Medical Office Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Medical Office Assistant programs equip students with the essential skills needed to thrive in fast-paced healthcare environments, focusing on efficient administrative support within clinical and medical settings. This training prepares individuals to manage day-to-day office operations with accuracy and professionalism, ensuring seamless functionality across medical practices and health systems.
- General Office Skills: Develop foundational competencies in organization, time management, and multitasking to support smooth office operations in healthcare environments.
- Data Processing and Record Management: Gain proficiency in handling digital and physical records, including data entry, file maintenance, and secure information retrieval.
- Office Equipment Operation: Learn to use modern office technology such as printers, scanners, fax machines, and electronic health record (EHR) systems effectively and efficiently.
- Medical Record-Keeping Principles: Understand the structure, confidentiality, and legal standards governing patient documentation, including HIPAA compliance and record integrity.
- Healthcare Business Regulations: Study key laws and policies that govern medical office operations, including privacy rules, billing standards, and compliance protocols.
- Clinical Office Procedures: Master workflows related to appointment scheduling, patient check-in/check-out, insurance verification, and coordination with healthcare providers.
- Professional Communications Skills: Enhance verbal and written communication abilities to interact effectively with patients, medical staff, and external organizations in a respectful and clear manner.
Medical Office Assistant Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Medical Office Assistant Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medical Office Assistant degrees, including Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 830,760 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 43-6013 | $44,640 | $35,050 - $60,050 | 830,760 | $21.46 |
Medical Office Assistant Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $35,910 in Arkansas to $56,920 in Washington—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, California, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 830,760 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Medical Office Assistant by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 98 institutions offering Medical Office Assistant programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Medical Office Assistant is found at Colorado Technical University (CTU), Colorado Springs (579 graduates), Hunter Business School (186 graduates), Martinsburg College (MC) (157 graduates), Regional Center for Border Health (RCBH) (152 graduates), and Front Range Community College (FRCC) (149 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,014 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Technical University (CTU) |
Associate's
|
579 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | coloradotech.edu |
| Hunter Business School |
Other Award
|
186 | Levittown, New York | Private | hunterbusinessschool.edu |
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Other Award
|
157 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| Regional Center for Border Health (RCBH) |
Other Award
|
152 | Somerton, Arizona | Private | rcbh.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
149 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Other Award
|
125 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | concorde.edu |
| EDP School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
113 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | edpschool.edu |
| Centura College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
101 | Newport News, Virginia | Private | centuracollege.edu |
| Bryant & Stratton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
100 | Orchard Park, New York | Private | bryantstratton.edu |
| More Tech Institute (MTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
96 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | moretechinstitute.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Other Award
|
89 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Centura College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
81 | Chesapeake, Virginia | Private | centuracollege.edu |
| Institute of Medical Careers (IMBC) |
Associate's
|
78 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | imbc.edu |
| Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
77 | Orlando, Florida | Private | agmu.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
73 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Bryan University |
Associate's
|
72 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| Centura College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
72 | Norfolk, Virginia | Private | centuracollege.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
67 | Chula Vista, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
61 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | concorde.edu |
| Liberty University |
Associate's
Other Award
|
54 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
49 | Muskogee, Oklahoma | Public | ictech.edu |
| Lanier Technical College (Lanier Tech) |
Other Award
|
44 | Gainesville, Georgia | Public | laniertech.edu |
| Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) |
Other Award
|
42 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Public | morainepark.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
38 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Ross College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
38 | Sylvania, Ohio | Private | rosseducation.edu |
| Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) |
Other Award
|
36 | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | Public | mc3.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
35 | Stockton, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Austin Medical Assistant Training (AMAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
35 | Forest Hills, New York | Private | amat.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | Ontario, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education (HLPAE) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | La Puente, California | Public | hlpae.com |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | Southaven, Mississippi | Private | concorde.edu |
| National Career Education (NCE) |
Other Award
|
30 | Citrus Heights, California | Private | nce.edu |
| Advantage Career Institute (ACI) |
Other Award
|
30 | Eatontown, New Jersey | Private | aci.edu |
| UEI College (UEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
28 | Huntington Park, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Remington College |
Other Award
|
28 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| East Ohio College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
27 | East Liverpool, Ohio | Private | eastohio.edu |
| Institute for Business and Technology (IBT) |
Other Award
|
25 | Santa Clara, California | Private | ibt.edu |
| Orange Technical College (OTC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
