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College counselor vs admissions counselor

The differences between college counselors and admissions counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a college counselor has an average salary of $45,991, which is higher than the $39,298 average annual salary of an admissions counselor.

The top three skills for a college counselor include colleges, social work and professional development. The most important skills for an admissions counselor are customer service, patients, and social work.

College counselor vs admissions counselor overview

College CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Yearly salary$45,991$39,298
Hourly rate$22.11$18.89
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs31,18743,413
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a college counselor do?

It is the job of a college counselor to help students explore and find their careers. College counselors make students consider and organize their priorities for their experience in college. They assist students in researching the available options for a college degree. Their job is to ensure that all the necessary steps in student applications are complete. They even send letters of recommendation and transcripts to make sure that students land their own careers.

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.

College counselor vs admissions counselor salary

College counselors and admissions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

College CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Average salary$45,991$39,298
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $62,000Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityOakland, CASan Rafael, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyCalifornia College of the ArtsSchool of Visual Concepts
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalProfessional

Differences between college counselor and admissions counselor education

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

College CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

College counselor vs admissions counselor demographics

Here are the differences between college counselors' and admissions counselors' demographics:

College CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 31.9% Female, 68.1%Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4%
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 counselor and admissions counselor duties and responsibilities

College counselor example 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.
  • Maintain student records including GPA's and transcripts.
  • Serve as school coordinator for NCAA eligibility for student athletes.
  • Show more

Admissions counselor example 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.
  • Show more

College counselor vs admissions counselor skills

Common college counselor skills
  • Colleges, 14%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • FAFSA, 8%
  • Admissions Process, 7%
  • Scholarship Applications, 6%
Common admissions counselor skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Admissions Process, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 4%
  • Financial Aid, 4%

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