Best Online Healthcare Administration Associate Degrees
Are you someone who is interested in healthcare, great at organizing people, and a skilled communicator? Then you might love a career in healthcare administration.
Healthcare administrators work behind the scenes at hospitals and other healthcare settings to keep everything running smoothly. They manage new hires, the budget, client records, policies, procedures, and legal requirements. It’s an important, in-demand, and well-paid career.
Earning your associate degree in healthcare administration is a great way to learn if this is the best path for you. Here’s how to get started:
- Explore this page to determine whether this path is the right choice for you.
- Check out the top-ranked online healthcare administration associate degrees, as well as our sponsored programs.
- Request more information from schools you’re interested in to find the best fit for you.
Top Online Healthcare Administration Associate Degrees
Best Online Associate in Healthcare Administration Programs
Herzing University
- Atlanta, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,320
- Out-of-state$13,320
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate43%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled732
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment82%
- AccreditationYes
Concordia University-Wisconsin
- Mequon, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,890
- Out-of-state$30,890
- In-State$11,340
- Out-of-state$11,340
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate71%
- Students Enrolled5,492
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Manor College
- Jenkintown, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$17,430
- Out-of-state$17,430
- In-State$9,600
- Out-of-state$9,600
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled834
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment97%
- AccreditationYes
Elizabethtown College
- Elizabethtown, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,960
- Out-of-state$32,960
- In-State$32,960
- Out-of-state$32,960
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled1,881
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
What Can You Do With an Associate in Healthcare Administration Degree?
An online associate degree in healthcare administration is a great option for anyone looking to enter the workforce quickly and start building a career. With this degree, you can qualify you for many entry-level positions in healthcare. But many people use this two-year program as a jumping-off point into a bachelor’s degree, which prepares them for many higher-paid positions.
Benefits of an Associate in Healthcare Administration
- Career Opportunities: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that healthcare will be one of the fastest-growing fields over the next decade.
- Low-Stakes Investment: An associate degree is a great way to become familiar with healthcare administration without needing to make a long or expensive commitment to school.
- Transferable Skills and Education: Graduates can level up their careers by putting their healthcare administration associate degree toward a four-year program.
Reasons to Get Your Associate in Healthcare Administration Degree Online
- Flexibility: An online healthcare administration degree gives you the freedom to do school at your own pace, on your own time.
- Affordability: Going to school online can save you a ton of money on tuition, fees, and commuting costs.
- Convenience: There’s no need to move closer to campus, find childcare, or take time off work. Online programs are engineered to fit into your life — not the other way around.
Is an Associate in Healthcare Administration Worth It?
Yes, it can certainly be worth it — especially if your goal is to gain access to entry-level positions in healthcare and start gaining valuable work experience.
Because an associate degree can save you a lot of time and cost (compared to a bachelor’s degree), you’re more likely to start your career with less debt. This means you might have more financial freedom to choose where you want to live and work.
And if you decide to level up your career in healthcare, pursuing an online bachelor’s degree is one option. There are plenty of great online bachelor’s programs available, and having your associate degree in healthcare administration can put you ahead of the game. Your employer may even pay for some of your tuition costs!
What Jobs Can You Get With an Associate in Healthcare Administration Degree?
With an associate degree in healthcare administration, you can pursue administrative and supportive roles within the healthcare industry. You can work as a medical assistant, medical secretary, and medical records technician. These jobs are usually in hospitals, physicians’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings.
Career | Average Salary (March 2024) |
---|---|
Patient Intake Clerk | $40,650 |
Patient Services Representative | $42,680 |
Medical Assistant | $39,620 |
Medical Records Technician | $32,420 |
Medical Secretary | $42,140 |
Medical Transcriptionist | $35,210 |
What Is the Average Salary for an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration?
Medical assistant is a common career for graduates with an associate degree in healthcare administration. According to the BLS, these professionals make a median annual salary of $42,000 as of May 2023. However, salaries can depend on factors like experience, location, and employer.
Median Annual Wage for Medical Assistants
$42,000
For example, medical secretaries made an average annual salary of $42,140 as of April 2024, according to Payscale. You can also choose to continue your education and pursue higher-level degrees. More education can prepare you for roles that pay more money.
How Much Does an Online Associate in Healthcare Administration Degree Cost?
An associate degree can be a more affordable way to get two years of college education under your belt. The average annual tuition and fees at a two-year public college were $3,564 in 2021-2022 (compared to nearly $10,000 at a four-year public school).
How Long Does It Take to Get an Online Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration?
An online healthcare administration associate degree will take you two years of full-time enrollment to complete.
Required Course Credits
60*
*Varies depending on your school/program
Field Study Requirements
No
Everything Else You Need to Know About Associate in Healthcare Administration Degrees
What does a healthcare administrator do?
Healthcare administrators are responsible for steering healthcare organizations in the right direction. Some of their duties include:
- Overseeing operations
- Ensuring excellent delivery of healthcare
- Managing resources, personnel, and finances
- Staying on top of regulatory compliance
Can you work from home as a healthcare administrator?
Some of a healthcare administrator’s responsibilities can be done from home — like strategic planning, paperwork, and budgeting. But this is mainly a hands-on, in-person job that requires administrators to be on site, so they can oversee operations and collaborate with healthcare providers.
Is healthcare administration a good career?
It’s a great career for anyone who cares about delivering high-quality healthcare, is a natural leader, and can manage people and resources. Demand for healthcare professionals will likely continue to grow as our population ages and our healthcare industry becomes more complex and challenging to navigate. There are also tons of opportunities for advancement in the field that you can pursue.
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