Comprehensive Healthcare Management Degree Guide
Healthcare management is an essential field because management is a pillar for hospitals and medical facilities like any other business. So, they need business-minded and qualified people to run these operations and help hospitals and clinics meet their financial or strategic goals.
A career in this field seems like a profitable vocation to pursue. But how exactly do you begin? What’s the scope for entry-level job seekers? How much does a master’s in this field earn? We’ll talk about all that and more in this healthcare management career guide, so let’s begin.
Definition of Healthcare Management
Healthcare management focuses on the business side of healthcare. This field combines leadership with management and provides direction to healthcare organizations, such as hospitals, clinics, and other types of medical facilities.
The purpose of this field is to manage the everyday operations within said medical facilities. So, this side of managing a hospital looks just the same as any other business, such as:
- Managing finances and accounts;
- Human resources, i.e., managing staff and employees;
- And planning and coordinating organizational strategies.
Therefore, it also encompasses other elements like marketing, business strategies, etc. Consider this field management/administration of businesses, except for hospitals. So, some of the key job titles in healthcare management focus on the following:
Management is one of the pillars of the healthcare industry. That’s why it requires qualified individuals to strategize and execute strategies that keep hospitals and other medical facilities standing. So, what exactly is a healthcare management degree? Is it a worthy degree/career to chase? Besides, what can you potentially get after chasing this business management degree? This guide will lead you through all that you need to know, including the programs you can find and what you can expect to learn.
What is Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management is the field of overseeing the basics and necessities of healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc. Instead of dealing with healthcare directly, healthcare management professionals ensure that health institutions run efficiently. Usually, healthcare management focuses on a few critical areas of hospitals and medical institutions, such as:
- Managing staff, including doctors, nurses, etc.;
- Handling finances and accounts;
- Regulating compliance and human resources;
- And improve services, policies, etc.
So, the focus of healthcare management is on running a hospital as an organization seamlessly. Thus allowing doctors and nurses to practice their profession in an environment that ensures proper facilities.
What Do You Study in a Healthcare Management Degree Program?
Healthcare management degrees focus on critical areas of management, just like any other business management degree. The specializations might focus on specific areas, but a general bachelor’s or master’s degree will focus on:
- Healthcare Operations
- Financial Management
- Healthcare Policy and Law
- Human Resources Management
- Quality Improvement
This management program will teach the same basics of human resources, accounts, and administration— with the addition of courses in healthcare operations/policy and law. Some of the healthcare management degree courses under these categories include:
| Degree | Course Title | Description |
| Certificates | Healthcare Information Literacy & Data Analytics | A branch of data analytics focused on healthcare. |
| Advancing Health Equity: A Guide for Reducing Bias | Focuses on promoting diversity and avoiding bias in health-related professions. Falls under Human Resources and healthcare policies. | |
| Bachelor’s | Principles of Healthcare | Fundamental concepts of healthcare, including essential healthcare practices. |
| Healthcare Ethics and Values | Ethical considerations and general morals of healthcare as a profession. | |
| Healthcare Management Information Systems | Focuses on management systems, computers, programs, etc., necessary to ensure the smooth running of healthcare operations. | |
| Patient Safety Management | Focuses on patient safety and quality of healthcare. | |
| Healthcare Policy & System | General healthcare policies for the state, country, and hospitals. | |
| Master’s | Health Systems Management | Same as healthcare management information systems, but at an advanced level. Additional management elements to lead healthcare management system teams. |
| Financial Management and Accounting | Managing finances and accounts of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions. | |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare | Focuses on entrepreneurial practices in healthcare and innovation to provide a higher degree of medical care. | |
| Healthcare Policy, Politics, and Law | Higher/advanced level of Healthcare Policy & System, with the addition of management leadership. | |
| Leadership and Change Management | Developing leadership to lead various management departments in the healthcare profession. |
There are various degree types in management for the medical field. For instance, the healthcare management degree requirements will be focused mainly on the business aspect. But a particular specialization might have its specific admission necessities. One such example would be hospital management degree requirements, which require a GPA of 3.5 or above.
Types of Healthcare Management Programs
You can find plenty of options when exploring a healthcare management degree online or on campus. However, you should be clear on the type of degree or certification you pursue. Some of the top healthcare management programs on various levels include the following:
Online Healthcare Management Certificates
If you’re already a graduate or someone who wishes to add healthcare management to their arsenal, then healthcare administration classes online might be for you. For that, you can pursue management certifications online, such as: Some of these programs are for eligible undergraduate students, but others are for master’s or bachelor’s only. So, make sure you check the requirements before picking a certification.
