In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for secretaries. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Secretaries
Best Colleges For Secretaries
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. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
6. Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,105
Enrollment
13,729
7. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
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
Secretary Education Requirements
There are several education requirements to become a secretary. Secretaries usually study business, accounting or psychology. 38% of secretaries hold a bachelor's degree and 24% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 212,331 secretary resumes to investigate the topic of secretary education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a secretary are University of Phoenix and Miami Dade College.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in secretary education paths.
We prepared a list of a secretary certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that secretaries must have to succeed are Word 2010 Certification and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).
What Education Do You Need To Become a Secretary?
What degree do you need to be a Secretary?
The most common degree for secretaries is bachelor's degree 38% of secretaries earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 24% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 23%.
- Bachelors, 38%
- Associate, 24%
- High School Diploma, 23%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 9%
What Should I Major in to Become a Secretary?
Most secretaries, 26% to be exact, major in business. Some other common majors for a secretary include accounting and psychology majors.
- Business, 26%
- Accounting, 7%
- Psychology, 7%
- Other Majors, 54%
Most Common Colleges For Secretaries
Here are the most common colleges for a secretary career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in University of Phoenix, Miami Dade College, and Pennsylvania State University .
| Secretary Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 22.86% |
| Miami Dade College | 5.73% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.14% |
| Central State University | 5.12% |
| Monroe College | 4.93% |
Best Majors For Secretaries
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 26.4% |
| 2 | Accounting | 7.4% |
| 3 | Psychology | 7.1% |
| 4 | Health Care Administration | 5.8% |
| 5 | General Studies | 5.4% |
20 Best Online Courses for Secretaries
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5. Microsoft Office; Excel, Word & PowerPoint 2019 - Beginners
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6. Audit - Financial Statement
Learn the audit process from planning to audit report form a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...
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Learn the essentials of Microsoft Office in this 4-course bundle for Office 365 or Office 2019 users...
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9. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.
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Top 10 Affordable Universities For Secretaries
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for secretaries.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,262
Cost of Attendance
14,046
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. Dickinson State University
Dickinson, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,768
Cost of Attendance
15,506
8. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,419
Cost of Attendance
17,697
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
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 Secretaries
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
2. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
28%
SAT Average
1,429
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
8. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
40%
SAT Average
1,376
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 Easier To Apply Universities For Secretaries
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
100%
SAT Average
1,072
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
849
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
8. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
1,003
9. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
1,026
10. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
999
Average Secretary Salary by Education Level
Secretaries with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $43,712 annually. With a Bachelors degree, secretaries earn a median annual income of $41,690.
| Secretary Education Level | Secretary Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,862 |
| Master's Degree | $43,712 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $41,690 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,472 |