Are Online Healthcare Management Degrees Legit?

Healthcare workers passionate about the medical field may be on the hunt for ways to progress into management roles. Managing a healthcare facility offers greater job responsibility and potentially increased salary.

However, if you're working full time, taking classes during the day or commuting to campus might not be feasible. Some students may instead opt for an online bachelor's degree in healthcare management.

Because accredited schools, both fully online and traditional, offer online degrees, there are many legitimate online healthcare management degree programs available.

Do Employers Respect Online Healthcare Management Degrees?

Yes, most employers will disregard whether a degree was obtained online or in person, as long as the necessary courses and educational requirements were fulfilled. Many online programs follow the same syllabus as in-person courses and are taught by the same teachers.

Plus, many colleges have well-designed curricula specifically serving the online community of distance learners. To ensure this, look for only reputable online universities with national or regional accreditation.

What To Look For in an Online Healthcare Management Degree Program

As mentioned, many online programs can offer a great education without having to go on campus, but there are a few key elements you should look for when choosing a school.

Accreditation

Accreditation takes place when a third-party counsel reviews and approves the course curriculum for quality control. For students interested in healthcare management, check for colleges with accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

CAHME ensures that programs teach relevant and informative coursework that follows the latest regulations, technological advancements, and professional best practices.

Reputation

Finding a reputable school online can be daunting. With so many different programs to choose from, many of which have excellent websites and social media presence, it may seem that all options have a good reputation.

The best way to find out about a university's reputation is to check online rankings for the school, which calculate a score based on the school's student resources, scholarships and grants, tuition, and graduation rate.

Nonprofit Vs. For-Profit Degrees

There are a few key differences between nonprofit and for-profit universities. A nonprofit university is typically run through the state and is generally cheaper to attend than a for-profit university.

Many nonprofit universities also give discounted tuition rates to in-state students, which can make healthcare management degrees affordable.

For-profit degrees tend to have fewer discounts available for students and may be more expensive to attend, however, for-profit degrees may have specialized programs or concentrations of interest.

For-profit degrees may also have more resources such as networking opportunities, internships, and extracurricular activities.

Graduation Rates

The graduation rate of the online university can tell you a lot about student success. the graduation rate is a scale of how many students graduate on time from their program. A school with a higher graduation rate may indicate more student resources on campus and a directive to help students succeed.

It may not be worth going to a university with a low graduation rate, because it may indicate that students transfer out of that university or leave for other reasons.

Differences Between Online Healthcare Management Degrees and Traditional Healthcare Management Degrees

The primary difference between online and traditional healthcare management degrees has to do with the accessibility of the program. Because many schools teach the same curriculum, regardless of whether the student is on or off-campus, you can expect to learn the same program either way.

Online programs are usually asynchronous, which means you can complete your coursework at any time of day that's convenient for you. This is particularly beneficial for students who are balancing busy personal lives or are working full-time while they complete their degree.

Benefits of Earning Your Healthcare Management Degree at an Online School

The primary benefit of earning an online healthcare management degree is the convenience of the program. Taking online courses allows you to complete your degree on your terms without having to commute to campus.

Aside from the additional time commitment of traveling and working in a classroom, there is also a commitment of transportation costs and other attendance costs of going to a university.

Featured Online Healthcare Management Degree Programs

Considering the different programs surrounding healthcare management, these universities are well known for their effective online learning platforms.

1. Bay Path University

Bay Path University offers a master's in healthcare management, along with three professional certificates to supplement education throughout your career. Bay Path strives to bridge the gap between excellent patient care and the leadership skills necessary to run an effective team.

Health organizations are constantly fluctuating with changes in best practices and technology, and the competence to navigate these changes happens at Bay Path.

• Online MS in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Organizational Excellence
• Online MS in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Health Informatics
• Online MS in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Public Health
• Online MS in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Business

2. Arizona State University (ASU)

Before advancing into your professional career, you can pick an online university that builds the essential foundations for effective care. Arizona State University has a generous transfer credit policy, making it possible to move into a program through ASU without incurring additional costs.

The university was accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, a national counsel that ensures the effectiveness of online programs.

• Online BS in Healthcare Administration and Policy

3. Boston College

The Woods Colleges of Advancing Studies at Boston College offers a master's of healthcare administration fully online. The online format consists of flexible, 7-week terms that are easy to complete, and allow students to finish their degree in under 24 months.

There are three convenient start dates throughout the year, ensuring your ability to start when you're ready. The course roster includes law and policy in healthcare, financial management, health facility human resources, and information technology.

• Online MS in Healthcare Management

4. Franklin University

Located in Massachusetts, Franklin University expanded its campus to an online format that serves students worldwide. The Bachelor of Science in healthcare management consists of 120 credit hours and most students attend classes on a part-time basis.

The class is offered fully online and consists of either 6 or 12-week semesters.

• Online BS in Healthcare Management
• Online MS in Healthcare Management

5. Northeastern University

The College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University offers a variety of programs through the online learning portal. The bachelor of science in healthcare administration is the first stepping stone toward earning a management degree. This program teaches the essentials, including health record databases, health policy and ethics, as well as healthcare regulation.

• Online BS in Healthcare Administration