Western Association for College Admission Counseling

What Western Association for College Admission Counseling does

Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1967, serving counseling and enrollment professionals across California and Nevada. The organization supports college admission counselors at high schools, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, community-based organizations, and independent consulting practices through a portfolio of programs including an annual three-day conference, free college fairs (operated since 1972), monthly webinars, regional Share Learn Connect workshops, the College Counseling Education Program (CCEP) administered via UCSD Extension, the Summer Admission Institute, Camp College, the Leadership Development Institute, District Directions, scholarships and grants, and 13 Special Interest Groups. WACAC is a chartered regional affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and reports more than 2,300 members.

WACAC operates as a member-directed organization governed by a volunteer Executive Board with day-to-day operations managed by a Managing Director and Technology Coordinator. Its technology stack is built on the MemberClicks platform, which handles membership registration, renewals, event registration, and the public member directory, supplemented by a website, bi-weekly email newsletter, and social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube). The organization maintains a job board for members and coordinates college fairs, legislative advocacy conferences, and professional development workshops across both states.

The revenue model is diversified across five streams: individual membership dues ($60/year regular; free for public school counselors and CBO staff; $40 for retired/student members), annual conference registration ($650 member / $750 non-member for full access), college fair exhibitor fees ($350-$550 depending on timing), the CCEP certificate program ($150, increasing to $195 in July 2026, with optional UCSD Extension credit), and corporate/organizational sponsorships sought by the Development Committee. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue and operates with a volunteer-led governance model that keeps fixed costs minimal relative to a typical for-profit association.

Name

Western Association for College Admission Counseling

Legal name

Western Association for College Admission Counseling

Website

https://wacac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WACAC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1967, serving more than 2,300 college admission counseling professionals across California and Nevada through conferences, college fairs, certification programs, and advocacy as a NACAC regional affiliate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• College admission counseling
• Professional development programs
• College fair events
• School counselor association
• Higher education networking

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. College Counseling Education Program (CCEP): Certificate program costing $150 (increasing to $195 in July 2026), with optional UCSD Extension credit available for additional cost.
2. Conference Sponsorships and Exhibitors: Development Committee seeks corporate and organizational sponsorships for the Annual Conference and specific WACAC programs throughout the year.
3. College Fair Exhibitor Fees: Colleges and universities pay registration fees to exhibit at WACAC College Fairs. Early registration (July-August) is $350 for members, regular registration $450, and late registration $550.
4. Membership Dues: Annual individual membership fees provide core operational funding. Regular membership is $60/year, with free membership for public school counselors and community-based organizations, and $40/year for retired/student members.
5. Annual Conference Registration: Three-day annual conference with full conference, one-day access, and guest/partner registration options. Late and on-site registration available at higher rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

WACAC is a regional non-profit professional association providing individual membership, training, networking, and advocacy services to college admission and school counseling professionals across the western United States. It runs an annual conference, professional development programs (including CCEP, LDI, SLC, Summer Admission Institute, and Camp College), and free public college fairs, operating within the NACAC affiliate network since 1967.

