Going back to school to get a Master’s Degree has plenty of benefits, but one drawback is that it can tend to be very expensive. That’s why we have put together a list of the most affordable master’s degree programs in healthcare administration for you to consider.
One question that many people ask when figuring out whether or not they should stay in school to earn a master’s degree, or go back to school is whether or not it is worth it.
As each master’s in healthcare administration program costs thousands of dollars each year, the true value can only be determined by the cost of the program, the length of the program, and potential salary range of positions you can hold after obtaining a master’s degree.
While so much of one’s career earnings are dependent upon their experience, and educational background, it also depends upon place of employment.
Potential career earnings for those with a master’s degree in healthcare administration will depend on work environment, but going back to school or continuing your education is certainly more valuable than just holding a bachelor’s degree.
According to PayScale, the common earnings for an individual who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration ranges from $37,784 to $62,623, with the median pay at roughly $45,000/yr.
For those individuals who go back to school or continue their education to get a master’s in healthcare administration, the average pay is between $84,000 and $144,000 per year, according to MHADegree.
This means that those individuals who go back to school can earn upwards of $21,377 to $106,216 more each year over the course of their career.
With a boost in potential earnings like that over time, it’s easy to see why so many people are considering going back to school to get more education and open up the potential career paths they could follow.
There are plenty of other reasons to consider going back to school to get a master’s degree in healthcare administration, other than simply earning a bigger paycheck.
For those individuals who go back to school to get a master’s degree in healthcare administration, there are plenty of unique skills and education that can only be learned through the rigorous programs.
Some of these skills include developing strategic plans for healthcare facilities and hospitals, implementing those strategic plans, monitoring the effects of healthcare policy, analyzing the effects of new and existing healthcare policy, monitoring the delivery and measurement of services for treating patients and providing care, evaluating performance metrics, and a host of strong management and evaluation techniques for effective leadership.
All of these tools are useful for those individuals who want to help push the modern care industry into the future. As more experienced professionals are needed to ensure that the best care is provided to patients, leaders are needed with this extra education and skill set to ensure that care not only improves over time, but also becomes more cost effective.
Employers and healthcare recruiters are looking for professionals who are willing to spend extra time and money into furthering their education, as it pays off in the long run for hospitals and healthcare organizations over time.
If an employee has a set of skills, or educational background that provides experience for them that can be useful in making day to day decisions for the hospital or healthcare facility, that means there is less time wasted and fewer expenses needed to bring the employee up to speed for important tasks.
Without question, going back to school for a master’s degree in healthcare administration is worth it, as it pays off in the long run for your skill set, financially, and potential career path.
One common question people ask when figuring out whether or not they should go back to school is whether or not they will enjoy where they could potentially work in the future. In contrast, some individuals also don’t want to be stuck in the same two or three environments for the rest of their career.
Both of these are valuable thoughts to consider, as you don’t want to get burned out by a work environment you don’t enjoy over time, or feel limited in what you can do for the rest of your career.
Luckily, obtaining a master’s degree in healthcare administration offers plenty of different employment locations for you to consider, so there is no need to feel limited to a specific few environments, or worry about getting stuck in your career.
There are plenty of potential employment locations for those who possess a master’s degree in healthcare administration. Some of the most common include:
Each of these places of employment offer their own unique challenges that need to be solved from someone who has extra education and skills obtained from those with a healthcare administration master’s degree.
One other common concern for individuals figuring out whether they want to continue their education or go back to school relates to what kind of jobs or careers they can hold with a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
So many individuals today no longer want to get stuck in the same career or job, as it can drain them over time and they ultimately lose the passion they once had.
This is a common concern for many folks, but luckily those with a master’s degree in healthcare administration don’t have to worry about it, as there are plenty of other potential jobs or careers within a reasonable scope that can be held by those with a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
Some of the most common jobs or careers held by those with a master’s degree in health administration are focused on management and leadership positions.
Some of the most common positions and careers are:
To see more potential positions that you can hold with a MS in healthcare administration, visit our Career Profiles page, and then view the projected salaries for those positions on our Salary Trends page.
Now that we have covered the difference in pay in getting a master’s degree in healthcare administration versus just a regular bachelor’s degree, the value that a MS in healthcare administration can provide, potential places of employment, and potential jobs and careers that become available to you, here are the list of top 20 most affordable master’s degrees in healthcare administration.
