Best Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degrees Online of 2024
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2024Earning an accelerated healthcare administration degree online prepares you for a potentially high-paying role as a healthcare administrator. With this degree, you can work in a variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals to doctor’s offices.
Our top picks for the best accelerated healthcare administration degrees online are Mercy College of Health Sciences, Winona State University, and Roberts Wesleyan College. In addition to letting you earn your degree in just 1-2 years, these healthcare administration programs boast flexibility and practical application.
Best Online Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degrees of 2024
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $722
Out-of-State | $722
Credits to Graduate: 45 in the major (120 total)
Mercy College's online BS in healthcare administration allows you to complete your degree in as little as one year. The 45-credit program features courses in healthcare economics and biostatistics, plus a 45-hour internship and a capstone project. You can also complete your remaining general education and electives online.
As a distance learner, you enjoy flexible online classes with no campus requirements, along with three start dates to choose from. Mercy College does not limit transfer credits, though transfer students need a minimum 2.25 GPA for admission.
- In-State$19,754
- Out-of-state$19,754
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate44%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled951
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment81%
- AccreditationYes
Winona State University
- Winona, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $353
Out-of-State | $353
Credits to Graduate: 50 (120 total)
Winona State University's online BAS in healthcare leadership is a 50-credit degree-completion program that allows you to earn your bachelor's degree in less than two years. Along with the leadership emphasis, the program includes courses in management and leadership education.
At WSU, online classes run asynchronously in eight-week sessions. For admission, you need an associate degree in a health-related field or have at least 45 undergraduate credits with some work experience in the field.
- In-State$8,100
- Out-of-state$14,600
- In-State$8,000
- Out-of-state$12,080
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled6,545
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Roberts Wesleyan College
- Rochester, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $617
Out-of-State | $617
Credits to Graduate: 37 (120 total)
In Roberts Wesleyan College's online BS in health administration, you can complete your degree between 1-2 years. The degree-completion program includes core courses in bioethics and operations management, along with an applied research capstone project.
As an online student, your classes typically run asynchronously in eight-week sessions and typically comprise less than 20 students. For admission, you need at least 60 undergraduate credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA, plus a recommended two years of professional experience.
- In-State$33,130
- Out-of-state$33,130
- In-State$14,394
- Out-of-state$14,394
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled1,662
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
- Standish, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $378
Out-of-State | $378
Credits to Graduate: 120
Saint Joseph's College of Maine's online BS in health administration features accelerated courses in topics like healthcare financial management and legal aspects of healthcare administration. Even with no transfer credits, you can complete your degree in less than two years (with full-time enrollment).
Most of SJC's online programs feature asynchronous classes running in 10-week terms and five annual start dates. Program graduates may qualify for the digital health professional certification examination. You can also put your credits toward an accelerated master's in health administration.
- In-State$39,986
- Out-of-state$39,986
- In-State$9,766
- Out-of-state$9,766
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled1,235
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
Seton Hill University
- Greensburg, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $639
Out-of-State | $639
Credits to Graduate: 120
In Seton Hill's online BS in healthcare administration, you study topics in healthcare marketing, human resource management, and budgeting and finance. At the end of the program, you complete a practical capstone experience. Once you graduate, you have the option to pursue an accelerated MBA in healthcare administration.
Your online classes at Seton Hill run through accelerated eight-week sessions. You can take two classes in each of the six annual sessions to fast-track your program or slow it down with part-time studies. Seton Hill has no GPA requirement for applicants and accepts up to 90 transfer credits.
- In-State$38,518
- Out-of-state$38,518
- In-State$15,534
- Out-of-state$15,534
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate74%
- Students Enrolled2,012
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degree Overview
Accelerated healthcare administration programs prepare you for in-demand careers. You’ll build industry-specific skills in your core health administration courses.
Many programs also offer electives to prepare for specialized career paths. For example, take courses in financial management to work on the finance side of healthcare. Or study informatics and analytics to work in data management roles.
By earning an accelerated healthcare administration degree online, you’ll enter the workforce faster — and start seeing the payoff of your degree sooner.
10 Common Healthcare Administration Specializations
- Business Analytics
- Financial Management
- Gerontology Management
- Health Policy
- Health Services
- Health Informatics
- Healthcare Marketing
- Organizational Leadership
- Project Management
- Quality Improvement
Accelerated Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
Many healthcare administration careers require a bachelor’s degree. And an accelerated healthcare administration program can shave years off the typical four-year schedule. If you’ve got an associate degree or bachelor’s in another major, you can complete a bachelor’s in healthcare administration in 1-2 years.
With a fast-track healthcare administration degree plus experience, you can become a healthcare administrator or health services manager. Or work as a medical marketer, healthcare financial analyst, or nursing home administrator.
Other Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degree Programs
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, you can also earn an associate, master’s, or doctoral degree in healthcare administration. Each degree level leads to different healthcare administration career paths. For example, a master’s degree helps you qualify for management-level roles. Or build foundational skills by earning an associate degree in healthcare administration.
Accelerated Associate in Healthcare Administration
Want to launch your healthcare career quickly? Then consider an associate degree in healthcare administration. While traditional programs take two years, accelerated programs take around 18 months.
With an associate degree, you’ll qualify for support roles like medical assistant or patient intake clerk. Or transfer into a bachelor’s program to increase your earning potential and career opportunities.
Accelerated Master’s in Healthcare Administration
Hone your leadership skills with a master’s in healthcare administration (MHA). During an MHA, you’ll study healthcare budgeting, health policy, and healthcare regulations. Instead of the typical two-year timeframe, accelerated MHA programs take as little as 18 months.
With your master’s, you can become a hospital administrator, healthcare consultant, or health services manager.
Accelerated Doctorate in Healthcare Administration
You’ll qualify for leadership, policymaking, and academic careers with a doctorate in healthcare administration. And in an accelerated program, you can earn a doctorate in three years or less.
Work as a hospital CEO, research director, or healthcare administration professor after your fast-track healthcare administration degree.
Careers With a Degree in Healthcare Administration
After earning your accelerated healthcare administration degree, you’ll qualify for administrative and managerial roles. Healthcare administrators report above-average salaries. The median pay for healthcare administrators exceeded $78,300 in 2024, according to Payscale data.
With a bachelor’s degree, you can also work in healthcare finance, hospital administration, information management, or human resources. Trying to choose a healthcare administration career path? Learn more about the earning potential for different careers below.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (2023) | Entry-Level Education |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $156,100 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers | $157,620 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $110,680 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Facilities Managers | $102,340 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Administrative Services Managers | $106,470 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Hospital Emergency Management Directors | $83,960 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $62,990 | Associate degree |
Frequently Asked Questions About Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degrees
Yes, healthcare administration is a good degree if you want to work in the fast-paced field of healthcare. With a degree in healthcare administration, you can qualify for a career as a medical and health services manager. These high-demand roles report a median pay of $110,680, according to May 2023 BLS data.
The BLS projects the number of medical and health services management jobs to grow 28% from 2022-2032, which represents much faster than average job growth. That means a healthcare administration degree can be a good investment.
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