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Medical Administrative Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Designed to equip professionals with the essential skills to support healthcare operations, this program focuses on the administrative functions critical to the smooth functioning of medical offices, clinics, and health services organizations. Graduates emerge prepared to serve as key coordinators for physicians, nurses, and healthcare administrators, combining clinical knowledge with advanced organizational and communication abilities.

  • Medical Terminology: Develops a comprehensive understanding of anatomical, physiological, and pathological terms used in clinical settings to ensure accurate documentation and communication.
  • Healthcare Operations Principles: Explores the inner workings of medical facilities, including workflow management, resource allocation, and service delivery systems.
  • Business and Medical Communications: Builds proficiency in drafting professional correspondence, managing electronic health records, and conveying information clearly across clinical and administrative teams.
  • Interpersonal and Public Relations Skills: Enhances ability to interact effectively with patients, providers, and staff, fostering professionalism and trust in high-pressure environments.
  • Software Applications in Healthcare: Provides hands-on training with electronic medical records (EMR), practice management systems, and other digital tools central to modern healthcare administration.
  • Record-Keeping and Filing Systems: Teaches systematic approaches to organizing patient data, insurance forms, and compliance documentation with accuracy and confidentiality.
  • Scheduling and Meeting Coordination: Focuses on managing complex calendars, coordinating appointments, and facilitating meetings that align with clinical and administrative priorities.
  • Regulatory Compliance and Ethics: Covers federal and state regulations, including HIPAA, and emphasizes ethical decision-making in sensitive healthcare environments.

Medical Administrative Assistant Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

7,771
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
236
Universities & Colleges
1
Career Pathways