Each of these have been rated based on Acceptance Rate, Average GPA according to PrepScholar, length of program (if available), and Tuition Rate for both Out of State (OS) and In State (IS) Tuition for the master’s in healthcare administration programs.
The University of Evansville is a small private university located in Evansville, Indiana, that was established in 1854. The private university is quite small compared to some other options on our list of most affordable MS programs, as the university has roughly 2,200 undergraduates and roughly 225 postgraduates for a total student count of around 2,500.
The university offers both liberal arts degrees and science degrees. The University of Evansville has an acceptance rate of roughly 83% for those students who apply. The average GPA is around 3.66 for the student population.
The tuition rate for the MS in healthcare administration program is roughly $9,138 per year, with the length of the program roughly around 14 to 18 months depending upon various coursework requirements and course load.
The Colorado State University-Global Campus is the online flagship program for the state institution of Colorado State University. Colorado State University was established in 1870, and the online University-Global Campus was established in 2007.
Colorado State University-Global Campus has roughly 19,000 students using their online degree and certificate programs.
The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs online through their university-global campus online system, which is fantastic for those individuals who need a flexible schedule or wish to work at their own pace without having to attend classes in a physical environment.
The Colorado State University has an acceptance rate of 81% for those students who apply. The average GPA is roughly 3.59 for the student population.
The tuition rate for the MS in healthcare administration program is roughly $9,000/yr, with the length of the program focused around 36 credit hours that must be obtained.
The Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts college located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The university was established in 1968, and is a great option for those students who would like both a traditional or non-traditional educational experience.
The Mount Vernon Nazarene University has roughly 1,800 undergraduates, and 400 postgraduates for a total student count of roughly 2,200.
The acceptance rate is 76% for those students who apply. The average GPA is roughly 3.39 for the student population.
The tuition rate for the MBA in Healthcare Administration is roughly $8,964/yr, with the length of the program focused around 36 credit hours.
The American Sentinel University is a distance-based university for those looking to further their education. Located in Denver, Colorado, the American Sentinel University was established in 1988.
American Sentinel University offers both technology and business related educational programs.
There are roughly 2,500 students currently enrolled with American Sentinel University.
The tuition rate for the MBA in Healthcare Administration is roughly $8,910/yr and offers students two separate educational routes. American Sentinel University differs in other master’s programs in that they offer students a chance to design their program around course-based classes, or project-based competencies.
For those students who wish to go the course-based route, they will be expected to complete 12 courses. For those students who wish to go the project-based route, they will be expected to complete 12 projects that highlight their competencies in specific sectors.
Each of the programs offer different benefits and drawbacks. To learn more, visit their MBA in Healthcare page for American Sentinel University.
The Salve Regina University is a private university located in Newport, Rhode Island, and was established in 1934. Salve Regina University has roughly 2,100 undergraduates, and 600 postgraduates for a total student count of roughly 2,700.
The acceptance rate is roughly 73% for those who apply. The average GPA is 3.29 for the student population.
The tuition rate for Salve Regina University’s Master’s In Healthcare Administration and Management is roughly $8,820/yr with 36 credit hours over 12 courses.
The Saint Leo University is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university that was established in 1889. Located in St. Leo, Florida, Saint Leo University has roughly 13,100 students.
The acceptance rate is roughly 73% for those who apply. The average GPA is 3.5 for the student population.
The tuition rate for Saint Leo University’s Management MBA for Healthcare Administration is roughly $8,730/yr for 36 credit hours, which can be completed between one to five years depending upon student course load.
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is a private Catholic liberal arts college that is located in Standish, Maine, and has roughly 3,000 students. The college offers both traditional and non-traditional classroom settings, in addition to online classroom opportunities for those students who need flexibility in their education pursuit.
The acceptance rate is roughly 88% for those who apply. The average GPA is 3 for the student population.
The tuition rate for Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Master’s in Health Administration is roughly $8,576/yr for 42 credit hours, and can be completed in two years.
Concordia University-Saint Paul is one of the affiliated universities associated with the Concordia University System. Concordia University was established in 1893. Concordia University-Saint Paul is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and has roughly 4,800 students.
