wisconsin association for college admission counseling

What wisconsin association for college admission counseling does

The Wisconsin Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association and chartered affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The organization serves college and university admission professionals and high school counselors primarily in Wisconsin, providing membership services, professional development programming, signature events, awards, and student-access resources. Its primary audiences are practicing admission officers and school counselors who guide students through the post-secondary transition, with secondary reach into first-generation and underrepresented students via scholarship and grant programs.

WACAC's core product portfolio is built around three pillars: membership access, professional development events, and member resources. The Membership Program provides access to a member-only webinar database and a searchable membership directory, delivered through Wild Apricot membership software. Signature events include the annual New Counselor Institute (NCI), a 3-day onboarding event held at Marquette University in early August; the biennial WACAC Conference; the biennial MIDWest Conference (which extends participation to affiliates from Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas); Professional Development Workshops held twice yearly; the Wisconsin Education Fairs (WEF) four-week fall college fair tour; and the Milwaukee NACAC College Fair. Additional resources include the Job Center (a listing platform with fees paid by posting organizations and weekly listserv distribution to members), five annual professional awards, and Inclusion, Access & Success resources such as the IDEAS Scholarship, ROAD Grant, and Undocumented Student Guide.

The business model is member-funded through three revenue streams: recurring membership dues from individual professionals, one-time event registration fees (NCI priced at $250/attendee), and transaction fees from job postings on the Job Center. Distribution is regional (Wisconsin-anchored with select multi-state reach through MIDWest), and the go-to-market is event-driven, relying on in-person programming, member-only web portal access, and direct email communications via the listserv. The organization maintains no venture capital, private equity, or parent-company ownership; it operates as an independent non-profit within the NACAC affiliate structure.

Name

wisconsin association for college admission counseling

Legal name

Wisconsin Association for College Admission Counseling

Website

https://wacac.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WACAC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and NACAC chartered affiliate serving Wisconsin college admission professionals and high school counselors through membership, signature events (NCI, MIDWest Conference, WEF), professional development, job postings, awards, and student-access resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• College admission counseling
• Professional membership association
• Admission professional development
• School counselor resources
• Education fair programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

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 collected from admission professionals and school counselors. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from New Counselor Institute registration ($250 per attendee), and conference/workshop attendance fees.
3. Job Posting Fees: Organizations pay to post job listings on the WACAC Job Center. Listings are posted for up to two months and emailed to the membership listserv.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WACAC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership association that delivers membership services, professional development events (including the New Counselor Institute, MIDWest Conference, and biannual workshops), college fair programs, a job center, and specialized resources to college admission professionals and high school counselors in Wisconsin and the broader Midwest. Its chartered affiliate status with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) anchors its regional community and access to national ethical standards.

Product overview

WACAC is a professional membership organization (501(c)3 non-profit) that serves as a chartered affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. The organization's offerings consist primarily of membership services, professional development events, and educational resources. The core portfolio includes membership programs with access to webinars and directories; signature events including the New Counselor Institute (NCI), MIDWest Conference, and Professional Development Workshops; the Wisconsin Education Fairs and NACAC College Fair programs; a Job Center for posting admission and counseling positions; professional awards recognizing excellence in the field; and resources like the Undocumented Student Guide, IDEAS Scholarship, and ROAD Grant for supporting underrepresented populations. The organization is powered by Wild Apricot membership software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual membership program for college admission professionals and high school counselors providing access to member-only webinars, the membership directory, and professional development resources through the Wild Apricot platform.
• New Counselor Institute (NCI) Three-day annual professional development event introducing new public and private college/university admission representatives to the field, covering travel tips, multicultural recruitment, college fair basics, and opportunities within WACAC. Registration $250.
• MIDWest Conference Biennial regional conference welcoming WACAC members and affiliate members from Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, featuring professional development sessions and networking opportunities.
• Professional Development Workshops Programming for admission and school counselors covering current trends and changes in higher education, typically held twice a year in fall and spring.
• Wisconsin Education Fairs (WEF) College fairs traveling throughout Wisconsin during four consecutive fall weeks, connecting local high school students and families with college and university representatives.
• Job Center Platform for posting and searching job listings in the college admission and counseling field, with listings posted for up to two months and distributed weekly to the membership.
• NACAC College Fair (Milwaukee) Annual college fair organized in partnership with NACAC, including the Milwaukee NACAC College Fair, bringing together member institutions and prospective students.
• Professional Awards Program Annual recognition program including High School Counseling Professional of the Year, Admissions Professional of the Year, WACAC Rising Star, Support Staff of the Year, and Jim Miller Commitment to Service Award.
• Undocumented Student Guide Resource guide developed by the Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee to support undocumented students in navigating their educational journey.
• IDEAS Scholarship Scholarship supporting first-generation high school students with financial need to attend WACAC member institutions.
• ROAD Grant Travel grant assisting programs that help students explore higher education options through visits to college campuses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 annual professional awards recognizing excellence in the field
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACAC is a chartered affiliate of NACAC, the national membership organization for college admission professionals. This affiliation provides WACAC members with access to national resources, ethical guidelines, and the broader NACAC network.
• Marquette UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarquette University hosts the New Counselor Institute (NCI) 2026 event at their Milwaukee campus.
• Hilton Garden InnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHilton Garden Inn provides a hotel block for NCI conference attendees at $154/night.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC): Adjacent Midwest NACAC affiliate serving Michigan with the same chartered-association model: membership, college fairs, awards, and conferences. Comparable in scale and target member profile.
• New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC): Direct NACAC state affiliate counterpart serving New York with equivalent membership, conferences, college fairs, and Job Center offerings — highly comparable in structure and operation.
• Indiana Association for College Admission Counseling (INACAC): NACAC-affiliated state association for Indiana, offering parallel programming (membership, conferences, college fairs) and a member profile that mirrors WACAC's.
• Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC): NACAC state affiliate in Illinois operating parallel membership programs, professional awards, college fairs, and annual conferences — a direct peer in both product set and geography adjacent to WACAC's Midwest footprint.
• Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC): A fellow chartered NACAC state affiliate providing the same membership dues, conferences, college fairs, and professional development structure to Pennsylvania admission counselors. Closest functional peer to WACAC given parallel affiliation, product mix, and member-base model.
• Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling (OHACAC): Another direct NACAC state affiliate in the Midwest serving Ohio's college admission community with near-identical membership, conference, fair, and awards products.

Broad incumbents

• College Board: National nonprofit administering the SAT, AP, and college-access programming. Adjacent to WACAC's mission of expanding post-secondary access and an institutional partner/competitor for member schools and counselors.
• American School Counselor Association (ASCA): National professional association for school counselors with overlapping target members (high school counselors) and overlapping professional development, awards, and advocacy offerings — a broader incumbent in an adjacent segment.
• National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC): National umbrella organization of which WACAC is a chartered affiliate. NACAC offers overlapping programming (conferences, ethical guidelines, fairs, advocacy) at national scale, and is the structural parent of WACAC's affiliation.
• ACT, Inc. Major nonprofit testing and college-readiness organization with overlapping interest in counselor professional development and the same high school guidance constituency WACAC serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NACAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-association-for-college-admission-counseling-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/wacac (referenced in Communications Committee)

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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