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

Working in health care management often involves the business or administration of health care facilities, like medical centers and hospitals.

While either an undergraduate or graduate degree in health care management will prepare you for a career in the field, there are other degrees you can explore as well. The one you decide to pursue will likely depend on your goals and resources. 

Learn more about health care management as a career, explore different degree options, and find a list of factors to consider when deciding which degree is best for you.

Healthcare management at a glance

Health care management refers to management positions within health care systems and health care facilities, such as hospitals and clinics. It is similar to health care administration, which focuses on the day-to-day tasks needed to keep a health care environment operating, but requires a higher level of leadership. 

Read more: What Is Health Care Management? A Career Guide

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 at a much faster rate than average for all occupations in the United States. The number of job openings for medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 28 percent between 2022 and 2032 [2].

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

Types of health care management degrees 

While a degree in health care administration might be the most applicable to the position, many other degrees can equip you with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed in the field. Here are some of the degrees to consider for your career path: 

Undergraduate degree 

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most health care management positions. According to Zippia, 39 percent of health care administrators hold bachelor’s degrees, while only 22 percent hold an associate degree [3]. 

Some common undergraduate degrees held by health care management professionals include:

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

• BS in Health Care Administration 

• BS in Health Information Management

• BS in Nursing (BSN)

• BS/BA in Social Work (BSW)

• BS/BA in Public Health 

Graduate degree 

Master’s degrees are common among health 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’s in Health Care Management  

• Master’s in Health Care Administration (MHA)

• Master’s in Public Health 

• Master’s of Business Administration (MBA)

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 

Degrees can be expensive. It’s important to consider the cost of the program you will be attending. Doing an online degree can help keep your costs low.

You should consider how much you might make after you graduate and enter a specific job. Resources like Glassdoor, the BLS, and Payscale can be helpful for this research.

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. Think carefully about what financially works for you before you jump into any program. 

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 a master’s in public health.   

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. While some master’s programs can be as short as two years, most undergraduate programs generally take four years to complete. 

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. 

Learn about health care on Coursera.

Start gaining the right business and leadership skills and knowledge today with a flexible, online course through Coursera. Rutgers' Healthcare Organization Operations Specialization introduces you to the foundation for administrative health careers. Northwestern’s MS in Management: Digital Transformation in Healthcare can empower you to master the technical skills, regulatory frameworks, and managerial competencies to lead the digital transformation of health care in your current or future organization.