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The differences between admissions specialists and student advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student advisor has an average salary of $41,418, which is higher than the $36,140 average annual salary of an admissions specialist.
The top three skills for an admissions specialist include patients, customer service and social work. The most important skills for a student advisor are customer service, student services, and international student.
| Admissions Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Yearly salary | $36,140 | $41,418 |
| Hourly rate | $17.38 | $19.91 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 17,384 | 56,492 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An admissions specialist's main role is to provide timely, accurate, and complete evaluation service of academic credentials for incoming first-year and transferee students, as well as existing enrolled students. They serve as a vital member of the evaluation team to ensure a smooth and timely evaluation process. They also support the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in overall function from enrollment processing, application of student files, reviewing the transcript of records to evaluate academic credentials of incoming freshmen students, and transferee applicants.
A student advisor is responsible for supporting the students' personal growth and development by guiding them on their learning processes and educational goals. Student advisors provide regular counseling for the students to analyze their career aspirations, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strategize learning plans to address those difficulties. They also coordinate with the students' parents and guardians to report the students' progress and determine appropriate scholastic solutions. A student advisor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when handling students' different needs and concerns.
Admissions specialists and student advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Admissions Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Average salary | $36,140 | $41,418 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $46,000 | Between $31,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fresno, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between an admissions specialist and a student advisor in terms of educational background:
| Admissions Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between admissions specialists' and student advisors' demographics:
| Admissions Specialist | Student Advisor | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% | Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8% |
| 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% |