Best institutions to study Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary
A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and personal secretaries for practicing physicians and nurses, health care facilities and services administrators, and other health care professionals.
223 U.S. institutions graduated 6,024 Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0716, a specialization of Health and Medical Administrative Services (CIP 51.07), and leads most directly to the Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants occupation (BLS SOC 43-6013).
About Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary programs
A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and personal secretaries for practicing physicians and nurses, health care facilities and services administrators, and other health care professionals. Includes instruction in business and medical communications, medical terminology, principles of health care operations, public relations and interpersonal communications, software applications, record-keeping and filing systems, scheduling and meeting planning, applicable policy and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary program is designed for individuals aspiring to support healthcare professionals in administrative roles. This program equips students with the skills needed to assist physicians, nurses, and healthcare administrators effectively, ensuring smooth operations within healthcare settings.
Students will gain knowledge in business and medical communications, medical terminology, healthcare operations, and software applications. Coursework also covers essential skills such as record-keeping, scheduling, and understanding healthcare policies and ethics.
Credentials awarded
What Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2,493 graduates / yr · 82 institutions41%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,929 graduates / yr · 96 institutions32%
- Associate's degree1,552 graduates / yr · 121 institutions26%
- Award of less than 12 weeks28 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.5%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years22 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 15,859 |
| 2013 | 14,786 |
| 2014 | 14,640 |
| 2015 | 13,417 |
| 2016 | 13,196 |
| 2017 | 11,981 |
| 2018 | 9,567 |
| 2019 | 8,765 |
| 2020 | 8,178 |
| 2021 | 8,047 |
| 2022 | 7,570 |
| 2023 | 7,297 |
| 2024 | 7,766 |
| 2025 | 6,024 |
Top 50 institutions for Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater, FLPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 1,290 | 55% | $20,584 | $22,568 |
| 2 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 350 | 49% | — | $35,063 |
| 3 | Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 205 | 51% | — | $24,147 |
| 4 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 193 | 54% | $9,377 | $18,974 |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati - Clermont College Batavia, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 173 | 24% | — | $34,507 |
| 6 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 171 | 43% | — | $26,674 |
| 7 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 159 | 59% | — | $27,578 |
| 8 | South University - Savannah Online Savannah, GAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 154 | 7% | $28,691 | $39,722 |
| 9 | Carrington College - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 144 | 51% | $38,203 | $30,476 |
| 10 | Pennco Tech - Blackwood Blackwood, NJPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 127 | 72% | $23,217 | $27,300 |
| 11 | Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 119 | 45% | — | — |
| 12 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 114 | 43% | — | $21,217 |
| 13 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 114 | 50% | — | $26,535 |
| 14 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 96 | 36% | — | — |
| 15 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 93 | 56% | — | $23,060 |
| 16 | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Minneapolis, MNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 92 | 64% | $17,453 | $25,571 |
| 17 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford, ILPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 87 | 66% | $20,078 | $29,130 |
| 18 | Madisonville Community College Madisonville, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 83 | 49% | — | — |
| 19 | Institute of Medical Careers Pittsburgh, PAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 81 | 76% | $20,376 | $24,805 |
| 20 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 79 | 58% | — | $21,287 |
| 21 | Pennco Tech - Bristol Bristol, PAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 78 | 84% | $22,272 | $28,145 |
| 22 | Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard, KYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 71 | 48% | — | $28,047 |
| 23 | Bryant & Stratton College - Online Orchard Park, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 71 | 23% | $14,394 | $30,013 |
| 24 | MiraCosta College Oceanside, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 62 | 41% | — | — |
| 25 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MNPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 57 | 53% | $19,944 | $33,372 |
| 26 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 56 | 27% | — | $35,225 |
| 27 | Ventura College Ventura, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 53 | 38% | — | — |
| 28 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 50 | 38% | — | $22,480 |
| 29 | Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences New York, NYPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 48 | 57% | $32,384 | $22,780 |
| 30 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NYPublicAssociate's | 44 | 41% | — | — |
| 31 | Galveston College Galveston, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 44 | 33% | — | $34,532 |
| 32 | Cerro Coso Community College Ridgecrest, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 43 | 25% | — | — |
| 33 | Glendale Community College Glendale, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 42 | 37% | — | — |
| 34 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 40 | 54% | — | $24,433 |
| 35 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 37 | 39% | — | $35,662 |
| 36 | Butte College Oroville, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 35 | 45% | — | — |
| 37 | Clark State College Springfield, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 33 | 22% | — | — |
| 38 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 29 | 24% | — | — |
| 39 | Central Texas College Killeen, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 29 | 11% | — | — |
| 40 | Galaxy Medical College North Hollywood, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 27 | 86% | $11,331 | — |
| 41 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 36% | — | — |
| 42 | West Los Angeles College Culver City, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 28% | — | — |
| 43 | Metropolitan Learning Institute Rego Park, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 24 | 99% | $8,911 | $20,342 |
| 44 | Pierce College District Lakewood, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 23 | 31% | — | — |
| 45 | ICPR Junior College - Arecibo Arecibo, PRPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 23 | 60% | $5,052 | $4,752 |
| 46 | Merced College Merced, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 36% | — | — |
| 47 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 24% | — | $28,122 |
| 48 | American Educational College Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 22 | 47% | $6,903 | — |
| 49 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 35% | — | — |
| 50 | Summit College San Bernardino, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 62% | $25,402 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health and Medical Administrative Services field (CIP 51.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 38 states & territories
Where Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary graduates come from. Each state links to all Health and Medical Administrative Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 43-6013, Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, with a job outlook that is about as fast as average, featuring 85,900 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $44,640, with typical education requirements being a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0716
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantsprimary SOC 43-6013 | $45,930 | +4.2% About as fast as average | ~85,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
- Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
- Complete insurance or other claim forms.
- Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
- Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
- Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
Tools and technology used
Other Health and Medical Administrative Services specializations
The 23 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health and Medical Administrative Services (CIP 51.07).
- Health/CIP 51.0701
Health Care Administration/ Management 28,580 graduates / yr704 institutions - Health Information/CIP 51.0707
Medical Records Technology/ Technician 12,261 graduates / yr314 institutions - Medical Insurance Specialist/CIP 51.0714
Medical Biller 11,432 graduates / yr160 institutions - Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/CIP 51.0713
Coder 10,263 graduates / yr355 institutions - Medical Office Assistant/CIP 51.0710
Specialist 4,612 graduates / yr186 institutions - Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/CIP 51.0702
Management 3,432 graduates / yr63 institutions - Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCIP 51.07993,295 graduates / yr91 institutions
- Health Information/CIP 51.0706
Medical Records Administration/ Administrator 2,865 graduates / yr126 institutions - Medical Office Management/CIP 51.0705
Administration 2,627 graduates / yr115 institutions - Medical/CIP 51.0711
Health Management and Clinical Assistant/ Specialist 1,344 graduates / yr20 institutions - Medical Reception/CIP 51.0712
Receptionist 962 graduates / yr37 institutions - Clinical Research CoordinatorCIP 51.0719342 graduates / yr25 institutions
- Healthcare InnovationCIP 51.0722284 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Long Term Care Administration/CIP 51.0718
Management 148 graduates / yr23 institutions - Health Unit Coordinator/CIP 51.0703
Ward Clerk 109 graduates / yr11 institutions - Regulatory Science/CIP 51.0720
Affairs partial data95 graduates / yr7 institutions - Medical Office Computer Specialist/CIP 51.0709
Assistant partial data75 graduates / yr7 institutions - Health Unit Manager/CIP 51.0704
Ward Supervisor partial data38 graduates / yr5 institutions - Medical Transcription/CIP 51.0708
Transcriptionist partial data30 graduates / yr9 institutions - Medical Staff Services Technology/CIP 51.0717
Technician partial data29 graduates / yr5 institutions - Disease Registry Data ManagementCIP 51.0721partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Health/CIP 51.0715
Medical Claims Examiner limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions - Healthcare Information Privacy Assurance and SecurityCIP 51.0723limited data7 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Health and Medical Administrative Services programs →
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program typically awards credentials ranging from at least 12 weeks to 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in communication, critical thinking, and administrative tasks relevant to healthcare.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant in various healthcare settings.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a median wage of $44,640 and 85,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary?+
Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary is CIP 51.0716 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health and Medical Administrative Services (CIP 51.07). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and personal secretaries for practicing physicians and nurses, health care facilities and services administrators, and other health care professionals. Includes instruction in business and medical communications, medical terminology, principles of health care operations, public relations and interpersonal communications, software applications, record-keeping and filing systems, scheduling and meeting planning, applicable policy and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary programs?+
223 U.S. institutions reported Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 38 states & territories, awarding 6,024 credentials in the year. That is 6.8% of all Health and Medical Administrative Services graduates.
How much do Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants occupation, which Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary most directly leads to, pays a median of $45,930 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Health and Medical Administrative Services field report median earnings of $29,147 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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