The 10 Best Online Associates in Healthcare Management

Healthcare Management is concerned with the commercial elements of managing and running a healthcare enterprise. It is a crucial component of healthcare that entails working in tandem with medical staff to carry out procedures, create budgets, create documents, and handle a multitude of other crucial tasks that keep the clinic or hospital running like an efficient machine.

With an Associate in Healthcare Management degree, you can join a dynamic and expanding business and play a crucial part in a company going through a transition. Students interested in pursuing a lifetime career in healthcare settings have a great place to start with this degree program.

Allowing students to enter the workforce, associate degree programs in Healthcare Management take roughly two years. A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree program may be pursued after graduating from this program, provided that interested students meet the prerequisites.

Just because not all students are interested in pursuing careers as nurses or physicians doesn’t mean they can’t seek a degree that will enable them to work in the healthcare sector.

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Additional Information: The Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs in Business Management

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Methodology

While doctors, nurses, and surgeons are typically the professions that come to mind when thinking about the healthcare business, they are merely the tip of the iceberg. Healthcare management professionals are among the most crucial team members and responsibilities needed for the sector to operate seamlessly.

Each top Associate in the Healthcare Management program on our list was selected because of these features that demonstrate high academic quality:

Offered as a fully online or blended associate degree,

• Features the fundamentals of Healthcare Management through rigorous coursework consisting of medical ethics, healthcare system structures, healthcare delivery systems, and healthcare policy, among others, providing for an easy transition to the bachelor’s degree,
• Facilitated on a learning platform or Learning Management System, through which students attend discussions, join webinars, and access their coursework,
• Taught by Healthcare Management experts with direct knowledge of the healthcare sector and its trends, as well as the credentials and capacity to impart the skills relevant to the discipline,
• Offers qualified students financial aid and assistance through the federal aid program and scholarships,
• Properly accredited by academic organizations that maintain the standards of teaching in the field of Healthcare Management in an online learning format,
• Esteemed by industry organizations and groups,
• Positively reviewed by Healthcare Management students, alumni, and industry professionals.

If you need information on our Healthcare Management associate’s degree ranking process, please read our Methodology.

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The 10 Best Online Associates in Healthcare Management

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology is certified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission to grant Associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctorate degrees.

Florida Tech gives its online students the tools they need to succeed by making all of its demanding academic programs online. One of these programs is the Associates of Arts in Healthcare Management which offers training for entry-level positions in the healthcare sector. A thorough understanding of various business disciplines is included in the 64-credit Associate’s degree program, along with core training in healthcare organizations, managed care, and medical ethics. 

With Florida Institute of Technology being one of the best schools in Florida, their online programs in healthcare management will help students gain opportunities to kickstart a career in a field that focuses on enhancing and preserving the quality and effectiveness of systems and institutions that deliver health and medical services or expand your career in this area.

Additionally, students will learn about the following:

• The Disciplines of Management
• Healthcare organizational structures
• Managed healthcare
• Medical ethics

Other areas tackled include business computer skills, accounting, economics, and management.

The College ROI Report from PayScale classified Florida Tech as a Best Value College in Florida and a Tier 1 Best National University by the U.S. News World Report. Florida Institute of Technology also offers studies in other fields, such as business, psychology, cybersecurity, aviation management and information technology.

On top of that, Florida Tech is a private, nonprofit college with an inclusive, culturally diverse school body, providing a healthy environment for learning.

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Minnesota West Community College

Minnesota West Community and Technical College, with its five campuses situated in Canby, Granite Falls, Pipestone, Jackstone, and Worthington, also offers a fully online program for a degree in Associate of Science in Management and Supervision in Healthcare.

In the Healthcare Management and Supervision, A.S. degree, the program’s goal is to give students the knowledge they need to advance their managerial skills. This online Associate’s degree will allow healthcare professionals to get more training if they want to work in healthcare administration. The 60-credit degree includes core courses that focus on managerial aspects such as:

• Corporate Compliance
• Principles of Supervisory Leadership
• Interpersonal Skills for Supervisors
• Personnel Supervision
• Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers.

The required core courses under the program consist of 30 credits and an additional 30 credits for general education electives. The online learning environment enables students to continue their education without having to leave their current location or with minimal disruption to their current employment or enjoyment status.

Upon completing the 60-credit Associate’s degree, online students can proceed with a 4-year program from a different university, depending on the institution’s requirements.

Small class sizes, one-on-one support, and concentrated, practical learning are all available at Minnesota West Community College. Credits obtained in Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs at Minnesota West Community College are intended for easy transfer to other Minnesota State institutions, should the students decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

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Colorado Christian University

With an Associate of Science in Healthcare Administration degree from Colorado Christian University, online students will have a solid basis for a career in front-line healthcare administration. Students will be exposed to various healthcare-related topics to help them choose the best options for patient outcomes and healthcare services.

