Admission Counselor

Salary: $36,000.00 - $40,000.00 Annually
Location : Lebanon, IL
Job Type: Full-Time Staff
Job Number: 202600025
Department: Admission and Financial Aid
Division: Undergrad Admission
Opening Date: 07/21/2026
FLSA: Exempt


McKendree University, located in Lebanon, IL and home of the Bearcats, invites qualified applicants to join our team. McKendree University offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to influence the future leaders of tomorrow.

The mission of McKendree University is to provide a high-quality educational experience to outstanding students. We guide our students in the pursuit of academic excellence, which will prepare them for leadership roles in our society. To achieve this end we encourage broader vision, enriched purpose, engagement with community, commitment to responsible citizenship, openness to new ideas and dedication to lifelong learning. In keeping with our history and traditions, we provide our students with a rigorous, broadly based liberal arts curriculum joined with specialization in a specific discipline.

Position Summary and Key Responsibilities
The admission counselor is vital to the recruitment, enrollment, and outreach efforts of the Office of Admission. The central purpose of this position is to aggressively cultivate an assigned geographic territory in a manner which generates quality applicants and enrolls students in accordance with the goals of the University while creating strong working relationships with both on and off campus offices/organizations that contribute to the advancement of these goals.
Key Responsibilities:

The following duties and responsibilities are essential to the admission counselor purpose:

• Create and familiarize yourself with the profile and history for the assigned territory.
• Work with the Assistant Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid to set annual recruitment and enrollment goals.
• Develop and implement a recruitment strategy to meet annual goals.
• Expand knowledge of the intricacies of McKendree's curriculum, campus resources, and student life and share that information with prospective students to build quality in the 'McKendree Experience'.
• Manage travel within the recruitment territory to include visits to high schools/community colleges, attendance at college fairs, and community presentations.
• Facilitate prospective student campus visits and provide insightful information about the 'McKendree Experience'. In addition to arranging for a campus tour and admission presentation, the admission counselor should also incorporate the following into the campus visit when possible: faculty meeting, co-curricular programs, and meals.
• Communicate continuously with prospective students and their parents through phone, email, and in-person contact.
• Review and discuss financial aid and scholarship opportunities in a manner which conveys that the 'McKendree Experience' is a worthy investment for the student and the family.
• Maintain accurate and timely admission prospecting and communication records within the student information system (Recruiter).
• Monitor and analyze reports on prospects.
• Help to plan and implement campus admission events and other projects during the recruiting cycle, including at least one collateral assignment. Collateral assignments could include, but are not limited to the following:
• Implementing Social Media Plan
• Overall travel coordination
• Facilitating student work groups and interns
• Development of campus visit experience
• Onsite coordination of professional development opportunities
• Coordinate with other members of the staff to create a helpful and congenial atmosphere in the office.
• Follow the Office of Admission policies and procedures.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• Willingness to travel extensively in the fall and some during the spring and work some evenings and weekends.
• Devotion to team-work and goal-setting.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

An admission counselor should be a self-motivated , experience orientated individual with strong communication skills (listening, writing, and speaking) and outgoing personality .
Maintain extensive knowledge of the following:

• The 'McKendree Experience' to include the intricacies of McKendree's curriculum, campus resources, and student life along with admission policies & procedures and institutional scholarship & financial aid opportunities.
• Federal, State, and institutional financial policies and regulations.
• Student Information System (Recruiter) and other computer systems.
• Current trends in college counseling and admission.

Preferred Qualifications:
Previous experience in a college or university admission or recruiting office is preferred.

Work Conditions
Office environment:

• 40 hours per week
• Occasional evening and weekend work required
• Light travel during the Fall and Spring required, may include overnights

Required Application Materials


Cover Letter
Resume/CV


Equal Opportunity Employer

McKendree University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. This extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion, layoff, and termination.
McKendree offers a competitive benefits package to our full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, 403(b) deferred compensation retirement plans with matching contributions, and flexible spending accounts. life insurance, and 11 paid holidays.


Full-Time faculty and staff also enjoy:
-FREE tuition upon hire! Spouses and dependents under the age of 26 are also eligible for free undergraduate level courses.
- Complimentary or discounted tickets to our premier performing arts venue, presenting world class dance, drama, classical music and jazz.
- Complimentary tickets for Athletic events.
- Free birthday meal at 1828 Cafe.
- Discounts at the McKendree University Bookstore and so much more.

To learn more details, review our