Administrative Coordinator

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425?acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

We are the Financial Aid Office at Swarthmore College - the office charged with providing need-based financial aid from various sources, and primarily from the College itself, to more than half of the student body at Swarthmore College. Aligning with the College’s strategic plan, “Swarthmore Forward,” the Financial Aid Office, and financial aid as a concept, ensures that all students at Swarthmore, regardless of their family’s financial position, are able to afford a Swarthmore education and can take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the College. 

Utilizing a holistic financial need review process and methodologies rooted in horizontal and vertical equity, the Financial Aid Office team carefully steers the College’s financial resources toward students determined to have a need for financial assistance in covering the annual costs to attend Swarthmore College.  Additionally, the Financial Aid Office partners with the Admissions Office through four rounds each year of the admission application process, assisting thousands of prospective students and their families through the financial aid process. The Financial Aid Office team provides responsive and empathetic service to all prospective and admitted Swarthmore College students.

The opportunity:

The Financial Aid Administrative Coordinator provides counseling and assistance to students and families in areas of financing their Swarthmore education (student loans, financial aid, student accounts/tuition payments, student employment). The Financial Aid Coordinator serves as the first point of contact for office communications – email, phone, and visitation - and student/family engagement. Additionally, this position will be responsible for coordinating the office’s administrative needs. 

The position covers three areas, listed in order of frequency annually:  Financial Aid Office communications/family support; Financial Aid Office administration; and Student Employment Office assistance. Financial aid and student employment programmatically reside within the Financial Aid Office, and both areas report to the Director of Financial Aid.

The Director of Financial Aid is seeking an Administrative Coordinator who is curious and interested in developing a career in financial aid or student employment. The Administrative Coordinator is a key role on the Financial Aid team and will be exposed to all aspects of the Financial Aid process.  This position provides the opportunity to grow knowledge and skills while working directly with students and families.

Essential Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of service for current and prospective families interacting with the Financial Aid Office and Student Employment Office.
• Develop knowledge of documents and systems that collect, organize, and track documents received by the Financial Aid Office.
• Manage office communication, triaging student and family questions received via phone, email or in-person. 
• Develop a knowledge of and interpret complex policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Exercise discretion to determine appropriate resources for prospective and current students, escalating concerns as needed to other team members.
• Assist current and prospective students/families with booking appointments with other members of the Financial Aid Office team.
• Ensure confidentiality and security of data storage processes.
• Manage vendors, office purchases, catering, memberships, and monthly purchase reconciliations through the College’s budgeting software.
• Reconcile monthly operating budget for the Director.
• Facilitate planning and execution for prospective student visitation days as well as current student programming, and other office team events.

Who you are:

• Reliable attention to detail
• Discretion and good judgment
• Ability to learn proprietary systems and processes
• Possess a genuine interest in assisting students/parents who may be stressed and confused
• Possessing an attitude of unflappability, assurance, assistance, and professionalism
• Exceptional customer service and strong personal and professional ethical standards
• Ability to adapt to changing needs and multitask accurately and efficiently
• Emotional intelligence, and interpersonal and conflict resolution skills

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 3-5 years of job-related experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience
• Proficiency with Google and/or Microsoft Office applications

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Familiarity with highly selective higher education settings
• Experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning systems
• Experience in financial aid
• Experience in human resources
• Familiarity with federal income tax forms and/or general accounting practices

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter by May 22, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $29.00-$36.00 per hour, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.