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How to hire an Admissions Counselor

Admissions counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring admissions counselors in the United States:

  • There are a total of 31,749 admissions counselors in the US, and there are currently 43,413 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire an admissions counselor is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per admissions counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Parkesburg, PA, has the highest demand for admissions counselors, with 12 job openings.

How to hire an admissions counselor, step by step

To hire an admissions counselor, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire an admissions counselor:

Here's a step-by-step admissions counselor hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an admissions counselor job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new admissions counselor
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Admissions Counselor do?

An admissions counselor is the primary point of contact between a university or college and their potential students. One of their primary responsibilities is to represent the school during various events for recruitment purposes, discuss the admission procedures to the students and their families through calls or appointments, and facilitate university tours and orientation among prospective students. Furthermore, they must gather applicants' requirements, verify their authenticity, and determine if they are qualified for the institution. They may also decide student admissions, all while adhering to the college's policies and guidelines.

Learn more about the specifics of what an admissions counselor does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your admissions counselor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an admissions counselor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An admissions counselor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, admissions counselors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of admissions counselors and their corresponding salaries.

    Type Of Admissions CounselorDescriptionHourly Rate
    Admissions CounselorSchool counselors help students develop academic and social skills and succeed in school. Career counselors assist people with the process of making career decisions by helping them develop skills or choose a career or educational program.$14-24
    Student RecruiterA student recruiter is in charge of developing strategies to recruit potential students for graduate or undergraduate programs at colleges and universities. Although the extent of their duties depends on their institution of employment, it typically includes developing promotional materials such as PowerPoint presentations and brochures, participating in college fairs and similar gatherings to represent the institution and reach out to students, handing out contact information, answering inquiries, and communicating with high schools... Show More$13-27
    Elementary School CounselorAn elementary school counselor is primarily in charge of providing support and counseling to students as they navigate through their academic, social, and personal lives. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing and executing programs for students' welfare, conducting student evaluations and interviews, mediating on various issues, and assisting students in preparing and processing scholarship applications... Show More$8-30
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Patients
    • Social Work
    • Admissions Process
    • Phone Calls
    • Financial Aid
    • Enrollment Process
    • CRM
    • Student Recruitment
    • Recruitment Events
    • Community Colleges
    • Recruitment Territory
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Student Services
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage applicant and student files electronically within CampusVue software.
    • Verify insurance HMO, Medicare or Medicaid.
    • Assist in PV's marketing efforts by reaching out to alumni and community.
    • Evaluate transcripts, convert quarterly hours to semester hours as necessary, and calculate the GPA.
    • Receive and execute hundreds of phone calls and e-mails daily from students and parents inquiring about CSU.
    • Give campus tours to prospective students and families; make phone calls to incoming students for CSU events and admissions follow-up.
    More Admissions Counselor duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the admissions counselor job description is a good way to get more applicants. An admissions counselor salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for an admissions counselor in South Carolina may be lower than in New Hampshire, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level admissions counselor. Additionally, an admissions counselor with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average admissions counselor salary

    $39,298yearly

    $18.89 hourly rate

    Entry-level admissions counselor salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 8, 2025

    Average admissions counselor salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$52,501$25
    2Massachusetts$52,258$25
    3Alaska$49,392$24
    4New York$48,501$23
    5Maryland$47,217$23
    6Washington$45,466$22
    7Pennsylvania$44,398$21
    8Virginia$43,185$21
    9Oregon$42,551$20
    10Maine$40,921$20
    11Minnesota$39,380$19
    12Texas$38,647$19
    13North Carolina$37,959$18
    14Michigan$37,715$18
    15Wisconsin$37,474$18
    16Georgia$37,406$18
    17Illinois$37,217$18
    18Colorado$37,179$18
    19Arizona$37,179$18
    20Ohio$37,031$18

    Average admissions counselor salary by company

  4. Writing an Admissions Counselor Job Description

    A good admissions counselor job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an admissions counselor job description:

    Admissions Counselor job description example

    Butte, Montana
    Starting pay for this position is $16.99 per hour with quarterly incentive bonuses available .

    Take the first step and join thousands of world-wide MTC associates making a difference every day. Since our founding in 1981, MTC has been focused on one mission - Improving the lives of those we serve through education, training, and innovative programming!

    Why work for us : You would be apart of making an everyday difference for our students here on center as well as helping them stay on track to achieve their career and life goals.

    Benefits : This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and long term disability insurances, 3 weeks paid vacation, 2 weeks paid sick time, 11 paid holidays, 401(k) with company match, and a chance to make a difference every day!

    How you will make a difference: Conducts direct recruitment activities for young people ages 16 to 24 to receive free training in a career suited to them at one of the nations Job Corps Centers. 99% of students live on campus and receive free training in an occupation that will allow them to support themselves and their families for years to come. They will also receive training in various life skills necessary to their success. The person selected for this position will work with other outreach contractors and schools in the area.

    Education and Experience Requirements : Qualified applicants will have a bachelor's degree in human services, psychology, counseling, education, social science, business, communications, or closely related field OR associate's degree and two years related experience. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, computer proficiency, and a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record are also required.

    Management & Training Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find admissions counselors for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your admissions counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit admissions counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit admissions counselors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new admissions counselor

    Once you've selected the best admissions counselor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an admissions counselor?

There are different types of costs for hiring admissions counselors. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new admissions counselor employee.

The median annual salary for admissions counselors is $39,298 in the US. However, the cost of admissions counselor hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an admissions counselor for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $14 and $24 an hour.

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