Admissions advisor vs academic counselor

The differences between admissions advisors and academic counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an admissions advisor has an average salary of $54,192, which is higher than the $47,454 average annual salary of an academic counselor.

The top three skills for an admissions advisor include customer service, admissions process and outbound calls. The most important skills for an academic counselor are financial aid, academic support, and student services.

Admissions advisor vs academic counselor overview

	Admissions Advisor	Academic Counselor
Yearly salary	$54,192	$47,454
Hourly rate	$26.05	$22.81
Growth rate	10%	10%
Number of jobs	55,433	39,084
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does an admissions advisor do?

The admissions advisor's work involves meeting with potential students and organizing recruitment events in the admissions offices of colleges and universities. Their tasks also include informing students and families about the application process, requirements for admission, financial aid, and enrollment steps. Moreover, they can answer frequently asked questions about the school to help potential students decide whether it is a good fit. In addition, they may also leave campus to help in promoting the school at college and university fairs.

What does an academic counselor do?

In high schools and universities, an academic counselor specializes in providing counseling and consultations to students, focusing on their educational and career growth. They typically meet with students to discuss their short and long term goals and help by providing them with insights and information or referring them to other services and resources. Moreover, an academic counselor must assist students by addressing their issues and concerns, giving them emotional support and academic advice, and helping them navigate through various procedures.

Admissions advisor vs academic counselor salary

Admissions advisors and academic counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Admissions Advisor	Academic Counselor
Average salary	$54,192	$47,454
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $106,000	Between $35,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	Merced, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Virginia
Best paying company	Tenet Healthcare	California College of the Arts
Best paying industry	Education	Non Profits

Differences between admissions advisor and academic counselor education

There are a few differences between an admissions advisor and an academic counselor in terms of educational background:

	Admissions Advisor	Academic Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Admissions advisor vs academic counselor demographics

Here are the differences between admissions advisors' and academic counselors' demographics:

	Admissions Advisor	Academic Counselor
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 44.7% Female, 55.3%	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between admissions advisor and academic counselor duties and responsibilities

Admissions advisor example responsibilities.

Manage warranty parts inventory levels for the DoD in Kuwait, Guam and Korea
Manage Facebook updates to market events, brand FLC and create a virtual community for students.
Manage the testing of all new students, verification of transferable credits, and review process for all new applicants.
Manage budget development and allocation, consistently maximizing student and NHS opportunities while minimizing costs.
Assist in bolstering student retention by providing unparallele service to make sure students are thoroughly satisfy with the complete AIU experience.
Serve on campus committees design to enhance the success and persistence of students.

Academic counselor example responsibilities.

Utilize Salesforce to manage advertising programs for business owners.
Remain non-denominational, open, flexible and ecumenical in service to patients while also providing additional resources from local spiritual communities.
Test PeopleSoft upgrades and provide suggestions.
Tutor introductory biology, chemistry, psychology and remedial mathematics.
Guide older students in navigating PeopleSoft application to access portal for online registrations.
Navigate the college process through the CUNY, SUNY, and common application.

Admissions advisor vs academic counselor skills

Common admissions advisor skills

Customer Service, 17%
Admissions Process, 13%
Outbound Calls, 9%
Enrollment Process, 6%
Professional Work, 6%
Criminal Justice, 6%

Common academic counselor skills

Financial Aid, 9%
Academic Support, 8%
Student Services, 8%
Professional Development, 6%
Student Athletes, 5%
Academic Advisement, 5%

Admissions Advisor vs. similar jobs

Admissions Advisor related careers

Admissions Advisor related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Community and Social Services Industry
Admissions Advisor
Admissions Advisor vs Academic Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs