What is an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration?

If you have ever considered working in the medical field as an entry-level healthcare manager or administrator, now is a great time to advance your education.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 1.9 million job openings each year in the healthcare industry between 2023 and 2033.

There will be added job opportunities for more inpatient, outpatient, and preventive healthcare services. As a result, medical institutions and personnel will require significantly more administrative help to manage increased patient care needs.

Professionals with an associate’s degree in healthcare administration will play an integral role in providing this support.

This article will review what an associate degree in healthcare administration is, what you can do with the degree, details about the education, your earning potential, and many other topics you need to know!

What is an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration? 

Healthcare administration associate degrees are two-year associate degree programs, usually offered at a community college or private university. These programs aim to prepare students as administrators or managers for entry-level positions throughout the healthcare field.

Graduates become knowledgeable in healthcare management, healthcare-related policies, clinical terminology, and essential computer proficiencies, among other health management-related tasks.

How Much Does It Cost to Earn an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration?

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that public community colleges charge an average of $3,700 per year for a two-year degree (without additional expenses). Also, private institutions are much more expensive and charge between $15,000 and $18,000 for a two-year degree. 

How Long Does It Take to Complete an Associate Degree in Health Administration?

Most associate degrees in health administration programs take two years or less to complete. 

However, timeframes depend on the specific program and whether you attend part-time or full-time.

>> Show Me Online Healthcare Administration Programs

Healthcare Administration Associate Degree Jobs

There is a wide range of career paths you might consider. Graduates have job opportunities in the following positions:

• Health office manager
• Healthcare administrator 
• Medical secretary
• Quality improvement manager
• Customer service representative
• Medical coder, biller, or transcriptionist
• Medical secretary

Also, the degree can provide an insider’s view of what it’s like to work in the medical field. Some graduates decide to go on and earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the healthcare administration field. 

Career Outlook

With the demand for healthcare professionals far outpacing other industries, the career outlook for graduates of associate's programs in healthcare administration is promising in many areas.

• Medical assistant, medical scheduler, and medical secretary: 15% growth and an additional need for 118,000 professionals between 2023 and 2033.
• Medical records/health information technician - 9% growth and an additional need for 16,700 professionals between 2023 and 2033.
• Medical transcriptionist - 5% decline between 2023 and 2033.

Credits earned in your two-year program are transferable towards a four-year bachelor’s degree program that can offer a wide range of additional career opportunities.

Types of Associate in Health Administration Programs

There is a tremendous variation in the curriculum and focus of the many programs available, which include:

Associate of Arts (AA)

A.A. degrees in health administration are more general degrees that offer additional math, science, writing, and other elective components.

Associate of Science (AS)

A.S. degrees focus more on math, science, and technical understanding needed for billing and reimbursement roles.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

A.A.S. programs provide immediate entry to a specific job role, such as medical transcription. They rarely include general education credits that are transferable into baccalaureate programs in the future.

>> Show Me Online Healthcare Administration Programs

>> Show Me Online Healthcare Administration Programs

How to Know if an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration is Right for You

If you are interested in working on the business and management side of medicine but don’t want to work as a clinician, an associate’s degree in healthcare administration might be the perfect career for you. 

Here are some other qualities needed to be successful in a healthcare administrative career:

• Great organizational abilities
• Quality communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• A desire to help the greater good
• High integrity and discretion for private patient information
• A desire to learn about medical terminology
• Ability to adapt to changing healthcare laws and procedures
• Ability to work well with a team of other healthcare professionals

FAQs

• What can I do with an associate's degree in healthcare administration?
  • An associate degree in healthcare administration will prepare you for entry-level management positions in almost any business area of healthcare. Some potential healthcare facilities you might work in include hospitals, healthcare systems, private practices, insurance companies, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities.
• How much can you make with an associate's degree in healthcare administration?
  • Salaries earned by healthcare administrators can vary depending upon the position, your experience in the field, the type of business you work in, and the geographic region where you love. The median annual salary in the U.S. for associated degree-educated healthcare administrators is $91,095/year, according to ZipRecruiter.
• How long does it take to get an associate degree in healthcare administration?
  • Most of these degrees require that students complete 60 credit hours, which usually takes two years or less. 
•  Is it worth getting an associate in healthcare administration degree?
  • Obtaining an associate degree in healthcare administration will provide you with many entry-level job opportunities as a healthcare manager that you would not be eligible for otherwise.
  • Healthcare organizations value professionals with an associate’s degree in healthcare administration because they know their employees have specialized education and training to help them succeed on the job.  
  • Additionally, getting an associate’s degree will make it easier to get a bachelor’s degree in the future. Your credits are transferable to a baccalaureate program that can earn you even more money in the future.