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)
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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