Medical Administrative Assistant Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medical Administrative 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 Administrative 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 Administrative Assistant by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Medical Administrative 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 Administrative Assistant is found at Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) (2,917 graduates), Arkansas Tech University (ATU) (347 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (269 graduates), Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) (183 graduates), and Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) (180 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,259 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
Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
2,917 Clearwater, Florida Private ultimatemedical.edu
Arkansas Tech University (ATU)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
347 Russellville, Arkansas Public atu.edu
NUC University (NUC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
269 Bayamon, Puerto Rico Private nuc.edu
Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
183 Ashland, Kentucky Public ashland.kctcs.edu
Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
180 Lexington, Kentucky Public bluegrass.kctcs.edu
Santa Ana College (SAC)
Associate's
172 Santa Ana, California Public sac.edu
Somerset Community College (SCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
153 Somerset, Kentucky Public somerset.kctcs.edu
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
148 Bowling Green, Kentucky Public southcentral.kctcs.edu
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
121 Elizabethtown, Kentucky Public elizabethtown.kctcs.edu
University of Cincinnati
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
107 Batavia, Ohio Public ucclermont.edu
Carrington College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
106 Sacramento, California Private carrington.edu
Pennco Tech
Other Award
106 Blackwood, New Jersey Private penncotech.edu
South University
Associate's
100 Savannah, Georgia Private N/A
Institute of Medical Careers (IMBC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
98 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private imbc.edu
Stautzenberger College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
97 Rockford, Illinois Private rockfordcareercollege.edu
West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
96 Paducah, Kentucky Public westkentucky.kctcs.edu
Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
88 Hazard, Kentucky Public hazard.kctcs.edu
Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
81 Maysville, Kentucky Public maysville.kctcs.edu
Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center
Other Award
71 Minneapolis, Minnesota Private saoic.org
Pennco Tech
Other Award
71 Bristol, Pennsylvania Private penncotech.edu
Galveston College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
65 Galveston, Texas Public gc.edu
Madisonville Community College (MCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
62 Madisonville, Kentucky Public madisonville.kctcs.edu
Rasmussen University
Other Award
56 St. Cloud, Minnesota Private rasmussen.edu
Butte College
Associate's
Other Award
52 Oroville, California Public butte.edu
Ventura College
Associate's
Other Award
52 Ventura, California Public venturacollege.edu
Bryant & Stratton College
Associate's
50 Orchard Park, New York Private bryantstratton.edu
Santa Monica College (SMC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
48 Santa Monica, California Public smc.edu
Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences
Associate's
48 New York, New York Private swedishinstitute.edu
Career Technical Institute (CTI)
Other Award
46 Washington, District of Columbia Private careertechnical.edu
Merced College
Associate's
Other Award
44 Merced, California Public mccd.edu
Metropolitan Learning Institute (MLI)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
44 Rego Park, New York Private gettraining.org
Cerro Coso Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
38 Ridgecrest, California Public cerrocoso.edu
Glendale Community College (GCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
38 Glendale, California Public glendale.edu
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
37 Ankeny, Iowa Public dmacc.edu
Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
37 Prestonsburg, Kentucky Public bigsandy.kctcs.edu
Tyler Junior College (TJC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
37 Tyler, Texas Public tjc.edu
MTI College (MTI)
Other Award
33 Sacramento, California Private campus.edu
Hopkinsville Community College (HCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
31 Hopkinsville, Kentucky Public hopkinsville.kctcs.edu
Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
31 Owensboro, Kentucky Public owensboro.kctcs.edu
San Joaquin Delta College
Other Award
27 Stockton, California Public deltacollege.edu
Central Texas College (CTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
25 Killeen, Texas Public ctcd.edu
Fresno City College (FCC)
Associate's
Other Award
24 Fresno, California Public fresnocitycollege.edu
Mt San Jacinto Community College District (MSJC)
Other Award
24 San Jacinto, California Public msjc.edu
Reedley College
Associate's
Other Award
23 Reedley, California Public reedleycollege.edu
Northampton County Area Community College (NCC)
Associate's
Other Award
22 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Public northampton.edu
ICPR Junior College
Associate's
22 Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Private icprjc.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
21 Tucson, Arizona Private pmi.edu
College of Marin (COM)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
21 Kentfield, California Public marin.edu
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKCTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
21 Cumberland, Kentucky Public southeast.kctcs.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
20 Albuquerque, New Mexico Private pmi.edu
Tom P. Haney Technical College (Haney Tech)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
20 Panama City, Florida Public haney.edu
Humacao Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
20 Humacao, Puerto Rico Private hccpr.edu
Pierce College District
Associate's
Other Award
19 Lakewood, Washington Public pierce.ctc.edu
Green River College (GRC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
19 Auburn, Washington Public greenriver.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
19 Houston, Texas Private pmi.edu
Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
18 Sioux City, Iowa Public witcc.edu
West Los Angeles College (WLAC)
Other Award
17 Culver City, California Public wlac.edu
Delta College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
17 University Center, Michigan Public delta.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
17 El Paso, Texas Private pmi.edu
Allan Hancock College
Other Award
16 Santa Maria, California Public hancockcollege.edu
Clark State College
Associate's
Other Award
16 Springfield, Ohio Public clarkstate.edu
Pierpont Community and Technical College (PCTC)
Other Award
16 Fairmont, West Virginia Public pierpont.edu
Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC)
Associate's
Other Award
15 Boston, Massachusetts Public bhcc.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
15 Colorado Springs, Colorado Private pmi.edu
Shasta College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
14 Redding, California Public shastacollege.edu
Atlantic Technical College (ATC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
14 Coconut Creek, Florida Public atlantictechnicalcollege.edu
Renton Technical College (RTC)
Other Award
14 Renton, Washington Public rtc.edu
Antelope Valley Community College District (AVCCD)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
13 Lancaster, California Public avc.edu
Bergen Community College (BCC)
Associate's
13 Paramus, New Jersey Public bergen.edu
Bryant & Stratton College
Associate's
13 Buffalo, New York Private bryantstratton.edu
Edison State Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
13 Piqua, Ohio Public edisonohio.edu
Stautzenberger College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
13 Maumee, Ohio Private sctoday.edu
Walla Walla Community College (WWCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
13 Walla Walla, Washington Public wwcc.edu
Lakeshore Technical College (LTC)
Residency
13 Cleveland, Wisconsin Public gotoltc.edu
South University
Associate's
13 Round Rock, Texas Private N/A
Sheridan Technical College (STC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
12 Hollywood, Florida Public sheridantechnicalcollege.edu
Empire State University
Associate's
12 Saratoga Springs, New York Public sunyempire.edu
Western Technical College (WTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
12 La Crosse, Wisconsin Public westerntc.edu
University of Arkansas Grantham (UA)
Associate's
Other Award
12 LIttle Rock, Arkansas Public uagrantham.edu
South University
Associate's
12 Tampa, Florida Private N/A
Madera Community College (MCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
12 Madera, California Public maderacollege.edu
Quinsigamond Community College (QCC)
Other Award
11 Worcester, Massachusetts Public qcc.edu
Montcalm Community College (MCC)
Associate's
11 Sidney, Michigan Public montcalm.edu
Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC)
Associate's
11 Troy, New York Public hvcc.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
11 Denver, Colorado Private pmi.edu
High Desert Medical College (HDMC)
Other Award
11 Lancaster, California Private hdmc.edu
Canada College
Other Award
10 Redwood City, California Public canadacollege.edu
Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State)
Associate's
10 Fergus Falls, Minnesota Public minnesota.edu
Century College
Associate's
10 White Bear Lake, Minnesota Public century.edu
Holmes Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
10 Goodman, Mississippi Public holmescc.edu
East Ohio College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
10 East Liverpool, Ohio Private eastohio.edu
York Technical College (York Tech)
Other Award
10 Rock Hill, South Carolina Public yorktech.edu
Dallas College
Other Award
10 Dallas, Texas Public dallascollege.edu
Cosumnes River College (CRC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
9 Sacramento, California Public crc.losrios.edu
Orange Technical College (OTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
9 Winter Park, Florida Public orangetechcollege.net
ICPR Junior College (ICPR)
Associate's
9 Arecibo, Puerto Rico Private icprjc.edu
Pima Medical Institute (PMI)
Other Award
9 Las Vegas, Nevada Private pmi.edu
Blue Cliff College
Associate's
9 Alexandria, Louisiana Private bluecliffcollege.edu
South University
Associate's
9 High Point, North Carolina Private N/A
South University
Associate's
8 Montgomery, Alabama Private southuniversity.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Medical Administrative Assistant programs

How much can I earn with a Medical Administrative Assistant degree?

Salaries for Medical Administrative 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 Administrative Assistant programs?

Currently 236 accredited institutions offer Medical Administrative Assistant degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) (2,917 graduates), Arkansas Tech University (ATU) (347 graduates), and NUC University (NUC) (269 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 Administrative Assistant growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 14,139 in 2010 to a peak of 8,181 in 2020, before declining slightly to 7,771 in 2023-24. This represents a 45% 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 Administrative 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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