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School secretary education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a school secretary. School secretaries usually study business, accounting, or psychology. 41% of school secretaries hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,836 real school secretary resumes to see exactly what school secretary education sections show.
The most common colleges for school secretaries are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online school secretary courses to help get the education required to be a school secretary.
There are certain school secretary certifications that you should consider. These school secretary certifications include Word 2010 Certification and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
What education do you need to become a school secretary?
What degree do you need to be a school secretary?
- Bachelor's, 41%
- Associate, 27%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 9%
What should I major in to become a school secretary?
- Business, 28%
- Accounting, 7%
- Psychology, 6%
- Other Majors, 53%
Most common colleges for school secretaries
| School secretary common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 16.88% |
| Strayer University | 8.44% |
| Grand Canyon University | 6.49% |
| Michigan State University | 5.19% |
| Ashford University | 4.55% |
Best majors for school secretaries
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 28.3% |
| 2 | Accounting | 7.0% |
| 3 | Psychology | 6.5% |
| 4 | Secretarial And Administrative Science | 5.8% |
| 5 | Health Care Administration | 5.7% |
Best colleges for school secretaries
The best colleges for school secretaries are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.
A school secretary with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for school secretaries. 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 school secretaries.
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 school secretaries
Advertising disclosure
1. Student Self-Assessment with Microsoft Word
By the end of this project, you will have created a self-report card and a behaviour reflection form for student self-reflection. You will also be equipped with suggestions for how to use these documents with students. Encouraging our students to reflect on their learning is one of many goals we have as teachers. One valuable way to do this is by allowing our students to share their perspective on the school year. What areas are going well for them? What areas do they see where they could grow?...
2. Using Google Forms for Student Success
By the end of this project, you have used Google Forms to create several tools to use with your students and parents in order to ensure a successful school year. With volunteer sign-up forms, you can simplify your volunteer process within your classroom and across the school. Through exit tickets and assessments, you will be able to check your student’s understanding of the content taught that day or during a unit so that you can adjust instruction to address misunderstandings or gather...
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Learn Essential Data Entry Skills Now To Enhance Your Career -Word - Excel - Database - Data Entry Jobs...
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5. Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S.: A course for international students
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Whether you are an advanced law student looking to review the basics, or an aspiring law student looking for head start, this course will help you build the foundation you will need to succeed in law school and beyond. This course will introduce you to terminology, concepts, and tools lawyers and legal academics use to make their arguments. It will help you follow these arguments—and make arguments of your own. This course consists of a series of short lectures and assignments. A reading list...
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Improve Service Desk and IT support processes and service functions. Better preparation for the professional exam...
18. 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...
19. 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...
20. Intro to Business • HR: Payroll Fundamentals
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Top 10 most affordable universities for school secretaries
The most affordable schools for school secretaries are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for school secretaries 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 school secretaries.
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 school secretaries
The hardest universities for school secretaries to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.
Some great schools for school secretaries 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 school secretaries 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 school secretaries
The easiest schools for school secretaries 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 school secretary 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 school secretaries.
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 school secretary salary by education level
| School secretary education level | School secretary salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $42,217 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,486 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,243 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $38,080 |
School secretary education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025