Purdue University
Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
🇺🇸
Hybrid - Hammond, IN
🕑
Full-Time
💰
TBD
💻
Enrollment
🗓️
January 14th, 2026
CRM
Edtech.com's Summary
Purdue University Northwest is hiring an Admissions Specialist for Graduate Programs. The role involves managing graduate student recruitment, developing enrollment strategies, collaborating with various university departments, and representing the university at external events to increase graduate program enrollment.
Highlights
- Manage graduate outreach, recruitment, and admissions partnerships and strategies.
- Provide pre-admission counseling and develop targeted communication plans for prospective students.
- Coordinate recruitment events, including graduate fairs and campus visits.
- Collaborate with academic departments, university offices, and external agencies.
- Utilize enrollment data to monitor and report on recruitment success metrics.
- Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum one year of professional experience in admissions or related higher education recruitment.
- Preferred skills include familiarity with Purdue Northwest graduate programs and Ellucian CRM or Slate systems.
- Must have strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical skills, and the ability to work with diverse populations.
- Valid driver's license required with availability to travel regionally for recruitment events.
Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs Full Description
Overview of Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
This position is in the Division of Enrollment Management and Students Affairs in the Admissions Department. This Admissions Specialist for Graduate programs reports directly to the Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions with a dotted line to the Director of the Graduate School Office. They serve a vital role in collaborating with the other admission specialists who report to the Executive Director, campus stakeholders including but not limited to the Director of Graduate Studies and team members in the Office of Graduate Studies, the Academic College Deans and Associate Deans, University Relations, and the Provost’s Office. They serve as a liaison to the graduate school office, graduate chairs, graduate program administrators as well as collaborating with other Enrollment Management departments such as financial aid and the registrar.
This position does have the opportunity for a flexible work schedule but does require a strong on-campus presence.
This position does have the opportunity for a flexible work schedule but does require a strong on-campus presence.
Duties and Responsibilities of Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
- Identify, promote, and maintain internal and external partnerships focusing on graduate outreach, recruitment, and admission
- Identify, engage with, and recruit qualified students to our graduate programs
- Develop, recommend and implement graduate recruitment and matriculation strategies in consultation with relevant stakeholders at Purdue University Northwest
- Collect, monitor, and present enrollment data on a regular cycle
- Monitor the completion of graduate enrollment success metrics
- Implement focused messaging and communications aligned with the recruitment strategy.
- Provide pre-admission counseling to prospective students
- Communicate with prospective students and families to educate and move students through the enrollment funnel
- Provide admissions presentations to prospective students
- Develop, implement and coordinate recruitment activities
- Manage a portfolio of prospective students across the full funnel, with a primary focus from initial inquiry, through application.
- Evaluate recruitment program effectiveness and provides recommendations for improvement
- Create targeted communication plans and materials based on established goals
- Counsel prospective graduate students on educational planning and career opportunities
- Deliver approved directed admissions program messaging to internal and external audiences
- Attend recruitment fairs, and other events as determined
- Coordinate campus Admissions events including graduate studies fairs for our current PNW graduates
- Identify opportunities for and develop graduate admissions and outreach events
- Schedule logistics and secures resources for events to promote PNW
- Participate in campus visits during the week and weekends when needed
- Represent the University at external events college fairs, community agencies, corporations, and information sessions in a variety of markets
- Partner with academic departments for promotion and marketing of open houses
- Work with Executive Director to market events to internal and external audiences
Benefits of Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
- Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
- Accrue 15 days’ vacation your first year, then 22 days’ vacation your 2nd year plus rollover
- University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
- University contributions to Health Savings Account –
- Plus a chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
- 10 paid holidays
- Employee Wellness Programs
- Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
- Tuition remission for you, your spouse and dependent children at any Purdue campus
For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit: https://www.pnw.edu/human-resources/benefits/
Education of Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
- Bachelor's degree required
- Master’s degree preferred
Experience of Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
- One year of professional experience working in a related field to an admission office.
- Experience in a higher education environment.
- Experience in recruitment and outreach in post-secondary setting.
- Experience working with student populations.
- Any experience in the field of sales, marketing, recruitment and/or public relations will be considered.
- Internship level positions as well as undergraduate and graduate positions held in higher education will be considered.
- Preferred: Knowledge of Purdue Northwest Graduate programs and graduate admission process
Core Competencies of Admissions Specialist - Graduate Programs
- Must be a self-starter with strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
- Proven success at organizing events and providing professional presentations
- Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills
- Self-motivated, attention to detail, focus on quality, and team-oriented
- Ability to manage involvement in multiple projects
- Build collaborative work relationships with staff and community partners and area colleges
- Work with diverse populations
- Attend recruitment events scheduled days, evenings & sometimes weekends
- Available for travel to various locations in the Midwest, the greater Chicagoland area, and PNW’s surrounding regional areas.
- Must have a valid driver's license
- Must be able to use personal vehicle to drive on behalf of the University
- Must meet the Minimum Driver Qualifications as defined by the Use of Vehicles for University Business Policy.
Preferred
- Understanding of the enrollment process for prospective and admitted students
- Knowledge of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, Illinois markets
- Experience with Ellucian CRM or Slate systems
Additional Information
Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.
Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and applied doctoral levels.
Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW’s values reflect the university’s commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.
PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges report and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development.
FLSA Status
Exempt
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