by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 413 U.S. colleges awarded 7,105 degrees and certificates in General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 129 schools in its 2027 Best General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $24,528 one year after completing, rising to $34,269 after four years.
A major in General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science explores Administrative Assistant And Secretarial Science, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Perform The Duties Of Administrative Assistants And/or Secretaries And Stenographers. Includes Instruction In Business Communications, Principles Of Business Law, Word Processing And Data Entry, Office Machines Operation And Maintenance, Office Procedures, Public Relations, Secretarial Accounting, Filing Systems And Records Management, And Report Preparation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general administrative assistant and secretarial science draws strong interest, with 7,105 degrees awarded annually. 413 colleges award general administrative assistant and secretarial science degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,333.
By level, the 7,105 awards include 1,403 certificates, 1,699 associate degrees, 71 bachelor’s degrees and 3,471 master’s degrees.
Women earned 78% of general administrative assistant and secretarial science degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,514 of 7,105). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,681) and Hispanic or Latino (1,943), and international students earned 29.
College Factual ranks 129 schools in its 2027 Best General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science Schools ranking, including 49 for associate degrees and 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks general administrative assistant and secretarial science schools within 17 states. In all, 413 colleges offer general administrative assistant and secretarial science programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general administrative assistant and secretarial science credential is the master’s degree: 3,471 of the 7,105 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general administrative assistant and secretarial science call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of Administrative, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
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How long a general administrative assistant and secretarial science degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,403 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,699 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 71 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,471 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general administrative assistant and secretarial science, at 32.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 32.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 26.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 20.5% |
| Some college courses | 15.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.6% |
| Master’s degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, with an average median salary of $46,635; the strongest outlook belongs to Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping, at 11.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Administrative Coordinator, Administrative Officer, Administrative Liaison and Administrative Support Specialist.
The occupation related to general administrative assistant and secretarial science with the most projected jobs is First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers, at 1,904,234.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,827,394 | -3.9% |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | 1,062,982 | 11.9% |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 836,240 | 1.2% |
General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science graduates earn a median $24,528 one year after completing their program, $34,269 after four years and $31,354 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,528 |
| 4 years | $34,269 |
| 5 years | $31,354 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general administrative assistant and secretarial science is Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants, with a median salary of $59,046.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $59,046 |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $57,361 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $42,498 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $27,636 |
General Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science has 8 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 7,790 degrees a year; the largest are Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation (2,464), Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry (2,125) and General Office Occupations and Clerical Services (1,140). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
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