The state of high school counseling: Balancing caseloads and changing college & career landscape

A 2026 survey of over 1,606 high school counselors

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Key Findings: Systemic Overload and Opportunity

Capacity strains

41.4%

of counselors reported spending up to 4-5 hours a week on basic questions.

High confidence, but low on time

84.1%

rated themselves 8+/10 in confidence to guide through college and career planning.

Year-round advising tool could be a game-changer

54.5%

think a year-round AI advisor is a “good idea.”

What’s inside the report?

This comprehensive data set of over 1,606 high school counselors highlights a critical capacity gap in the college and career readiness planning in many high schools across the US. Access to resources can vary between families and districts, placing more responsibility on the counselor to actively guide the process. Counselors are searching for tools to expand their capacity, bring equitable access to accurate college and career pathway information, and engage family members into this critical process.

The top 5 key challenges facing high school counselors:

1

Systemic overload and overwhelm

4

Growing inequities

2

Rapidly shifting landscape

5

Increased anxiety

3

Misinformation and confusion

Get the full insight today.

Download the full report to see how high school counselors view the state of college and career readiness today, including current curriculum, parental involvement, and key gaps that could be addressed with the right tech-enabled tools and solutions.

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FAQs

College Guidance Network (CGN) surveyed over 1,606 high school counselors across the United States in January. Counselors that responded were from all types of schools (public, private, religious, and independent), with varying caseloads and grade responsibilities (9-12).

According to this survey, high school counselors find themselves managing too many responsibilities within their time constraints, frustration with misinformation, a “constant flux” of changes in college admissions, a gap of inequities between various families, and increased anxiety and stress over the college and career process.

College Guidance Network is a mission-driven organization that helps counselors and high school families navigate the complexities of the college and career transitions in a rapidly changing world. We are the only tech-enabled career and college planning solution that is human-centered and combines the power of AI with a team of over 400+ experts. By using safe AI tools with vetted information from top experts and guardrails, counselors can collaborate with students and their families to get high-quality support instantly around the clock.

CGN also provides exceptional live and recorded programming, with admissions officers and industry experts that are open to all. CGN provides the tools and guidance that empowers families and maximizes school counselor capacity.

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