Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

Best institutions to study Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

Compare 645 U.S. colleges offering Business Operations Support and Assistant Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 52 states.

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services programs report a median of $26,926 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 52.04 and the Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).

Institutions
645
offering CIP 52.04
States & territories
52
with a program page
With earnings data
96
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
14,893
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$26,926
1 year after graduation
US pay · Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
$79,140
BLS OEWS May 2025

About Business Operations Support and Assistant Services programs

The Business Operations Support and Assistant Services program prepares students for various roles in business administration and support. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to enhance their organizational and administrative skills to thrive in a dynamic business environment. It covers a range of specializations, equipping students with the necessary tools to assist executives and manage office operations effectively.

Learn more about Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

What you'll learn

Students will develop essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes training in administrative tasks, customer service, and office technology, focusing on software applications for document preparation and data management.

Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$66,40119533%$29,230$25,000
2Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI Public · Associate degree
$46,8212033%
3Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,0882542%$40,347
4Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville
Shelbyville, TN Public · Certificate degree
$41,2171081%
5Houston City College
Houston, TX Public · Certificate degree
$37,4827217%$18,797
6Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Seward, AK Public · Certificate degree
$37,4094100%
7Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI Public · Associate degree
$36,1782050%$22,650
8Tidewater Community College
Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree
$35,6873032%$22,300
9Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC Public · Associate degree
$35,6722621%$31,500
10Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Rome, GA Public · Associate degree
$34,99811143%
11Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI Public · Certificate degree
$34,2034951%$18,020
12Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton, VA Public · Associate degree
$34,177634%$16,604
13Ogden - Weber Technical College
Ogden, UT Public · Certificate degree
$34,1575553%
14Trinity Valley Community College
Athens, TX Public · Associate degree
$34,123727%$13,124
15Interactive College of Technology - Gainesville
Gainesville, GA Private for-profit · Associate degree
$33,883331%$15,094$7,721
16Charter College
Anchorage, AK Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$33,0092056%$26,789$15,441
17Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga, TN Public · Certificate degree
$32,603826%
18Rasmussen University - Minnesota
St. Cloud, MN Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$32,34532853%$19,944$16,722
19Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES
Liverpool, NY Public · Certificate degree
$31,4001873%$6,715
20Monroe Community College
Rochester, NY Public · Associate degree
$31,038227%
21Dallas College
Dallas, TX Public · Certificate degree
$30,2284432%$18,456
22Bryant & Stratton College - Buffalo
Buffalo, NY Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$30,125221%$14,182$27,300
23Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Perkinston, MS Public · Associate degree
$29,8578948%$16,382
24Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA Public · Associate degree
$29,5788532%$16,250
25Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR Public · Associate degree
$29,4763149%$19,050
26Interactive College of Technology - Chamblee
Chamblee, GA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$28,797137%$14,701$14,323
27Interactive College of Technology - Morrow
Morrow, GA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$28,797641%$16,804$7,721
28Interactive College of Technology - Newport
Newport, KY Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$28,797230%$16,359$14,323
29San Joaquin Valley College - Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage, CA Private for-profit · Associate degree
$28,691270%$23,568$20,000
30Northeast State Community College
Blountville, TN Public · Associate degree
$28,3852433%
31Tri - County Technical College
Pendleton, SC Public · Associate degree
$28,3192542%$11,550
32San Joaquin Valley College - Visalia
Visalia, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,7316036%$30,518$9,500
33San Joaquin Valley College - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,731758%$24,205$9,500
34San Joaquin Valley College - Fresno
Fresno, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,7311662%$24,542$20,000
35San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario
Ontario, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,731764%$26,900$9,500
36San Joaquin Valley College - Modesto
Salida, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,7311077%$25,571$20,000
37San Joaquin Valley College - Hesperia
Hesperia, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,7311063%$25,188$20,000
38San Joaquin Valley College - Temecula
Temecula, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,7311282%$27,730$9,500
39San Joaquin Valley College - Lancaster
Lancaster, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,731657%$25,425$20,000
40San Joaquin Valley College - Delano
Delano, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,731480%$22,032$9,500
41San Joaquin Valley College - Porterville
Porterville, CA Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,731248%$24,196$9,500
42Pima Community College
Tucson, AZ Public · Certificate degree
$27,705828%
43Northwood Technical College
Rice Lake, WI Public · Associate degree
$27,4943956%$16,250
44Madison Area Technical College
Madison, WI Public · Associate degree
$27,4671029%
45Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$27,1371,33355%$6,760$6,959
46Nevada Career Institute
Las Vegas, NV Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,134155%$38,476
47Piedmont Technical College
Greenwood, SC Public · Associate degree
$27,0248833%$19,750
48Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate degree
$26,92612840%$11,946
49West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah, KY Public · Certificate degree
$26,6077650%$12,059
50Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington, KY Public · Certificate degree
$26,5328343%$13,698

