Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Business office assistant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a business office assistant. Business office assistants usually study business, accounting, or health care administration. 45% of business office assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 25% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 4,529 real business office assistant resumes to see exactly what business office assistant education sections show.
The most common colleges for business office assistants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online business office assistant courses to help get the education required to be a business office assistant.
There are certain business office assistant certifications that you should consider. These business office assistant certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.
What education do you need to become a business office assistant?
What degree do you need to be a business office assistant?
- Bachelor's, 45%
- Associate, 25%
- High School Diploma, 15%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 10%
What should I major in to become a business office assistant?
- Business, 33%
- Accounting, 10%
- Psychology, 5%
- Other Majors, 43%
Most common colleges for business office assistants
| Business office assistant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 26.67% |
| University of California - Davis | 5.13% |
| Western Michigan University | 5.13% |
| Henry Ford College | 4.62% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 4.10% |
Best majors for business office assistants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 33.3% |
| 2 | Accounting | 10.3% |
| 3 | Health Care Administration | 9.4% |
| 4 | Psychology | 5.3% |
| 5 | Communication | 3.7% |
Best colleges for business office assistants
The best colleges for business office assistants are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.
A business office assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for business office assistants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become business office assistants.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
5. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
7. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
8. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. Maria College of Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$15,140
Enrollment
876
20 best online courses for business office assistants
Advertising disclosure
1. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course
Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...
2. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
3. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
4. MS Office Course Bundle- Word , Powerpoint , Excel & Outlook
MS Office Learn and Polish the Most Desirable Office Courses at work , MS Word , MS Excel , MS Powerpoint and MS Outlook...
5. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...
6. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book
Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...
7. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.
Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...
8. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
9. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction
Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...
10. Microsoft Office 365 Administration
Microsoft Office 365 Administration...
11. Financial Statement Auditing Cycles
In this course, we learn how public accountants plan and execute an audit...
12. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily
Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...
13. Ultimate Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access
Learn basic to advanced Microsoft Office skills in this 9-course bundle for Office 365 or Office 2019...
14. Audit - Financial Statement
Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...
15. Start & Operate Your Own Successful Office Cleaning Business
You Can Quickly Learn the Skills and Knowledge on How to Run Your Own Highly Successful Office Cleaning Business...
16. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries
Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...
17. Financial Statement Analysis
Learn how to make understanding financial statements your superpower!...
18. Professional Diploma in Office Administration Management
Principles of work of Office Administrator. Required hard and soft skills. Introduction to MS Office and banking area...
19. Chief Financial Officer Leadership Program
An ever expanding program of courses helping financial professionals aspire to the top levels of financial leadership...
20. Accounting for Corporations - Financial Accounting
Demystifying Corporate Accounting: An In-depth Exploration of Financial Transactions in Corporations...
Top 10 most affordable universities for business office assistants
The most affordable schools for business office assistants are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for business office assistants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for business office assistants.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for business office assistants
The hardest universities for business office assistants to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for business office assistants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for business office assistants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
7. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
8. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for business office assistants
The easiest schools for business office assistants to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a business office assistant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for business office assistants.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
8. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
9. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
10. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
Average business office assistant salary by education level
| Business office assistant education level | Business office assistant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $34,748 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,345 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $34,114 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,054 |
Business office assistant education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.
Search for business office assistant jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025