Why Healthcare Management Degrees in Texas Are in Demand
The rapidly increasing healthcare sector in Texas is mainly due to its aging population, the growth of technology, and the constant need for improved healthcare services. The demand is especially high for professionals trained in healthcare administration. Texas faces a shortage of trained doctors in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations, which hinders effective facility operations.
As one of the largest and most sophisticated states in the U.S., a healthcare management degree greatly enhances employability. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1.9 million openings are projected each year, on average.
Healthcare Management Degrees and Courses
Healthcare management degree programs offer students the knowledge of business and leadership needed to manage healthcare facilities, formulate policies, and deliver high-quality healthcare services. Texas business schools provide various degree plans to students such as online healthcare administration degrees and traditional on-campus degrees that suit different learning styles.
Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
Online healthcare administration programs in Texas offer flexibility, affordability, and accessibility, making them perfect for self-paced learners or working individuals. These programs prepare students for leadership positions in hospitals, nursing homes, insurance firms, and other healthcare establishments.
Below are two notable online bachelor’s programs in healthcare management from accredited Texas business schools and institutions:
- The University of Texas Permian Basin
The University of Texas Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. This university offers a very affordable BBA in Healthcare Management to prepare students and send them well for healthcare leadership. UTPB offers education that is approximately $43,560 annually for Texas residents with an 84% acceptance rate.
Degree: Online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Healthcare Management
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Program Highlights:
- 100% online and targeted towards working students.
- Covers healthcare finance, strategic management, and medical ethics.
- Affordable tuition when compared to private institutions.
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers online programs such as Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (BSHM). The acceptance rate is approximately 58%, and tuition fees for online programs range from $9,000 to $20,000 per year depending on the program and residency status.
Degree: Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Management
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Program Highlights:
- Designed for people wishing to transition to healthcare leadership roles.
- Includes healthcare law, policy, and organizational leadership.
- Available internships with Texas healthcare organizations.
Why Choose an Online Degree in Healthcare Administration?
An online degree in healthcare administration provides flexibility and convenience for those busy professionals with other commitments. It allows students to access quality education from anywhere. Following is a list of benefits that make online programs more appealing:
- Flexibility to study from anywhere in Texas without the burden of commuting.
- Online programs have lower fees as well as lower expenses.
- Topics include real-life challenges of healthcare administration.
- Programs from Texas business schools are accredited and recognized which helps in career growth.
On-Campus Degrees in Healthcare Management
Texas also has several offerings for students who wish to learn in class through various on-campus healthcare management degree programs. These programs offer learning opportunities along with work experience and networking.
Top On-Campus Healthcare Management Programs in Texas
- The University of Texas at Dallas – Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
This university is a part of the Naveen Jindal School of Management which is “Accredited by AACSB”. It has an internship program with important Texas healthcare systems. The health informatics, operations management, and healthcare finance courses are part of the curriculum.
- Baylor University – Healthcare Administration Program
Baylor University in Waco, Texas, offers a comprehensive Healthcare Administration program focused on health policy and hospital management. Students gain real-world experience through access to Baylor Scott & White Health, a large healthcare network in Texas. The program also features C-suite executive internships and residencies, equipping students with practical knowledge and leadership skills in healthcare management.
- Texas State University – Bachelor of Healthcare Administration (BHA)
It offers industry-centered courses on hospital operations, compliance, and financial management. It is close to Austin, which helps students tap into the expanding healthcare market of Texas. Also, it offers international exposure to the study of global healthcare systems.
Why Choose an On-Campus Healthcare Administration Degree?
The biggest benefit of choosing an on-campus Healthcare Administration degree is direct and hands-on learning experiences and networking with experts from the industry.
- Learning Physically: Internships and networking with Texas healthcare employers.
- Integrated Teaching: Learning from classroom activities and having the opportunity to engage with teachers.
- Good Employment Opportunities: Several on-campus programs have student placements in Texas hospitals and health systems.
What You Need to Get a Healthcare Management Degree in Texas
Institutions in Texas have strict boundaries on admission requirements for students pursuing a degree in healthcare administration. Criteria differ from one institution of higher learning to another, but most business universities in Texas follow the standard requirements for undergraduate healthcare management programs.
General Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs
Below are things that most students look out for to get accepted into a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration.
- GED or High School Diploma which is the proof of secondary education award.
- It is a well-known fact among students that several Universities in Texas have an admission requirement of a GPA of not lower than 2.5 and not higher than 3.0 as of 2023.
- Requirement of SAT or ACT Score because most colleges and universities as well as the progressive online courses don’t ask for admissions tests, but many public universities still require these for applications.
- Application letter because students are required to apply through ApplyTexas or the university website.
- Academic and employment references that some undergraduate programs may expect academic or employment references.
- Online articulation of career goals and objectives within the field of healthcare management.
Importance of Accreditation
Every degree must offer certain benefits and features, it must be accredited. Texas business schools offering healthcare management degrees should be accredited by the following associations:
- AASCB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business): Award business school accreditation to schools attaining the highest level of education.
- SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges): Provides accreditation to certain colleges and universities and verifies their regional accreditation.
- CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education): Provides specialty accreditation in healthcare administration programs.
Should I Get a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management?
In addition to an existing degree, a Master’s degree in healthcare management will enhance your resume. This field also requires trained professionals who have leadership, strategic planning, and financial management skills to work as executives in hospitals, healthcare clinics, and corporations.
Advanced Modules of Healthcare Management at the Postgraduate Level
Some medical care management programs at the graduate level contain these advanced courses:
- Understanding health policies, legal regulations, compliance policies, and health ethics.
- Economics and financial management in health care which include revenue cycle planning, budgeting, forecasting, and managing a healthcare organization’s finances.
- Strategic planning in healthcare systems includes enhancing leadership qualities and behaviors within the organization, as well as improving practices in the healthcare sector.
- Health informatics and advanced data analytics by enhancing technology and big data to enhance patient care quality.
Master’s Programs Offered in Texas Online
- The University of Texas
The University of Texas offers an online Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Healthcare Management Online (MBA) degree program, which is accredited by AACSB. This program is designed to equip students with the skills needed to effectively manage healthcare organizations and strategic management. The acceptance rate for this program is 39%. The program fee for this program is approximately $28,887.44 per year for in-state students.
- Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University Online offers a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration Online. They focus on international business management in healthcare and international business administration. Their total tuition fee is $11,010* with an acceptance rate of approximately 48%.
Career and Job Outlook
A Master’s degree in Healthcare Management gives access to a vast field in which you will enjoy many career choices. With increasing demands for enhanced healthcare services, the need for professionals to oversee and improve healthcare services has never been as high as it is today.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
On average annually over the decade, about 54,700 openings for medical and health service managers are projected each year, with the need to keep replacing workers.
As of May 2021, the median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $110,680 a year (as of May 2023).
Is there a demand for healthcare administration degree holders in Texas?
Texas is gaining an influx of people; thus, this state specifically will benefit dramatically from the addition of trained healthcare administration professionals. Thanks to the growing population and constantly developing healthcare system, Texas is one of the biggest markets for healthcare services in the US. It is home to a network of massive healthcare systems, hospitals, medical research institutes, and other businesses that require trained administrators. All of which will benefit from a Texas-dominated market.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for medical and health services managers are expected to increase by 13 % from 2023 to 2033. This is a considerable increase in Texas’s qualified graduates with healthcare administration degrees. Texas will have strong career opportunities in hospital administration, insurance management, and health consulting.
Conclusion
Students with a healthcare management degree in Texas have the opportunity to benefit tremendously from the state’s emerging healthcare industry and the job market. Texas is home to many reputable schools that offer effective online programs or traditional business courses that train students to take up leadership positions at hospitals, insurance companies, and even other healthcare institutions.
The combination of increased healthcare needs and available jobs makes healthcare management as a career one of the best options in the state of Texas, especially with the promising salary. It is equally important to Texas’s growing healthcare system that skilled management and leadership professionals are adequately nurtured and retained.
More on Healthcare Management Degrees
Comprehensive Healthcare Management Degree Guide
How to Get into a Healthcare Management School with Undergraduate Program