25 | Orlando, Florida | Public | orangetechcollege.net |
| PCI Health Training Center (PCI) |
Other Award
|
25 | Dallas, Texas | Private | pcihealth.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Other Award
|
24 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | tcatknoxville.edu |
| Northwood Technical College (Northwood Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
24 | Rice Lake, Wisconsin | Public | northwoodtech.edu |
| Remington College |
Other Award
|
24 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| Augusta Technical College (Augusta Tech) |
Other Award
|
23 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augustatech.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Remington College |
Other Award
|
21 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| Century College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
21 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Blue Cliff College |
Other Award
|
21 | Alexandria, Louisiana | Private | bluecliffcollege.edu |
| Mayfield College |
Other Award
|
21 | Cathedral City, California | Private | mayfieldcollege.edu |
| Southern Oklahoma Technology Center (SouthernTech) |
Other Award
|
20 | Ardmore, Oklahoma | Public | sotech.edu |
| Rogue Community College (RCC) |
Other Award
|
19 | Grants Pass, Oregon | Public | roguecc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
19 | Fresno, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Mid-America Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
19 | Wayne, Oklahoma | Public | matech.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Visalia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Salida, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Career School of NY |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Staten Island, New York | Private | careerschoolny.com |
| Central Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Drumright, Oklahoma | Public | centraltech.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
|
17 | Riverside, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| Valencia College |
Other Award
|
16 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Danville Area Community College (DACC) |
Other Award
|
16 | Danville, Illinois | Public | dacc.edu |
| New Mexico State University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
16 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | dacc.nmsu.edu |
| Trinidad State College (TSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Trinidad, Colorado | Public | trinidadstate.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
15 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| West Virginia Junior College (WVJC ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Cross Lanes, West Virginia | Private | wvjc.edu |
| Laramie County Community College (LCCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Public | lccc.wy.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Hesperia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute |
Other Award
|
14 | Weslaco, Texas | Private | stvt.edu |
| Francis Tuttle Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
14 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | francistuttle.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Oceanside, California | Private | uei.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
14 | Temecula, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
|
14 | Anaheim, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| CET |
Other Award
|
13 | Watsonville, California | Private | cetweb.edu |
| Savannah Technical College |
Other Award
|
13 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahtech.edu |
| Great Plains Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
13 | Lawton, Oklahoma | Public | greatplains.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Other Award
|
13 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| West Virginia Junior College |
Associate's
|
13 | Irwin, Pennsylvania | Private | unitedcareer.edu |
| CET |
Other Award
|
12 | Salinas, California | Private | cetweb.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Bakersfield, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Residency
Other Award
|
12 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
|
12 | Ontario, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| Remington College |
Other Award
|
12 | Houston, Texas | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| St Louis College of Health Careers (SLCHC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slchc.edu |
| Centura College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | centuracollege.edu |
| Bryant & Stratton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Buffalo, New York | Private | bryantstratton.edu |
| Unitech Training Academy |
Other Award
|
10 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Private | unitechta.edu |
| Remington College |
Other Award
|
10 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| College of Western Idaho (CWI) |
Other Award
|
10 | Nampa, Idaho | Public | cwi.edu |
| Unitech Training Academy |
Other Award
|
10 | Alexandria, Louisiana | Private | unitechta.edu |
| Northeast Community College |
Other Award
|
9 | Norfolk, Nebraska | Public | northeast.edu |
| Lakeland Community College (LCC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Kirtland, Ohio | Public | lakelandcc.edu |
| Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | ogeecheetech.edu |
| Coconino Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | coconino.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
9 | Pharr, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Institute of Technology (IOT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Salem, Oregon | Private | iot.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Ontario, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) |
Residency
|
9 | Antioch, California | Private | ccmcc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Delano, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Medical Office Assistant programs
How much can I earn with a Medical Office Assistant degree?
Salaries for Medical Office Assistant graduates vary by role and location. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn a median of $44,640 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $56,920 compared to $35,910 in Arkansas. Approximately 830,760 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Medical Office Assistant programs?
Currently 205 accredited institutions offer Medical Office Assistant degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Colorado Technical University (CTU), Colorado Springs (579 graduates), Hunter Business School (186 graduates), and Martinsburg College (MC) (157 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Medical Office Assistant growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 14,515 in 2010 to a peak of 4,793 in 2020, before declining slightly to 4,419 in 2023-24. This represents a 70% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Medical Office Assistant degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. Related occupations employ approximately 830,760 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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