Online Associates Degree in Healthcare Management (ASHCM) - Best of 2024

Get Matched With Healthcare Management Colleges

Healthcare delivery is overseen by healthcare management professionals. These specialists in healthcare administration control all aspects of the everyday practices of the facilities they manage. From hospitals to nursing homes and doctor's offices, these executives are responsible for the day-to-day functioning of their healthcare environment or hospital department.

An online or on-campus associate degree in healthcare administration or a similar health services management degree will prepare a student for entry-level administrative positions or other entry-level roles in healthcare. A healthcare administration associate degree program, whether completed online or not, is also a steppingstone to a bachelor's degree in the field. Prospective students can expect their courses to teach health-related curriculum in technology and health information management, medical terminology, healthcare coding, office administration, marketing, and other components of the work required for healthcare facilities, as well as job skills. This is true of programs teaching healthcare administration online and on-campus, part-time or full-time.

Traditional fundamentals, such as maintaining patient records and how to supervise staff, are also important things you will learn. And these degrees often include instruction in medical coding and healthcare data systems due to the increase in the use of technology, online assessments, and required electronic health records, which have now become crucial components of healthcare delivery.

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PROS

The healthcare industry has experienced significant growth during the last decade. This growth of the healthcare industry is expected to continue at a rate of 22% for medical and healthcare managers. Because of this, even healthcare administration associate degree program graduates will experience job security, high demand, and better than average pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Acquiring an associate degree in healthcare administration is also a quick way to get a foot in the door to the healthcare industry. It’s an excellent first step, even for those students who are interested in pursuing higher degrees like a bachelor's or master's in healthcare administration in the future. You can earn an associate degree, find a job where you can gain experience, and complete a higher-level degree online while you earn.
Healthcare organizations may also seek out trained individuals who have a background in the advanced technology of the healthcare industry as well as current healthcare laws. A healthcare administration or healthcare management associate degree program teaches these desired functions, as well as skills to help acquire a job soon after graduation, enabling students to get right to work.

CONS

With the amount of responsibility involved in working as healthcare administrators, stress is one of the main downsides. Health services managers are the driving force behind what makes a facility operate successfully. A good manager guides the business plan, vision, budget, and enforces laws and regulations for their facility, which can cause long schedules well over 40 hours a week. Working hours that include evenings, weekends, overnights, and holidays are commonplace.
Courts may be able to hold the healthcare manager liable if another employee's negligence has caused the death, illness, or injury of a patient and was caused by lax standards in various healthcare settings. Whether or not the administrator is on-site at the time of the incident may even be irrelevant.
Continuing education and maintaining licensure through online courses may be necessary for an administrative management position in healthcare. Career advancement can be difficult without going back to school for additional degrees or certifications.

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Top 25 Best Online Associate in Healthcare Management Programs

University of Cincinnati

Score: 83.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,570
- Out-of-State: $30,582
Net Price: $20,149
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 86%

Graduation Rate: 72%
Total Enrollment: 41,155
Undergrad Students: 29,663
Graduate Students: 11,492
Grads Salary: $50,200
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Score: 78.56

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,250
- Out-of-State: $34,250
Net Price: $24,485
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 66%
Total Enrollment: 4,988
Undergrad Students: 2,817
Graduate Students: 2,171
Grads Salary: $46,100
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

Herzing University-Brookfield

Score: 76.39

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State: $13,420
Net Price: $17,553
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 60%
Total Enrollment: 394
Undergrad Students: 392
Graduate Students: 2
Grads Salary: $45,200
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Cambridge College

Score: 76.03

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,072
- Out-of-State: $18,072
Net Price: $21,178
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 2,135
Undergrad Students: 840
Graduate Students: 1,295
Grads Salary: $49,200
Student-to-faculty: 8:1

Pennsylvania Institute of Technology

Score: 68.34

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,445
- Out-of-State: $14,445
Net Price: $17,354
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 40%

Graduation Rate: 74%
Total Enrollment: 651
Undergrad Students: 651
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $36,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

Waldorf University

Score: 67.19

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,220
- Out-of-State: $25,220
Net Price: $18,620
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 26%
Total Enrollment: 2,763
Undergrad Students: 2,295
Graduate Students: 468
Grads Salary: $49,800
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

Saint Johns River State College

Score: 67.08

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,830
- Out-of-State: $10,352
Net Price: $6,187
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 66%

Graduation Rate: 43%
Total Enrollment: 6,434
Undergrad Students: 6,434
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $37,500
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Score: 66.22

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,132
- Out-of-State: $5,532
Net Price: $3,421
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 6,141
Undergrad Students: 6,141
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,100
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

University of Arkansas Grantham

Score: 63.49

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,280
- Out-of-State: $8,280
Net Price: $9,546
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 36%

Graduation Rate: 25%
Total Enrollment: 5,436
Undergrad Students: 4,598
Graduate Students: 838
Grads Salary: $50,500
Student-to-faculty: 33:1

