Top 10 Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degree Online | Guide to Bachelor’s Programs

Getting an accelerated healthcare administration degree online is a flexible and convenient way to prepare for a non-clinical role in the healthcare industry. Quality healthcare improves the quality of people’s lives. But you don’t need to be a doctor or nurse to become part of a healthcare team supporting your community. With a healthcare management or administration career, you will help deliver that care and keep our healthcare system functioning!

Bachelor’s Average Cost – Accelerated Healthcare Administration Degree Online

Accelerated healthcare programs allow you to finish your degree and get to work faster. The average cost for a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration online is about $56,400, while one in management averages $56,200. But you can get these degrees for far less with the high-quality but affordable fast-track healthcare programs on our list. You can pursue these degrees from wherever you currently live, even if no college in your area offers this major. With a growing healthcare industry, there are jobs for graduates in every part of the country.

Article Navigation: Accelerated Healthcare Programs Overview | Healthcare Administration vs. Management Degrees | 5 Cheapest Accelerated Healthcare Management Degree Online Programs – Bachelor’s Under $40K | Top 5 Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration | How to Accelerate an Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management or Administration | What to do with a Fast-Track Healthcare Administration Degree Bachelor’s | Getting Started

Accelerated Healthcare Programs Overview

Healthcare management online degree programs offer you a way to swiftly prepare for the numerous jobs available in medical facilities and healthcare companies. Most of these degrees are designed for working professionals to level up their credentials to take on leadership roles in healthcare, making this a great time to enroll in healthcare management online degree programs.

Accelerated Online Format

Courses in healthcare management bachelor's degree online programs mainly offer asynchronous classes. This means you can sign on anytime to complete your lessons and interact with the group. Many accelerated healthcare administration degree programs offer shorter terms, with classes running for seven to eight weeks. This short term format gives you maximum flexibility to study around your family and work commitments.

Some programs accelerate their programs by letting you work at your own pace, completing courses as quickly or slowly as you need. A few programs have classes with set online meeting times, but most don’t require you to visit campus. Internship experiences are part of the curriculum at some schools, but you can complete this in your local area.

Applying to Accelerated Healthcare Programs

Applying to accelerated healthcare management degree online programs usually requires:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Transcripts from any college courses taken
• An application form
• Occasionally a small fee

Most don’t require SAT or ACT scores. You can even enter right after high school for some accelerated healthcare degrees. Still, others want you to have college credits to transfer, and a few have specific course prerequisites in general subjects like math and English.

Programs are designed to easily accommodate people who started but never finished college, and transferring those credits makes the path to a degree much faster and more affordable. In addition, some offer credit for work experience, military training, industry, certifications, and credit by exam, giving adults with work experience even more of a head start on the degree.

Students with credits to transfer can finish the fastest healthcare management degrees in as little as 12 months. But the average time is closer to 18 months or two years. For those entering with no prior college, a Bachelor in Science Healthcare Management degree takes about 3.5 to 4 years of full-time study. Students who plan to get a Master’s in Healthcare Administration or Public Health can look for programs that allow them to take advanced classes during their bachelor’s degree that will count toward accelerated MHA programs.

Healthcare Administration vs. Management Degrees

The terms healthcare management and healthcare administration often get used interchangeably. But there are some differences in the roles. For example, healthcare management degrees focus more on the overall financial and business aspects of healthcare facilities and systems. Healthcare administration aims at managing the day-to-day operations of staff and care delivery within a healthcare organization.

Many of the skills and knowledge you learn in these two degrees are the same. However, if you are more interested in managing clinical and on-site staff, you should steer toward an accelerated healthcare administration degree. Otherwise, a healthcare management degree may be better if you are most interested in big-picture business.

The focus areas and electives available in each degree may differ. You’ll encounter more finance and policy in a management program. In contrast, administration programs could focus on:

• Health information management
• Hiring and training
• Patient safety

Graduates of either type of program could potentially work in either area of healthcare, as many jobs involve intricate and related aspects of healthcare operations covered in varying degrees by both programs.

Related Article: Best Jobs for a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration & Management

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management

The name of your degree could be any of the following types of degrees:

• BS – Bachelor of Science
• BAS – Bachelor of Applied Science
• BT – Bachelor of Technology
• BAT – Bachelor of Applied Technology
• BA – Bachelor of Arts
• BPS – Bachelor of Professional Studies

Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration Online

For your accelerated healthcare administration degree online, you may see the following degree types:

• BS- Bachelor of Science
• BSBA – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• BAHA – Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration
• BPS – Bachelor of Professional Studies
• BSHS – Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science
• BSHCA – Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration
• BAAS – Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science

There are other variations in the degree titles, but all will include healthcare in the title or as the concentration. Each program will have its own curriculum, so prospective students should compare the programs they are considering to find the best fit for their interests and career goals. Because the programs are 100% online, you are not limited to considering programs in your geographical area, so you can find a degree that includes the courses that best align with your professional aspirations.

