Unlocking the Future: Using AI to Transform College and Career Advising in K–12 Education

As school districts across the country grapple with staff shortages, increased student needs, and rapidly evolving workforce demands, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into college and career advising offers a promising and timely solution. For K–12 systems—particularly in rural and under-resourced areas—AI is not a replacement for trusted adult relationships, but a powerful tool to enhance them. It offers scalable, personalized, and data-informed support that can help students explore future pathways with greater clarity and confidence.

Why AI Now?

The future of work is changing at an unprecedented pace. High-demand sectors such as healthcare, technology, education, and advanced manufacturing are evolving in real time—and so must our approach to preparing students. Traditional advising models, often limited by caseloads and fragmented access to career information, are no longer sufficient. AI platforms provide a way to bridge these gaps by helping educators, advisors, and students access real-time labor market data, match interests with pathways, explore postsecondary options, and build customized plans aligned with student goals.

The Need for Scalable Advising Solutions

The average student-to-counselor ratio in U.S. public schools is 408:1, far exceeding the 250:1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association.

Source: American School Counselor Association, 2023 State of the Profession Report https://www.schoolcounselor.org

For many schools—particularly in rural areas—this ratio results in limited time for individualized advising. In fact, students in rural districts are 15% less likely than their urban peers to have access to a full-time college and career counselor.

Source: National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, “High School Benchmarks” (2022)https://nscresearchcenter.org

AI-powered platforms offer a way to close this access gap. These tools can deliver personalized, on-demand guidance to students, helping them navigate complex pathways and make informed decisions aligned with their goals and local labor market trends.

The Aspiration-Attainment Gap

While 86% of high school students report aspirations to complete a postsecondary degree, only 62% enroll in college within a year of high school graduation—and just 28% go on to complete a degree within six years.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2023; The Condition of College and Career Readiness, ACT 2023

This gap between aspiration and attainment is often due to a lack of timely, relevant, and personalized advising. AI can support decision-making through features like postsecondary program matching, cost comparisons, scholarship search engines, and even real-time reminders for FAFSA and application deadlines.

A Brookings Institution study found that AI-enabled advising systems increased FAFSA completion rates by up to 22% and improved postsecondary match and fit by analyzing student data and comparing it to success patterns.

Source: Brookings Institution, “AI in Education: The Future of College and Career Advising” (2023) https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-role-of-ai-in-improving-educational-outcomes

AI Across the E5 Continuum

By embedding AI tools within the E5 Framework—Exposure, Exploration, Education, Experience, and Employment—schools can systematize college and career readiness across grade levels and departments. AI supports each phase of this continuum:

• Exposure: Interest inventories and virtual career experiences introduce students to emerging sectors.

• Exploration: Students are matched with aligned career clusters, courses, and postsecondary options.

• Education: AI can guide students through pathway-specific course selection that aligns with graduation requirements and industry standards.

• Experience: Integration with work-based learning databases allows students to apply for internships, job shadows, and service learning opportunities.

• Employment: Resume builders, credential tracking, and industry-aligned portfolios help students demonstrate employability.

Centering Equity in Innovation

Equity must remain central to any innovation in K–12. AI, when deployed thoughtfully, can expand opportunity rather than reinforce existing gaps. It is particularly impactful in rural and under-resourced districts, where human advising infrastructure may be sparse but student potential is abundant.

A 2024 survey by the EdWeek Research Center found that 62% of high school students would be open to using AI to explore careers, majors, and colleges—especially when integrated into platforms they already use.

Source: EdWeek Research Center, “Student Perceptions of AI Tools in Schools” (2024) https://www.edweek.org/research-center

When designed with cultural responsiveness, data privacy, and inclusivity in mind, AI has the potential to democratize access to future planning resources and create more equitable postsecondary outcomes.

Next Steps for District Leaders and Educators:

1. Audit current advising practices and identify where AI can enhance—not replace—student-adult relationships.

2. Pilot AI advising tools that are FERPA- and COPPA-compliant and align with local CTE pathways and dual credit options.

3. Provide professional development for educators and counselors to interpret AI outputs and guide students in using these tools responsibly.

4. Engage students and families in understanding how AI supports their goals, with transparency and clear communication about its role.