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Bachelor of Science 

Online Healthcare Administration Degree

OVERVIEW

An Online Healthcare Administration Degree That Prepares you to Make a Difference


 

Healthcare is a booming career field, and today’s successful healthcare managers combine industry-specific knowledge with current skills in business administration. This Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration integrates general business experience with specialized skills in healthcare administration. It is designed to prepare you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence for diverse administrative and managerial roles in the healthcare sector.

In this program you will be prepared for entry-level positions in healthcare settings including:

  • Skilled nursing and residential care facilities
  • Large hospitals
  • Insurance companies
  • Community health organizations
  • Case management organizations
  • Financial services in the healthcare industry

An online healthcare administration degree allows you to stand out from the competition, boosting your résumé and preparing you for raises, promotions, or a step into a new career field.

Compare this degree: The B.S. Healthcare Administration program is not WGU's only undergraduate degree focused on building leadership skills in the business and administration of healthcare, or what many call the health services management field. You may also be interested in our B.S. Health and Human Services degree program, or our B.S. in Health Information Management degree program.

70% of graduates finish within 

35 Months*

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.

*WGU Internal Data

Tuition per six-month term is

$3,755

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students control the ultimate cost of their business management degree. Finish faster, pay less!

Average salary increase

$10,590*

B.S. healthcare administration graduates report an average salary increase of $10,590 after completing their WGU degree.

*WGU Internal Data

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COURSES

Healthcare Administration Courses

Program consists of 40 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

This online program is composed of the following courses. Some may be waived through transfer from your previous college experience. The rest you will typically complete one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.

This healthcare degree program allows students to earn valuable certificates on their path to a degree. You'll earn the business essentials, applied business skills, marketing, and human resource management certificates as part of this degree program. These certificates will help you boost your résumé before you graduate.

Healthcare Management
Business Core
Human Resources
Business Management
General Education
IT Fundamentals
Capstone

40 Courses

Program consists of 40 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Capstone Project

Special requirements for this program

At the end of your program, you will complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your hard work—a project that allows you to take what you’ve learned and apply it to a real-world situation, proposing a solution to an actual issue you face in your place of business. 

Skills For Your Résumé

As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for. 

  • Management:  Applied supervision strategies and consultation practices tailored to specific situations, resulting in enhanced team performance, improved collaboration, and effective problem-solving.
  • Communications:  Leveraged a range of communication techniques to influence and guide outcomes.
  • Team Leadership:  Applied appropriate leadership principles and styles to drive optimal individual and team performance.
  • Operations:  Effectively managed policies and procedures by collaborating closely with supervising staff and human resources, ensuring compliance and streamlined operations for the organization.
  • Scheduling:  Made informed recommendations on scheduling modalities after conducting thorough research, leading to optimized and efficient scheduling practices within the organization. 
  • Strategic Planning:  Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the current business environment and challenges, resulting in the development of a robust and effective strategic plan for the organization.

“I not only want to become a leader in healthcare, but I want to change the ways of healthcare for the better. My undergraduate and graduate degrees will help me accomplish this.”

—Alicia Lloyd
B.S. Healthcare Management

WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years

TRANSFER CREDITS

Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses

A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

TUITION STRUCTURE

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

SUPPORT

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

EXAMS

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

SCHEDULE

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 4 years, minimal acceleration options

TIME TO FINISH

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 3 years

TRANSFER CREDITS

Few accepted, based on certain schools and specific courses

TRANSFER CREDITS

A generous transfer policy that is based on your specific situation

Why WGU?

Earning Potential

A degree can dramatically impact your earning potential. After graduation WGU healthcare administration students report earning $10,590* more per year.

*WGU Internal Data

On Your Schedule

Competency-based education means you can move as quickly through your degree as you can master the material. You don't have to log in to classes at a certain time—you are truly in the driver's seat of your education

Entirely Online

This at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.

Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

COST & TIME

A Healthcare Administration Degree That's Affordable

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.

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A College Degree Within Reach

There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.

*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

What Makes Us Different: Learning Designed to Fit Today’s Busy Lifestyles

Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and oftentimes unpredictable for today’s business professionals. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how online education should be in today’s world. No interrupting your work or family obligations. No rigid class schedules. No barriers to earning your degree on your own terms. Just a solid, career-focused education that dovetails seamlessly with your current lifestyle. 

This online B.S. Healthcare Administration degree program is designed for working professionals, so you don't have to quit your job or leave your other responsibilities behind to get an online healthcare administration degree. You don't have to log in to classes, your assignments don't have due-dates—you're in charge of your education.

 

“WGU ... allowed me to earn my degree online with a schedule that worked for me and at a price I could afford. My education will help me advance my career and create a better life for myself.”

—Chris Travis
B.S. Healthcare Management

CAREER OUTLOOK

Earn your Healthcare Administration Degree Online and Prepare for Leadership Roles

Healthcare is a business, and the field needs top business leaders to help it run smoothly and efficiently. A healthcare administration degree is crucial in helping you gain the skills you need to be an effective leader in healthcare. Stand out from the competition with knowledge in accounting, communications, regulation, financial resource management, and more. You'll be prepared to earn more money, get promotions, and truly make a difference in healthcare. Earning your healthcare administration degree online the first step to an exciting future.

Maybe you’re looking for a smart way to advance your career in the healthcare industry. Or perhaps you’re a business professional ready to add healthcare-specific credentials. Either way, a WGU bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration is a great way to prepare for your next career move.

Return on Your Investment

On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2022 Harris Poll Survey of 1,542 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

28%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates very strong demand for health services managers through 2031, with an impressive 28% projected growth rate, which is much higher than the 5% average for all occupations.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Learn About All the Job Opportunities in Healthcare Administration

The healthcare industry is extensive and complex, requiring leaders with specialized knowledge and credentials. The right education and training can prepare you for a broad range of rewarding positions, such as:

  • Nursing Home Administrators
  • Clinic Managers
  • Health Care Consultants
  • Telemedicine Program Managers
  • Hospital Administrators
  • Healthcare Technology Managers
  • Medical and Health Services Managers
  • Quality Improvement Coordinators
  • Pharmaceutical Firm Managers
  • Community Health Advocate
  • Insurance Company Specialists
  • Public Health Administrators

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

ADMISSIONS & TRANSFER

Healthcare Administration Admissions Requirements

Applicants to undergraduate School of Business programs must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following options below:

  • Option 1: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college-level coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Option 2: Possess a bachelors or associates degree (A.A or A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution.
  • Option 3: Submit high school transcripts for review with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

NOTE: You do not need to take the ACT or SAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.

Get Your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.

Get Your Questions Answered

Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.

Transfer Credits

Get Added Support and Flexibility as You Start Your Degree 
Take a course or two at your pace before committing to a full degree program. Strengthen your study habits, gain essential learning skills and, best of all, each completed course counts toward your degree requirements. 

Learn More about Pathways to Starting

MORE DETAILS

WGU Certificates in Healthcare Administration


 

The Healthcare Administration bachelor's degree program allows students to earn valuable credentials on their path to a degree, including the healthcare, strategic thinking and innovation, and leadership certificates. These certificates allow you to demonstrate mastery and add credentials to your résumé before you even graduate with your degree.

Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Administration at WGU

There are many jobs that a degree in healthcare administrationtcan prepare you for, including:

  • Healthcare manager
  • Nursing home manager
  • Health insurance manager
  • Community health manager

Healthcare administration combines business and healthcare knowledge to help students thrive. Typically this degree is housed in a business college, as it relies on many business principles to help students be successful in their careers.

If you're hoping to work in a healthcare setting without being involved in direct patient care, a healthcare administration degree could be the perfect fit for you. Healthcare administration prepares students for the crucial role of administering and organizing healthcare facilities and programs for all kinds of organizations. 

In order to become a healthcare manager you'll likely need at least a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years. If you choose an online degree program that allows you to accelerate, you may be able to graduate faster.

In a healthcare administration program you will learn many skills, including:

  • Organizational behavior
  • Employment law
  • Healthcare systems
  • Healthcare values and ethics
  • Healthcare statistics
  • Financial resource management
  • Project management
  • Strategy

The BLS shows that healthcare management is expected to grow 18% by 2028, much faster than the national average. This is largely due to the constant growth and change of the healthcare industry, from longer life expectancies to new technologies. Healthcare managers play a vital role in ensuring the future of healthcare is safe.

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