Online Healthcare Administration & Management Bachelor's Degree
Overview
New healthcare regulations, technology advances, and an aging population have created a booming market for healthcare administrators, making it one of the most popular online bachelor’s degree programs, according to a report by Learning House, an online education company.
Responsible for the oversight of medical facilities ranging from large hospitals to rehabilitation centers and nursing homes, healthcare administrators coordinate care, create schedules, manage finances, and work with medical staff.
- Find a Program for You
-
Get Matched U.S. News University Directory can match you with online programs that meet your criteria in a few simple steps.
Coursework
| Example courses | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical issues in healthcare | |||||||||
| Standards for healthcare staff | |||||||||
| Health unit coordination | |||||||||
| Long-term care management | |||||||||
| Health law and regulations | |||||||||
| Policy issues in healthcare | |||||||||
While earning an online bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, students will learn the business side of the industry through courses such as leadership and ethics, human resources, finance, and economics—all tailored specifically to address the unique challenges of the healthcare field.
Students will also delve into the legal side of an industry that is strictly regulated by federal privacy laws and other healthcare mandates. Those who wish to narrow the focus of their healthcare administration degree may be able to do so through specializations such as public administration, long-term care management, or healthcare informatics systems.
Job Outlook
| Median salaries* | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office manager, medical office | $46,000 | ||||||||
| Practice manager | $47,000 | ||||||||
| Healthcare administrator | $52,000 | ||||||||
| Practice administrator | $62,300 | ||||||||
| Hospital administrator | $98,600 | ||||||||
*per the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
The healthcare administration field is projected to grow 22 percent by 2020, adding nearly 70,000 new positions for administrators and managers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average starting salary for a graduate with a bachelor’s in healthcare administration is $39,600, and the mid-career median salary is $57,800, according to PayScale, an online salary database. Earning a master’s in business or healthcare management can help graduates boost their earning potential.
