Online Master of Health Care Administration
Purdue University offers a top online masters degree in Healthcare Administration. With multiple start dates throughout the year, and only 12 -15 hours required per week, Purdue Global makes earning your masters degree a reality. The low cost of only $485 per credit hour renders the program one of the least expensive on the list. There are 52 credits required for graduation. Sample classes include:
- Organizational Development for Health Care
- Health Care Financial Management
- Health Care Operations and Quality Assessment
- Community Health Assessment
- Health Information Management and Assessment
Once the core of 44 credits is complete, students will take eight credits of electives and a final capstone project that displays what they learned by applying the knowledge to a real-world issue. The capstone project represents the final four-required credits.
It is worth noting that international students who live outside of the United States receive a 25 percent tuition reduction. There is no doubt that with the excellent faculty, flexible program, and affordable tuition rates, Purdue University belongs on the list.
About Purdue University
One of the largest public research universities in Indiana, Purdue University offers more than 200 undergraduate majors, and 65 graduate and professional degrees. There are also 18 intercollegiate sports teams and over 900 various student organizations.
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Percentage of Graduate Students: 16%
- Student to Faculty Ratio: 20 to 1
What is healthcare administration?
One of the most dynamic, growing, and changing fields in America is healthcare. It’s not simply medicare and the news-cycle associated with the politics of healthcare. The industry has undergone and is currently undergoing big changes. Technology continues to revolutionize the way providers operate and the way patients are treated. The demand for leaders and administrators of our healthcare industry is expected to grow by about 20 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The reason is our aging population, especially the Boomer generation, combined with the expansion of technology. Healthcare administration, or healthcare management, refers to the business, management, and oversight of our healthcare sector. This administration and management involve our public health systems, health care systems, hospitals, and hospital networks in all the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors involve advanced knowledge and skills—something that requires higher education.
Healthcare administrators require knowledge of business law, ethics, operational management, finances, marketing, data management, and more. There is a wide range of careers in healthcare management. The following are a sampling of jobs:
- Healthcare CEO or CFO
- Healthcare Administrator
- Clinic Manager
- Quality and Improvement Manager
- Patient Finance Manager
- Health Insurance Manager
- Department or division director
- Medical records manager
- Nurse manager
- Nursing director
- Operations manager
- Program manager
- Population Health Manager
What is an online masters degree in healthcare administration?
An online masters degree in healthcare administration is a graduate degree that prepares you to work in mid- to upper-level management of hospitals, public health facilities, or healthcare systems. The Master’s in Healthcare Administration or MHA is also called Healthcare Management or Hospital Management. All masters in healthcare administration are similar in their scope and curriculum, admission requirements, and duration. In general, the degree requires an accredited bachelor’s degree (not necessarily a bachelor’s in healthcare management) and some experience as a professional in the healthcare industry. Most schools on our top 30 do not require a GRE or GMAT for admission. At a most basic level, the online masters in healthcare administration are between 36 and 50 credits and take around two years. All the programs are 100-percent online with a few exceptions. The exceptions involved a residency requirement which, depending on your goals, can be what you’re looking for or something to avoid. Classwork includes knowledge and skills in finance, healthcare law, healthcare ethics, operational management, human resource management, marketing, and more. If you’re looking for specializations there are many available. Perhaps the most timely are those involving data such as Data Management and Health Informatics.
Is an online masters in healthcare worth the investment?
The answer to this question depends on what you consider “worth it.” If you look at the cost of an online MHA and the average salary you’ll see that the finances make sense. Let’s look at that in more detail. The average cost of the top 30 MHA programs on our list is $591 per credit. Since the average number of credits is 45 for an online MHA, that means the total cost is on average $26,595. Next, the average starting salary of a graduate holding an MHA is $75,000. The top 10 percent of earners make nearly $150,000 a year and the median salary is $82,000 to $117,000 a year. Thinking of your ROI can become daunting. Forbes provides a helpful article for considering the major factors. Besides the total cost and your earning, considering how much debt you need to take on (if any), and how long the degree will take you, can make a difference.
When considering the average online MHA takes about two years, but can be accomplished without quitting your job, the potential loss of income is null and void. In addition, online degrees cut out room and board, and when they are 100-percent online, the tuition cost is generally equivalent to the net cost. Lastly, since the healthcare administration sector is expected to grow, odds are you’ll be able to land the job you’re looking for or advance on the career path you’ve chosen. All this financial talk aside, the fact is earning your online masters degree is definitely worth the investment—you can bank on it!
What is the job outlook and salary for healthcare administrators?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Healthcare Administrators or Managers are expected to grow about 20 percent from 2018-2028. This is well above the average of 6-7 percent. The number of jobs to be added sits at about 80,000, which means it’s a good time to jump in. Estimates vary from organization to organization, but all agree on the fact the job outlook for a career in healthcare management is excellent. There are some specializations that offer higher pay and may grow faster than others. For example, “according to research firm IDC, the amount of healthcare data in 2013 was 153 exabytes and will grow to 2,314 exabytes by 2020.” This continuing digitization means a growing demand for managers of data.
Concentrations and electives are offered by many schools MHA programs in informatics, data science, analytics, and more. In terms of salary, the potential is excellent. Since earnings depend so much on education, location, and other factors it’s important to note as you research what school to earn your degree and where you want to work. According to Payscale, the average salary of a Healthcare Administrator is $65,542. When you look past that specific title, you’ll find that the average salary is higher, and we tag the range of salary between $75,000 and $150,000. The picture is much more detailed than this, however. Top earners in the industry can make well over $200,000 a year.
How do I choose the best online masters in healthcare administration?
Our advice is always to know what you want first. Are you looking to continue to work and earn a degree as fast and inexpensive as possible? Or do you prefer a residency or study abroad option with all the networking benefits of that experience? Does the status of the school matter or a specific accreditation? Are you looking for a particular concentration in healthcare administration? All these are legitimate and important factors to help you choose the best online masters in healthcare administration. We’ve got you covered here! Our top 30 list notes the most common factors for determining which school is the best fit for you. Plus we throw in some notable facts that may just be the edge you’re looking for between two great schools. Affordability is usually at the top of the list. The average price of our top 30 is $591 per credit; with a low of $360 (Oklahoma State University) and a high of $1928 (University of Southern California). Convenience and flexibility are also important.
All of the schools we ranked deliver their online masters in healthcare administration online—most 100-percent online. Some do require some on-campus visits, which may or may not be a factor for you. Every school is regionally accredited and some are also nationally accredited, so you know every one of these programs is top-notch. So then, armed with key data points, we wish you luck on your quest!
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