Many schools offer online bachelor's in healthcare administration degrees that train learners for careers as healthcare administrators.
These professionals perform administrative tasks to ensure hospitals, long-term care centers, and medical offices run smoothly. They oversee budgets, coordinate work schedules, and set goals for medical organizations.
Our ranking includes some of the cheapest online healthcare administration degrees. Learn about costs, common classes, and how to become a healthcare administrator.
Popular Online Healthcare Administration Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Most Affordable Online Healthcare Administration Degrees
Did You Know…In September 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ranked medical and health services managers sixth on its list of the 20 fastest-growing occupations for 2022–2032.
Why Get a Degree in Healthcare Administration?
Earning your healthcare administration degree online offers many valuable advantages. Key benefits include:
Convenient opportunities to train for entry into a career with faster than average growth potential in between 2022 and 2032
Easy access to top-rated online programs based at schools outside your area
Significant cost savings relative to what you would pay for traditional face-to-face education
Flexible study scheduling that suits busy lifestyles
The ability to work while earning your degree, which eases the financial burden of higher education
How Much Does a Healthcare Administration Degree Cost?
Online bachelor's degrees in healthcare administration cost an average of $51,090, according to EducationData.org. However, the cost varies by school, program format, institutional affiliation, and residency status.
In-state students tend to pay less than out-of-state students, and public universities usually cost less than private and nonprofit colleges. Online learners may save money by not commuting to campus regularly or paying for campus housing. Some programs offer online students in-state tuition rates no matter where they live.
Additional Online Student Fees
Many colleges and universities waive fees for in-person activities and services. However, online learners should budget for extra costs, like books, graduation fees, or technology fees. The latter covers access to a virtual classroom platform, a school email address, a video conferencing account, and technical support.
Online students can save money by buying used or digital books. Learners should also budget for miscellaneous expenses, like fees for official transcripts.
How Much Do Healthcare Administration Majors Make?
Many healthcare administration careers pay above-average salaries. For example, medical and health services managers make a median annual wage of $104,830, more than twice the median annual wage for all occupations of $46,310. Find out each state's median annual salary for medical and health services managers.
Courses in Healthcare Administration Programs
Schools offering online healthcare administration degrees may use a synchronous or asynchronous format. Synchronous classes include real-time virtual lessons. Learners who prefer built-in accountability of scheduled class times may like this option. Asynchronous classes let learners watch recorded lectures at any time, a benefit to self-disciplined students needing the extra flexibility.
Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. Master's degrees in healthcare administration require around 60 credits. Some healthcare administration programs let students select a track or concentration. These specializations align with specific healthcare administration careers.
Learn more about three common classes for students seeking a healthcare administration degree.
Software Programs for the Healthcare Administrator Enrollees explore patient record-keeping software programs, billing software programs, and employee scheduling programs. Students compare the pros and cons of these programs, learning how to keep patient records secure and prevent data breaches. Learners may need to register for free trials of the programs or buy access.
Ethics in the Healthcare Administration Field Students develop an ethical framework for evaluating healthcare dilemmas by examining case studies about common issues in the industry. Learners then debate the best course of action. Coursework covers laws that protect employees and patients and how to lead medical organizations to comply with these laws.
Financial Planning for Healthcare Administrators Degree-seekers discover how to create and oversee budgets for clinics and hospitals. The class covers medical coding and insurance basics, budgeting basics, and the line items in a budget. Coursework also covers budgeting basics for a specific department, then expands to budgeting for an entire organization.
How to Become a Healthcare Administrator
Becoming a healthcare administrator begins with earning an accredited bachelor's degree. When a school or program earns accreditation, it passes quality assessments from third-party organizations. The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education accredits healthcare administration programs.
Learners can build their resumes during their studies through internships at a local medical office. When creating a resume, learners should list their related professional experience and professional references.
Healthcare administrators can commit to lifelong learning by joining a professional organization. The Health Care Administrators Association is a leading professional organization in this field.
Questions About Healthcare Administration
Graduates with a healthcare administration degree may work as medical billers or coders, clinical office managers, healthcare administrators, medical staff directors, or healthcare hiring managers.
