Post job

Receptionist/administrator support education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a receptionist/administrator support. Receptionist/administrator supports usually study business, psychology, or liberal arts. 37% of receptionist/administrator supports hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 2,395 real receptionist/administrator support resumes to see exactly what receptionist/administrator support education sections show.

The most common colleges for receptionist/administrator supports are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online receptionist/administrator support courses to help get the education required to be a receptionist/administrator support.

There are certain receptionist/administrator support certifications that you should consider. These receptionist/administrator support certifications include Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and Word 2010 Certification.

What education do you need to become a receptionist/administrator support?

What degree do you need to be a receptionist/administrator support?

The most common degree for receptionist/administrator supports is bachelor's degree, with 37% of receptionist/administrator supports earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 26% and associate degree degree at 22%.
  • Bachelor's, 37%
  • Associate, 26%
  • High School Diploma, 22%
  • Diploma, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a receptionist/administrator support?

You should major in business to become a receptionist/administrator support. 29% of receptionist/administrator supports major in business. Other common majors for a receptionist/administrator support include psychology and liberal arts.

Most common colleges for receptionist/administrator supports

Receptionist/administrator supports often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Strayer University, and University of California - Davis. Here are the most common colleges for receptionist/administrator supports in the US based on their resumes.
Receptionist/administrator support common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix22.02%
Strayer University8.26%
University of California - Davis6.42%
Western Washington University6.42%
University of Central Florida4.59%

Best majors for receptionist/administrator supports

Best colleges for receptionist/administrator supports

The best colleges for receptionist/administrator supports are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.

A receptionist/administrator support with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for receptionist/administrator supports. 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 receptionist/administrator supports.

1. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$11,105

Enrollment

13,729

6. Cedar Crest College

Allentown, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$39,216

Enrollment

1,303

7. Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$7,900

Enrollment

6,404

8. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

9. Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$27,124

Enrollment

2,035

10. University of Akron

Akron, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$11,463

Enrollment

13,676

20 best online courses for receptionist/administrator supports

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Technical Support

coursera

Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also...

2. Customer Service Fundamentals

coursera

There are a growing number of exciting, well-paying jobs in today’s tech industry that do not require a traditional college degree, an one of the hottest areas with high demand is in IT customer service and support. Customer Service is a perfect entry point to start your career in IT, with a multitude of job openings ranging from onsite or remote help desk work to customer care or client support. We can help you get there with the Customer Service Fundamentals course. We will help you to build...

3. Professional Receptionist Course by London Reception Academy

udemy
4.6
(358)

Master the traits of a Professional Receptionist studying deportment, elocution, customer service and telephone skills...

4. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

5. Create Customer Support Data with Google Sheets

coursera

By the end of this project, you will create a Google Sheet that transforms a business’s raw customer support data into a useful data set that provides the business with an overview of past support requirements. You will be able to determine which areas of the business are exceeding standards and which departments are performing below standard. This course will include an introduction to Google Sheets, how to leverage formulas, how to link multiple tabs, and how to utilize Google Sheets to...

6. Network Support Fundamentals

coursera

Dive into the realm of network support with the Network Support Fundamentals course. This online course is meticulously designed to introduce you to the essential skills needed for supporting enterprise networks - one of the most in-demand skill sets in the digital landscape. By the end of this course you will be able to explain network security basics, monitor network performance, and provide essential professional support. Ideal for beginners aiming for an entry-level IT career or current IT...

7. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

udemy
4.6
(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

8. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting

udemy
4.2
(1,443)

Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...

9. CVS Health Call Center Customer Service

coursera

The demand for call center customer service representatives is huge, there are thousands of open job roles in the US alone. If you are someone that enjoys talking to people and solving problems and are ready for new experiences, then this program is right for you. Customer service in a call center is an exciting career where every day is a new day and a new adventure. If you're considering a career in retail customer service and you're someone who is passionate about providing exceptional...

10. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

udemy
4.7
(1,561)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...

11. Effective Legal Office Administration

udemy
4.5
(1,067)

Effective Legal Office Administration...

12. IT Support and Service Desk jobs -Crash Course for Beginners

udemy
4.6
(787)

Let me help you land your first job in IT. Learn about different roles, procedures, tools, and applications - Part 1...

13. Microsoft Office 365 Administration

udemy
4.5
(2,676)

Microsoft Office 365 Administration...

14. Getting Started with Call Center Training

udemy
4.4
(607)

Call Center Training is essential for both new hires and existing staff to sharpen their skills and feel motivated...

15. IT service operations and Service Desk management

udemy
4.4
(2,841)

Improve Service Desk and IT support processes and service functions. Better preparation for the professional exam...

16. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp

udemy
4.5
(1,653)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...

17. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers

udemy
4.2
(1,138)

Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...

18. Introduction to Business Support System - BSS

udemy
4.5
(319)

Learn about business support system employed in telecom domain...

19. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support

udemy
4
(409)

Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...

20. Service Desk Analyst Crash course for beginners.

udemy
4.2
(439)

Get Hands-On Experience for following JOB roles - Service Desk Analyst IT Help Desk Professional L1 IT Support GSD...

Top 10 most affordable universities for receptionist/administrator supports

The most affordable schools for receptionist/administrator supports are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for receptionist/administrator supports 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 receptionist/administrator supports.

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

9. Dickinson State University

Dickinson, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$6,768

Cost of attendance

15,506

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for receptionist/administrator supports

The hardest universities for receptionist/administrator supports to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.

Some great schools for receptionist/administrator supports 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 receptionist/administrator supports 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,338

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for receptionist/administrator supports

The easiest schools for receptionist/administrator supports to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and lim college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a receptionist/administrator support 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 receptionist/administrator supports.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

3. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

7. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

8. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

9. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average receptionist/administrator support salary by education level

According to our data, receptionist/administrator supports with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $35,597 annually. Receptionist/administrator supports with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $34,585.
Receptionist/administrator support education levelReceptionist/administrator support salary
Master's Degree$35,597
High School Diploma or Less$33,136
Bachelor's Degree$34,585
Some College/ Associate Degree$33,452

Receptionist/administrator support education FAQs

Search for receptionist/administrator support jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse office and administrative jobs