Healthcare Management Associates Degree
An associate’s degree program might not open the doors to a bachelor’s healthcare management degree salary. However, it will still help you score entry-level positions, and then you can work your way up from there. Here are some of the popular associate degrees in healthcare management:
Accredited Bachelor Degree
A bachelor’s program is a surefire way to break into medium positions in the healthcare industry. However, it has to come from an accredited and recognized university. Here are some of the accredited bachelor’s degrees in healthcare management today:
Hospital or Healthcare Management Master’s Degree
A healthcare management master’s degree is ideal for graduates who are looking to break into this industry or simply wish to elevate their skills.
Who Should Study Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management is ideal for those who wish to work in healthcare, albeit in an administration role. Those who are passionate about providing health, but are more akin to business or management roles, will find a career in healthcare management just right for their ambitions. Usually, people with healthcare management degrees work in hospital administration. So, you should study it if you wish to supervise things like:
- Managing staff like doctors, nurses, etc.;
- Regulating compliance among employees;
- Managing accounts and finances;
- And manage administrative elements.
Now, what happens if you’re at a certain point in your career? You might pursue a master’s degree in healthcare management if you’re already a business graduate. Otherwise, you might look for entry-level healthcare management jobs with a certificate or diploma. Here’s who should study healthcare management.
| Career/Qualification Point | Why? |
| Healthcare Professionals | If you’re working as a nurse or medical assistant, you’d know what a hospital or clinic needs better than anyone. Becoming qualified to manage those elements will elevate your career. |
| Business Graduates | If you have a business background, then a healthcare management master’s degree will land you in higher positions in any clinic, hospital or medical facility. |
| Recent Graduates | If you’re a recent graduate and wish to change your field or elevate your status, earning a healthcare management degree will open multiple doors for you. |
| Mid-Career Professionals | Mid-career professionals who wish to change or switch to management in healthcare. This is a common scenario for those with an inclination toward healthcare or the medical field in general. |
| Policymakers and Administrators | Policymakers or administrators who are already working as professionals in healthcare. This will allow them to understand their field on a more intimate level. |
Requirements for Enrolling in a Healthcare Management Program
So, here are some of the choicest and top healthcare management graduate degrees available today.
| Title | Level | Requirement |
| BS/BSBA in Healthcare Management | Bachelor’s | High school diploma/GED, official transcripts, personal statement, SAT/ACT scores, and application fee. Usually requires 120 credits and includes a capstone project. |
| Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) | Master’s | Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 36-54 credits, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and GRE/GMAT scores, depending on the university/school. |
| Master of Public Health (MPH) | Master’s | Bachelor’s degree, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and possibly GRE scores. Focuses on public health aspects within healthcare management. |
| Certified Healthcare Manager (CHM) | Certification | Must have a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of healthcare management experience. |
| Certified Medical Manager (CMM) | Certification | Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of management experience in healthcare. Like CHM, you are required to pass an exam. |
| Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management | Certification | Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and focuses on specialized topics within healthcare management. |
| Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) | Doctoral | Master’s degree in a related field, professional experience, letters of recommendation, and a dissertation or capstone project. |
Related: How to Get into a Healthcare Management School with Undergraduate Program
What Type of Degree Do I Need for the Healthcare Management Field?
The type of degree you pursue in healthcare management will also determine the level of job you’ll have. An undergraduate certificate, diploma, or associate in science degree will open the doors to entry-level health management systems careers.
Although pursuing a bachelor’s degree will set you on the path to mid-to-higher-level positions. Lastly, a master’s degree will help you score for higher-level jobs, such as managerial or executive-level positions. So, here are some of the degrees you can pursue in this field:
- Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Informatics
- BS in Health Information Management
- Master of Health Administration (MHA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a healthcare concentration
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
A simple Google search like “healthcare management degree online” will lead you to many possibilities. However, you must find healthcare degrees in your state to avoid additional costs. Nevertheless, here are some top-degree options for each degree level:
| Degree Level | Degree Title | College/University |
| Associate/College Degree | AA In Healthcare Management Technology | University of Cincinnati Online |
| Associate in Health Care Management | Penn Foster College | |
| AAS in Healthcare Administration | St. Louis College of Health Careers | |
| Bachelor’s/Graduate Degree | Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | The University of Alabama At Birmingham |
| Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | Texas Tech University | |
| Bachelor’s In | Maryville University | |
| Master’s/Post-Graduate Degree | Master of Healthcare Management | UA – Eller College of Management |
| Master of Health Administration | Columbia University | |
| MPH: Health Care Management | University of Maryland |
You’ll find plenty of other business degrees with a healthcare management concentration in the coursework. It depends on the type of field or particular specialty that you wish to pursue such as nursing administration, clinical facilities, compliance, etc. Therefore, it’s essential to explore the specialties and concentrated programs for specific healthcare management fields.
