What Can I Do with a Healthcare Administration Master’s Degree?

Let’s start by defining health care administration. What is health care administration, and why should people pursue a career in this field? Health care administration is all about making sure people receive the best possible care. What is health care administration, you ask? There are so many career possibilites for graduates in public and private sectors, including hospitals, schools, retirement facilities, nursing homes, and more.

Are you wondering whether pursuing an MBA vs. MHA would advance your career more in the healthcare field? There are many factors to consider when determining which degree program to apply to – MHA vs. MBA. At its most basic level, an MBA is a more general degree program whereas MHA is more specialized to the healthcare field. MBA is a Master’s in Business Administration and naturally applies to a range of different fields, whereas an MHA degree is a Master’s in Healthcare Administration. Is MHA degree worth it? Is a masters in healthcare administration worth it? These are natural questions to ask. Ask around to healthcare professionals and often, the answer will be a resounding “yes.”

Those who have asked, is MHA degree worth it, researched trusted answers, and ultimately accomplished this degree will be qualified for a wide range of positions in the healthcare field. Is a masters in healthcare administration worth it? Of course – as long as you’d like to maximize your career possibilities and earning potential. How about salary considerations? What can graduates expect for MHA vs. MBA salary parameters? The multitudinous career possibilities make comparing salaries too cumbersome. It depends on what jobs graduates end up taking, in what industry, and where. For those evaluating MHA vs. MBA salary and trying to pick one just in light of finances, the decision is too nuanced to declare a definitive winner.

Some people want to give their resumes a real edge by pursuing an MBA MHA dual degree program. There are plenty of online and in-person programs to choose from. Both programs are excellent choices that offer students a wealth of well-rounded information in areas such as healthcare policy and ethics, marketing, and legal considerations. An MBA/MHA dual degree is a wise investment.

Accreditation for MHA Programs

There are plenty of CAHME accredited online MHA programs prospective students can choose from, but before you start picking a few to apply to, you need to find out, is CAHME accreditation important? In a word, YES! CAHME is an accreditation agency that sets very high educational standards for healthcare administration degree programs. While CAHME doesn’t accredit any strictly-online programs, it does extend accreditation to select schools that have both in-person and online options. CAHME accreditation requirements include very high professional standards for curriculum, consistent striving for excellence in health care administration education, and supporting hands-on, practical educational methods. CAHME accreditation requirements differ from regional accreditation for health care administration programs. But is CAHME accreditation important? Both accreditations are important in order for graduates to have excellent careers in the health care industry in the US or in another country. A helpful list of CAHME accredited online MHA programs, organized by state, can be found here.

Health management or administration MBA programs may be accredited by the AACSB rather than the CAHME, but they are considered of equal value.

Types of Health Administration Master’s Degrees

Thinking about getting a masters of health administration degree? There are so many masters of health administration programs to choose from according to your interests. There are plenty of on-line and in-person masters in healthcare administration programs to choose from. Top schools for masters in healthcare administration programs include those from the following schools: University of Southern California, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, George Washington University, University of Cincinnati, George Mason University, American University, Ohio University, University of Mississippi, and Drexel University. This is just a small selection of the wide range of MHA degree programs available to prospective students.

Getting a master’s in healthcare management requires a tremendous amount of work, but many graduates find that it is worth the time and financial investment. For prospective students, it can be rather daunting to try to wade through all the options for masters in healthcare administration programs. It’s really important to make sure any health administration masters programs students seriously consider applying to are accredited to make ensure high education standards will be followed.

Why online MHA programs are a great choice

Many people who have already attained a bachelor’s degree in health administration seek to enhance their resumes and job prospects by applying to MHA degree programs. Executive MHA programs enable graduates to reach leadership positions in their organizations. Online healthcare masters degrees enable students to achieve this next milestone in their professional lives without leaving their current 9-5 jobs or family responsibilities behind. Online healthcare master’s degrees are often a smart choice for healthcare administration workers.

What if I’m on a budget?

