Why This Matters
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36% OF OFFICE CLERK JOBS REQUIRE AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE
An associate in office administration will qualify you for the 36% of office clerk jobs that require this level of education as well as the 56% that only require a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award.
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10% JOB DECLINE EXPECTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
For secretaries and administrative assistants, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the number of positions to decline significantly from 2022 to 2032.
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EARN A MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE OF $44,080
While the average salary for administrative assistants is $44,080, the top 10% of workers in this field make more than $70,380 — an associate degree will help you reach the high end of your salary potential.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online associate in office administration degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online associate in office administration degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
- 59 hours to write this article
- 46 universities and colleges we assessed
- 72 education programs we compared
The Top 50 Best Online Associate in Office Administration Programs
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About This Degree
When you’re comparing programs, it’s important to pay attention to degree type. All the programs on our list are associate degrees, but the concentration may differ. For example, a program with a concentration in medical office administration is going to focus more on the healthcare field and HIPAA privacy laws than a program with a concentration in business administration, which is going to focus more on paperwork and processes you may find in the business world.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). These organizations evaluate the faculty and curriculum of postsecondary education institutions to ensure they offer students a high-quality academic experience.
The job growth outlook for office administrative positions is declining for those in lower-level positions, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue it as a career. What it does mean is that the competition for open positions could be strong, and an associate degree can help you stand out from other applicants.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online associate in office administration programs:
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? The options on our list require about 60 to 73 credits to graduate. If you’re able to attend full-time, you should be able to graduate in two years.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Most associate in office administration programs offer coursework asynchronously, which means you’re able to work at your own pace.
After you’ve chosen a program and are ready to start the application process, it’s important to keep track of all the required documentation and deadlines for both admissions and financial aid. Grants, scholarships, and loan opportunities may be available to you, but these programs often have very strict deadlines — the financial aid office at your school can give you more information.