How To Become A College Counselor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a college counselor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

A college counselor accompanies junior and senior high school students in college preparation and admission. They review the students' academic qualifications and discuss necessary information regarding the college entrance process. The primary role of a college counselor is to understand the details and processes of college admission and ensure the students' compliance with these requirements. These details include information about college entrance examinations and various financial support options like scholarships and student loans. They also offer suggestions to assist students in choosing their career paths. They may speak with the students' parents regarding these choices and relevant requirements and paperwork.

To help students have a deeper understanding of college admissions, a college counselor may survey college campuses or request a college representative to meet the students and explain the school's application process.

The education required to pursue a career as a college counselor may vary in each state. Typically, employers prefer candidates with a college degree in psychology, education, communication, or other related fields. A master's degree is a great advantage. People in this line of work must also be passionate and excellent communicators.

What general advice would you give to a college counselor?

Juleen Buser Ph.D.

Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching Programs, Rider University

Counseling Services (school counseling concentration) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (we have a CMHC concentration and a Dance Movement Therapy concentration in this program). The general advice I would give to graduates starting positions in the counseling field would be to understand the critical importance of the work of helping professionals. Counselors optimally provide a safe space for clients to discuss their fears, worries, anxieties, joys, traumas, insecurities, accomplishments, etc. This ability to be an empathic, listening, accepting presence will be even more crucial for clients in our current situation.

ScoreCollege CounselorUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $45,991

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.0

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 3.74%

Black or African American 10.64%

Hispanic or Latino 14.20%

Unknown 3.76%

White 67.03%

Gender

female 68.13%

male 31.87%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

9.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a college counselor

Explore college counselor education requirements

Most common college counselor degrees

Bachelor's

60.3 %

Master's

31.4 %

Associate

4.3 %

Start to develop specific college counselor skills

Skills	Percentages
Colleges	14.49%
Social Work	9.70%
Professional Development	8.01%
FAFSA	7.79%
Admissions Process	7.26%

Complete relevant college counselor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New college counselors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a college counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real college counselor resumes.

Research college counselor duties and responsibilities

Lead mathematics courses to help students prepare for the math section on the SATs.
Utilize Salesforce to manage advertising programs for business owners.
Educate students about the financial aid process, FAFSA application, opportunity programs, and scholarships.
Provide support with essay critiques, resumes, applications, scholarships, FAFSA and standardize test preparation.

Prepare your college counselor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your college counselor resume.

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