by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Word Processing involves the study of Word Processing. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Text Typing, Table Construction, And Document Formatting Tasks On Personal Computers At A High Rate Of Accuracy And Proficiency. Includes Instruction In Keyboarding Skills, Word Processor Operation, Textual Draft Interpretation, Audio And Tape Dictation, And Specific Word Processing Program Software. Read on to learn the key facts every word processing major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering word processing programs.
Across the country, word processing is a widely-pursued major, with 20 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Word Processing Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for word processing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of word processing programs later in this article.
Programs in Word Processing emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations word processing graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a word processing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a word processing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several word processing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 20 |
People currently working in careers related to word processing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 49.6% |
| Some college courses | 45.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in word processing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying word processing opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to word processing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to word processing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Word Processors and Typists | 167,447 | 8.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of word processing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,578 |
| 4 years | $35,013 |
| 5 years | $35,657 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for word processing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers word processing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Word Processors and Typists | $38,983 |
With 2 different word processing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased word processing school rankings to help you.
Those considering word processing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, General | 414 |
| Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, Other | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
