Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling

What Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling does

The Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC) is a non-profit professional membership association founded in 1963 and headquartered in Enola, Pennsylvania. It serves college admission counseling professionals across the state, including secondary school counselors, college and university admission officers, independent educational consultants (IECs), and community-based organization (CBO) counselors. PACAC operates as a chartered affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), which has more than 26,000 members nationwide. The organization is staffed by approximately 10 employees and relies heavily on volunteer committees and elected officers for governance and program delivery.

PACAC's product portfolio centers on professional development, advocacy, and networking. Flagship offerings include the Annual PACAC Conference (63rd edition in 2026, held at Kalahari Resort in the Poconos), the 49th Annual Summer Institute at Bucknell University, the Stephen R. Merritt Enrollment and Middle Management Institute (EMMI), Admission Boot Camp (East and West), the College Counseling Education Program, the Ethical Leadership Program, and PACAC Connects online workshops. Supporting programs include the PACAC Mentorship Program, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), College Fairs, the annual College Tour, Camp College Basecamp, scholarships, and Counselor Assistance Program (CAP) Grants. All programming provides Act 48 credits for Pennsylvania educators.

The organization generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues (September 1 - August 31 cycle), event registration fees, conference sponsorships and exhibitor fees, and special events such as the Chris Lewis Memorial Golf Outing. Pricing is transaction-based and tiered by member status and event type, with nonmembers paying premium rates versus members. PACAC distributes services through its website (pacac.org), the MemberClicks membership platform, in-person events at Pennsylvania universities and resorts, and virtual/online delivery channels. The business model is community-led, with member acquisition driven by professional development value, advocacy impact, and word-of-mouth among education professionals.

Name

Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling

Legal name

Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling

Website

https://pacac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC) is a 63-year-old non-profit membership association serving college admission counseling professionals across Pennsylvania. It delivers annual conferences, professional development institutes, college fairs, mentorship, and advocacy programming for counselors and admission officers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK), Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards (THAHAMAD)

Keywords

• College admission counseling
• Professional association services
• Professional development programs
• Membership association
• College fairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Enola

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to professional development resources, networking opportunities, advocacy programs, and member discounts on events. Memberships run September 1 - August 31.
2. Professional Development Events: Revenue from registration fees for annual conferences, Summer Institute, Admission Boot Camp, EMMI, and various workshops and seminars. Fees vary by member status and event type.
3. Conference Sponsorships and Exhibitor Fees: Corporate sponsors and exhibitors pay fees to participate in the annual conference. Vendor registration is $400 for non-exhibiting vendors.
4. Golf Outing and Special Events: The Chris Lewis Memorial Golf Outing and other special events generate revenue through participant registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PACAC is a professional membership association that delivers professional development, networking, advocacy, and college fair programming for college admission counseling professionals in Pennsylvania. Its core sellable offerings include the annual PACAC Conference, the Summer Institute at Bucknell University, the Enrollment and Middle Management Institute (EMMI), Admission Boot Camp, the College Counseling Education Program, the Ethical Leadership Program, online workshops, regional college fairs, the College Tour, the Mentorship Program, scholarships, and Counselor Assistance Program (CAP) Grants. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues, tiered event registration fees (member vs. non-member), exhibitor and sponsor fees, and special-event participation.

Product overview

PACAC offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional development programs for college admission counseling professionals and secondary school counselors. The organization operates a modular platform approach, with flagship programs including the Annual PACAC Conference (the 63rd edition in 2026), the 49th Annual Summer Institute at Bucknell University, and the Enrollment and Middle Management Institute (EMMI). Supporting programs include Admission Boot Camp, College Counseling Education Program, Ethical Leadership Program, Women's Empowerment Workshop, PACAC Connects Online Workshops, Promoting Inclusivity & Equity series, Mentorship Program, and Special Interest Groups. The organization also provides advocacy programming through Advocacy Days, administers PACAC College Fairs, manages a College Tour, and offers scholarships and Counselor Assistance Program (CAP) Grants for member support. All programs provide Act 48 credits for Pennsylvania educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of students and families throughout Pennsylvania benefit from PACAC's advocacy for access to quality post-secondary educational opportunities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPACAC is a chartered affiliate of NACAC, which is comprised of more than 26,000 professionals dedicated to serving students as they consider their postsecondary education choices. NACAC provides award-winning publications and resources, professional development programs, and practical research efforts. PACAC can nominate up to three individuals annually for the NEXT leadership development program. PACAC also participates in NACAC's College Fairs and National Conference.
• PSCA (Pennsylvania School Counselors Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe College Counseling Education Program webinars are free for any member of PACAC and/or PSCA, demonstrating a collaborative partnership between the two Pennsylvania-based education professional associations.
• Kalahari ResortsminorOthersKalahari Resorts in the Poconos serves as the venue for the annual PACAC Conference. Group rates of $209 are negotiated for single, double, triple, or quad occupancy.
• Bucknell UniversityminorOthersBucknell University hosts the annual Summer Institute, providing campus facilities and accommodations for the multi-day professional development program.
• Wilkes University, King's College, University of Scranton, Marywood UniversityminorOthersFour member schools participate in the annual College Tour, hosting tours, info sessions, and meals for secondary school counselors and CBO professionals.
• Villanova UniversityminorOthersVillanova University hosts the annual Main Line Workshops and Main Line Regional College Fair in May.
• Lehigh UniversityminorOthersLehigh University hosts the Admission Boot Camp East event annually for new admissions professionals.
• Chatham UniversityminorOthersChatham University hosts the Admission Boot Camp West event annually for new admissions professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• American School Counselor Association (ASCA): ASCA is the national professional association for school counselors. While PACAC focuses narrowly on college admission counseling and ASCA covers the broader K-12 counselor role, ASCA overlaps significantly with PACAC's secondary school counselor membership base and professional development offerings.
• National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC): NACAC is the national umbrella organization for college admission counseling of which PACAC is a chartered affiliate. With 26,000+ members nationwide, NACAC delivers overlapping programming including publications, college fairs, leadership development (NEXT), and the national conference, making it the closest functional and structural peer.

Direct peers

• Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC): OACAC is a NACAC chartered affiliate serving college admission counseling professionals in Ohio. As a regional Mid-Atlantic/Midwest state affiliate with parallel programming, OACAC is a closely comparable structural peer to PACAC.
• New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC): NYSACAC is a NACAC chartered affiliate serving college admission counseling professionals in New York. It mirrors PACAC's structure as a state-level affiliate association providing annual conferences, summer institutes, college fairs, and professional development.
• Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC): IACAC is a NACAC chartered affiliate serving college admission counseling professionals in Illinois. Its mission, membership structure, and conference/event portfolio closely parallel PACAC's, making it a structurally analogous state-affiliate peer.
• New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC): NJACAC is a NACAC chartered affiliate serving college admission counseling professionals in New Jersey. As a neighboring state-level affiliate with similar programming (annual conference, college fairs, professional development), it is a directly comparable peer to PACAC.
• Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC): MACAC is a NACAC chartered affiliate serving college admission counseling professionals in Michigan. It operates with a similar membership, conference, and professional development model to PACAC, making it a relevant direct peer.
• Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA): PSCA is the Pennsylvania-based professional association for school counselors. PACAC already co-hosts the College Counseling Education Program webinars with PSCA, demonstrating direct programmatic overlap in serving Pennsylvania school counselors through membership, professional development, and advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-association-of-college-admission-counseling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling