Today, we will take a look at some of the benefits, opportunities and dangers of the Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in America and also some industry standard salaries for these jobs.
About Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degree Programs and Industry Salary 2023/2024
Healthcare administration is a rapidly growing field that requires professionals with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the healthcare industry. For individuals interested in pursuing a career in healthcare administration, an accelerated degree program can be an excellent option. These programs allow students to earn a degree in a shorter amount of time than traditional programs, while still providing them with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the field.
A health care administration degree program may not only prepare you with classes but may also include an internship. This double whammy preparation can help you graduate with both a degree and experience in the field.
Classes vary from program to program, but many accelerated healthcare administration degree programs have similar classes. Some possible classes are:
- Community Health
- Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Management
- Critical Incident Management
- Disaster Planning and Response
- Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- Healthcare Financial Management
- Healthcare Laws and Ethics
- Healthcare Management Terminology
- Healthcare Outcomes and Quality Management
- Health Informatics
- Legal Aspects of Healthcare Management
Earning this degree requires more than just book knowledge. Many of your classes will likely ask you to dive into the hands-on skills you’ll need to handle situations that come up in healthcare.
As a healthcare administrator, you may get to skip the night shifts and other downsides of the job that a doctor, nurse, or health aide deals with. You can still help people, but you’ll likely be spending your days coordinating health services in nursing homes, hospitals, or clinics.
Healthcare administrators keep everybody else on track. In this position, you will likely focus on budgeting, scheduling, public education, and ways to improve patient care.
Business Insider reported, “By 2030, every Baby Boomer will be age 65 or older,” so 1 out of every 5 Americans will be of retirement age by then. Millions of people will be needing healthcare. This career field is not one that is likely to slow down anytime soon.
As a result, there are not only thousands of jobs available but hefty paychecks too. The average salary for a health service manager is $104,280.
What Degree Is Needed for Healthcare Administration?
A healthcare administration online degree program or traditional degree program can help set you on the path to a career in allied health, medicine, public health, public administration, or business administration. You may even tailor your degree to your career goals by choosing one of these concentrations:
- Education
- Gerontology
- Information Systems
- Management
- Financial Management
- Law and Policy
- Patient Safety and Quality
- Public Relations and Media Management
Any of these specializations can help you prepare for an in-demand and rewarding career.
While there are many benefits to accelerated healthcare administration degree programs, it is important to carefully consider your options before choosing a program. Some key factors to consider include the reputation of the program, the quality of the faculty, and the availability of career services and networking opportunities.
In addition, it is important to consider the cost of the program, as accelerated degree programs can be more expensive than traditional programs. However, many programs offer financial aid and other forms of support to help students manage the cost of their education.
What Can I Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration?
Many healthcare careers come with not only a rewarding role but also a satisfying salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some careers in the healthcare administration field and their average salaries are:
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Government Healthcare Managers | $116,380 |
| Hospital Administrators | $112,870 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $104,280 |
| Outpatient Care Center Managers | $100,690 |
| Physician Office Managers | $94,240 |
| Nursing Home Managers | $89,880 |
| Emergency Management Directors | $76,250 |
Any one of these professions may require you to use your skills in organization and communication to manage the business side of healthcare. This is such a necessary role that there is a 32% growth rate expected for healthcare administration careers.
As more people age, there is an increased need for healthcare services. In addition, pursuing a master’s or even a PhD in Healthcare Administration could help make your salary potential even higher.
The Advantages of Online Accelerated Healthcare Administration Programs
Accelerated programs often provide a lot of flexibility and enable students to customize their degree plans to better suit their goals and needs. There are many benefits to choosing to take accelerated online courses instead of traditional, on-campus classes.
Start Sooner
Many post-secondary institutions offer start dates each month. With these programs, there is no need to wait (or rush to be ready) for a September start date. You can start when it works for you.
Study When and Where You Want
Many online courses do not require you to meet at a set time. You may complete your studies when and where you want to. You also don’t need to move or commute to attend your classes.
Finish Faster
Traditional classes are about 16 weeks long. In accelerated courses, you may be able to learn the same information and earn the same credits in just 5, 6, or 8 weeks.
If you’re self-motivated, online accelerated classes can potentially allow you to finish your degree in half the time.
3 Ways to Accelerate Your Healthcare Administration Degree Even More
Aside from taking accelerated courses, you may be able to shorten the time it takes to earn your degree even further. With these tips, you could potentially earn your bachelor’s degree in just two years or less.
Test Out of Classes by Taking CLEP Tests
Many schools will allow you to apply credits earned from CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests to your degree.
With the College Level Examination Program, you pay $89 per test, plus any other fees required by the testing center. If you get at least 50% of the questions right, you earn credits, usually 3, for that course. You can earn up to 30 credits like this.
Submit a Prior Learning Portfolio
Many schools will allow you to submit a prior learning portfolio to earn credit for job and military training and experiences you have. You can potentially earn up to 15 credits for proving that you already know the class material due to these experiences.
Take a Full Course Load Each Semester
Instead of taking the traditional 30 credit hours most students take per year, many schools will allow you to take 18 credits per semester, including the summer, for a total of 54 credits. This can help you finish your degree up to two years earlier.
If you earn 30 credits from CLEP tests, 15 credits through Credit for Prior Learning, and then work hard earning 18 credits each semester, you could potentially have 120 credits in just 18 months! That’s potentially your full bachelor’s degree program completed in less than 2 years.
You may also be able to transfer any existing college credits you already have. If you passed a class from an accredited college with at least a C grade, it might transfer into your healthcare administration degree program. Even if you can’t match the class specifically to your healthcare degree courses, you may be able to use the credit as an elective to avoid taking an extra class!
How to Lower Your Tuition Costs
Credit by Exam and Credit for Prior Learning may cut down your tuition bill by allowing you to skip some core classes. You may also bring your overall bill down by applying for financial aid.
Here are some places to look:
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): grants, loans, work-study funds
- State government: grants
- Private organizations: merit scholarships
- Universities: incentive scholarships
- Employers: tuition assistance or reimbursement
If you spend some time researching the opportunities available, you could potentially end up spending much less on your college education.
Healthcare Administration Degree Accreditation
It is very important to make sure that your school has regional accreditation. If your school doesn’t have regional accreditation, there is no guarantee that it won’t be a waste of your time and money.
Regional accreditation is a stamp of approval that proves to future employers, graduate schools, and certifying programs that your degree is legitimate. It shows that your school has gone through the measures needed to prove that they are meeting standards of education.
You can also look for programmatic accreditation to ensure that your program is meeting the standards for your field of study.
For healthcare administration programs, you can look for accreditation from one of these boards:
- Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
- American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA)
- American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE)
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
- National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards and Catholic Health Association
- The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)
A properly accredited degree can help set you on the path for an amazing career in health care.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Healthcare Administration Degree?
Most on-campus healthcare administration degree programs take 4 years to complete. Online degree programs are typically geared more toward adult learners and are designed to be flexible.
You might take classes one at a time and slowly complete your degree or fast-track the process and potentially finish in 2 or 3 years. If those options are still too long of a commitment, an online associate’s degree in healthcare administration may be a better fit.
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