Berkeley College-Woodland Park

Score: 60.88

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,600
- Out-of-State: $28,600
Net Price: $17,068
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 64%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 2,078
Undergrad Students: 1,944
Graduate Students: 134
Grads Salary: $35,900
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Central New Mexico Community College

Score: 59.62

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,934
- Out-of-State: $8,366
Net Price: $4,742
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 62%

Graduation Rate: 28%
Total Enrollment: 19,095
Undergrad Students: 19,095
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $34,500
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Score: 59.49

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,628
- Out-of-State: $8,772
Net Price: $2,948
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 16%
Total Enrollment: 10,233
Undergrad Students: 10,233
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $37,600
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Score: 59.28

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,484
- Out-of-State: $12,332
Net Price: $11,577
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 37%
Total Enrollment: 3,352
Undergrad Students: 3,352
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $34,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

Harrisburg Area Community College

Score: 59.25

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,918
- Out-of-State: $11,400
Net Price: $9,991
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 53%

Graduation Rate: 16%
Total Enrollment: 12,576
Undergrad Students: 12,576
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $42,100
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

Score: 57.07

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,018
- Out-of-State: $6,928
Net Price: $9,211
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 57%

Graduation Rate: 30%
Total Enrollment: 5,021
Undergrad Students: 5,021
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $33,100
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

Herkimer College

Score: 56.19

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,776
- Out-of-State: $5,776
Net Price: $8,974
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 54%

Graduation Rate: 30%
Total Enrollment: 2,030
Undergrad Students: 2,030
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,200
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

Clinton Community College

Score: 55.79

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,831
- Out-of-State: $6,831
Net Price: $8,204
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 55%

Graduation Rate: 24%
Total Enrollment: 994
Undergrad Students: 994
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $33,100
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Northeast Texas Community College

Score: 55.76

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,282
- Out-of-State: $5,434
Net Price: $12,684
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 34%
Total Enrollment: 3,029
Undergrad Students: 3,029
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,100
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Pitt Community College

Score: 55.65

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,972
- Out-of-State: $6,580
Net Price: $7,291
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 68%

Graduation Rate: 28%
Total Enrollment: 7,144
Undergrad Students: 7,144
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $29,200
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Score: 55.53

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,017
- Out-of-State: $7,210
Net Price: $9,371
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 53%

Graduation Rate: 15%
Total Enrollment: 12,211
Undergrad Students: 12,211
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $36,400
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

Lenoir Community College

Score: 54.9

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,568
- Out-of-State: $8,712
Net Price: $5,584
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 61%

Graduation Rate: 29%
Total Enrollment: 2,199
Undergrad Students: 2,199
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $26,800
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

Berkeley College-New York

Score: 52.97

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,600
- Out-of-State: $28,600
Net Price: $23,301
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 57%

Graduation Rate: 35%
Total Enrollment: 1,882
Undergrad Students: 1,818
Graduate Students: 64
Grads Salary: $36,900
Student-to-faculty: 22:1

Florida Tech

Score: 52.8

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,360
- Out-of-State: $44,360
Net Price: $30,752
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 75%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 8,315
Undergrad Students: 3,364
Graduate Students: 4,951
Grads Salary: $17,500
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Bossier Parish Community College

Score: 48.76

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,283
- Out-of-State: $4,283
Net Price: $10,116
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 49%

Graduation Rate: 17%
Total Enrollment: 6,312
Undergrad Students: 6,312
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $32,300
Student-to-faculty: 26:1

Guilford Technical Community College

Score: 48.71

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,319
- Out-of-State: $7,695
Net Price: $13,292
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 54%

Graduation Rate: 28%
Total Enrollment: 10,067
Undergrad Students: 10,067
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $26,800
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

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Certificate Vs. Associates in Healthcare Management

Most healthcare-related certificates, whether taken online or in a classroom, are an add-on to an existing degree, such as an associate degree or bachelor's, and typically require specific education or career achievements to get accepted into the program. There are some stand-alone certificate programs out there for healthcare administration. These do not require you to have a healthcare administration degree or any specific healthcare services background. Certificates cost significantly less than a degree. Plus, certificates can be earned in weeks or months rather than years as even online associate degree programs require.

A certificate will help you with entry-level positions but will exclude you from jobs that require you to complete a college healthcare administration program. You can also find limitations when it comes to career advancement with only a certificate in hand, and they often do not provide credit to help you move forward academically.

Whether you choose a healthcare administration degree or certificate depends on how far you want to go in the field. If you desire to move up in the industry, choose the degree, or both.

What Healthcare Management Associate Degrees Are Available?

Associate of Science and Associate of Arts

Both the Associate of Science (AS) and the Associate of Arts (AA) degrees are similar to the first two years of a bachelor's program in that they also include general education courses. These are great choices if you plan to transfer to a university or 4-year college after degree completion. Both of these are also commonly found through online education platforms, so those of you looking to earn a degree from home should look for these online options.

The AS degree contains more credits in math and science and is recommended for people pursuing careers in engineering, nursing, or science.

An AA degree includes more courses in the humanities and social sciences. It’s considered a more flexible degree and may offer students more career options than the AS degree.

