by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 69 U.S. colleges awarded 1,118 degrees and certificates in Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 22 schools in its 2027 Best Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary 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 Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary involves the study of Executive Assistant/executive Secretary. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform The Duties Of Special Assistants And/or Personal Secretaries For Business Executives And Top Management. Includes Instruction In Business Communications, Principles Of Business Law, Public Relations, Scheduling And Travel Management, Secretarial Accounting, Filing Systems And Records Management, Conference And Meeting Recording, Report Preparation, Office Equipment And Procedures, Office Supervisory Skills, And Professional Standards And Legal Requirements.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., executive assistant/executive secretary is a popular field of study, with 1,118 degrees awarded annually. 69 colleges award executive assistant/executive secretary degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 328.
By level, the 1,118 awards include 248 certificates, 146 associate degrees, 36 bachelor’s degrees and 521 master’s degrees.
Women earned 86% of executive assistant/executive secretary degrees and certificates in the latest year (957 of 1,118). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (660) and Black or African American (175), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 22 schools in its 2027 Best Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees and 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks executive assistant/executive secretary schools within 4 states. In all, 69 colleges offer executive assistant/executive secretary programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common executive assistant/executive secretary credential is the master’s degree: 521 of the 1,118 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to executive assistant/executive secretary call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an executive assistant/executive secretary degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 248 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 146 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 36 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 521 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to executive assistant/executive secretary, at 34.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.1% |
| Some college courses | 16.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Master’s degree | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary, with an average median salary of $43,060; the strongest outlook belongs to Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants, at 1.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Administrative Coordinator, Administrative Officer, Personal Secretary and Administrative Liaison.
The occupation related to executive assistant/executive secretary 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% |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 836,240 | 1.2% |
Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to executive assistant/executive secretary, with a median salary of $59,046.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $59,046 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $42,498 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $27,636 |
Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary has 8 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 13,777 degrees a year; the largest are Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General (7,105), Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation (2,464) and Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry (2,125). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
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