Enrollment Counselors: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of enrollment counselors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for enrollment counselors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of enrollment counselors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for enrollment counselors.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Enrollment Counselors?

Do enrollment counselors need a degree? What kind of experience do enrollment counselors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for enrollment counselors to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Enrollment Counselors

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of enrollment counselors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 39% of positions. In 21% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 19% of postings no education level was listed.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Enrollment Counselors

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for enrollment counselors. In 51% of job postings for Enrollment Counselors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for enrollment counselors.

What Kind of Degree Do Enrollment Counselors Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for enrollment counselors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 7 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective enrollment counselors, and in 2021 a total of 161,100 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective enrollment counselors.

Top Degree Programs for Enrollment Counselors

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Enrollment Counselors

What Skills Do Enrollment Counselors Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by enrollment counselors to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for enrollment counselors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Enrollment Counselors
Based on 144,204 job postings

Based on 144,204 job postings related to enrollment counselors, student services was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 15% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for school counseling, social work, academic advising, psychology and case management were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for enrollment counselors, followed by customer service, writing, management, planning and leadership.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about enrollment counselors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for enrollment counselors.

What do enrollment counselors do?
How much do enrollment counselors make?

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The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.

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