Cost and acceptance rates for Bachelor’s programs
| University | Degree Title | Acceptance Rate | Average Cost (University) |
| Texas Tech University | Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | 67% | $20,000 |
| Maryville University | Bachelor’s In | 88% | $27,000 |
| Georgia Military College | BAS in Healthcare Management | 95-100% | $14,000 |
| Columbia College | Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management | 4% | $66,000 |
| The University of Alabama At Birmingham | Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | 87% | $17,000
|
Cost and acceptance rates of Master’s Programs
| University | Degree Title | Acceptance Rate | Average Cost |
| Bay Path University | Online MS in | 76% | $39,000 |
| University of Maryland | School of Public Health | Master of Public Health: Health Care Management | 45% | $17,000 |
| Johns Hopkins Carey Business School | Master of Science in Health Care Management | 7% | $29,000 |
| UA – Eller College of Management | Master of Healthcare Management | 87% | $30,000 |
| Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health | Master of Health Administration | 4% | $23,000 |
Related: Which Management College Degree Suits You?
Healthcare Management Careers & Education Requirements
There are quite a few career paths that you can take. Simply search for healthcare management jobs near me, and you’ll see a variety of job titles. However, some of the most common healthcare management career paths include:
Now, how do you pursue these jobs? What sort of healthcare management degree will you need? And what is the specific healthcare management job description in each career? Here are some of them:
| Career | Education | Job Description |
| Hospital Chief Executive Officer | Master’s degree (MHA, MBA) | Overseeing the entire hospital operations, including setting strategic direction and ensuring quality care. |
| Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Master’s degree (MHA, MBA) | Managing the financial operations, budgeting, and financial planning of the healthcare facility. |
| Health Information Manager | Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Health Information Management | Handling patient data management while maintaining regulations and managing health records. |
| Medical Office Manager | Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management or Administration | Managing daily operations of a medical office and supervising staff, while managing patient relations. |
| Nursing Home Administrator | Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration | Ensuring smooth operations and compliance with regulations and quality care. |
| Healthcare Compliance Officer | Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration or Law | Ensures healthcare organizations comply with laws and regulations and conduct audits. |
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist | Certificate or Associate’s degree in Medical Billing and Coding | Responsible for processing patient billing and coding for insurance claims. |
| Healthcare Consultant | Master’s degree in Healthcare Management or Business Administration | Advising healthcare organizations on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing patient care. |
| Practice Administrator | Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management | Supervising the operations of a medical practice, including staffing, budgeting, and patient care. |
| Chief Operating Officer (COO) | Master’s degree (MHA, MBA) | Responsible for the day-to-day operations of a healthcare organization. |
Some job titles require entry or mid-level education, while others require advanced education like master’s or graduate management certification. Now, any career counselor would suggest pursuing a business administration degree before you go for a healthcare management master’s degree.
Why is that? Because it keeps the doors open to other fields while allowing you to pursue your desired career. However, with a healthcare management degree (bachelor’s), you can still pursue other options, like a master’s in business administration/management.
Healthcare Management Education and Salaries
Any healthcare management career salary depends on experience, job title, and particular department. For instance, even health and social service managers earn different wages based on sectors or departments.
- Master’s in healthcare management jobs
According to BLS, some of the top masters in healthcare management jobs offer the following salaries in different sectors:
| Sector | Salaries |
| Hospitals (State, Local, or Private) | $128,700 |
| Government (Medical Facilities, Govt departments) | 125,500 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 104,700 |
| Offices Of Physicians | 102,300 |
| Nursing And Residential Care Facilities | 97,400 |
Source: BLS
- Associates in healthcare management jobs
It’s important to remember that these are high or mid-level positions, and that’s why their salaries are 100K+. So, what about entry-level healthcare management career salaries? And what sort of education do you need? Let’s say you are fresh off high school then you might find the following two programs the best to find entry-level business management jobs in hospitals.