Product overview

WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling) is a non-profit professional membership organization serving counseling and enrollment professionals in California and Nevada. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected programs and services rather than a single unified product. Its core offerings include: the Annual Conference and WACAC Wednesdays as flagship professional development events; College Fairs and Legislative Conferences as community engagement programs; Share, Learn & Connect (SLC) and the Summer Admission Institute for targeted training; Camp College and the College Counseling Education Program (CCEP) for educational content; the Leadership Development Institute and District Directions for leadership and counselor support; plus Scholarships, Awards, a Job Board, and Special Interest Groups for member engagement. All programs support WACAC's mission to help students realize their full potential with emphasis on access and equity in higher education transitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Annual membership tiered by professional category (Public School Counselor, CBO Professional, Independent Consultant, Private/Independent School Counselor, Institution) granting access to professional development, advocacy, college fair participation, the job board, and member communications. Public school counselors and CBO professionals receive free membership.
• Annual Conference Multi-day flagship conference for WACAC members and institutional partners, offering keynote sessions, workshops, networking, and an exhibit hall. Registration is tiered by membership status and registration window.
• College Fairs Regional college fair circuit (Spring, Bay Area, SoCal, Portland) that is free to the public and paid by participating colleges and universities on a per-exhibitor basis for student recruitment.
• College Counseling Education Program (CCEP) Structured certificate program providing formal training in college counseling, comprising multiple course modules completed by member professionals to earn a credential recognized within the association.
• Leadership Development Institute (LDI) Paid training program developing leadership skills for members who aspire to volunteer leadership positions within WACAC and the broader admission counseling community.
• Share, Learn & Connect (SLC) Member peer-learning program providing facilitated sessions where college admission and counseling professionals share case studies, best practices, and professional experience.
• Summer Admission Institute Intensive summer training program covering college admission practices and trends for member professionals seeking concentrated skill development.
• Camp College College access program that introduces high school students, particularly underrepresented students, to the college admission process through workshops and direct engagement with admission professionals.
• WACAC Wednesdays Webinar Series Recurring webinar series delivering topical professional development, association updates, and admission-trend briefings to WACAC members.
• Job Board Online job board where institutions post admission and counseling openings and WACAC members search for positions.
• Scholarships and Grants Financial awards administered by WACAC, including conference scholarships for member professionals and Camp College scholarships for participating students.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered sponsorship packages (Platinum, Gold, Silver) sold to organizations seeking brand visibility and access to WACAC's audience of admission and counseling professionals across the western United States.
• District Directions Program supporting district-level counseling leadership through resources and convenings designed for school district counseling teams and administrators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free college fair access for students and families since 1972
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1967NACAC, founded in 1937, is an organization of more than 13,000 professionals dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education. WACAC is a chartered regional affiliate of NACAC, one of 23 affiliates sharing a common mission to serve and support admission counseling professionals and the students they serve. WACAC's bylaws must remain consistent with NACAC's governing documents.
• California Association for School Counselors (CASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC's Inter-Association Committee maintains regular communications and presents at CASC conferences. The partnership focuses on advancing common goals for school counselors and higher education access.
• California Student Aid CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC works with the California Student Aid Commission on financial aid awareness and student access initiatives.
• California Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC's College Counseling Education Program (CCEP) aligns with California Department of Education PPS credential requirements. The Inter-Association Committee presents at CDE conferences and utilizes CDE College Going Rates data.
• Pupil Services CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC represents the organization at monthly Pupil Services Coalition meetings held in Sacramento, working collaboratively on pupil services policy.
• ACTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC maintains regular communications with ACT, collaborating on testing and college admission initiatives.
• The College BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC presents at College Board conferences and maintains regular communications on college admission standards and practices.
• Capitol AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC and GRAC have worked in close partnership with Capitol Advisors, their partners in Sacramento, to advocate for WACAC members and the students they serve on legislative issues affecting education.
• Regional Admissions Counselors of California (RACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community College Advocacy Committee partners with RACC to provide transfer information sessions at WACAC events such as Share Learn & Connect, College Fairs, and the Annual Conference.
• California Community College Chancellor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC collaborated with the California Community College Chancellor's Office to revise Transfer Center Guidelines, supporting transfer student pathways.
• UCSD ExtensioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWACAC's College Counseling Education Program (CCEP) is administered through UCSD Extension, with an option for students to purchase four quarter units of credit through the extension program.
• Host Campuses for Share, Learn & Connect EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWACAC partners with host campuses (Santa Clara University, Soka University, Pepperdine University, Nevada State University, Saint Mary's College, Whittier College) to provide venue space for regional professional development workshops. Hosts provide space, collaboration, and light breakfast/lunch for attendees.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC): NACAC is the national parent organization of which WACAC is a chartered regional affiliate. It serves 13,000+ professionals across all 50 states through 23 affiliates, providing governance, national advocacy, and programming that WACAC extends regionally.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC): PACAC is a chartered NACAC regional affiliate serving Pennsylvania college admission counselors with the same membership, conference, college fair, and professional development model as WACAC, making it a structural peer in a different geography.
• New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC): NYSACAC is a NACAC regional affiliate serving New York with a comparable mix of membership, annual conference, college fairs, and legislative advocacy — directly analogous to WACAC's structure and revenue model.
• Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC): IACAC is a NACAC regional affiliate serving Illinois and neighboring states, operating the same annual conference, college fair, and professional development programs for college admission counselors.
• Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC): SACAC is one of the largest NACAC regional affiliates, serving the U.S. Southeast with parallel membership, conference, college fair, and advocacy programming, making it a direct structural peer at greater scale.
• Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA): HECA is a national membership organization for independent educational consultants, overlapping with WACAC's independent consultant segment and competing for the same professional development and credentialing demand.
• Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA): IECA is a national professional association for independent educational consultants, with membership, conferences, and ethical standards that overlap with WACAC's independent consultant member segment and college admissions focus.
• Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC): PNACAC is the NACAC regional affiliate serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, operating an equivalent membership, conference, and college fair model in a neighboring territory to WACAC.
• Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC): RMACAC is a NACAC regional affiliate serving Colorado and surrounding states with the same membership, conference, and college fair programming structure as WACAC.
• Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC): PCACAC is a NACAC regional affiliate serving the mid-Atlantic region with the same membership, conference, college fair, and professional development model as WACAC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WesternACAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/6601795
• Instagraminstagram.com/westernacac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Western Association for College Admission Counseling