Since dealing with people is considered the core of healthcare, whether in charge of electronic medical data, coordinating with insurance companies, or working in office administration, the program will also offer students a foundation in human resource management.

At Colorado Christian University, students will obtain distinctive foundations in the healthcare administration degree online program, as all courses are taught from a Christian viewpoint. They will learn the significance of ethical issues and critical facets of leading people as a servant leader.

A total of 60 credits are needed to complete the A.S. program, including 30 credits for general education, 12 credits for electives, and 18 credits for the six core healthcare courses with three credits each. The major’s core courses are as follows:

• Introduction to Healthcare Informatics
• Healthcare Terminology
• Healthcare Delivery Systems
• Healthcare Administration and Management
• Managing Healthcare Human Resources
• Healthcare Law, Policy, and Regulations

The Associates in Healthcare Administration curriculum is specially tailored to the needs of adult learners juggling full- or part-time employment and other responsibilities. With small class sizes, one-on-one learning and networking are encouraged. Professors who are also experts in the field are readily available and easy to reach for online students should there be any concerns.

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Iowa Central Community College

With expanding options within the healthcare industry, Iowa Central Community College‘s Healthcare Administration program aims to prepare online students entering and those already in occupations related to healthcare. After receiving a degree in Associate of Professional Studies in Healthcare Administration, completers may look for entry-level job opportunities in various healthcare environments.

A job in an office setting could be available in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, group medical offices, or private doctor’s offices. They may also look for non-clinical employment options with managed care organizations, home health care agencies, medical billing businesses, or companies that provide medical supplies.

Possible career options include:

• Medical Records Clerk
• Medical Billing Clerk
• Patient Registration Coordinator

The Associate’s program requires 66 credit hours, including 15 credits for elective courses. Additionally, a total of 18 credit hours is dedicated to courses related to finance and economics.

The U.S. healthcare system, legal and ethical concerns surrounding healthcare, economics and how it influences healthcare, career options related to healthcare, information technology used in healthcare, and courses associated with humanities and psychology will all be covered in the curriculum. Full-time online students may be able to earn the degree in about two years.

The institution offers a secure environment for learning thanks to Iowa Central Community College’s policy of not discrimination in any of its programs, activities, or employment based on race, color, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, or actual or potential family, parental, or marital status.

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Wayne Community College

An online program leading to an Associate in Applied Science in Medical Office Administration is available through Wayne Community College, a public university in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The program’s graduates will be qualified for careers in various medical office settings, including hospitals, insurance companies, research labs, medical supply companies, and dental and medical practices. Students could also be eligible to sit for exams for credentials recognized by the industry following graduation.

Depending on the subject area chosen within this curriculum, coursework may cover medical terminology, computer applications, medical office administration, medical coding, medical insurance and billing, medical legal and ethical concerns, oral and written communication, and other topics.

The minimum credit hours for the program is 69, and a maximum of 72. Part of the required credits for the program is a list of electives from which the online students have the option to choose from this list:

• Work-based learning I
• Work-based learning II
• Keyboarding
• Dental office terminology
• Social media for office professionals
• Dental billing and coding
• Medical coding certification preparation

Associate degrees are granted by Wayne Community College, which received its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Promoting student learning and success is the main focus of Wayne Community College.

Through continual changes and developments to the educational experiences in their programs, the institution places a significant emphasis on promoting and supporting student learning outcomes in each academic program.

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Guilford Technical Community College

Guilford Technical Community College‘s Associate in Applied Science in Health Information Technology program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education until 2029. The curriculum equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in specialized roles in the healthcare sector that involve medical billing and coding, electronic health records, HIPAA compliance, and health information technology.

Graduates can find employment in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, insurance firms, clinics for outpatient treatment, doctor’s offices, hospices, and mental health facilities.

To process, analyze, preserve, and report health information data following legal, accrediting, licensure, and certification standards, people need the technical knowledge and abilities that the Health Information Technology Curriculum is meant to give them.

Health informatics, privacy and security strategies, diagnosis and procedure coding/classification systems, data analytics and usage, revenue cycle management, regulatory compliance, and organizational leadership are among the topics covered in the course material. The 67-credit program prepares students to be able to:

• Apply laws, rules, and guidelines for managing health information.
• Manage health information, and use categorization systems and clinical vocabulary.
• Follow established regulations for assigning diagnostic and procedural codes.
• Health information management systems should be used.
• Collaboration and communication are signs of a strong team.

Electives for the program include humanities/fine arts, communication, and social/behavioral science courses since students are required to pick one for each.

The NC-SARA, or National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, has allowed Guilford Technical Community College to participate. Except for California, all other states, Puerto Rico, and the United States are participants in NC-SARA. As a result, GTCC is permitted to provide online courses to students in these states and territories. Caribbean islands.

