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College counselor vs peer mentor

The differences between college counselors and peer mentors 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 $28,416 average annual salary of a peer mentor.

The top three skills for a college counselor include colleges, social work and professional development. The most important skills for a peer mentor are mental health, role model, and mathematics.

College counselor vs peer mentor overview

College CounselorPeer Mentor
Yearly salary$45,991$28,416
Hourly rate$22.11$13.66
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs31,1871,199
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
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 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 counselor vs peer mentor salary

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

College CounselorPeer Mentor
Average salary$45,991$28,416
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $62,000Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityOakland, CABrockton, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyCalifornia College of the ArtsSaint Xavier University
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalNon Profits

Differences between college counselor and peer mentor education

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

College CounselorPeer Mentor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

College counselor vs peer mentor demographics

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

College CounselorPeer Mentor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 31.9% Female, 68.1%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 counselor and peer mentor 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

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 counselor vs peer mentor skills

Common college counselor skills
  • Colleges, 14%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Professional Development, 8%
  • FAFSA, 8%
  • Admissions Process, 7%
  • Scholarship Applications, 6%
Common peer mentor skills
  • Mental Health, 11%
  • Role Model, 8%
  • Mathematics, 6%
  • GPA, 5%
  • Peer Support, 5%
  • Academic Support, 5%

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