Will migrant assistance transfer programs like Microsoft office and Excel from an old Mac to a brand new one?

If the new Mac is running Catalina (which I imagine it is) understand that MS Office 2011 won't run on Catalina and will need to be upgraded to either Office 365 or Office 2019. If you have Office 2016, there's a free update for that. As far as Migration Assistant, it may transfer the programs but even if it is Office 2016 you'll probably need to deactivate it on the source and activate it on your new one with your license.

https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products-b

Microsoft and Adobe will not allow their pro apps to migrate. As said if you will be running Catalina you will need 64 bit apps, MS Office 2016 can be upgraded to 64 bit however as stated it will not migrate. You will need to reinstall it. Office for Mac 2019 is 64 bit and you can also use Office 365 or other alternatives.

Look into the Free LibreOffice, it handles MS Office files…

https://www.libreoffice.org/

Apple macOS (Mac OS X)

The software and hardware prerequisites for installing on a Apple macOS computer are as follows:

• LibreOffice 6.3.x: macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher

• LibreOffice 6.2.x: macOS 10.9 (Mavericks) or higher

• Intel processor

• 512 MB RAM

• Up to 800 MB available hard disk space

• 1024x768 graphic device with 256 colors (higher resolution recommended)

It is a recommended best practice to back-up your system and data before you remove or install software.

Notes:

• For certain features of the software - but not most - Java is required. Java is notably required for Base.

• Due to an issue, there are the following restrictions with Java: on macOS 10.10 and newer, JRE isn't found, JDK is required

• LibreOffice 4.3 can still run on OS X 10.6+, but please understand that this support ended when 4.3 was retired on May 27, 2015.

https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/system-requirements/#Apple

Feature Comparison of LibreOffice v6.3 with Office 365/Office 2019 for Mac

https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Feature_Comparison:_LibreOffice_-_Microsoft_Office

If I may, I would like to offer the following additional information. Technically, the apps will migrate. That is, they don't need to be reinstalled. (Maybe upgraded, though.) What has to be done is to have the Office apps 'activated' on the new computer. Microsoft has directions to how to do this on their web site. I followed their directions and everything worked fine.

I am sorry, I do not remember specifically where I found them. They were on Microsoft's web site in the support section. I posted a question and got answers. I suggest you take the time to do the same.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to provide the link to these directions, that would be helpful.

Nope, not interested in doing homework like that. If you can find it that would be appreciated by all.

I am somewhat amazed at your response. Good luck.