5 Cheapest Accelerated Healthcare Management Degree Online Programs – Bachelor’s Under $40K

1. Walden University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management – Tempo Learning® Track
   Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $17,125

   With the accelerated online bachelor’s in healthcare management from Walden University, you progress through the same material as the traditional program but at your own pace. The Tempo Learning® system is a competency-based model where you pass rigorous assessments rather than learn at the pace of your classmates. The minimum time to complete is 21 months, and if you take longer than that, your costs will be higher. But Walden also allows for generous transfer credits, so if you have prior college credits, you might be able to complete the program even faster. They also have a track that allows you to accelerate into a master’s degree, which lets you take some graduate courses to fulfill undergraduate requirements that count towards your graduate degree.

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   Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management - Tempo Learning® Track

    

2. Lewis University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (Accelerated)
   Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $625 per credit hour

   Lewis University’s accelerated healthcare management degree online is designed for adult students with at least 30 college credits to transfer and significant work experience or military training. This BS in Healthcare Management prepares students for leadership with coursework in:

   – Communication
   – Health system trends
   – Finance
   – Business
   – Ethical decision-making
   – Planning

   The program is 100% online and flexible to your needs and schedule. To graduate, students need to have 128 credits and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in all courses and a 2.2 GPA in the healthcare courses. At least 32 credits must be taken through Lewis University, and students from states and territories participating in SARA—including most jurisdictions—can enroll in this program.

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   Lewis University

    

3. Rasmussen University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
   Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $29,130

   With both traditional and competency-based courses, the Bachelor in Science Healthcare Management program from Rasmussen University is an attractive fully online option. You can complete your degree in as little as 18 months, and Rasmussen offers eight start dates per year and a one-day transcript evaluation to get your degree started quickly. Applicants should have completed either an undergraduate degree (associate or bachelor’s) or at least 40 semester credits, plus they need to pass a background check. The program includes experiential and collaborative learning formats, and you may also qualify to get industry certificates in project management through your studies. The accelerated program gives you the option to complete courses that will count toward an accelerated master’s degree.

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   Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management

    

4. The University of Oklahoma

   Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies / Healthcare Management
   Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $30,000

   The University of Oklahoma offers an ideal accelerated healthcare management degree online for working adults in their BA in Interdisciplinary Studies – Healthcare Management program. Open to people at least five years post high school graduation or over 25 with at least 60 college credits to transfer, the degree can be completed in as little as 12 months. You can transfer up to 90 credits from previous college courses, which can make this degree cost as little as $15,000. With high-quality faculty and intensive courses, this program is excellent for people who want to finish quickly and have the skills and credentials to work in leadership roles in healthcare.

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   Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies / Healthcare Management

    

5. Southern New Hampshire University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration / Health Information Management
   Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $38,550

   Completing your degree at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is simple, with no application fee or test scores required. This online bachelor’s degree in healthcare management with a concentration in health information management holds specialized accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and offers training that can allow you to sit for industry certification exams. You can transfer up to 90 credits and possibly test out of some math courses, which makes your degree faster and cheaper. The curriculum includes real-world practical experience but no campus visits, making this a flexible and well-respected online degree.

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   Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration / Health Information Management

    

Top 5 Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration

1. Liberty University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
   Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $48,892

   Another stellar choice for degree completion is the bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration online from Liberty University. You can transfer up to 75% of the 120 credits needed for the degree, and Liberty offers credit for work or military experience to help you maximize your transfer credits. This 100% online degree has start dates eight times yearly, allowing you to begin when you’re ready. Liberty is a military-friendly school with discounts for veterans, active duty, and relatives of those who serve. The high-quality curriculum is designed to give you the knowledge and leadership skills to succeed in a variety of healthcare roles.

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   Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration

    

2. Old Dominion University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Services / Health Services Administration
   Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
   Tuition (in-state): $47,880
   Tuition (out-of-state): $53,520

   The accelerated healthcare administration degree online from Old Dominion University is perfect for adults completing their degree or students taking the entire program online. Up to 75% of credits toward this fast-track healthcare administration degree can be transferred, and there are multiple pathways to acquire transfer credits. The degree prepares students for either careers in healthcare leadership or graduate study in public health or health administration. There are military discounts, and military students may be able to go straight to upper-level courses depending on their service experience. The program is accredited by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and requires an internship experience.

