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2023 Data Entry Degree Guide

Do you enjoy making spreadsheets? How about working with information in databases? A career in Data Entry / Microcomputer Applications might be the thing for you.

Classes will prepare students for a career in basic data and text entry through the use of specialized programs and software often found in the office setting. Classes include computer hardware, keyboarding, computer troubleshooting, and personal computer operation. These classes teach students how to maintaining and updating data sources.

Students have the option to major in General Data Entry for Microcomputer Applications or can specialize in areas, such as Word Processing. This program is often offered as an Associates, but is available as a Bachelors degree as well.

Data Entry Degrees Decreasing

#321 Most Popular Major
552 Degrees Awarded
-17.4% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, data entry was the 321st most popular major nationwide with 552 degrees awarded. This represents a 17.4% reduction in data entry degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 648.

Our 2023 Best Data Entry Schools ranking analyzes 2 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for data entry students. Explore this or one of our many other custom data entry rankings further below.

2023 Best Colleges for Data Entry
2023 Overall Best Data Entry Colleges >

Best Data Entry Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Data Entry

Data Entry Degree Requirements

Those who go into Data Entry often are able to retain information and pay close attention to detail. As you transcribe information into spreadsheets, word documents, or databases, it is important that the information is correctly transferred. Successful professionals also have a background in applications such as Microsoft Office.

Jobs in Data Entry are often full time positions with a typical 40-hour workweek. Professionals may work in an office setting or have the option to work from home. Internships and summer jobs will give students experience in this field, but are not necessary for a successful career.

Prior Education for a Data Entry Program

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most data entry degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional data entry certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Types of Data Entry Degrees

There are many different data entry degree levels. Data Entry programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest data entry degree you can get. Data Entry programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to data entry, with approximately 7.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for data entry workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma 53.5%
Some College Courses 39.6%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 6.2%
Less than a High School Diploma 1.2%

View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in data entry careers have.

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The education level required is different depending on the data entry career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Data Entry Graduate

Average Number of Jobs
$25.8k Average Starting Salary
-24% Decline Job Outlook 2016-26

Graduates with a degree in Data Entry often work in offices compiling different types of data. Common data entry jobs are in law and medical offices. Graduates have also found jobs in offices updating databases or maintaining spreadsheets. With the advancements in technology, jobs within data entry are decreasing at an average rate. This may make finding a job difficult for graduates.

Popular Careers for Data Entry Majors

Want a job when you graduate with your data entry degree?

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to data entry.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Data Entry Keyers 160,600 -21.2%
Word Processors and Typists 50,100 -33.1%

Data Entry Degree Salary Potential

Data Entry graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $25,829 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $24,556 to as high as $27,101. As you might expect, salaries for data entry graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

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High Paying Careers for Data Entry Majors

Salaries for data entry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers data entry grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Word Processors and Typists $41,160
Data Entry Keyers $33,740

Getting Your Data Entry Degree

With over 199 different data entry degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased data entry school rankings to help you with this.

Data Entry Related Majors

Data Entry is one of 10 different types of Computer & Information Sciences programs to choose from.

Data Entry Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications 537
Word Processing 14
Other Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications 1

View All Data Entry Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer Information Systems 88,434
Computer Science 59,565
Information Technology 40,555
Information Science 18,325
Computer Systems Networking 14,700

View All Data Entry Related Majors >

References

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