NAICS 611410 Quarterly Industry Report
Business and Secretarial Schools
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 611410Sector: Educational Services (61)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Business and Secretarial Schools (NAICS 611410) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], Bureau of Labor Statistics[8], ACCSC accreditation data[5], and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, education analysts, and business appraisers with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the business and secretarial schools industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Business and Secretarial Schools (NAICS 611410) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in offering courses in office procedures and secretarial and stenographic skills, and may also offer training in basic office computer software per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Instruction may be provided in classroom settings, through distance learning platforms, or through combined delivery formats. These schools award certificates and diplomas rather than academic degrees, distinguishing them from community colleges and universities that grant associate or baccalaureate credentials.
Roughly 84 establishments employ over 2,000 workers in this narrowly defined subsector, a sharp decline from the mid-1990s when 581 schools operated with more than 10,900 employees. A broader business certification and IT schools category, which includes this classification, generates approximately $6.4 billion in annual revenue and has grown at a 7.6 percent annual rate over the past five years. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges[5] serves as the primary accreditor for career schools in this space, overseeing more than 650 institutions serving 150,000 students.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $20.5 million in average annual receipts. Community colleges and corporate training departments have absorbed much of the demand once served by standalone business schools, creating structural headwinds for independent operators. The remaining schools have pivoted toward specialized business software training, administrative professional certification programs, and corporate partnerships to maintain enrollment volume. Digital transformation has shifted curriculum focus from traditional secretarial skills to business technology proficiency.
What's Included in This Industry
- Office procedures and administrative skills training
- Stenographic and transcription skill instruction
- Business software and office productivity application training
- Bookkeeping and basic accounting certificate programs
- Administrative professional certification preparation
- Medical office administration training programs
- Legal secretary and paralegal preparatory coursework
- Business correspondence and communication skills courses
- Corporate training partnerships and contract instruction
- Distance learning and online business skills delivery
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Educational Services | 61 |
| Subsector | Educational Services | 611 |
| Industry Group | Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | 6114 |
| NAICS Industry | Business and Secretarial Schools | 61141 |
| National Industry | Business and Secretarial Schools | 611410 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 611420 | Computer Training | Computer Training schools overlap in technology curriculum delivery, though business and secretarial schools focus on office productivity applications rather than programming, cybersecurity, and advanced IT certifications |
| 611210 | Junior Colleges | Junior Colleges offer competing business certificate programs with broader academic credentials, drawing enrollment from students who would otherwise attend standalone business and secretarial schools |
| 611430 | Professional and Management Development Training | Professional and Management Development Training provides specialized business skills instruction at the management level, overlapping with advanced business school offerings in leadership and executive development areas |
| 611519 | Other Technical and Trade Schools | Other Technical and Trade Schools compete for career-focused students seeking quick workforce entry, with trade school programs in healthcare and technology drawing potential business school enrollees |
| 611699 | All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction | All Other Miscellaneous Schools capture niche training programs that partially overlap with business school curricula, including specialized customer service training, call center operations, and sales methodology programs |
| 611710 | Educational Support Services | Educational Support Services provide accreditation consulting, curriculum development, and student outcomes tracking that business and secretarial schools contract for compliance and program improvement functions |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 22.2% | 20 |
| 2 | Texas | 21.1% | 19 |
| 3 | New York | 17.8% | 16 |
| 4 | Florida | 8.9% | 8 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 7.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6.7% | 6 |
| 7 | Illinois | 5.6% | 5 |
| 8 | Indiana | 3.3% | 3 |
| 9 | Utah | 3.3% | 3 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 3.3% | 3 |
% Of Establishments
0%
22%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for business and secretarial schools?
NAICS 611410 covers establishments offering courses in office procedures, secretarial skills, stenography, and basic office computer software, awarding certificates and diplomas per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
How many business and secretarial schools still operate?
Roughly 84 establishments remain in this narrowly defined subsector, a sharp decline from the mid-1990s when 581 schools operated per historical Census data.
What is the SBA size standard for business schools?
The SBA size standard[6] is $20.5 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting preferences and SBA lending programs.
Why has the business school industry declined?
Community colleges and corporate training departments absorbed much of the demand previously served by standalone business schools per Census Bureau[7] historical data, while digital transformation shifted workforce needs from traditional secretarial skills to broader technology proficiency.
What accreditation body oversees business schools?
The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges[5] serves as the primary accreditor for career-focused institutions, overseeing more than 650 schools and evaluating management, faculty qualifications, and student outcomes.
How have business schools adapted their curriculum?
Remaining schools have pivoted toward specialized business software training, administrative professional certification programs, and corporate partnerships to maintain enrollment in a market increasingly served by community colleges and online platforms.
What is the broader market size for business certification schools?
The combined business certification and IT schools category generates roughly $6.4 billion in annual revenue with a 7.6 percent annual growth rate over the past five years per industry market research data.
Can business school credits transfer to colleges?
Most business and secretarial school programs award non-transferable certificates and diplomas, unlike community college programs that carry transfer credit potential through articulation agreements with four-year institutions.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges accsc.org
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [8]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [9]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
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