The acceptance rate is 55% for those who apply. The average GPA is 3.13 for the student population.
The tuition rate for Concordia University-Saint Paul’s MBA with a concentration in Health Care Management is roughly $8,550/yr and completion requirements include 42 credit hours.
Stevenson University is a private university that was established in 1947, and is located in Baltimore County, Maryland, with roughly 4,200 students.
The acceptance rate is 60% for those who apply. The average GPA is 3.4 for the student population.
The tuition rate for Stevenson University is roughly $8,040/yr and completion requirements include 54 credit hours.
Concordia University-Irvine is one of the affiliated universities associated with the Concordia University System. Concordia University-Irvine is located in Irvine, California, with roughly 2,600 students, and was established in 1976.
The acceptance rate is 59% for those who apply. The average GPA is 3.44 for the student population.
The tuition rate for Concordia University-Irvine is roughly $7,998/yr and completion time for the program is roughly 2 years.
Wilmington University is a private research institute that was established in 1968 and is located in New Castle, Delaware. Wilmington University has roughly 12,000 undergraduates, 8,500 postgraduates, for a total student count of roughly 20,500 students.
The acceptance rate is 100% for those who apply. The tuition rate is roughly $7,992/yr and completion requirements include 36 credit hours for the Master of Science Management program with a Concentration in Healthcare Administration.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private university located in Winona, Minnesota, and was established in 1912. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has roughly 1,200 undergraduates, 4,800 postgraduates, for a total student count of roughly 6,000 students.
The acceptance rate is 74.2% for those who apply. The tuition rate is roughly $7,668/yr and completion requirements include 40 credit hours for the master’s degree in health administration.
Park University is a private institution that was established in 1875. Park University has roughly 8,500 undergraduates, 900 postgraduates, and a total student count of roughly 9,400.
The acceptance rate is 69% for those who apply. The tuition rate is roughly $7,575/yr and completion requirements include 36 credit hours.
Gardner-Webb University is a private Christian university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, and was established in 1905.
The acceptance rate is 53% for those who apply. The tuition rate is roughly $7,380/yr and completion requirements include 33 credit hours.
California Intercontinental University is an online university located in Irvine, California, and was established in 1996.
The length of the online program is roughly one and a half years to complete a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration and Management.
The tuition rate is roughly $7,110/yr, with completion requirements of 36 credit hours.
The University of Management and Technology is located in Arlington, Virginia. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional development programs and certifications. The university was established in 1998.
The tuition rate is roughly $7,020/yr, and completion requirements including 45 credit hours.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is part of the University of Massachusetts system. UMass Lowell is located in Lowell, Massachusetts, and was established in 1894.
The university has roughly 18,100 students and offers degrees in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs.
The acceptance rate is 57% for those who apply. The average GPA is roughly 3.54 for the student population.
The tuition rate is roughly $1,637/yr for in-state students, and $6,425/yr for out of state students. The master in healthcare administration management can be completed in 36 credit hours.
The Trident University International is a unique college with all degrees offered online. The Trident University International offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in their online program.
The university has roughly 6,200 students. The acceptance rate is 93.5% for those who apply.
The tuition rate is $6,120/yr, and completion requirements can be completed in 40 credit hours.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport is one of the affiliated universities to the Louisiana State University systems, and is located in Shreveport, Louisiana. The university was established in 1967.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport has roughly 2,700 undergraduates, 3,200 postgraduates, and a total student count of roughly 5,900.
The acceptance rate is roughly 81% for those who apply, and the average student GPA is 3.29.
The tuition rate is $5,852/yr and the completion requirements can be completed in 30 credit hours.
Midwestern State University is located in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Midwestern State University was established in 1922.
Midwestern State University has roughly 5,300 undergraduates, 800 postgraduates, and a total student count of roughly 6,100.
The acceptance rate is 76% for those who apply, and the average student GPA is 3.44.
The tuition rate is $3,805/yr for in-state students, and $4,975 for out-of-state students.
There are plenty of great master’s programs for healthcare administration degrees that will allow you to go back to school or continue your education to get your master’s degree in healthcare administration. In addition, plenty of these affordable programs also offer flexible learning environments or learning opportunities to help ensure you get the best education you possibly can.