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Best Colleges and Universities for Healthcare Degrees

Nov 20, 2019
Best Colleges and Universities for Healthcare Degrees

Healthcare careers are in high demand across the country as the industry attempts to meet the demands of the baby boomer retirement phase and rapid expansion of healthcare policies. The vast majority of students and job seekers considering a career in the healthcare industry are enticed by great job prospects, high rates of job satisfaction, and competitive earning potential. Healthcare job opportunities are available to people of all levels of education, from those with a high school GED to Ph.D. More than ever though, students and job seekers are considering going back to school to attend some of the best colleges and universities for healthcare degrees to ensure that they’re able to secure job opportunities during the massive job growth that the industry is looking at. According to a report by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in the healthcare field are expected to rise 14% between 2016 and 2026.

A close assessment shows as many as 1.9 million jobs will be created during the period. As of 2018, the healthcare sector was ranked the largest employer in the nation. If you appreciate helping others, diagnosing and treating illnesses, pursuing a career in healthcare can be fulfilling. Healthcare professionals, whose domain involves diagnosis and treatment of patients often dedicate a lot of time addressing illnesses, mental and physical trauma, as well as respond to patient needs in medical emergencies.

Since the healthcare field is wide and diverse, it is important to choose the right school, college major, and education level that matches your ability and aspirations. Indeed, choosing the best healthcare university degree can open doors to world possibilities. According to the Universities website, a Bachelor’s degree can give an employment prospect the opportunity to pursue entry and mid-level healthcare positions. Students require about 120 hours of coursework to obtain a degree if they wish to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at most institutions.

One of the many benefits of going to a college or university to get a healthcare degree is that these job seekers and professionals can choose where they want to work more than other careers or degree-holders. Degree holders can work in different settings in the healthcare industry, including clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient centers and government installations. At the Master’s degree level, students need 30 or more credits on top of the undergraduate achievements we’ve outlined earlier. A master’s degree will enhance a student’s knowledge in the selected area and clear the path to future career advancement. Some of the specialty areas to consider for graduate students include Respiratory Care, Pathology, Neurobiology, and Gerontology, among others.

At the very highest level are professional healthcare degrees. A student can pursue a professional degree to become a doctor of medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and so on.

Some of the best college healthcare degree and certificate programs in US colleges and universities include:

As mentioned earlier, the dream of becoming a successful healthcare professional starts with choosing the best healthcare university degree. A student enrolled in a healthcare program should be comfortable with various medical terminologies and concepts in the area of study as they progress throughout their educational career. The whole journey of becoming a healthcare professional involves doing research, working in laboratories from time to time, communicating with patients, family members, and healthcare providers. Familiarity with regulations like HIPPA is also crucial.

Best College Healthcare Degree

A big percentage of the fastest-growing jobs in the market today are in the healthcare industry. Because of the growing gaps in the job market, certain healthcare degree programs are more lucrative and rewarding than others based on the earning potential and personal satisfaction. According to MSN, the 5 best healthcare degree to pursue are as follows:

1. Nursing

A Bachelor’s degree in nursing ranks high in the best healthcare degree category. Nurses are tasked with nurturing the sick, providing medical care and promoting health and wellness. A nursing degree coursework features the key modules such as nutrition, anatomy and physiology, health assessment and pharmacology. As of 2016, there were 420 schools offering online nursing programs across the country. During the same year, the entry career median salary for nurses was $57,000. The job is expected to grow at a rate of 19% between 2016 and 2026.

2. Dental Hygiene

A number of reviews show dental hygiene is among the best university healthcare degrees to obtain today. The degree course can open doors to advanced programs leading to potential careers as a health educator and dentistry, among others. Coursework in dental hygiene covers areas like dental hygiene techniques, preventive dentistry, dental anatomy, and physiology. Dental Hygienists are also required to possess good people skills as communication is an important part of working in the healthcare industry as a Dental Hygienist. The starting career median salary of a Dental Hygienist is $69,000. The job is slated to grow at a rate of 11% in the coming years.

3. Health Information Management

Health information management is ranked as one of the best university healthcare degrees for very good reasons. First, Health Information Managers and Administrators often deal with pertinent issues relating to healthcare laws. For instance, a HIM professional can collect and analyze various patient information to ensure the hospital complies with relevant healthcare laws and procedures.

The entry-level median salary for Healthcare Information Manager or Administrator is $55,000. The job is expected to grow at a rate of about 11% in the next few years.

4. Medical Laboratory Technology

The majority of the decisions made by physicians is dependent on the results obtained from the laboratory. By performing testson urine, blood and tissue samples, medical laboratory technologists can help physicians diagnose various diseases and conditions. These healthcare professionals are also trained to use different lab equipment to detect abnormalities and diseases.

The coursework included in a medical laboratory technology major include clinical chemistry, laboratory math, and medical and healthcare computer software. The early-career median salary for Medical Information Technologist is $48,000. The career is set to grow by 11% between 2018 to 2028.

5. Health Administration

The number of schools offering healthcare administration bachelor’s degrees are at an all-time high. This is partly because a Health Administration degree is ranked among the best university healthcare degrees in 2019 – 2020. A holder of a Health Administration degree can work or help manage a healthcare institution. The coursework leading to a degree features the following modules: healthcare law, accounting, statistics, HR management, anatomy, and physiology. The starting career median salary for a healthcare administration role is $64,000. The career is slated to grow at 18% by 2026.

The Colleges and Universities That Offer the Best Healthcare Degree Programs

We’ve highlighted some of the best colleges and universities that offer healthcare degree programs for you to consider. Below is a widely touted Niche report of the 2020 top colleges for healthcare professionals in America. The ratings are based on the US Department of Education internal assessment as well as student and expert reviews.

1. Northwestern University

  • Location: Evanston, IL
  • Acceptance rate: 9%
  • Net price: $26,000
  • Website: Northwestern.edu

Northwestern University is an elite, mid-sized university with an undergraduate student population of 8,200. The popular majors at the university include psychology, biological sciences, and economics. The university has a lower acceptance rate of 9% due to a competitive admission process. The student to faculty ratio stands at 6:1 while the number of students receiving financial aid is 60%. Northwestern has a very impressive graduation rate of 94%.

2. Tulane University

  • Location: New Orleans, LA
  • Acceptance rate: 21%
  • Net price: $33,900
  • Website: Tulane.edu

Tulane is a mid-sized private university with an undergraduate student enrollment population of 6,700. The university has a competitive admission process with an acceptance rate of 21%. An admission fee is not a requirement for enrollment. Tulane offers one of the best university healthcare degrees. The top majors include health professions and business studies. About 76% of students enrolled in the university receive financial aid. The university graduating rate is 83%.

3. University of Florida

  • Location: Gainesville, FL
  • Acceptance rate: 42%
  • Net price: $15,200
  • Website: Ufl.edu

With an undergraduate student population of 31,400, the University of Florida is one of the largest tertiary institutions in the US. The university admission is fairly competitive for a public university. The acceptance rate stands at 42%. The top majors at UFL include agricultural sciences, liberal arts, biology, and humanities. The university also offers a degree in biological sciences, which is among the best healthcare degrees in the market. The university graduation rate is 88%.

4. Brigham Young University

  • Location: Provo, UT
  • Acceptance rate: 52%
  • Net price: $13,000
  • Website: Byu.edu

Brigham is a fast expanding private Christian university with plenty of healthcare degrees for students and job seekers to consider. The university has huge enrollment of 28,150 undergraduate students. Some of the items required during student enrollment include SAT/ACT and high school GPA. The best healthcare college degree majors at Brigham Young University include psychology and biomedical sciences. The student graduation rate is about 83%.

5. Boston University

  • Location: Boston, MA
  • Acceptance rate: 25%
  • Net price: $33,700
  • Website: Bu.edu

Boston University is one of the oldest and most distinguished universities in the world. The private teaching and research university is located at the heart of Boston City and boasts 10 undergraduate schools and colleges. Boston University also offers more than 300 majors and minors. Students who graduate from the university are ranked 21st in terms of employability. In health and science programs, the university is best known for the kinesiology and physical therapy practices.

6. University of Minnesota – Rochester

  • Location: Rochester, MN
  • Acceptance rate: 51%
  • Net price: $14,300
  • Website: r.Umn.edu

This small, public university in Rochester has an enrollment of 440 undergraduate students and is a branch of the larger University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. With an acceptance rate of 51%, university admission is fairly competitive. About 96% of all students receive financial aid. The university offers one of the best healthcare university degrees in the market, which is health service preparatory studies. The University of Minnesota – Rochester graduation rate is 51%.

7. University of Wisconsin

  • Location: Madison, WI
  • Acceptance rate: 54%
  • Net price: $16,000
  • Website: Wisc.edu

The Madison-based public university has a large enrollment of 29,000 undergraduate students. The acceptance rate for university admission is 54%. The university offers some of the best healthcare college degree programs. The top majors include biology and information science. The student graduation rate is at 87%. The university is rated very highly in the student life matrix as well.

8. Ohio State University

  • Location: Columbus, OH
  • Acceptance rate: 48%
  • Net price: $18,000
  • Website: Osu.edu

Ohio state university is one of the largest public universities in the US. The enrollment rate for undergraduate students is 42,000. For its size, the university runs a competitive admission process as only 48% of students who apply for admission are accepted. The top majors at OSU include biological sciences, psychology, and agricultural sciences. The student graduation rate is 83%.

9. Wheaton College Illinois

  • Location: Wheaton, IL
  • Acceptance rate: 85%
  • Net price: $30,000
  • Website: Wheaton.edu

Wheaton is a leading private, non-denominational college based in the Chicago Area. Wheaton is among the top 10 best Christian colleges. The institution has a small enrollment of 2,300 undergraduate students. The highly-rated university has an impressive acceptance rate of 89%. The best college healthcare degree at Wheaton is the health service preparatory studies.

10. University of Texas – Dallas

  • Location: Richardson, TX
  • Acceptance rate: 76%
  • Net price: $10,000
  • Website: Utdallas.edu

This public-funded university is based in the highly built, Dallas-Fort Worth Area. It has an enrollment number of roughly 15,300 undergraduate students and an acceptance rate of 76%. The percentage of students who graduate stands at 70%. The university offers some of the best healthcare college degree programs in the country. The most popular majors in the faculty of health include health professions, biology and biomedical sciences and biology.