2019 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
Student-to-Counselor Ratios by School District
To highlight differences in student-to-counselor ratios, NACAC has prepared a series of state maps highlighting school district-level data available from the US Department of Education. Although state averages provide a general sense of how states are meeting students’ school counseling needs, they can mask substantial differences in student-to-counselor ratios within states. A school district-level analysis draws attention to areas most in need of outreach and support.
What's New
Survey: Colleges Consider Student Character Traits in Admission Decisions
In a recent national survey, 70 percent of admission officers said a student’s character attributes were either “considerably” or “moderately” important in the selection process at their respective institutions.
Learn MoreCharacter and the College Admission Process
Character counts when it comes to college admission, according to new data from NACAC and the Character Collaborative.
Learn MoreReport: High School Performance Matters Most in College Admission Decisions
According to NACAC’s recently released 2019 State of College Admission report, a student’s high school record remains the primary consideration of colleges when reviewing applications, a finding that has been consistent over the past three decades.
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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Character and the College Admission Process
Character counts when it comes to college admission, according to new data from NACAC and the Character Collaborative.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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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Agents and International Student Recruitment
Learn more about specific requirements, such as the provision that the names and contact information of all commissioned agents must be included on institutional websites.
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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
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.