Is 35 Too Old to Get a Healthcare Management Degree?

Healthcare managers are responsible for the daily operations within a healthcare facility. These professionals ensure employees are following standard operating procedures and that the office runs optimally, all while delivering excellent patient care.

Healthcare managers typically oversee responsibilities such as:

• staffing
• accounting administrative work
• patient intake

If you're passionate about healthcare and administration, then this type of role might be perfect for you.

Earning a healthcare manager degree isn't too late after 35, and in fact can be quite beneficial. This blog covers everything you need to know about becoming a healthcare manager in your thirties.

Reasons To Earn Your Healthcare Management Degree at 35

You might find that there are certain benefits to waiting until your thirties to earn a healthcare management degree. Continue reading them below.

Higher Salary

Becoming a healthcare manager may require an advanced degree in some facilities. If you're working towards a master's degree, then you already completed a bachelor's program and may even have work experience in the field. All of these factors may increase your chance of obtaining a higher salary post-graduation.

Better Understanding of the Program

With age comes experience, and experience may help you understand your coursework better. If you already have a few years of work experience in a healthcare facility, then you may already have an idea of the inner workings of the administrative offices. Returning to class with this former knowledge may add contextual background to your learning experience.

More Opportunity for Responsibility

Employers may trust you more if you're in your thirties, as people who are older tend to be more responsible and mature. This can help you gain the trust of management and potentially earn a position with more responsibility in the office.

What Will I Learn In a Healthcare Management Degree Program?

A career track in healthcare management emphasizes the functionality of a health center's administrative offices.

Aside from patient care, this role focuses on maintaining a functional operation and includes:

• accounting
• finance management
• staffing
• employee management
• establishing procedures

Your coursework will likely involve a variety of classes to assist in learning these essential components. Core classes will likely include:

• accounting and finance
• human resources
• common healthcare software
• patient Intake

What Can I Do With My Healthcare Management Degree?

Healthcare managers are a necessary hire in most health facilities. You may find work opportunities all over the country in:

• private practices
• state-run facilities
• nursing homes
• health and wellness businesses

Here are a few common career tracks for professionals with a healthcare management degree.

Healthcare Finance Manager

The healthcare finance manager focuses on all things financial health within a company. This professional is trained to analyze financial data for any possible risks or profit opportunities. They may also offer suggestions on how to improve the finances of the company.

Physician Practice Manager

The physician practice manager is responsible for leading the business strategy of the health center. This may involve building budgets, hiring new employees, and overseeing day-to-day operations.

Quality and Improvement Manager

This type of healthcare manager seeks out new opportunities for improving the functionality of the office. They may have prior experience as a business analyst or in quality control.

This role may also uphold the recognized and regulated practices within healthcare to ensure compliance.

FAQs About Starting a Healthcare Management Degree at 35

While starting a healthcare management degree at 35 isn't too late, you may still have some questions about going to a university in your thirties.

While the perception of students in school is usually individuals in their early twenties, this is no longer true. People choose to return to university for a whole wealth of reasons throughout life.

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions and their answers revolving around why returning to college in your thirties may be a good idea.

Are There Benefits To Starting My Healthcare Management Degree at 35?

Definitely! As mentioned above, students studying healthcare management at 35 may find some added benefits because of their age. For one, students may be able to negotiate a higher pay salary in their thirties versus their twenties.

Additionally, they may be able to understand their coursework better and have more contextual knowledge of the healthcare field. This may mean more readiness to start work after graduation.

Should I Go Back to School for Healthcare Management?

You may be wondering if it's a good idea to return to college for a healthcare management degree, and the answer all depends on what you want to achieve from the degree.

If you're currently working and earning a higher salary or promotion, a degree in healthcare management is necessary, then going back to school can be a great idea.

It's important to clearly understand the reason why you're returning to college and balance it with any possible disadvantages, such as student loan payments or time restrictions.

Is It Worth It Going Back to College?

Going back to college can be worth it for some professionals and can increase their employability. Having the extra knowledge learned at school can build trust and a positive reputation within your business. It may also make you qualified for career advancement.

How Do I Decide If I Should Go Back to College?

The best way to decide if you should go back to college is by creating a list of benefits and challenges. There are usually solutions you can find by answering these questions, but it's always important to first understand the reason why.

Next, get a full understanding of what a commitment to college will mean, including the amount of tuition it will cost and how much time it will take to complete. These are monetary and time commitments and are highly important to factor into your decision.