School Secretary Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a school secretary. School secretaries usually study business, accounting, or psychology. 41% of school secretaries hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 3,836 real school secretary resumes to see exactly what school secretary education sections show.

The most common colleges for school secretaries are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online school secretary courses to help get the education required to be a school secretary.

There are certain school secretary certifications that you should consider. These school secretary certifications include Word 2010 Certification and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

What education do you need to become a school secretary?

What degree do you need to be a school secretary?

The most common degree for school secretaries is bachelor's degree, with 41% of school secretaries earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 27% and associate degree degree at 18%.
  • Bachelor's, 41%
  • Associate, 27%
  • High School Diploma, 18%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a school secretary?

You should major in business to become a school secretary. 28% of school secretaries major in business. Other common majors for a school secretary include accounting and psychology.

Most common colleges for school secretaries

School secretaries often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Strayer University, and Grand Canyon University. Here are the most common colleges for school secretaries in the US based on their resumes.
School Secretary Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of Phoenix16.88%
Strayer University8.44%
Grand Canyon University6.49%
Michigan State University5.19%
Ashford University4.55%

Best majors for school secretaries

Best colleges for school secretaries

The best colleges for school secretaries are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.

A school secretary with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for school secretaries. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become school secretaries.

1. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

Website

www.wcu.edu

Address

225 Bird Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723-9646

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $33,400 per year

Net Price: $15,607 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.66%
SAT Average - 1128
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Elementary Education
Criminal Justice
Psychology

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
General Education, Specific Areas
English
Communication

3. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

Website

www.bsu.edu

Address

2000 University Ave, Muncie, IN 47306

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $35,300 per year

Net Price: $15,020 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.78%
Most Popular Majors
Education
Liberal Arts
Elementary Education
General Education, Specific Areas
Psychology

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Health Care Administration
Communication
English

5. Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,105

Enrollment

13,729

Website

www.bgsu.edu

Address

1001 East Wooster Street, Bowling Green, OH 43403

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $33,500 per year

Net Price: $18,456 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 72.27%
SAT Average - 1084
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Education
General Education, Specific Areas
Liberal Arts
Business
Psychology

20 best online courses for school secretaries

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1. Student Self-Assessment with Microsoft Word

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By the end of this project, you have used Google Forms to create several tools to use with your students and parents in order to ensure a successful school year. With volunteer sign-up forms, you can simplify your volunteer process within your classroom and across the school. Through exit tickets and assessments, you will be able to check your student’s understanding of the content taught that day or during a unit so that you can adjust instruction to address misunderstandings or gather...

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Top 10 most affordable universities for school secretaries

The most affordable schools for school secretaries are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for school secretaries are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for school secretaries.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Accounting
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Communication

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Psychology

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Psychology
Criminal Justice

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,094

Cost of Attendance

14,302

Website

https://www.uprm.edu

Address

Call Box 9000, Mayaguez, PR 00681

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,700 per year

Net Price: $8,584 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.51%

5. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,064

Cost of Attendance

15,576

Website

www.minotstateu.edu

Address

500 University Ave W, Minot, ND 58707

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $10,920 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 50.10%
SAT Average - 1059
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Liberal Arts
General Education, Specific Areas
Elementary Education

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for school secretaries

The hardest universities for school secretaries to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Boston College.

Some great schools for school secretaries are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for school secretaries based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
General Education, Specific Areas
English
Communication

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Communication
Psychology
Education

3. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

28%

SAT Average

1,429

Website

www.bc.edu

Address

140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $64,900 per year

Net Price: $33,562 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 27.89%
SAT Average - 1429
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Communication
Psychology
Accounting

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Communication
General Education, Specific Areas
Psychology

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Health Care Administration
Communication
English

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for school secretaries

The easiest schools for school secretaries to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and lim college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a school secretary without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for school secretaries.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Liberal Arts
Education
Psychology
Accounting

2. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Website

www.notredamecollege.edu

Address

4545 College Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121-4293

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $37,000 per year

Net Price: $21,651 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 89.65%
SAT Average - 994
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Nursing
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice

3. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

1,061

Website

www.limcollege.edu

Address

12 East 53rd St, New York, NY 10022-5268

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $42,300 per year

Net Price: $36,799 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.46%
SAT Average - 1061
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Business

4. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Human Services

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Nursing
Liberal Arts

Average school secretary salary by education level

School secretaries with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $42,217 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, school secretaries earn a median annual income of $40,243 compared to $38,080 for school secretaries with an Associate degree.
School Secretary education level
ascdesc
School Secretary salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$42,217
High School Diploma or Less$37,486
Bachelor's Degree$40,243
Some College/ Associate Degree$38,080

School Secretary Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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