This survey was designed to measure the level of professional development of student financial aid administrators; their academic background, their professional characteristics, and their needs for future development. A questionnaire was mailed to student aid administrators at 600 institutions of higher education located in nine southern states. A total of 433 questionnaires were returned. Results of the survey were divided into seven major areas of emphasis: background characteristics, professional characteristics, academic background, job orientation, maintaining professional competence, degree of professionalization, and needed professional development. Major findings include: (1) annual turnover in the aid profession in the South was low; (2) three out of five aid administrators were rated at a medium-to-high level of professional development, and over half the respondents directed moderate-to-large aid programs; (3) slightly more than three out of five respondents had primary responsibility for determining aid policies on their campuses; and (4) demographic data revealed that men outnumbered women three to one. Additional findings and statistical data are presented. (MJM)