What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in health care administration?

What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration?

Even before the pandemic put increased pressure on health systems, there was a growing need for administrators who support and improve the function of health care organizations — all with the aim of better caring for patients.

A bachelor’s in health care administration offers the perfect mashup of business skills and healthcare concepts for aspiring administrators. And with the healthcare industry poised to continue growing as Baby Boomers continue aging, there should be no shortage of job opportunities.

But what exactly can graduates expect in their careers? What administrative or managerial roles are available to those with a bachelor’s degree?

In this article, we cover the myriad of job opportunities in health care administration, as well as what health care administrators actually do and projections for job openings and the health care field in general. Let’s dive in.

The (Expanding) State of Health Care

Climate change and an aging population are just two of the factors teaming up to increase the need for robust health care systems — and skilled administrators to guide them. 

“As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, there should be increased demand for healthcare services,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). “This means greater needs for physicians and other healthcare workers, medical procedures, and healthcare facilities, and therefore greater needs for managers who organize and manage medical information and healthcare staff.”

Pre-pandemic, the country already was experiencing shortages of nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel. As those shortages continue (and in many cases, worsen), health care organizations must reinvent themselves and their systems to continue serving patients with less medical staff. This is where administrators come in.

Health care administrators are concerned with the operational and business sides of healthcare. They make sure facilities are properly staffed, medical supplies stocked, equipment and technology kept up-to-date, and that the finances check out. 

In 2020, according to BLS, there were nearly 430,000 medical and health services manager jobs in the United States That number is expected to increase by 32 percent by 2030, with a projected 51,800 openings each year. Along with being in great demand, medical and health services managers command high salaries, with $101,340 their median pay in 2021.

What Health Care Administrators Do

Responsibilities of health care administrators vary from job to job, with administrators at smaller organizations juggling a broader range of duties — from budgets and staffing to efficiency and operations — while those at larger organizations may specialize in one area. Admins may manage a department within a larger facility, oversee the finances for an entire organization, or focus on an area like policy and compliance or insurance.

Understanding health care systems, regulations on the local, state, and federal levels, business concepts, and good leadership and management practices is crucial to be an effective health care administrator. Analytical and creative problem solving skills are also important to keep organizations running smoothly amid staff shortages and mass health events that may arise.

Health Care Administration Jobs

Health care administrators work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, physician offices, nursing and residential care facilities and outpatient care centers. According to the BLS, most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree and some employers prefer master’s degrees.

Not all administrative jobs are open to recent bachelor’s grads — you may need to work at an entry-level job in the field for a few years before advancing to roles with greater responsibility. However, the chances for advancement are numerous and your degree will likely set you apart from other candidates, both for your initial job and for future opportunities.

Here are just a few of the roles that could become career options for you with your bachelor’s in health care administration:

Health care administrators work within every health care organization and with every internal department — from the patient-facing side to more behind-the-scenes settings. They also work with pharmaceutical companies, health insurance organizations, government agencies, consultants, and professional societies tied to health care. The skills and knowledge you’ll gain while earning your bachelor’s degree and putting it to work will have countless applications for real-world settings.

Poised for Success: Health Care Administration at Regis

At Regis University, the bachelor’s degree in health care administration prepares graduates for entry into a field that desperately needs creative, skilled, and ethically grounded administrators. Through our program, you’ll gain a foundation in business concepts like accounting and microeconomics; dive into statistics, ethics, and health care policy; and develop meaningful leadership skills

Classes are online or held on-campus in the evenings, making this program perfect for working professionals. The degree is also eligible for our FastForward program, which enables you to earn both your bachelor’s in health care administration and your master’s in health services administration at the same time.

Whatever approach you choose, you’ll graduate with knowledge, skills, and credentials that will open doors to administrative roles — where you’ll be able to make a positive difference for patients and those who care for them.

Ready to get started? Learn more about the B.S. in Health Care Administration.