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   Bachelor of Science in Health Services / Health Services Administration

    

3. Purdue Global

   Degree: ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration
   Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
   Tuition (in-state): $50,400
   Tuition (out-of-state): $72,645

   The Purdue Global BS in Healthcare Administration online degree is designed so you can go at your own pace, taking as many 1-credit courses per 10-week term as suits your schedule. For working adults, this allows you to speed up your progress to the degree when you have time and take fewer credits when your life is busier. Admission is open to those with a high school diploma, at least three college courses completed, and who have worked in a related field for three years. Transfer credits for coursework, life experience, and exams are available, decreasing the time it takes you to finish your healthcare administration accelerated degree. The curriculum includes a capstone, and if you plan on getting an accelerated master’s degree, this program can give you a head start on courses.

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   ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration

    

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

   Degree: BSBA in Healthcare Administration
   Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $500 per credit

   The fast-track healthcare administration degree from Gwynedd Mercy University is a 100% online program with short 5-week classes. Located in their business school, it is one of the best online bachelor’s degree healthcare administration programs for working adults. It holds programmatic accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). You can transfer up to 75 credits into the 120-credit program and may be able to finish the degree in about two years. Whether starting from scratch or completing your degree, you will find a robust curriculum that meets industry needs and small classes with dedicated faculty.

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   BSBA in Healthcare Administration

    

5. Charleston Southern University

   Degree: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
   Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $64,490

   Charleston Southern University’s accelerated healthcare administration degree online requires 125 credit hours, with up to 89 transfer credits allowed. The short, asynchronous 7-week courses allow flexibility for working adults with busy lives to fast-track their degrees. The curriculum covers general education courses, including a foreign language, plus business and healthcare courses for the major. Coursework for the major includes Business Law, Healthcare Economics, and Healthcare Information & Management Systems. Most students can complete their degree in 17-24 months, making this a very flexible and speedy degree option for students who want to progress in their careers to leadership in health professions.

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   Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration

    

How to Accelerate an Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management or Administration

Finishing your degree quickly can prepare you to apply to jobs in healthcare leadership or—if you already work in healthcare—advance your career. Fast-track healthcare programs can get you there, and here are some extra tips to speed up your degree progress:

• Maximize Transfer Credits: Look for programs that let you transfer a large percentage of credits from prior college coursework and alternative pathways to credit like work experience, industry certifications, credit by exam, or military service. Some programs allow you to transfer 75% of the credits needed for the degree, making your degree faster and less expensive.
• Accelerated Track: Some programs allow you to take more classes at once, complete courses at your own pace, or offer classes in the summer or between semesters. If you want to get your degree quicker, look for programs that specifically offer an accelerated track. They often have shorter course lengths, so you can quickly rack up credits.
• Bachelor’s to Master’s Programs: A few schools have a combined bachelor’s to master’s degree track that allows you to take some advanced courses during your bachelor’s degree that will also be credited toward your master’s degree. If you are starting your college career from scratch, you can go from zero to a master’s degree in five years with these programs. If you are transferring credits, your journey to a graduate degree in a combined program is that much quicker.

What to do with a Fast-Track Healthcare Administration Degree Bachelor’s

Once you have completed your accelerated healthcare administration degree online, you have two good options:

Go for a Master’s Degree

Getting more education increases your earnings and the range of jobs available to you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), those with a master’s degree earn 20% more than those with just a bachelor’s degree—over time, that can really add up. You could opt for a Master’s in Public Health, a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Management, or many more graduate degrees in this field.

Choose a Career Path

Whether you want to work in a small practice or manage a department in a massive health system, there are professional options out there for you. Here are just a few of the possibilities, along with their average salaries:

• Healthcare Manager: $72,812
• Registered Health Information Administrator: $86,287
• Health Services Administrator: $88,773
• Nursing Home Manager: $90,935
• Health Information Management (HIM) Manager: $97,947
• Healthcare Sales/Marketing Manager: $99,651
• Healthcare Financial Manager: $106,160
• Health Services Manager: $133,629
• Physician Practice Operations Manager: $141,477
• Hospital Administrator: $267,549

This sampling of jobs and salaries can give you an idea of the range of career options in healthcare leadership when you finish a degree. Some jobs require progressive, responsible positions and work experience before reaching the top positions, but even in entry-level roles, health administration jobs offer above-average salaries.

The healthcare industry is booming, and medical systems and offices need people to keep everything running smoothly to deliver care to our communities. The BLS reports a high median salary of $104,830 and expected job growth of 28% between 2022 and 2032 for medical and health services managers. This prediction means there will be many openings for graduates of accelerated healthcare administration degree online programs.

Related Pages:
16 Most Affordable BBA in Healthcare Administration Online
66 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management

Getting Started on Your Healthcare Management Bachelor’s Degree Online

If you want to help deliver healthcare, but clinical roles don’t fit your ambitions, then roles on the business and management side can be your pathway to a career in this growing industry. Accelerated healthcare degree programs offer a quick—and often inexpensive—way to get the credentials to move into a leadership role on a healthcare team near you. At GetEducated, we have created a list of the best online bachelor’s degree healthcare administration programs to help you take the next step!