Health Care Management Degrees: How to Pick the One For You

Working in health care management often requires at least an undergraduate degree. While majoring in health care administration or management will prepare you for a career in the field, there are other degrees you can also explore. The one you pursue will likely depend on your goals and resources. 

Learn more about the degrees you can earn at both the undergraduate and graduate levels when you're interested in working in health care management, and how to decide on the best major for your goals. Afterward, build key skills with the University of Michigan's Healthcare Management and Finance Specialization.

Health care management degrees 

Health care management refers to advanced roles within health care systems and facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, that oversee teams needed to keep these environments operational. It's similar to health care administration, but requires a higher level of leadership.

Health management often requires at least a bachelor's degree and a few years of experience. Here are some of the degrees—and related roles—to consider for your career path: 

Undergraduate health care management degrees 

Undergraduate degrees in health care administration or management typically combine business fundamentals with health care-specific coursework, such as medical terminology, health policy, health care law, and health care operations, to prepare students to manage the business aspects of health care organizations and medical facilities.

A bachelor’s degree is often the minimum requirement for most health care management positions, along with at least a few years of professional experience [1]. The following degrees can lead to a career in health care management:

• Bachelor’s of Science (BS) in Health Care Management

• BS in Health Care Administration 

• BS in Health Information Management

• BS/BA in Social Work (BSW)

• BS/BA in Public Health 

Jobs you can pursue with a bachelor's in health care management or a related field:

1. Health care administrator

2. Medical office manager

3. Health informatics technician

4. Quality assurance coordinator

5. Health care operations associate

Read more: Is Health Care a Good Career Path? Outlook, Jobs, and More

Graduate health care management degrees  

Master’s degrees are common among health care management professionals. Some employers prefer candidates who hold master's degrees, but some may actually require that you have one.

Regardless of what you studied for your undergraduate degree, a master’s degree in health care management or a related subject can prepare you for a position in the field. Typically, graduate programs that prepare you for a health care management position will equip you with knowledge of health care systems, the business of health care, and practical managerial experience. 

Some of the most common graduate degrees for health care management include: 

• Master of Science (MS) in Health Care Management  

• Master of Health Care Administration (MHA)

• Master of Public Health (MPH) 

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Jobs you can pursue with a master's in health care management or a related field:

1. Hospital administrator

2. Health care policy analyst

3. Public health program director

4. Clinical department director

How to choose a health care management degree program

There are many considerations that you should make when deciding on the right health care management degree program for you. From where you go to school to how much it costs and what it covers, consider the following factors:

1. Subject focus 

Health care management is a specialized field that pairs knowledge of health care systems with business and managerial experience.

When comparing programs, it's important to recognize what you need. In some cases, the program you attend may be specifically geared toward a career in health care management. In other cases, though, you might have to mix and match areas of focus to prepare yourself for a career in health care management.

Each path has its benefits. While a program explicitly focused on health care management or health care administration will prepare you for a career in the field, a degree in a related field with job-specific specializations could provide you with broad knowledge that opens doors to other career fields. Spend time reviewing the courses you'll take in each degree you're considering and consider how they align with your larger subject knowledge and learning goals.

2. Online or in-person 

Your learning environment is one of the most important aspects of any educational program. When comparing degree programs, consider whether you want an online, in-person, or hybrid course. 

Typically, online programs offer the opportunity for a more flexible course of study, can more easily fit into your current work and life schedule, and are often cheaper than their in-person counterparts. Traditional in-person programs allow you to interact with professors and make friends on campus, which can be inspiring and motivating, and many opportunities to boost your learning with extracurricular activities.

You might also consider a hybrid program that is partly completed online and partly in person. Each program type has its own merits. 

3. Cost 

Understand the cost of college and any resources you have—or can access—to pay for it. Find out if there are financial aid or scholarships available to you that will reduce the cost of attendance. You might also consider paying for school with private or public loans, or a combination of both. Consider whether you have time to support yourself through your education, such as working part-time. 

There is no one right answer to these questions. Before you enroll in any program, think carefully about what is financially feasible for you. 

Read more: How to Pay for Graduate School: 8 Ways

4. Career goals 

Your career goals will play a central role in determining whether or not you should pursue a health care management degree. This is particularly true if you feel that you want to make yourself more marketable by obtaining a graduate degree, such as an MPH. Whatever your larger career goal, make sure to clearly understand what your goals are and how your degree can empower you to achieve them. 

5. Time to completion 

One often overlooked consideration for any degree program is the time it will take to complete it. Most undergraduate programs generally take four years to complete, while some master’s programs can be as short as two years.

The exact amount of time it will take you to obtain your health care management degree will depend on the type of program you are attending, whether you are a part or full-time student, and whether or not you enter your program with transfer credits. 

Health care managers: salary + job outlook

Individuals working in health care management can expect higher salaries. Medical and health services managers in the US make a median annual salary of $110,680, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1]. 

Plus, positions in health care management are expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations in the United States. The number of job openings for medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 29 percent between 2023 and 2033 [2].

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