For many students, cost is an important factor, and it’s really not necessary to spend an arm and a leg on a master’s healthcare management degree. Sought-after, highly affordable online MHA programs can be found at Colorado State University – Global Campus, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, California State University – East Bay, Louisiana State University – Shreveport, University of Maryland – Global Campus, and others. Many students have found that these affordable online MHA programs give excellent bang for the buck without sacrificing any budgetary constraints. These days, whether top schools for masters healthcare management online or in-person (or both) doesn’t really matter. There are so many popular health administration masters programs for people to choose from to enhance their careers in this ever-growing, in-demand field in the US and many other countries abroad. Executive MHA programs give students the career boosts they’re looking for and provide valuable, real-world skills students will utilize to improve healthcare outcomes in the private and public sectors.

What are admission requirements?

A natural question everyone asks before applying to a masters in healthcare administration online or in-person program is, what are the masters in healthcare administration requirements needed for admission? Each program has its own specific rules, but in general, masters in healthcare administration requirements include having a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, a resume and cover letter, a personal statement or letter of application, official transcripts, and 2-3 letters of recommendations. Many executive master of health administration programs require GRE test scores or another kind of test score. Previous work experience is often required, but not always, for entrance into a masters of healthcare administration online program.

These requirements may seem rather dauting, but they’re designed that way. Top healthcare administration graduate programs only want serious students to apply to their schools. Attending and finishing an executive master of health administration degree program will require lots of work and dedication, so the faint of heart need not apply. But achieving a degree from a top healthcare administration graduate will make graduates’ careers shoot up to new heights. Healthcare administration masters programs enable graduates to take on more leadership responsibilities in the health care field, such as in hospitals or government agencies, and really make a lasting impact. Masters of science in healthcare administration is a popular choice for those who enjoy working with and analyzing numbers in order to improve healthcare outcomes. Healthcare administration masters programs require plenty of drive to achieve, but having a masters of science in healthcare administration diploma hanging on the wall of your office will make it all worth it. Start researching and applying to top schools today.

Certifications/Licenses in Health Administration and Management

Getting credentials in health care administration doesn’t have to be complicated or involve a tremendous financial investment. Instead, get an online healthcare administration certification at a reputable program. For instance, HFMA offers 6 specialty certifications in healthcare administration for those looking to enhance their skill sets and career potentials. Six options for certification for healthcare administration from HFMA include certified healthcare financial professional, certified revenue cycle professional, certified specialist accounting and finance, and certified specialist business intelligence. There’s something for everyone! There are so many good things about healthcare administration certifications.

When students get their healthcare administration certifications online, they don’t have to interrupt their professional lives or family responsibilities. Getting a healthcare administration certification in a specialty area can make your resume really shine at your next job interview. Certifications in healthcare administration can easily take your resume from “okay” to “wow!” and give you the confidence boost you need to put your best foot forward in this competitive job market. Hospital administration jobs are expected to increase in the next 5-10 years as healthcare systems gain complexity, so investing in certifications in healthcare administration is a smart career move now and for ensuring future success.

Careers in Health Administration 

Are you wondering what you can do with a master’s in healthcare administration? There are plenty of health administration careers, including entry-level jobs in healthcare administration, that graduates qualify upon graduation from an accredited program. Starting a career in healthcare administration isn’t very difficult – in fact, it’s an in-demand field that requires complex thinkers and strategists to ensure the best possible healthcare outcomes. There are so many healthcare administration career paths available according to people’s individual interests and skill sets.

Those wondering, “what can you do with an MHA” will be pleased to see that there are so many options. MHA jobs include hospital administrator, practice manager, clinical director, and long-term care administrator. Other potential health administration careers include health services manager (also called medical services manager) and admissions coordinator or director. MHA jobs often involve behind-the-scenes work, not direct interaction with patients, but their work often makes a huge impact in patient outcomes. Hospital administrator jobs are really important to ensure maximum efficiency and safety in the American healthcare system.

What can I do with an MHA?

Wish you could improve healthcare outcomes in a local hospital? You can! There are plenty of entry-level jobs in healthcare administration that are available in cities and towns across the US, and demand to fill health administration jobs is only expected to increase as time passes. What can you with an MHA? The real question is, what can’t you do?! Starting a career in healthcare administration involves getting a bachelor’s and then master’s degree, and perhaps some professional certifications as well to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Those who invest in getting themselves needed skills will be pleased to find that they will qualify for plenty of competitive health administration jobs.

