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College Access Coach Jobs (NOW HIRING)

College Access Mentor

Oakland, CA · On-site

$1.2K/wk

  • Medical

The College Access Mentor Specialist is the primary relationship-builder and college-going culture ... Engage in regular coaching and observation cycles with the Associate Program Director to build and ...

Lead and supervise Career Pathway Advisors, providing coaching, training, and performance management. * Build strong partnerships with K-12 schools, community organizations, and college access ...

High School Success & College Access Specialist The High School Success & College Access Specialist ... Coach students on aligning college selection and applications with long-term career goals. Guide ...

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College Access Coach information

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How much do college access coach jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for college access coach in the United States is $19.70, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $20.67 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a college access coach?

A College Access Coach is a professional who helps students navigate the process of preparing for, applying to, and enrolling in college. They provide guidance on college selection, application completion, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. College Access Coaches also offer support with standardized testing, essays, and developing academic and career plans, especially for students who may be the first in their families to attend college or who face barriers to higher education.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a college access coach?

To thrive as a College Access Coach, you need a strong background in educational counseling, knowledge of college admissions processes, and typically a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field. Familiarity with college application platforms, financial aid systems like FAFSA, and student information systems is highly valuable. Exceptional interpersonal skills, cultural competency, and the ability to motivate and guide students are crucial soft skills for this role. These skills enable coaches to effectively support diverse students through complex application processes, increasing college enrollment and student success.

What are some common challenges college access coaches face when supporting students through the college application process?

College Access Coaches often encounter challenges such as addressing students’ varying levels of college readiness, navigating financial aid complexities, and managing large caseloads. They work with students from diverse backgrounds, many of whom may be first-generation college applicants and may lack family support or awareness of application steps. Coaches must also stay current with changing admission requirements and deadlines, while fostering strong relationships across school staff, families, and community organizations to ensure students receive comprehensive support.

What is the difference between College Access Coach vs College Counselor?

AspectCollege Access CoachCollege Counselor
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree; certifications like NASPA or NACAC are commonUsually a master's degree in counseling or education; licensure may be required
Work EnvironmentSchools, community organizations, non-profits focusing on college prepHigh schools, colleges, universities providing academic and emotional support
Employer & Industry UsageEducational nonprofits, community programs, schoolsHigh schools, colleges, private practices

While both roles support students in higher education, College Access Coaches primarily focus on college readiness and application guidance, often working in community settings. College Counselors typically provide comprehensive academic advising, emotional support, and college planning within schools or colleges. The roles overlap but differ mainly in scope and setting.

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Infographic showing various College Access Coach job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, and 67% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $40,970 per year, or $19.7 per hour.

Vice President, College Access, Readiness, & Equity

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools

Remote

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit public charter school networks in the nation, operating 25 high-performing, middle and high schools that educate nearly 13,000 scholars who make up the heart of Los Angeles' Latinx, Black, and recent immigrant communities. Alliance schools have been recognized as among the best in the nation byU.S. News & World Report,Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Department of Education. Since opening our first school in 2004, 95% of Alliance scholars have graduated from high school. We strive to uplift our scholars and their communities by fostering unparalleled educational opportunities that encourage scholarly thought, resilient learning, powerful communication, mind-body wellness, and community advocacy. To learn more, visitwww.LAalliance.org.


ROLE SUMMARY

The Vice President, College Access, Readiness, and Equity is a visionary and collaborative leader responsible for ensuring that all Alliance scholars are academically prepared, personally supported, and fully informed to access college and postsecondary opportunities. Reporting to the Chief Equity Programs Officer, this role oversees a cross-functional team that drives strategy and implementation across academic counseling, college advising, dual enrollment, counselor development, middle-to-high school alignment, and equity-centered policy design. The Vice President, College Access, Readiness, and Equity will lead efforts to align and strengthen systems that ensure scholar readiness for high school graduation and four-year college eligibility, with a focus on equitable access to A-G coursework, data-informed advising, and college-going culture across Alliance campuses, grounding in graduating scholars college-ready. The Vice President will serve on the Equity Programs Leadership Team and Alliance Home Office Leadership Team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership: Scholar Readiness & Postsecondary Access

  • Design and lead a network-wide strategy to ensure scholars graduate high school A-G eligible and prepared to access a full range of college options.

  • Provide strategic oversight of academic counseling systems, including credit monitoring, intervention frameworks, and graduation planning protocols.

  • Ensure development and coherence of academic policies, tools, and practices that guide grading, course placement, and college advising.

  • Set the strategic direction for Graduate Profile implementation and vertical alignment between middle and high schools.

  • Set the vision and strategic priorities for counselor onboarding, coaching, and professional learning across the network.

  • Ensure school-based teams have the capacity, tools, and guidance necessary to implement high-quality school counseling and college access practices aligned to network goals.

  • Develop and maintain the vision for middle-to-high school readiness and transition supports.

  • Ensure systems are in place to drive vertical alignment and consistent coaching structures across Alliance schools.

  • Provide strategic leadership for Alliance's dual enrollment vision, ensuring that equitable opportunities aligned to scholar interests are provided across Alliance schools.

  • Leads the organization's strategy related to postsecondary persistence, alumni engagement, and external higher education partnerships in support of long-term scholar success and college completion outcomes.