Associate of Applied Business and Associate in Applied Science

Students with a degree in Associate of Applied Business or Associate in Applied Science are career-ready after graduation. These are career degree programs because they focus on a job or major-specific courses rather than general education. Both may still allow you to transfer to a 4-year college or university to pursue a bachelor's degree, but you may need to catch up on some of your gen ed. courses. Applied science are less commonly found online, though students hoping to pursue these degrees may be able to find programs with online components.

Admission Requirements to Enter an Associate in Healthcare Management Degree Program

The first step to obtaining an associate in healthcare management is to apply to the school(s) of your choice. Each school is different. The following is a guide of what may be required by an in-person school, though students looking to attend online should understand that most admission requirements will be the same for in-person or online learning options.

High school diploma or GED documentation
Transcripts from your high school or other colleges you’ve attended
An essay or letter of recommendation
AP (advanced placement) scores
High school GPA or GED score

The requirements for an online program are typically the same as an in-person program, but you may have additional requirements such as:

High-speed internet
Laptop or desktop
Printer or at least access to a printer
Webcam

How Long Does It Take to Earn an Associate Degree in Healthcare Management?

Earning a degree in healthcare management requires you to complete 60 credits in general education and healthcare- and management-related courses, along with practical skills classes. That equates to about 20 courses.

How long it takes to complete the program can vary. On average, it takes two years. However, if you are attending part-time, it could take much longer, whereas an online accelerated program could get you through the program much faster. Whether or not you have previous college credits will also affect the time it will take you to earn your degree.

Meet with your college counselor to determine the best program speed for you.

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Potential Careers in Healthcare Management with an Associate Degree

Social and Community Service Manager

This position is centered around helping people through coordination with social workers, other healthcare professionals, and community members to provide programs and organizations that assist people in a particular group including the homeless, special needs children, or veterans.

Median Annual Salary: $49,000
Healthcare Human Resources Manager

Similar to hospital administration, the human resources manager handles many of the administrative duties for a facility. Someone in this position oversees the recruitment, interviews, new hires, and would function as a liaison between the employees and the organization.

Median Annual Salary: $67,600
Medical Office Administrator

Your daily duties as a medical office administrator would be to handle accounts payable and receivable, contracts, interacting with patients and vendors, maintaining insurance policies, hiring, and staff management.

Median Annual Salary: $56,700
Health Information Officer

A job as a health information officer centers around patient records. Electronic health records (EHRs) are becoming more and more prevalent and should have completely taken over the role of other records in a few years. A person with the skills for this position is in high demand. The function of the job is not only to protect and maintain patient records but to find ways to process and store them in a more efficient manner. One requirement of the job will also be to keep up with changes in security and software as well as privacy practices.

Median Annual Salary: $41,800
Medical Office Executive Assistant

If you want to get a birds-eye view of what a healthcare manager does, a medical executive assistant is an ideal position. Not only will you get to oversee projects from start to finish, but you will also get to work directly with managers and administrators. Additionally, you may help write grant proposals and ensure that everyone has working communication devices like phones, computers, and tablets.

Median Annual Salary: $56,000

Options to Advance

Advancement opportunities are not as prevalent with an associate degree. If you're looking to move up the healthcare corporate ladder, have more responsibilities, or bring home a larger paycheck, you'll need to get additional higher education. A healthcare management bachelor's degree will push you higher up in the management chain and provide you the duties and pay you are seeking.

Large hospitals have advancement opportunities available such as CMO, CEO, or CFO roles. For those positions, advanced degrees are necessary, in addition to years of experience.

Some jobs require additional certifications to maintain your current position, like a nursing care facility administrator. Even if they are not a requirement, getting certifications can help improve your opportunities for advancement.

Frequently Asked Questions

can I get a job in healthcare management with just an associate degree?

It is possible to find entry-level positions in healthcare management with an associate degree, although the specific job duties and responsibilities may be limited. An associate degree in healthcare management provides students with a basic understanding of the principles and practices of healthcare management including topics such as healthcare policy, finance, and administration.

With this degree, you may be able to find positions such as a medical office manager, a healthcare administrator, or a medical records technician. In these roles, you may be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility or department including tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing medical records, and billing.

Is healthcare management a stressful job?

Like any job, a career in healthcare management can have its challenges and stressors. Healthcare management involves the planning, coordination, and oversight of healthcare organizations and facilities, which can be complex and demanding.

Some potential stressors in healthcare management include:

Managing budgets and finances, because many organizations have tight budgets and must carefully manage their resources.
Healthcare managers are often responsible for hiring, training, and supervising a team of employees. This can be stressful, especially if there are conflicts or performance issues.
Healthcare managers are responsible for ensuring that patients receive high-quality care. This can be stressful if there are limited resources or high patient volumes.
Healthcare organizations must adhere to a variety of regulations and standards. Managers are usually responsible for ensuring that the organization is in compliance.

It's important to note that the level of stress in any job can vary depending on a variety of factors including the specific job duties and responsibilities, the work environment, and the individual's coping skills and support system.

Best Online Associate in Healthcare Management Degrees for 2024