financial Aid Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Financial Aid Specialist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Financial Aid Specialist
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
Financial Aid Specialist roles require a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a closely related field. A general studies or unrelated degree won't satisfy USCIS specialty occupation requirements, so confirm the alignment before applying.
Target cap-exempt institutions first
Colleges, universities, and affiliated nonprofits are cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can file year-round without entering the annual lottery. Financial aid offices at these institutions are among the most reliable sponsors for this role.
Search verified sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history for financial aid and student services roles. Filtering by institution type lets you prioritize cap-exempt higher education employers where sponsorship is most consistent.
Check prevailing wage before salary negotiations
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your location and role under the LCA. Run the OFLC Wage Search using the Financial Aid Counselors occupation category before you receive an offer so you can verify the number independently.
Ask HR about PERM eligibility at hiring
Many higher education financial aid offices sponsor permanent residence through the EB-2 or EB-3 category using PERM labor certification. Asking during the offer stage whether the institution has a practice of sponsoring PERM avoids surprises two or three years in.
Align your resume to DOL occupation criteria
The O*NET profile for Financial Aid Counselors outlines the core duties USCIS and DOL use to evaluate specialty occupation status. Your resume should reflect tasks like advising on federal aid programs, packaging awards, and ensuring Title IV compliance, not just administrative duties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Financial Aid Specialist role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, if the position requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as finance, business administration, education administration, or accounting. Roles that accept any degree, or list a degree as preferred rather than required, may not meet USCIS specialty occupation standards. The employer's job description needs to reflect degree-specific duties to support the petition.
Which visa types are realistic for Financial Aid Specialist candidates?
H-1B is the most common path, and because most Financial Aid Specialist roles are at colleges or universities, many employers qualify as cap-exempt institutions. TN visa is an option for Canadian and Mexican nationals if the role maps to an eligible USMCA profession. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT can bridge candidates into full sponsorship if the role is at a qualifying employer.
How do I find Financial Aid Specialist employers who sponsor visas?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for financial aid and student services roles, searchable by location and institution type. Prioritizing colleges, universities, and nonprofit affiliates gives you the strongest pool of cap-exempt sponsors who file year-round without lottery risk.
Does my overseas finance or education degree qualify for this role?
A three-year bachelor's degree from Australia, the UK, Canada, or India is generally treated as equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree for H-1B purposes, but the field must match. A foreign degree in accounting or business administration supports a Financial Aid Specialist petition. USCIS may request a credential evaluation from a recognized evaluation service if the degree field isn't obvious from the transcript.
Will working in financial aid at a university affect my green card options?
Many universities sponsor permanent residence for professional staff through EB-2 or EB-3 PERM labor certification, particularly for roles that become long-term positions. The PERM process requires the employer to test the labor market, which takes time, so sponsorship timelines vary. TN visa holders should know TN status doesn't allow dual intent, so green card planning requires careful sequencing with an immigration attorney.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Financial Aid Specialist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.