Post job

College adviser vs peer mentor

The differences between college advisers and peer mentors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a college adviser has an average salary of $46,038, which is higher than the $28,416 average annual salary of a peer mentor.

The top three skills for a college adviser include financial aid applications, colleges and professional development. The most important skills for a peer mentor are mental health, role model, and mathematics.

College adviser vs peer mentor overview

College AdviserPeer Mentor
Yearly salary$46,038$28,416
Hourly rate$22.13$13.66
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs16,9421,199
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a college adviser do?

The main role of a college adviser is to assist students in evaluating and realizing their career and educational options. College advisers offer intensive advising support to their advisees on a regular basis. They help them find their academic interests, determine additional support and information resources, and establish study plans for educational goals. Part of their job is to approve the academic study program of the students. Also, they facilitate the relationships between students and other advisers to career development.

What does a peer mentor do?

A peer mentor is an individual who builds a relationship with another person or mentee who is new to the career or at the same level. Peer mentors must serve as a social role model and educate mentees on various resources and services. They coordinate and facilitate social programs and training and discuss any mentee concerns with the top management. Peer mentors are also required to maintain confidentiality with any shared information between mentors and mentees.

College adviser vs peer mentor salary

College advisers and peer mentors have different pay scales, as shown below.

College AdviserPeer Mentor
Average salary$46,038$28,416
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $63,000Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityAmherst, MABrockton, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew Hampshire
Best paying companyNew York UniversitySaint Xavier University
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between college adviser and peer mentor education

There are a few differences between a college adviser and a peer mentor in terms of educational background:

College AdviserPeer Mentor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

College adviser vs peer mentor demographics

Here are the differences between college advisers' and peer mentors' demographics:

College AdviserPeer Mentor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 39.2% Female, 60.8%Male, 37.7% Female, 62.3%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between college adviser and peer mentor duties and responsibilities

College adviser example responsibilities.

  • Manage presentations, assemblies, and club meetings to offer services and emphasize the necessity of post-secondary study.
  • Help interview, evaluate, select and mentor AmeriCorps applicants.
  • Communicate with graduating seniors on a regular basis over the summer by phone, Facebook and in person.
  • Utilize a CRM database (Salesforce) to update student contacts and to help leadership team to better support students.
  • Maintain and update student database in Salesforce.
  • Work with supervisor to complete volunteer activities for AmeriCorps.
  • Show more

Peer mentor example responsibilities.

  • Lead teens in improving their interpersonal relationships via education
  • Mentore and co-taught a class for incoming freshmen
  • Help students complete FAFSA applications, verification paperwork, and booking appointments.
  • Assist FYRST faculty with planning a syllabus, classroom presentations, events, and trips.
  • Conduct FAFSA workshops and assist students and parents with competing tax information need to complete the FAFSA application.
  • Assist students academically in medical and anatomy classes.
  • Show more

College adviser vs peer mentor skills

Common college adviser skills
  • Financial Aid Applications, 16%
  • Colleges, 13%
  • Professional Development, 11%
  • FAFSA, 7%
  • Admissions Process, 6%
  • School Administration, 5%
Common peer mentor skills
  • Mental Health, 11%
  • Role Model, 8%
  • Mathematics, 6%
  • GPA, 5%
  • Peer Support, 5%
  • Academic Support, 5%

Browse community and social services jobs