Ambitious goals in healthcare administration

Got big career goals in healthcare administration? Would you like to work your way up to earning six figures someday? It’s perfectly fine to have ambition. Those with career goals in healthcare administration will be pleased to find that the doors of opportunity are open wide to those who invest in quality degrees, apply themselves daily at work, and maximize their networking potential. What can you do with an MHA? Have an awesome career, that’s what.

What can you do with a masters in healthcare administration?

You might not be completely clear yet what you would be doing in your future healthcare administration career. If that’s the case for you, no need to wonder any longer. Common duties, listed in plenty of healthcare management job descriptions, include supervising and evaluating the performance of other employees at the facility they work in, such as a hospital, formulating and implementing policies that ensure compliance with safety codes and government regulations, as well as recruiting and hiring new talent. Healthcare management job descriptions can vary widely, but these duties are common across the board. Hospital administrator jobs can be incredibly fulfilling for those who like work at micro and macro levels. A healthcare administration career path can be enriching and rewarding in so many ways. Healthcare administration career options are abundant in just about every American city. Healthcare administration career paths can be customized according to each person’s interests.

Online courses in hospital administration

Interested in completing some hospital administration courses online before applying to a degree or certification program? Doing hospital administration courses online is a wise way to enhance resumes for those who work in adjacent fields or to simply dip one’s toe into this field and see how they like it. Courses can be found at reputable schools like SNHU, Northeastern University, Cornell, Devry, and many others. Start researching and apply today! Your healthcare administration career options will be much clearer when skills in this field begin to be acquired.

Health Administration Salary Potential

Wondering what your earning potential will be upon graduation from an MHA program? A health administration salary can vary widely depending on one’s job title, the city they work in and particular hospital, and whether they work in the private or public sector. Health administration salary parameters are variable, but in Massachusetts, for example, the median masters in healthcare administration salary was $113,690. Massachusetts has the second-highest concentration of health administration jobs nationwide, so those looking to obtain a competitive master’s in healthcare administration salary would be wise to apply to jobs there.

Entry level salaries in healthcare administration

How much should recent healthcare administration graduates expect to make when starting out? A health administration starting salary is usually about $65,000, which is a comfortable starting point. Health administration in entry-level jobs can build the skills and network their way to climb their way up the ladder while earning a comfortable living with a health administration starting salary of $65,000.

Healthcare administration vs. healthcare management

There are two terms that sound very similar, almost interchangeable – that people often have questions about: healthcare administration vs. healthcare management. Management involves running the actual healthcare facility, whereas administration relates more to talent management (staffing). Within these 2 groups, there are many specialty areas, especially as the healthcare system here in the US becomes more complex. Healthcare administration vs. healthcare management salaries can differ according to position, location, and many other factors. A healthcare management degree salary is often very competitive, and comparable to healthcare administration degree salary parameters. Graduates from solid MHA programs will be pleased to find that healthcare management degree salary ranges result in comfortable living and plenty of potential for future income increases.

Professional Organizations in Healthcare Management

Prospective students and recent graduates would be smart to learn about the various professional organizations that are open to those working in the healthcare administration field. Professional organizations enable people to network and find their way into better job positions. They also help people gain the skills they need to make themselves as marketable as possible for potential new employers. Sought-after professional organizations for healthcare administration workers and students include:

• American Association of Healthcare Administration Management (AAHAM),
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE),
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA),
• The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
• The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM)

There are various fee structures for membership in the different organizations – some charge more than others. Attending conferences and reading newsletters for professional organizations in the healthcare administration field is a great way to enhance workers’ career potentials. Continuing education credits obtained from reputable professional organizations enhance resumes. Joining a professional organization is a great way to meet people similar to you and others who are higher up on the career ladder, who might be able to take you to the next level.

In today’s competitive job market, and excellent career prospects for graduates of accredited masters in healthcare administration programs, having a professional connection with potential new colleagues may just be the leg-up you need to land your next high-earning, fulfilling new position in the healthcare administration field. There are so many different career options available to people that they need to be creative in seeking out their next opportunity in a proactive manner. Professional organizations can give people the “in” they need to land that competitive, coveted interview for a position they’ve been working towards for a long time.