| Program | School | Cost |
| Health Care Management | Northwood University | $12,000-$14,000 |
| Medical Administrative Assistant Diploma | North Iowa Area Community College | $17,000 |
| Medical Billing and Coding Program | American National University | $21,000 (full-time) |
With certifications or programs like these, you can find jobs like:
- Medical Office Assistant
- Medical Secretary
- Medical Records Manager
- Medical Information Processing Operator
- Bachelor’s in healthcare management jobs
On the other hand, if you get a bachelor’s degree, then the course of your career will be slightly different. And you can pursue higher healthcare management job roles. Say you wish to pursue a bachelor’s in healthcare management programs then here are some options:
| Program | School | Acceptance Rate | Cost |
| Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | South University | 95-100% | $16,000 |
| Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | SUNY Canton | 95% | $15,000 |
| Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management | Utica University | 81% | $24,000 |
Once you pursue these or any other bachelor’s degree, what are the healthcare management career opportunities? Here are some:
| Job Titles | Average Salary |
| Healthcare Administrator | $88,000 |
| Healthcare Department Manager | $72,000 |
| Healthcare Finance Manager | $79,000 |
| Quality and Improvement Manager | $79,000 |
| Medical Records Manager | $62,000 |
- MBA in Healthcare Management in the U.S. Jobs
Aside from this, what is the scope of an MBA in healthcare management in the USA? If you have an MBA or any master’s degree in healthcare management, you can find the following positions:
- Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Healthcare Consultant
- Health Services Manager
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- Health Information Manager
These are some of the top MBA healthcare management careers, but what do they earn? What are the job outlooks? Here are the answers:
| Job Title | Median Salary | Job Outlook |
| Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CIO) | $169,000 | 15% |
| Human Resources Managers | $136,000 | 6% |
| Health Services Manager | $101,000 | 28% |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $101,000 | 28% |
| Health Information Manager | $104,000 | 8% |
Therefore, there are career opportunities in healthcare management on all levels, from entry-level to advanced.
Why Work in Healthcare Management?
Working in healthcare management isn’t just about salaries or job outlooks but also about the impact. Most of those who pursue careers in medical fields do so out of love for helping people and making an impact/difference. The same goes for the management of healthcare, even if you don’t directly deal with patients–because it’s a career that combines compassion with leadership and strategy. It also helps you ensure that you play a pivotal role in medical institutions and hospitals by running them smoothly and efficiently. Therefore, if you have a knack for management and want to help people, management in healthcare might be your career calling.
Healthcare management degree jobs might look the same as any that require a degree in business administration. This includes human resources management, facilities management, accounting, etc. However, there are some industry-specific jobs that require you to have a healthcare management degree—or a specialization in one. Here are some of the job titles, salaries, and job opportunities/outlook for work in this field. While this is the data available on BLS for specific job positions, there are also other job titles. Usually, the other job titles fall under the same category as the six mentioned above. Some of them include:
- Hospital Administrator
- Clinic Manager
- Health Services Manager
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Healthcare Operations Manager
- Medical Practice Manager
- Health Information Manager
- Healthcare Project Manager
- Managed Care Executive
- Hospital Chief Executive Officer
- Health Information Manager
- Medical Office Manager
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Healthcare Compliance Officer
- Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
- Practice Administrator
- Healthcare Consultant
- Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Therefore, it’s a field with many opportunities, job titles, and hefty salaries. It’s also in an industry that’ll never run out of need, so job security isn’t an issue either.
What do healthcare management professionals do? Here are the average daily activities.
| Job Title | Description |
| Clinical Manager | Overseeing everyday operations, while managing staff, and budgets, and ensuring top-notch care for patients. |
| Nursing Home Administrator | Managing operations of a nursing home, and ensuring compliance with regulations, while providing the best care possible to residents. |
| Laboratory Manager | Managing testing and radiology labs, while administrating everyday operations and managing staff. |
| Office Manager | Handling administrative tasks, including scheduling, billing, and other everyday office stuff. |
| Health Information Manager | Overseeing patient management by maintaining health information and medical records. |
What is the Future of a Career in Healthcare Management?
The future is quite bright, and it’s apparent from the job outlook, salaries, opportunities, etc. Even at entry-level, you get paid more than in other fields. Besides, hospitals and medical facilities are a necessary element in any society’s infrastructure. So, this is a never-ending field that’ll always generate new job opportunities. Besides, even starting at an entry-level position, you can vie for higher-level positions. Thus, the scope of the hospital management system and a career in it are pretty lucrative.
Healthcare management is a lucrative field, and one that presents many opportunities. With a promise of hefty salaries and an ever-increasing job outlook, this is one of the leading gambles that high school students make after graduating. Aside from the potential of earning a high health services management degree salary, it also ensures you’ll land a job somewhere. On top of that, this applies to any sort of program, including associate degrees, as well as certification.
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