Offered across 52 states & territories

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
Nebraska5$66,401Bellevue University
Michigan17$46,821Washtenaw Community College
Alaska3$37,409Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Wisconsin17$34,203Chippewa Valley Technical College
Virginia16$34,177Tidewater Community College
Utah6$34,157Ogden - Weber Technical College
Minnesota21$32,345Rasmussen University - Minnesota
New York16$31,038Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES
Mississippi13$29,857Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Georgia28$29,578Valdosta State University
Arkansas10$29,476Arkansas Tech University
South Carolina12$28,319Greenville Technical College
Arizona12$27,705Pima Community College
Idaho5$27,137Brigham Young University - Idaho
Nevada3$27,134Nevada Career Institute
Indianalimited1$26,926Ivy Tech Community College
Kentucky9$26,607Interactive College of Technology - Newport
Washington17$26,402Spokane Community College
California109$26,109San Joaquin Valley College - Rancho Mirage
Alabama20$25,182George C Wallace Community College - Dothan
Tennessee25$21,295Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville
Texas51$18,214Houston City College
Puerto Rico27$12,909Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Carolina Campus
Ohio16$12,405Sinclair Community College
Colorado7
Connecticutlimited1
Delawarelimited1
Florida25
Hawaiilimited2
Illinois27
Iowa13
Kansas13
Louisiana11
Maryland3
Massachusetts5
Missouri5
Montana5
New Jersey4
New Mexico7
North Carolinalimited1
North Dakota3
Oregon9
Pennsylvania10
Rhode Islandlimited1
South Dakota4
Vermontlimited1
West Virginia7
Wyoming4
Guamlimited1
Federated States of Micronesialimited1
Palaulimited1
Oklahoma14

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 43-6011, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants, and its national outlook.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers as administrative assistants, executive secretaries, or customer service representatives. While the job outlook indicates a decline of 1.6%, there are approximately 50,000 annual openings in this field. The median wage for these positions is $74,260, and a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.6%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~50,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$74,260
typically High school diploma or equivalent
National employment
459,910
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
US average pay
$79,140
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$76,590
annual

Top-paying metros

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$113,320avg
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$108,260avg
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT
$101,010avg
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$94,460avg
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$90,110avg

Related careers

Customer Service Representatives
$46,590 avg · 2,595,750 jobs
Office Clerks, General
$46,420 avg · 2,464,940 jobs
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
$49,350 avg · 1,706,790 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$73,490 avg · 1,436,680 jobs
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
$93,970 avg · 1,087,090 jobs
Receptionists and Information Clerks
$39,460 avg · 910,180 jobs

CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.04.

Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.04 (Business Operations Support and Assistant Services) maps to 18 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.

SOC codeOccupation
13-1199Business Operations Specialists, All Other
43-1011First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
43-3061Procurement Clerks
43-4021Correspondence Clerks
43-4051Customer Service Representatives
43-4071File Clerks
43-4151Order Clerks
43-4161Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
43-4171Receptionists and Information Clerks
43-5011Cargo and Freight Agents
43-5032Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
43-5061Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
43-6011Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistantsprimary
43-6014Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
43-9021Data Entry Keyers
43-9022Word Processors and Typists
43-9041Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
43-9061Office Clerks, General

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.

Skills & knowledge in Business Operations Support and Assistant Services programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Writing
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Active Learning
Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

Administrative
English Language
Customer and Personal Service
Computers and Electronics
Administration and Management
Personnel and Human Resources

What graduates do on the job

  • Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
  • Make travel arrangements for executives.
  • Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
  • Coordinate and direct office services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, personnel issues, and housekeeping, to aid executives.
  • Answer phone calls and direct calls to appropriate parties or take messages.
  • Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.

Concentrations within Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).

  • Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General
    CIP 52.0401

    A program that generally prepares individuals to perform the duties of administrative assistants and/or secretaries and stenographers

  • Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary
    CIP 52.0402

    A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and/or personal secretaries for business executives and top management

  • Receptionist
    CIP 52.0406

    A program that prepares individuals to perform frontline public relations duties for a business, organization, or answering service

  • Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry
    CIP 52.0407

    A program that prepares individuals to support business information operations by using computer equipment to enter, process, and retrieve data for a wide variety of administrative purposes

  • General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
    CIP 52.0408

    A program that prepares individuals to provide basic administrative support under the supervision of office managers, administrative assistants, secretaries, and other office personnel

  • Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management Operations
    CIP 52.0409

    A program that prepares individuals to provide administrative, technical, and managerial support in the operation of warehouses, control of inventory, parts identification, and the performance of coun

  • Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician
    CIP 52.0410

    A program that prepares individuals to perform duties associated with managing revenue-based customs, traffic, or transportation services, such as control of domestic and international traffic, toll r

  • Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation
    CIP 52.0411

    A program that prepares individuals to assist customers with inquiries and problems in frontline call centers, help desks, teleservice centers, and online

  • Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services, Other
    CIP 52.0499

    Any instructional program in administrative and secretarial services not listed above.

Common questions

What types of jobs can I get with this program?+

Graduates can work as administrative assistants, executive secretaries, receptionists, and in various office support roles.

What skills will I learn?+

You will learn skills in active listening, critical thinking, communication, and office technology.

What is the job outlook for this field?+

The job outlook shows a decline of 1.6%, with about 50,000 annual openings.

What education do I need to enter this field?+

Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for entry-level positions.

How much do Business Operations Support and Assistant Services graduates earn?+

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services graduates report median earnings of $26,926 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants occupation pays about $79,140 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).

What is the CIP code for Business Operations Support and Assistant Services?+

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services maps to CIP 52.04 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.

Zoom outAll programs
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services by stateNebraskaMichiganAlaskaWisconsinVirginiaUtahMinnesotaNew YorkMississippiGeorgia

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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