Certificate:
College Financial Coach
Train your team in financial coaching best practices, equipping your college's financial aid and financial wellness staff with the skills to guide students toward clarity, budgeting, and long-term success.
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Overview
Course Description: This financial coaching course equips college financial aid staff, financial advisors, and student support professionals to move beyond transactional financial conversations and apply a coaching mindset to their work with students. Through practical, student-centered strategies, this course helps financial aid professionals build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to guide students through complex financial decisions with empathy and empowerment. This distinctive online, self-paced professional development explores proven coaching frameworks, financial aid literacy, budgeting, goal-setting, and addressing financial emergencies—helping students build financial confidence, reduce stress, and stay on track toward college completion.
Cost: $395 per person. Contact us for group discounts.
Prerequisite: None
Format: Asynchronous self-paced course. Start and end the course at your own pace and retain indefinite access.
Length: 20 hours
Instructional Materials: All necessary materials are included in the course and will be available instantly upon enrollment.
Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Financial Coaching
Module 2: Theoretical Foundation for Financial Coaching
Module 3: Financial Coaching Skills Success Kit
Module 4: Advanced Coaching Strategies & Frameworks
Module 5: Core Communication Competencies
Module 6: Understanding Student Financial Behaviors
Module 7: Coaching in Financial Aid Conversations
Module 8: Reflection, Case Studies, and Professional Goals
What You Will Learn
Coaching with Confidence:
Core Skills for
Student Financial Success
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Understand the role, purpose, and evolution of financial coaching in higher education.
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Learn essential skills, traits, and ethics of successful financial coaches.
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Explore proven coaching frameworks and how to apply them to common student conversations.
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Apply student development and financial-related theories to financial coaching.
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Recognize the impact of financial literacy, motivation, and self-awareness in student decision-making.
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Learn how to disarm students, build rapport, and foster a strong sense of belonging.
From Stress to Strategy:
Supporting Students in
Financial Aid & Budgeting
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Coach students through FAFSA completion, appeals, and award letter interpretation.
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Address housing and food insecurity, financial trauma, and credit misconceptions.
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Learn how to effectively use tools, activities, and worksheets to simplify complex choices.
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Support students in understanding SAP, loan options, and repayment strategies.
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Guide students through creating realistic budgets using successful budgeting strategies, technology, and flexible tools.
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Help students access emergency resources, avoid scams, and navigate financial traps.
Turning Intentions into Action: Empowering Student
Financial Growth
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Support student behavior change using and applying valid theories and tactics.
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Help students set both short-term and long-term meaningful financial goals, track their progress, and celebrate small wins.
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Recognize and respond to financial stress and its academic impact.
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Utilize inquiry-based coaching techniques to foster greater student engagement and self-disclosure, resulting in more impactful and personalized interventions.
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Strengthen communication through texting, email, and advising notes with FERPA in mind.
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Reflect on your own practice, set professional goals, and create a personal coaching philosophy.
Who should take
this course
Individuals
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Aspiring college financial coaches, financial aid counselors, and student support college employees who are training for this new role or preparing for job interviews.
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Newer financial aid professionals who are orienting to their new role.
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Seasoned financial aid counselors or coaches who are ready to take on a new challenge, elevate their impact, increase their skills, and learn more strategies for student success.
Teams
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Financial Aid Offices: Enroll your entire group together for a powerful professional development opportunity. Just like a book club, teams can take the course on the same schedule and then gather for regular discussions along the way. This professional development is great for team building and collaboration, sparking discussions, and will benefit all team members, regardless of experience level. Contact us for group discounts.
New employee orientation programs
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Enroll your new coaches and counselors in this course as part of their new orientation experience, increasing their confidence and setting them up for success from day one, thanks to this training investment.
Reviews
Employees who get professional development opportunities are 15% more engaged and have 34% higher retention than those who don’t.
Harvard Business Review
SOME OF THE INSTITUTIONS USING OUR RESOURCES OR ONLINE TRAINING COURSES
Why your college should invest in more professional development for your team
Providing effective financial aid counselor training programs can significantly impact the satisfaction, engagement, and overall success of employees, ultimately impacting student success. Here are key reasons why high-quality college financial coach training is important for employee retention:
Job Satisfaction: College financial aid employees who receive proper training are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. Knowing that they have the skills and resources to excel in their roles enhances job satisfaction and contributes to a positive work environment.
Employee Confidence: Financial aid and financial coaching online employee training builds confidence by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge. Working with students in a student affairs or enrollment division is challenging work, and confident counselors are more likely to take initiative, contribute ideas, and remain engaged in their work.
Retention of High Performers: College employees who are high performers are often motivated by opportunities for learning and growth. Providing them with challenging and meaningful financial aid professional development can help retain top talent by satisfying their desire for continuous improvement.
Cultural Alignment: Training programs can convey and reinforce the institutional culture. When financial aid employees understand and align with the student-centered values and goals of the college, they are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and commitment.
Skill Development: Financial coaching employee training programs help coaches and advisors develop the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their jobs effectively. When employees feel competent and confident in their roles, they are more likely to stay with the organization.
Increased Productivity: Well-trained employees are more productive. They can perform their tasks efficiently and contribute to the overall success of the college. Increased productivity is a positive outcome that can contribute to employee retention.
Career Development: Offering financial aid professional development for FAO offices signals to college employees that the institution is invested in their professional growth. When employees see a clear path for career development and advancement within the college, they are more inclined to stay and build a long-term commitment.
Talent Attraction: If you have a reputation for offering excellent training and development, you will be attractive to potential employees. This can be a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining top talent.
In summary, by fostering continuous learning and development, colleges can create an environment that supports employee retention and long-term success.
DC Education Group and our course writers have no proprietary interest in any instruments, models, or materials used in this course.