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Fayetteville Technical Community College

Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public community college. It is a part of the North Carolina Community College System and is accredited by the SACSCOC-Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The institution is also considered the largest community college in Eastern North Carolina and takes pride in its Continuing Education departments. With that, it is only reasonable for them to make it to the list with their online Associate in General Healthcare and Management program.

Students will be prepared for work in healthcare business and financial operations through the Healthcare Management Technology curriculum. Planning, organizing, directing, and managing activities connected to organizational objectives in the healthcare sector, including the legal and ethical framework, are stressed in the curriculum.

Students will thoroughly understand how management principles are used in the healthcare industry. The growth of efficient managerial, supervisory, and communication abilities is prioritized.

With a minimum of two years of administrative experience, graduates are qualified to take several certification exams after receiving their degree, such as:

• Professional Association of Healthcare Office Managers (PAHCOM)
• Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
• Certified Patient Account Manager (CPAM)
• Certified Manager of Patient Accounts (CMPA)

Graduates can improve the business side of any medical profession after completing the 65 credits spread across five semesters. Students will gain essential skills like how to execute federal and state rules, build a plan to manage the financial performance of healthcare facilities and stay up to date with new healthcare challenges.

Fayetteville Technical Community College aims to offer reasonably priced general education, business and industry, vocational-technical, college transfer, and continuing education programs that satisfy the needs and preferences of its diverse student body and the community’s requirements for economic development.

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Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University‘s Health Care Administration Associates Program equips students with the skills to support the operational side of a complicated healthcare organization. OSU’s curriculum ensures that students are exposed to healthcare management, human resources, leadership, and a comprehensive study of healthcare billing and coding linked with national certification standards.

OSU emphasizes its healthcare and coding/billing class which is a part of the 63-credit coursework requirement for the Health Care Administration associate degree but can also be taken independently with the department head’s approval.

The course is suitable for front-office medical professionals who wish to increase their earning potential or expand their career opportunities since it prepares students to take the Certified Professional Coder exam. It might also be advantageous for nurses who desire to transition from patient care to an office environment.

Other courses offered under the program are: 

• Healthcare Introduction to Operations
• Healthcare Law and Ethics
• Healthcare Human Resource Management
• Healthcare Management
• Healthcare Leadership

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Penn Foster College

Healthcare Management may be the ideal career for you if you’re looking for fulfilling work that will let you use your leadership and communication abilities while also allowing you to play a significant role in the healthcare sector. You gain confidence to qualify for work with Penn Foster College‘s online Associate in Healthcare Management degree by gaining the necessary knowledge and skills.

The Penn Foster Health Care Management Associate Degree Program requires 62 credits, dispersed over four semesters. The online Associate’s degree program’s curriculum consists of courses on topics related to:

• Health Care Management
• Medical Terminology
• Electronic Medical Records and Coding
• Health Care Statistics

Students at Penn Foster are free to learn at their own speed. Some students will feel more at ease going more quickly and investing more time so that the fast-track estimate will apply to them. Most students who can commit a few hours per week to finish their courses will fit into the typical track.

The Health Care Management associate degree from Penn Foster is recognized on a national level by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Arizonas’ State Board for Private Postsecondary Education authorizes the school to grant Associate of Science Degrees, Bachelor of Science Degrees, Undergraduate Certificates, and Career Diplomas in addition to other postsecondary credentials.

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Ultimate Medical Academy

Students will get more than just a degree from Ultimate Medical Academy when they enroll in the institution’s online Associate in Healthcare Management Program. After graduating, students will have a solid foundation in healthcare administration and the support of UMA professionals who are committed to their success and available to help with academic matters whenever necessary.

The online healthcare management program at UMA offers courses that enable students to develop industry competencies while honing their skill sets in areas that are pertinent to their sector. This is accomplished by combining general education and career-specific courses.

The estimated time to complete the 66-credit program is 18 months, with 15 credits dedicated to general education courses for:

• English Composition
• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
• College Math
• General Biology
• Sociology

With class sizes only limited to 25 students, individual attention and convenient communication between learners and instructors are expected.

Each student at UMA has access to a team of professionals who help with academic support, technical support, job search advice, mock interviews, federal financial aid, and other services. Students can also count on the support of a career services staff dedicated to helping them prepare for interviews so they can launch their job hunt as soon as their program is through.

The Ultimate Medical Academy’s curriculum also prepares students for examinations for the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management’s Certified Medical Manager-Academic (CMM-A) test (PAHCOM).

Possible Career Options After Obtaining an Associate Degree in Healthcare Management

The healthcare industry is constantly expanding. From 2022 to 2032, an increase in employment in the medical and health services sector as health services managers is anticipated to be 28%. In addition to offering various work options, the discipline of healthcare management also offers job location flexibility, a perk not frequently offered by other management specialties.

