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Executive assistant/human resources education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an executive assistant/human resources. Executive assistants/human resources usually study business, human resources management, or psychology. 58% of executive assistants/human resources hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 5,778 real executive assistant/human resources resumes to see exactly what executive assistant/human resources education sections show.
The most common colleges for executive assistants/human resources are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online executive assistant/human resources courses to help get the education required to be an executive assistant/human resources.
There are certain executive assistant/human resources certifications that you should consider. These executive assistant/human resources certifications include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).
What education do you need to become an executive assistant/human resources?
What degree do you need to be an executive assistant/human resources?
- Bachelor's, 58%
- Associate, 23%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Master's, 6%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What should I major in to become an executive assistant/human resources?
- Business, 40%
- Psychology, 7%
- Communication, 5%
- Other Majors, 40%
Most common colleges for executive assistants/human resources
| Executive assistant/human resources common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 29.46% |
| Strayer University | 6.20% |
| DeVry University | 5.68% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 5.43% |
| Ashford University | 4.39% |
Best majors for executive assistants/human resources
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 40.0% |
| 2 | Human Resources Management | 7.7% |
| 3 | Psychology | 6.9% |
| 4 | Communication | 4.8% |
| 5 | Accounting | 4.2% |
Best colleges for executive assistants/human resources
The best colleges for executive assistants/human resources are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston College.
An executive assistant/human resources with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for executive assistants/human resources. 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 executive assistants/human resources.
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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Enrollment
14,629
7. Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$11,105
Enrollment
13,729
8. Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$39,216
Enrollment
1,303
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
10. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,464
Enrollment
9,639
20 best online courses for executive assistants/human resources
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Top 10 most affordable universities for executive assistants/human resources
The most affordable schools for executive assistants/human resources are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of puerto rico - mayaguez.
If the best universities for executive assistants/human resources 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 executive assistants/human resources.
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 Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Dickinson State University
Dickinson, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$6,768
Cost of attendance
15,506
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
10. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for executive assistants/human resources
The hardest universities for executive assistants/human resources to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston College.
Some great schools for executive assistants/human resources 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 executive assistants/human resources 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for executive assistants/human resources
The easiest schools for executive assistants/human resources to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an executive assistant/human resources 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 executive assistants/human resources.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
8. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
9. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
Average executive assistant/human resources salary by education level
| Executive assistant/human resources education level | Executive assistant/human resources salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $79,560 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $71,456 |
| Doctorate Degree | $82,691 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $60,655 |
Executive assistant/human resources education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025