Now you can earn a master’s degree in healthcare management without physically attending college. Many online schools teach the skills associated with the administration and management of healthcare systems, meaning you can get a master’s certification at home in as little as two years.
After completing a master’s in healthcare management online, you could work as a medical and health services manager, hospital administrator, chief nursing officer, director of patient safety, or another related job role. This qualification could generate increased earning potential and kick-start your career at a hospital, medical facility, public health agency, or similar environment.
Discover more about online healthcare management master’s degree programs below.
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What Is an Online Master’s in Healthcare Management?
An online healthcare management master’s degree is a graduate-level program taught over the internet. You won’t have to attend college or live on campus. Instead, you take online lessons on a computer, smartphone, tablet, or TV. You will access course content, submit assignments, and interact with tutors via a learning management system (LMS).
Here are some skills you might learn on an online master’s degree program in healthcare management:
- Healthcare staff management
- Financial management
- Medical billing
- Healthcare insurance management
- Practice management
- Healthcare marketing
You might take all your classes online or get hands-on experience at a local hospital or medical center.
When you complete your master’s degree, you could get a job as a:
- Hospital administrator
- Medical and health services manager
- Healthcare insurance specialist
- Chief nursing officer
- Director of patient safety
Working in one of these roles might involve managing a team of healthcare professionals, liaising with different healthcare departments, and communicating with pharmacies and healthcare service providers. Your overall goal will be to improve the management and administration of a healthcare system and optimize patient care.
There are many benefits of studying for a master’s in healthcare management online:
- You don’t have to commute to college.
- You don’t have to live on campus.
- You can study for a degree at a time that suits you.
- You can balance any existing work, travel, or family commitments with your education.
How Much Does a Master’s in Healthcare Management Cost?
It depends on the school. Fees for a Master of Science in healthcare management at Southeast Missouri State University, for example, costs $386.50 per credit hour. The same program at American University, Washington, D.C., costs $1,345 per credit hour. These costs don’t include registration fees and program supply expenses.
An online master’s in healthcare management could work out cheaper than a regular college degree because you won’t have travel or room and board expenses.
Average Salary for a Master’s in Healthcare Management
The median annual salary for someone with a Master of Science in healthcare management is around $87,000, according to PayScale. (Data correct as of July 13, 2021.)
The mean annual wage for medical and health services managers is $118,800, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $57.12.
The top-paying industries for medical and health services managers are:
- Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing: $205,470 (mean annual wage)
- Scientific research and development services: $167,910
- Insurance carriers: $161,030
- Navigational, measuring, electro-medical, and control instruments manufacturing: $158,670
- Computer systems design and related services: $157,480
The top-paying states for medical and health services managers are:
- District of Columbia: $157,590 (mean annual wage)
- New York: $156,140
- Hawaii: $139,650
- California: $138,030
- Massachusetts: $136,930
The top-paying metropolitan areas for medical and health services managers are:
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $174,010 (mean annual wage)
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $171,430
- Madera, CA: $168,090
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $156,160
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $156,050
What Is the Job Outlook for Master’s in Healthcare Management Holders?
The outlook is positive for people with a master’s degree in healthcare management. There will be a 17.6% increase in employment opportunities for medical and health services managers from 2018 to 2028, says Projections Central/Department of Labor. That’s significantly higher than the average for all job types for the same period (around 5%).
Courses in a Master’s in Healthcare Management
A healthcare management master’s degree program teaches students about the administration and management of healthcare systems. The degree incorporates administration, human resources, marketing, and financial management, providing students with the skills required for a leadership role at a hospital, medical facility, public health agency, or similar environment.
Here are some courses you might find on one of these programs:
- Management of health systems
- Applied HR
- Leadership
- Data ethics and governance
- Healthcare economics
- Healthcare marketing
- Patient-practitioner relationships in healthcare systems
You might also learn soft skills for a leadership role in healthcare such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, calendar management, and more.
FAQs About a Master’s in Healthcare Management
Summary Information
- You can get a healthcare management master’s degree online or at a physical college.
- It takes about two years to earn this certification.
- Many online schools let you earn your degree at a time that suits you.
Benefits of studying for a master’s degree in healthcare management online include:
- No need to commute to college.
- No need to live on a college campus.
- Balance existing family, work, or travel commitments.
- The cost of a master’s in healthcare management depends on the school.
- A Master of Science degree in healthcare management at Southeast Missouri State University, for example, costs $386.50 per credit hour.
- You won’t have to pay for travel or room and board when studying for a master’s in healthcare management online.