Characteristics of student financial aid systems are reported and a framework for evaluating student financial aid systems and classifying major data processing designs is presented. The goals of a student financial aid system are discussed, including improved service to students, increased utilization of available funds, compliance with regulations and policies, and reduced costs. Reasons for automating student aid processing, such as to cope with workload increase, are examined and the basic functions of the system are identified. Areas of systems design--including methods of processing, basic systems designs, modes of data processing, and on-line applications--are surveyed. The relationship of student financial aid systems to other institutional systems and inter-system communication and database integration is examined. The file structure of the system, including alternative approaches for file storage is reviewed. Twenty-one charts illustrate various phases of the systems design. (PHR)