Why This Matters
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20% OF POSITIONS REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE
A postsecondary certificate will qualify you for the 20% of medical office administration jobs that require this level of education as well as the 48% that only require a high school diploma.
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FASTER-THAN-AVERAGE JOB GROWTH EXPECTED
Over the next decade, the number of jobs for medical secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to grow by 5% to 8%.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN OVER $26 PER HOUR
While the median wage for medical office staff is $18.51 per hour, the top 10% of workers in this profession make more than $26.74 per hour.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online certificate in medical office administration 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 postsecondary 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 certificate in medical office administration 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.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Medical 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 institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 61 hours to write this article
- 26 universities and colleges we assessed
- 40 education programs we compared
Best 12 Online Certificate in Medical Office Administration Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Wayne Community College
Intelligent Score: 98.51In-state: $16,015
Out-of-state: $16,750
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 18-22
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online, Hybrid
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
17-18
Vance - Granville Community College
Intelligent Score: 97In-state: $20,936
Out-of-state: $25,544
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
17
Lenoir Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.44In-state: $19,150
Out-of-state: $25,294
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 18 or higher
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
18
Pitt Community College
Intelligent Score: 94.88In-state: $14,522
Out-of-state: $19,130
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 18-22
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
17
Surry Community College
Intelligent Score: 94.52In-state: $18,613
Out-of-state: $24,757
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 18-22
Resident: $84
Non-Resident: $276
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
12
Kennesaw State University
Intelligent Score: 93.92In-state: $4,450
Out-of-state: $15,704
In-state: $5,328
Out-of-state: $5,328
SAT: 1030-1200
ACT: 19-25
$6,999 (Total program fee)
Hybrid
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Non-credit
Wake Technical Community College
Intelligent Score: 91.17In-state: $22,360
Out-of-state: $28,504
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 18 or higher
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
18
Johnston Community College
Intelligent Score: 90.39In-state: $17,625
Out-of-state: $22,713
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: NA
ACT: NA
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
17-18
Guilford Technical Community College
Intelligent Score: 89.91In-state: $22,400
Out-of-state: $27,776
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 500 or higher
ACT: 21 or higher
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
18
Green River College
Intelligent Score: 89.48In-state: $25,383
Out-of-state: $25,865
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$107
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
54
Quinsigamond Community College
Intelligent Score: 89.1In-state: $20,328
Out-of-state: $25,272
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
$205
Online, On-Campus
New England Commission of Higher Education
27
Randolph Community College
Intelligent Score: 88.69In-state: $21,166
Out-of-state: $26,926
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 22 or higher
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online, Hybrid
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
18
What You Should Know About This Degree
Individuals interested in working in medical offices might also consider medical billing or transcription certificates. Another option is an associate degree in healthcare administration. More specific certificate programs, such as one for medical billing, position you to do specific jobs.
It’s important to ensure your time and money is well spent when you’re learning about medical office administration. You can increase your odds of having a positive experience by seeking out schools that are accredited by DOE-recognized organizations such as SACSCOC or NWCCU.
Students may need to pass final exams or complete a final project to receive their certification. Typically, there are no licensing requirements for those who want to work in medical office administration.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online certificate in medical office administration programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Most of these programs only require a high school diploma or GED. You may also need to be able to provide documentation of basic math and language competencies or take a test demonstrating them.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? How long it takes depends on the total number of credits required and how many classes you can take each semester. Most of the programs on our list require 17 or so credits. If all the required classes can be taken in a single semester, you could complete the certificate in around three months. More commonly, you may need to take courses across two semesters, or about ten total months.
When reviewing programs, record information about deadlines and application requirements. Getting paperwork in well before the deadline is typically encouraged.
You can also reach out to each school’s financial aid office to find out more about scholarships, grants, and other financing options.