As described by the Education Strategy Group, refers to an approach that improves access to high-quality college and career planning support in high schools.  Programs (1) enlist students who are further along in their educational journey as guides and mentors to support newer students, and (2) provide targeted resources and guidance to improve learner persistence. Various models are used to structure near-peer mentoring programs: some employ recent college graduates, some use current college students to support high school students. Examples include:

• College Advising Corps (CAC) - Places fulltime college advisors in under-resourced high schools across the country. As of 2022, CAC reached over 200,000 high school seniors and 71% of seniors submitted one or more college applications.
• AdviseMI - Hosted by the Michigan College Access Network, advises MI partners with 16 higher education institutions statewide to place recent college graduates in high schools with low college-going rates and provide near-peer advising to support students as they transition into postsecondary.
• College Access and Research (CARA)'s peer-to-peer advising programs (New York-based) resulted in a 19% increase in postsecondary enrollment in schools that offer year-round advising. Since college student mentors have recent experience navigating the complex college admissions process, they are often well equipped to talk students through both the logistical components and emotional barriers that come up when applying to and enrolling in a postsecondary institution.