College Access Infrastructure & Data Systems

  • Provide executive oversight of college application, financial aid, and scholarship systems, ensuring platforms and supports are equitable and scalable.

  • Ensure effective implementation and usage of tools (e.g., Overgrad, Californiacolleges.edu, PowerSchool) through cross-functional collaboration and school support structures.

  • Guide the strategy for college access data reporting, ensuring insights drive continuous improvement and equity-focused decision-making.

  • Oversee the development of systems, partnerships, and data tools that support course alignment, enrollment growth, and the successful implementation of dual enrollment across the network.

  • Lead the College Access, Readiness, and Equity Team to analyze and report statistical data related to college-going culture in order to propose and implement appropriate school-based and network-based college supports and initiatives for middle schools and high schools.

Equity-Centered Policy & Practice

  • Ensure all strategies, policies, and initiatives advance Alliance's commitments to equity, anti-racism, and educational justice.

  • Lead development of inclusive grading and academic policies that promote fair access to learning and college eligibility.

  • Collaborate with Equity Programs leadership to ensure aligned support across school counseling, college readiness, and college access.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

  • Commitment to Alliance's core beliefs and educational philosophy.

  • Demonstrated commitment to supporting equity, diversity, and inclusivity, and commitment to building an anti-racist workplace.

  • Ability and commitment to work collaboratively with an emphasis on a "college-going culture" approach.

  • Strong knowledge of scholar information systems, financial aid systems, codes, and regulations affecting scholar services.

  • Knowledge and understanding of California Higher Education systems and scholar services programs.

  • A proven track record of developing systems-level vision and strategy and successfully leading and managing the implementation of the vision to transform scholar outcomes.

  • Successful experience building and motivating a high-performing team.

  • A proven track record of leading, managing, and coaching others to increase scholar achievement in a public, urban school or charter schools.

  • Ability to lead effectively in a multi-layered organization and build strong relationships with teachers, coaches, school leaders, senior leadership, and other home office and school-based colleagues.

  • Strong customer service orientation, with demonstrated ability to establish and sustain systems to provide great service experiences to stakeholders.

  • Entrepreneurial spirit to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

  • Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for urban education.

  • Flexibility to adapt to constantly changing environments and continually looking for ways to work proactively to improve systems, structures, and processes with a demonstrated commitment to enhancing one's own capabilities while also developing others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university

  • 5+ years of relevant progressive professional work experience in a related field, including at least 3 years of school leadership or system leadership experience

  • Preferred: Graduate Degree in education, educational leadership, public administration, or related field

WORK LOCATION

This position is a hybrid role, which will include a combination of working from home, our network office, and travel to school sites. The successful candidate will be given a $400 work-from-home set-up allowance and receive a monthly stipend of $100.

BENEFITS

In alignment with our commitment to equity for our scholars, Alliance is dedicated to promoting equity and transparency within our team, offering competitive salaries commensurate with experience, as well as generous retirement and health benefits. This position is Exempt.

  • We strive to be the best employer possible by offering excellent benefits for our employees and their families. Please click HERE for more information about our health benefits, retirement options, as well as our paid holidays and leave.

  • Relocation: Individuals residing outside of the Greater Los Angeles area are eligible for a relocation bonus of $5,000 for individuals and $7,500 for new staff with families/partners.

  • Professional Development: At Alliance, we believe in supporting staff growth by providing substantial professional development support. Home Office staff are allocated $500 per year for professional development expenses.

COMPENSATION

$130,000.00 - $173,500.00

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit an application. If you advance to the next step, you will be contacted for a phone screen and/or interview. Only candidates who advance will be contacted.

If you would like to view the progress of your application, you can log in to your Candidate Home Account by signing in at the top right of our jobs page.

Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor or support applicants on visas at this time or in the foreseeable future.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, anti-racist, pro-Black community that celebrates diversity, equity, and the unique identities of all scholars and staff. Nearly two-thirds of our teachers and administrators identify as people of color, reinforcing our commitment to representation and the power of diverse role models.We recognize the richness of the cultures and communities we serve, and we believe that embracing and empowering these identities is essential to the success and pride of our scholars. Working at Alliance means joining a movement to drive transformative change, nurture resilience, and build lifelong, meaningful connections with scholars and their communities.

Champion Alliance's Anti-Racist, Pro-Black Mission: The strongest candidates will bring a commitment to Alliance's mission of building an anti-racist, pro-Black community that prioritizes the success and well-being of Black and Brown scholars. Candidates should have a passion for promoting equity through anti-racist, student-centered teaching practices that celebrate racial and cultural identities. This role is rooted in service to systemically underserved communities in Los Angeles, helping scholars graduate "college-ready" with pride in who they are.

This job description is subject to change at any time based on the evolving needs of the organization.

  • Alliance College-Ready Public Schools are tuition-free public charter schools that do not discriminate against any scholar, parent, community member, or staff member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

  • Alliance College-Ready Public Schools requires that all team members complete a LiveScan background check and TB clearance.

  • Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they match every criterion. If you think you meet some of the qualifications, but don't necessarily check every box in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. If you have questions contact the Talent Acquisition Team atjoinus@laalliance.org.