Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a College Administrator
What college administrators actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a college administrator?
Review weekly enrollment numbers. From there, the day usually includes manage a college office or division, set policies and procedures, and oversee budgets. Full time, with busy seasons around admissions, registration and graduation.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a college administrator working full time.
- Review weekly enrollment numbers.
- Meet the admissions team.
- Meet a student about an appeal.
- Lunch with faculty leaders.
- Plan next year’s budget.
- Review a compliance report.
- Attend a campus event.
Where college administrators work
Administrators work in campus offices, with meetings across campus.
Hours and schedule
Full time, with busy seasons around admissions, registration and graduation.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Manage a college office or division
- Set policies and procedures
- Oversee budgets
- Supervise staff
- Track enrollment and retention data
- Work with faculty and students
- Ensure compliance with regulations
Tools you’ll use every day
- Student information systems
- CRM software
- Data dashboards
- Budget software
- Degree audit systems
- Spreadsheets
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Campus environment
- Good benefits
- Help students succeed
- Many specialties
What’s hard
- Bureaucracy
- Budget pressure
- Enrollment pressure
- Busy seasons
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love campus life
- I like managing people
- I’m organized
- I’m comfortable with data
- I want to help students graduate
- I can navigate bureaucracy
Not sure? Take the free College Administrator fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow Clery Act safety reporting
- Follow Title IX procedures
- Protect student records under FERPA
- Support campus emergency plans