With that, here are potential work opportunities after obtaining an Associate Degree in Healthcare Management:

Medical Transcriptionist

Average Salary: $51,480

A medical transcriptionist, also known as a medical transcriber or healthcare documentation specialist, turns audio recordings made by doctors and other healthcare professionals into official written reports. With their understanding of medical terminology, they are also qualified to assess and amend these documents and other medical records to ensure their accuracy before submitting them for approval.

Patient Services Representative

Average Salary: $43,079

The first person a patient interacts with when they visit a medical facility is a patient services representative or simply a patient representative. Their primary responsibility is to provide customer service and assistance. In addition to welcoming and checking in patients, their responsibilities include gathering and entering patient data into medical software programs, organizing medical appointments, collecting payments and co-payments, and working with insurance providers.

This career requires strong communication skills and knowledge of medical terminologies to guarantee that patients are informed, updated and helped when necessary.

Medical Coder and Biller

Average Salary: $54,207

Medical records and health information technologists, popularly called medical coders and billers, make it easier for insurance companies, patients, and other healthcare providers to get paid for their services. In the healthcare industry, distinct codes differentiate between medical services, treatments, and illnesses.

Medical coders and billers familiar with these codes use them during the billing and reimbursement procedures. Furthermore, these codes ensure patients are billed accurately for the required services.

Medical Secretary

Average Salary: $43,699

Any hospital, clinic, or healthcare organization cannot function without a medical secretary. A medical secretary oversees patients and directs them to other services in a hospital or doctor’s office. In line with that, medical secretaries are also familiar with lab and hospital protocols.

They serve as the patient’s main point of contact with the doctor by arranging consultation times and appointment scheduling, entering patient data, and more. Given their familiarity with insurance and invoicing, they might also assist with that.

Office Manager

Average Salary: $83,587

A medical office’s operations are coordinated by office managers who frequently oversee other employees, including receptionists and bookkeepers. They are in charge of keeping accurate financial records and are expected to be well-versed in medical billing, scheduling systems, and insurance protocols. In addition to hiring and training administrative staff, their key responsibilities include monitoring patient records and administering payroll, billing, and office budgets.

Credentialing Specialist

Average Salary: $44,627

For medical staff members to legally practice in their specialization, credentialing specialists ensure they are properly credentialed and licensed. These professionals work with the medical team to notify them of what needs to be done and keep track of when licenses need to be updated. Before recruiting, they verify that all required licenses and certificates are up to date by checking the information on potential new hires.

Those employed as credentialing specialists are informed of the guidelines and specifications necessary to obtain and maintain licenses and other credentials. Data entry and maintenance and researching any necessary certifications or licenses for their sector call for strong computer abilities.

Additionally, one must be thoroughly conversant with all applicable medical regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do students complete their online Associate in Healthcare Management degree?

An online Associate in Healthcare Management degree often calls for 60 to 66 credits, in which most programs are intended to be finished in two years. Like with related Healthcare Administration degrees, some institutions permit students to complete their studies faster, typically in 16 months.

In this accelerated program, students may have to take additional classes every semester and over the summer.

What are the requirements to enroll for an Associate in Healthcare Management program?

The prerequisites for admission to an Associate degree program may differ from college to college. Still, usually, candidates must meet the following requirements to be admitted to an associate degree program.

• Possesses a high school diploma or completed the General Education Development Test (GED) or a comparable test
• Meet the GPA criteria set by several community colleges

What makes Healthcare Management different from Healthcare Administration programs?

The primary distinction between a Healthcare Management program and a degree in Healthcare Administration is that the former is more concerned with the demands of the entire business, while the latter is more concerned with specific divisions and areas.

Healthcare managers and administrators may operate side by side in settings like hospitals, private clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or even educational ones like teaching hospitals or school districts.

What factors should I consider when choosing the best online Associate‘s in Healthcare Management degree?

Researching any educational program’s accreditation status before enrolling is advisable. By reviewing its accreditation, educators and businesses can verify that a university is giving accurate, pertinent, and high-quality coursework. Numerous sizable firms, including hospitals and senior home companies, only recruit graduates from degree programs that have been accredited.

How much does an online Health Care Management Associate degree cost?

Depending on how and where the program is completed, costs may change. Many students prefer community colleges to finish their Associate degrees. Typically, in-state tuition is less expensive than out-of-state tuition. It’s also important to factor in additional charges for any required on-campus requirements, such as books, supplies, technical fees, and transport expenses.

How flexible is the schedule in an online Associate in Healthcare Management program?

Some colleges and universities provide full-time and part-time schedules and allow their students the flexibility to learn at their speed because the education is offered online. Reasonably, choosing a part-time schedule will take longer as you’ll need to finish the required credit hours over a longer period.

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Don’t forget to check this out: The Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management Degree Programs