Is 25 Too Old to Get a Healthcare Administration Degree?

Interested in becoming a healthcare administrator? You're going to need a degree in healthcare administration. But if you're 25, you may be wondering if you missed your opportunity for college. Is it too late to go back and get your degree?

You're never too old for college, and at age 25, you probably won't be one of the oldest students on campus. In fact, waiting until you're 25 or older to get your degree can provide many benefits, including the ability to gain professional experience that will help you in your future healthcare administration career.

Keep reading as we dive into this topic.

Reasons To Earn Your Healthcare Administration Degree at 25

Adult college students are becoming increasingly common, and there are many good reasons to wait until you're 25 or older to get your healthcare administration degree. Let's take a look at some of those reasons.

To Advance Your Healthcare Career

If you're already working in one of the many healthcare professions, you may decide you want to move into more of a management or leadership role. A healthcare administration degree gives you the credentials you need to take your career to the next level. Combined with your existing healthcare experience, getting your degree can make you an extremely desirable and hirable candidate.

To Pursue a New Career

Perhaps you've never worked in healthcare, but you're looking to make a career change. Maybe you already have some management experience and would like to move into a field that will allow you to have a positive impact on people's lives.

Getting a degree in healthcare administration will allow you to make a difference in healthcare without having to provide direct care to patients. Since there are many different kinds of healthcare facilities, you could pursue employment at one that best suits your professional interests.

To Finish What You Started

Maybe you started college fresh out of high school but were unable to finish. Maybe you quit to pursue other interests. Now, you're ready to go back and finish what you started.

A healthcare administration degree can pair well with whatever professional experience you may have gained along the way, especially experience in management or healthcare roles. That said, getting a healthcare administration degree can give you marketable, in-demand skills regardless of your professional background.

What Will I Learn In a Healthcare Administration Degree Program?

Healthcare administration degrees combine business, managerial, and healthcare topics for a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education. Programs vary by school and degree level. Each school has slightly different coursework, and master's and doctoral degrees contain more advanced topics than bachelor's degrees. However, many of the same broad topics are covered in all healthcare administration programs.

Common courses you may take include:

• epidemiology
• management theory and practice
• legal aspects of healthcare administration
• healthcare finance
• human relations

What Can I Do With My Healthcare Administration Degree?

Healthcare administration degrees can lead to various leadership roles within healthcare facilities. Some common job titles to consider include:

Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing home administrators oversee all functions at nursing homes and other types of long-term care facilities. They perform various administrative duties such as:

• supervising caregivers
• developing policies
• hiring staff
• preparing budgets

Hospital CEO

Hospital CEOs are the public faces and leading executives at their respective healthcare facilities. They oversee all operations at the facility to promote patient safety and facilitate financial stability and quality healthcare practices.

Nurse Manager

Nurse managers are responsible for the nursing staff at hospitals and other facilities. They supervise all nursing personnel and manage financial resources in an efficient manner to create a positive environment for both nurses and patients.

Insurance Specialist

Insurance specialists provide guidance relative to insurance plans and risk management. They commonly:

• communicate with both insurance carriers and clients
• track patient records
• process renewals
• verify coverage

Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants help managers and other leaders with a wide variety of tasks. They play a supporting role by:

• booking appointments
• tracking and organizing paperwork
• arranging travel for patients

FAQs About Starting a Healthcare Administration Degree at 25

Keep reading as we answer some frequently asked questions you may have about pursuing your healthcare administration degree at 25.

Are There Benefits To Starting My Healthcare Administration Degree at 25?

Starting your degree at 25 can provide many benefits. You will have likely gained professional skills and experience that will help you succeed in your healthcare administration program. Additionally, you may have clearer career goals now than you did right out of high school, which can help you remain focused on your studies as you pursue your degree.

Can I Complete My Healthcare Administration Degree Online?

Yes. Healthcare administration is a common online degree program offering. A variety of reputable schools offer these degrees, which often provide a level of flexibility that may make it easier for you, as a busy adult, to complete your education on your terms.

How Late Is Too Late To Become a Healthcare Administrator?

Healthcare administrators can theoretically begin working in the field at any age. In fact, there are times when older candidates may be preferred because they have more experience in management and leadership than younger candidates.