by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 56 U.S. colleges awarded 550 degrees and certificates in Data Entry. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Data Entry Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $46,578 one year after completing, rising to $61,998 after four years.
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.
A degree in Data Entry explores Data Entry/microcomputer Applications.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., data entry is a widely-pursued major, with 550 degrees awarded annually. 56 colleges award data entry degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 114.
By level, the 550 awards include 38 certificates, 129 associate degrees and 256 master’s degrees.
Women earned 53% of data entry degrees and certificates in the latest year (293 of 550). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (199) and White (185), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best Data Entry Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees. It also ranks data entry schools within 2 states. In all, 56 colleges offer data entry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Data Entry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common data entry credential is the master’s degree: 256 of the 550 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to data entry call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Administrative, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Written Comprehension and Finger Dexterity.
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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a data entry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 38 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 129 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 256 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to data entry, at 56.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 56.1% |
| Some college courses | 34.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Data Entry, with an average median salary of $36,432; the strongest outlook belongs to Data Entry Keyers, at 10.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Data Transcriber, Computer Aide, Data Entry Specialist and Data Entry Operator.
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.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to data entry, at 418,460.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Keyers | 418,460 | 10.1% |
| Word Processors and Typists | 167,447 | 8.5% |
Data Entry graduates earn a median $46,578 one year after completing their program, $61,998 after four years and $35,657 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,578 |
| 4 years | $61,998 |
| 5 years | $35,657 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to data entry is Word Processors and Typists, with a median salary of $38,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Word Processors and Typists | $38,983 |
| Data Entry Keyers | $33,881 |
Data Entry includes 3 concentrations that together award 550 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, General (520), Word Processing (25) and Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, Other (5). It has 10 similar majors in the Computer & Information Sciences field, which together award 377,665 degrees a year; the largest are Computer and Information Sciences, General (133,698), Computer Science (90,046) and Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (72,883). Browse all Computer & Information Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, General | 520 |
| Word Processing | 25 |
| Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, Other | 5 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 133,698 |
| Computer Science | 90,046 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 72,883 |
| Information Science/Studies | 23,384 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 16,765 |
| Computer Programming | 16,655 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 16,354 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | 3,052 |
| Data Processing | 2,593 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other | 2,235 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
