Online Associate in Healthcare Administration: An Inside Look

Spotlighting Healthcare Administration Associate Programs Online

Flexibility and convenience are the hallmarks of any good distance learning program, and online healthcare administration associate degree programs are no exception. Program curriculums and formats vary somewhat from school to school, but healthcare administration lends itself particularly well to online study. Most programs feature asynchronous coursework that can be completed entirely online at any time and from any location with high-speed internet access. Flexibility extends to degree completion times as well, with both full-time and part-time study options available.

During an associate degree in healthcare administration, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of healthcare operations will prepare to work in entry-level administrative roles. If you chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, you’ll gain a more in-depth knowledge that will prepare you to take on leadership and managerial roles.

What to Know About Online Healthcare Administration Associate Degrees

What do you learn in an online healthcare administration associate degree program?

The curriculum of your online associate degree in healthcare administration program will focus on the development of practical knowledge and skills in management and leadership as they apply to specific healthcare administrative roles and responsibilities. Core concepts and specific topics you’ll cover include:

• Supervision, management, and leadership theories and practices.
• Organizational structures of managed healthcare systems and facilities.
• Critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Interpersonal and organizational communication skills.
• Human resource management and practices.
• Analysis and application of healthcare information, statistics, and data.
• Medical records management and coding, including electronic records systems.
• Accounting principles and their practical applications.
• Medical terminology.
• Applicable medical laws, regulations, and ethics.
• Overview and analysis of current practices and trends in healthcare management and the broader healthcare industry.

How long does it take to earn a healthcare administration associate degree online?

Most healthcare administration associate degrees consist of 60-66 credit hours of coursework, which generally require one-and-a-half to two years of full-time study to complete. Online programs, however—particularly those whose coursework is presented asynchronously—typically offer both full-time and part-time options that allow students to tailor their studies to fit their schedules. This means students could take up to three or four years or longer to finish all their degree requirements, depending on their rate of study.

Flexibility in class choices, degree completion times, and other study options will depend on the program you choose. Be sure to carefully review the specific curriculum requirements for all programs under consideration before enrolling.

How much do online healthcare admin programs cost?

Costs of online healthcare administration associate degrees vary, often substantially, from program to program. Common factors impacting cost include the type of school (two-year community vs. four-year, public vs. private) and a student’s place of residency (within or outside the program’s home state). In the schools highlighted above, we saw that their tuition ranged from $229 to $533 per credit. Keep in mind, however, that total program costs will also include application and student fees, as well as the cost of books and supplies. Financial aid can help with this: if you attend a school with financial aid available to healthcare admin students or if you qualify for any relevant scholarships, out-of-pocket cost can be much lower.

Will my online healthcare associate degree credits transfer to a bachelor’s program?

In most cases, yes. Most two-year healthcare admin degrees feature curriculums and individual courses that meet specific requirements for healthcare administration or healthcare management bachelor’s degree programs at students’ schools and other four-year colleges and universities. Not all programs do this, however, so you should confirm credit transferability prior to choosing an associate degree program, regardless of whether you intend to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree or not.

How much can I make with a healthcare administration degree?

An associate degree in healthcare administration may not be enough to get you to a management position, but it’s a great springboard into other relevant jobs that will prepare you for eventual management. Here are some of the jobs your degree will prepare you for and their average annual salaries:

• Medical Records Specialist – $48,780
• Medical Assistant – $42,000
• Health Information Technician – $46,331
• Patient Services Representative – $39,680
• Medical Transcriptionist – $37,060

As you continue your education and gain relevant experience, you’ll qualify for leadership and management positions that can get you up to double the salaries listed above. As always, salaries will vary by state and even by region within states. You can find more detailed information on sites like O*NET.

What to Expect: Careers for Those With an Associate in Healthcare Administration

There are two primary career paths one can take after earning a healthcare administration associate degree. The first is to continue to a four-year college or university bachelor’s degree program in healthcare administration, management, or closely related major; the second is to head directly for the job market.

For those intending to immediately start their careers upon graduation, there’s good news: many entry-level positions in the field offer decent wages and have robust job growth expectations over the next decade. Below is a small sampling of popular positions available to healthcare administration associate degree holders.

Medical Administrative Assistant

A medical administrative assistant manages office tasks in healthcare settings, such as scheduling appointments, handling patient records, and billing. They ensure smooth office operations in hospitals, clinics, or private practices.

• Pros: stable work environment and regular hours.
• Cons: desk-bound tasks, high patient volume, and occasional stressful deadlines.

Medical Records Specialist

A medical records specialist manages patient health records, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance with regulations. Responsibilities include organizing, updating, and retrieving medical data. Work environments include hospitals, clinics, or insurance companies.

• Pros: steady demand and job security.
• Cons: repetitive tasks and potential exposure to sensitive information under pressure.

Health Information Technician

Similar to a medical records specialist, health information technicians manage and organize patient data, ensuring its accuracy, security, and compliance with healthcare regulations. Responsibilities include coding diagnoses, maintaining electronic health records, and data analysis. Work environments include hospitals, clinics, or insurance companies.

• Pros: high demand and job stability.
• Cons: detailed tasks and long hours.

Patient Services Representative

A patient services representative handles patient inquiries, schedules appointments, verifies insurance, and processes billing information. They work in hospitals, clinics, or doctor’s offices.

• Pros: regular interaction with patients and healthcare teams.
• Cons: can be stressful with high patient volumes, dealing with difficult situations, and long hours at times.

Medical Transcriptionist

A medical transcriptionist listens to audio recordings from healthcare professionals and converts them into accurate written documents. They ensure proper medical terminology and grammar. Work environments include hospitals, clinics, or remote settings.

• Pros: flexible work options and job stability.
• Cons: repetitive work, potential for eye strain, and hard deadlines.

Best Associate Healthcare Administration Degrees Online

Comparing different qualities can be helpful when going deeper into your search for a program that meets your needs. We’ve researched many schools across the country and pulled out the most important attributes, including school accreditation, online program components, tuition, the average institutional financial aid given to undergrad students, student-to-faculty ratios, and the existence of academic counseling and career placement programs. For more information on how we rank the schools, see the methodology pop-up above.