2018 State of College Admission
NACAC’s annual State of College Admission is based on surveys of school counselors and college and university admission offices nationwide. NACAC provides this report each year to highlight issues of concern to college bound students, their parents and the educators who serve them.
Barriers to Successfully Financing a College Education
NACAC conducted an extensive study in the Fall of 2017, including a literature review, a series of focus groups, and three national surveys, with support from PwC’s Access Your Potential© commitment.
School Counselors and School Safety
According to a national survey conducted by NACAC, school counselors overwhelmingly oppose efforts to arm educators as a response to gun violence in schools. Nearly three-quarters of 2,251 counselors who responded were either “somewhat opposed” or “strongly opposed” to policies that seek to arm teachers and other school staff.
Latest Research
Community Colleges and Transfer
High school counselors generally feel prepared to advise students about community colleges and believe these institutions offer relatively easy application and enrollment processes. However, results of a national survey conducted by NACAC showed that many counselors feel less knowledgeable about transfer policies at area four-year colleges and about comparisons of community colleges to for-profit colleges.
What's New
In Time for 2018 Elections, NACAC Survey Shows Student Activism is on the Rise
The intensity of the current political climate has led to increased activism among students at more than half (52 percent) of all secondary schools across the US, according to survey data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
Learn MoreSurvey Suggests Secondary and College Admission Counselors Would Benefit from More Financial Aid Training
Only a minority of high school counselors and early-career college admission professionals report being well-versed in several financial aid topics critical for advising students, but counselors working at schools where training was provided reported higher levels of knowledge on subjects related to paying for college, according to new research.
Learn MoreBarriers to Successfully Financing a College Education
Examining the role of secondary school counselors and college admission professionals in supporting student decision-making related to paying for college.
Learn MoreResearch Reports
NACAC research illuminates complex elements of college admission counseling and comprise a unique body of knowledge in the field.
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State-by-State Student-to-Counselor Ratio Report
This report to provide a glimpse at the 10-year trends in student-to-counselor ratios from 2004-05 to 2014-15.
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Barriers to Successfully Financing a College Education
Examining the role of secondary school counselors and college admission professionals in supporting student decision-making related to paying for college.
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Supporting International High School Students in the College Admission Process: A Qualitative Study of College Counselors
This study explores the unique challenges and needs of counselors advising nonimmigrant international students in US high schools.
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How Can High School Counseling Shape Students' Postsecondary Attendance?
Among the first to demonstrate that school counselors have a positive impact on student outcomes that is both quantifiable and statistically significant, this study provides a powerful tool for counselor advocacy efforts.
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Use of Predictive Validity Studies to Inform Admission Practices
This report sheds new light on the important role predictive validity research can play in informing admission practices.
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Preparing Students for College: What High Schools are Doing and How their Actions Influence Ninth Graders' College Attitudes, Aspirations, and Plans
In order to understand the ways US high schools are preparing students for the college transition process, NACAC, in partnership with MPR Associates, analyzed data from the US Department of Education's High School Longitudinal Study. The report largely examines high school counselors including how their attitudes and interactions with students affect ninth graders’ college aspirations.
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A National Look at the High School Counseling Office: What is it Doing and What Role Can it Play in Facilitating Students' Paths to College?
This report draws on data from the second wave of the US Department of Education’s High School Longitudinal Study to explore how high schools and counseling offices across the country support students as they transition from high school to college.
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Individualized Learning Plans for College and Career Readiness: State Policies and School-Based Practices
This report, developed by NACAC & Hobsons, highlights promising state- and school-level practices using individual learning plans (ILPs) to prepare students for success beyond high school.
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College Counseling for Latino and Underrepresented Students
In order to understand the role of the school counselor in preparing Latino and other underrepresented students for the transition to college, Excelencia in Education and NACAC conducted a national survey and observed counseling practices at six US high schools that were successfully supporting underrepresented populations during the college application process.
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Career Paths for Admission Officers: A Survey Report
This report presents the results of a survey of NACAC admission professionals, offering insightful observations on their career experiences and advice to others to advance in the profession.
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Professional College Knowledge: Re-Envisioning How We Prepare our College Readiness Workforce
This discussion paper highlights core professional competencies which should guide the college counseling field.
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Related Resources
Guide to the College Admission Process
This updated guide is an invaluable resource for students as they search for and select a school that’s right for them. As NACAC’s signature publication, the guide provides a comprehensive look at researching colleges, submitting applications, choosing an institution to attend, and more. New chapters addressing the unique needs of transfer and international students are featured in the latest edition.