Best colleges for Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Business Operations Support and Assistant Services by graduate earnings are Washtenaw Community College ($46,821), Valdosta State University ($42,088) and Chippewa Valley Technical College ($36,178), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor, MI): $46,821, 20 graduates a year
- Valdosta State University (Valdosta, GA): $42,088, 25 graduates a year
- Chippewa Valley Technical College (Eau Claire, WI): $36,178, 20 graduates a year
- Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, VA): $35,687, 30 graduates a year
- Georgia Northwestern Technical College (Rome, GA): $34,998, 111 graduates a year
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 median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $26,926 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.04 and the Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).
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 →
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 25 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI Public · Associate degree | $46,821 | 20 | 33% | — | — |
| 2 | Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,088 | 25 | 42% | — | $40,347 |
| 3 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI Public · Associate degree | $36,178 | 20 | 50% | — | $22,650 |
| 4 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree | $35,687 | 30 | 32% | — | $22,300 |
| 5 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA Public · Associate degree | $34,998 | 111 | 43% | — | — |
| 6 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI Public · Certificate | $34,203 | 49 | 51% | — | $18,020 |
| 7 | Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · Certificate | $34,157 | 55 | 53% | — | — |
| 8 | Charter College Anchorage, AK Private for-profit · Certificate | $33,009 | 20 | 56% | $26,789 | $15,441 |
| 9 | Dallas College Dallas, TX Public · Certificate | $30,228 | 44 | 32% | — | $18,456 |
| 10 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS Public · Associate degree | $29,857 | 89 | 48% | — | $16,382 |
| 11 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA Public · Associate degree | $29,578 | 85 | 32% | — | $16,250 |
| 12 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR Public · Associate degree | $29,476 | 31 | 49% | — | $19,050 |
| 13 | Northeast State Community College Blountville, TN Public · Associate degree | $28,385 | 24 | 33% | — | — |
| 14 | Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC Public · Associate degree | $28,319 | 25 | 42% | — | $11,550 |
| 15 | San Joaquin Valley College - Visalia Visalia, CA Private for-profit · Certificate | $27,731 | 60 | 36% | $30,518 | $9,500 |
| 16 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WI Public · Associate degree | $27,494 | 39 | 56% | — | $16,250 |
| 17 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $27,137 | 1,333 | 55% | $6,760 | $6,959 |
| 18 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC Public · Associate degree | $27,024 | 88 | 33% | — | $19,750 |
| 19 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate | $26,926 | 128 | 40% | — | $11,946 |
| 20 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KY Public · Certificate | $26,607 | 76 | 50% | — | $12,059 |
| 21 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY Public · Certificate | $26,532 | 83 | 43% | — | $13,698 |
| 22 | Bellevue University Bellevue, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $66,401 | 195 | 33% | $29,230 | $25,000 |
| 23 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville Shelbyville, TN Public · Certificate Small program | $41,217 | 10 | 81% | — | — |
| 24 | Houston City College Houston, TX Public · Certificate | $37,482 | 72 | 17% | — | $18,797 |
| 25 | Alaska Vocational Technical Center Seward, AK Public · Certificate Small program | $37,409 | 4 | 100% | — | — |
Specializations within Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
9 of the 9 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.04 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Administrative Assistant and Secretarial ScienceCIP 52.04017,104 graduates / yr413 institutions44 states
- Customer Service Support/CIP 52.0411
Call Center/ Teleservice Operation 2,464 graduates / yr37 institutions15 states - Business/CIP 52.0407
Office Automation/ Technology/ Data Entry 2,124 graduates / yr113 institutions36 states - General Office Occupations and Clerical ServicesCIP 52.04081,140 graduates / yr114 institutions30 states
- Executive Assistant/CIP 52.0402
Executive Secretary 1,118 graduates / yr69 institutions18 states - Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/CIP 52.0410
Technician partial data314 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states - Business Operations Support and Secretarial ServicesCIP 52.0499290 graduates / yr24 institutions10 states
- Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management OperationsCIP 52.0409partial data242 graduates / yr7 institutions4 states
- ReceptionistCIP 52.040697 graduates / yr15 institutions7 states
Offered across 52 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
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.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
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 code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 13-1199 | Business Operations Specialists, All Other |
| 43-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers |
| 43-3061 | Procurement Clerks |
| 43-4021 | Correspondence Clerks |
| 43-4051 | Customer Service Representatives |
| 43-4071 | File Clerks |
| 43-4151 | Order Clerks |
| 43-4161 | Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping |
| 43-4171 | Receptionists and Information Clerks |
| 43-5011 | Cargo and Freight Agents |
| 43-5032 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance |
| 43-5061 | Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks |
| 43-6011 | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistantsprimary |
| 43-6014 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive |
| 43-9021 | Data Entry Keyers |
| 43-9022 | Word Processors and Typists |
| 43-9041 | Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks |
| 43-9061 | Office 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
Knowledge areas
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.
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 one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $26,926, College Scorecard (2019); 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.
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.
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