Inside Accelerated Online Healthcare Administration Programs

Purdue Global

A distance learning offshoot of Purdue University, Purdue Global offers an accelerated online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration through its Exceltrack program. Its online format means that you can take as many courses as you like at a flat rate of tuition per semester. Although Purdue is a state school, this program is charged at a single rate regardless of your residency status. The program is both accelerated and self-paced, meaning that you can build your schedule and choose courses in a way that works best for you—allowing you to control your own pace of completion.

Duration: 180 credits; self-paced

Mode: Online

Cost: $2,500/term

University of Michigan–Flint

The commuter campus of the University of Michigan, UM Flint offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management. This program, which is certified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration, is intended for students who have already taken some college-level coursework but have not completed a bachelor’s degree. The program includes online coursework and a final internship project coordinated in a location convenient to you. Start dates for the accelerated seven-week courses are available eight times per year for maximum convenience.

Duration: Varies (dependent on transfer credits)

Mode: Online

Cost: $583.75 to $594.25/credit (residency dependent)

Loyola University Chicago

The accelerated healthcare administration program at Loyola University Chicago is actually two degrees in one. If you are enrolled in their bachelor’s degree program in healthcare administration, you have the opportunity to enroll in their accelerated bachelor’s to MHA program, which allows you to combine bachelor’s and master’s courses to complete a BSHA and MHA together in only five years. This is a competitive program, and you will need to apply to it separately from your bachelor’s studies. Further, students in this program are eligible for a 25% tuition discount through the Returning Ramblers scholarship program.

Duration: 5 Years

Mode: In person/Hybrid

Cost: $54,530/year

Challenge: Keeping Up With Your Study Schedule

Accelerated programs are fast paced, with lots of information to take in over a short time frame. It’s easy to get overwhelmed from the sheer quantity of coursework.

Solution: Understand and determine how to best leverage your learning style. Whether you learn best through visuals, audios, or something else, it’s important to understand and play for any unique hurdles in your path. Then, you can make a study plan before classes even start, which can help prevent you from getting overwhelmed by your coursework or failing to notice when you need extra prep for something.

Challenge: Fewer Chances to Connect and Network

Networking can be an important way to build your career, especially early on. Studying online, and with a quicker timeline, can make it challenging to connect with others.

Solution: Make a point to reach out to others. You may not have official networking opportunities provided by your program, but you can create them for yourself. If your professors offer office hours via video, take advantage of them and talk about your goals and struggles in the program. Also, leverage opportunities to network with your classmates through online study sessions and review groups.

Challenge: Less Time to Specialize

Accelerated online healthcare administration programs move quickly by design. This means you’ll have less time to work on a specialization within the field.

Solution: Be patient. It’s an odd thing to recommend for a student in an online accelerated healthcare administration program, but it’s critical when it comes to specializations. That is, you don’t need to have picked out a specialization within your field before you graduate. In fact, it can be more helpful to have worked in a healthcare setting for some time before specializing, so you’ll have better idea of what’s a good fit for you personally and professionally.

Challenge: Technical Difficulties

Given the nature of online learning, technical issues can be a major problem. This is especially true when an internet or computer problem cuts you off from class entirely.

Solution: Technical issues are never fun, and some are unavoidable. But preparation can help make sure they don’t throw you completely off track. How can you stay prepared? Identify your plan Bs, such as local public libraries or other accessible spaces with reliable internet in case yours goes out. Also consider building an emergency fund for any last-minute computer breakdowns or tech issues. And, connect with your school to see what tech advice or assistance it provides.