Everyone knows that the healthcare field is as close as it gets to a sure shot these days. Where other employment areas are stagnant or on the decline, job outlooks in healthcare are uniformly on the way up.

But maybe you’re a little too squeamish to be a nurse and don’t want to go through the many years of schooling to become a doctor. Maybe your skills are in an office setting. You can still jump on the rising tide of the healthcare industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of Medical and Health Services Managers is growing by 23%, and median pay is over $88,000 per year.

There are a lot of different names – Healthcare Administration, Healthcare Management, Informatics – but they all mean more or less the same thing: the people who keep records, manage finances and keep hospitals, clinics, and private practices running smoothly so the healers can do their job. Degrees in the field vary; they may be offered by health science schools, or by business schools because the job is a little of both.

As you can see from this list, though, a degree that will get you started in the healthcare administration profession can be earned pretty cheaply online, from reputable, trustworthy schools that won’t rip you off. All of the schools on the Value Colleges cheap lists are regionally accredited, established colleges and universities.

Note: tuition costs are calculated per credit hour, not including fees. Most are for in-state residents only. Some programs require extra fees for non-residents or for online instruction. Online bachelor’s programs are most often degree completion and require foundational credits from a community college or similar institution. Check the programs out for yourself before committing.

1

Western Governors University

The Value College Cheapest Online Health Administration bachelor’s degree comes from Western Governor’s University. Formed by a consortium of 19 former governors from the western states, and headquartered in Salt Lake City, WGU offers a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Healthcare Management. Western Governors is a rarity – an all-online, private, non-profit institution, a combination that doesn’t often occur all at once. Because of their unusual status, WGU can offer their degrees at a low price, only $240 per credit hour!

2

University of Texas Online Consortium

Some public university systems have discovered that they can provide more online degree option, with more convenience, if they pool their resources and each offer their own strengths. So the University of Texas Online Consortium consists of UT branches in Austin, Arlington, El Paso, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio. Through the Consortium UT Rio Grande Valley offers an online Bachelor of Applied Technology degree in Health Services Technology. This is a degree completion program, so you bring in community college or other credits to finish a bachelor’s degree for only $242 per credit hour.

3

Weber State University

Weber State University, a small public institution originally founded by the Latter-Day Saints in Ogden, UT, isn’t a household name, but it’s a college value any household can respect. At only $252 per credit hour, students can earn a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Health Services Administration, or Health Information Management. These are related fields, but slightly more specialized; where Health Services Administrators direct and manage how care is delivered, Health Information Managers control record-keeping, data, and statistics. Either is a low-risk investment with WSU’s tuition.

4

University of Northwestern Ohio

The University of Northwestern Ohio is a private, non-profit institution in Lima, OH, that was founded as an entrepreneurial business and technology school. Not surprisingly, given their mission, UNOH offers numerous online degree programs, including a 2+2 (degree completion) Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Since all UNOH does is business and technology, you can trust that their Healthcare Administration will prepare you for the profession at a low cost of only $270 per credit.

5

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University, a private institution in Manchester, NH, has made a big name for itself in recent years for its growing, high-quality online degree programs. Named one of the most innovative companies in the nations, SNHU offers affordable online degrees at only $320 per credit hour in the fields and specializations employers want the most. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in Healthcare Administration and begin making the return on their investment right away.

6

Liberty University

Liberty University is a young institution, founded in 1971 in Lynchburg, VA, but in that relatively short time they’ve made an internationally-known name for themselves, largely by building one of the largest, most conveniently-designed online education systems around. Liberty offers a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, or a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration, for the same low tuition rate of $375 per credit. The difference is one of focus – more business, or more healthcare, with Liberty’s emphasis on ethics and values.

7

Middle Tennessee State University

A large public university in Murfreesboro, TN, Middle Tennessee State University has a considerable online presence, meeting the goals of a regional university by making an education accessible for the largest number of students possible. Online students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. MTSU’s $375 tuition makes it a deal.

8

University of Cincinnati

A U.S. News & World Report top 100 public university, the University of Cincinnati is a public institution in Cincinnati, OH. As one of the oldest universities west of the Appalachians, the University of Cincinnati has a long history of development and innovation, and their strong slate of online degree programs are a sign of UC’s forward thinking. The College of Allied Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, and their tuition, well under $400, is a bargain.

9

Limestone College

A non-denominational Christian institution in Gaffney, SC, Limestone College (named for the nearby quarry that was the main source of income for the region when the college was founded in 1845) is known as a military-friendly institution, offering online degrees to military personnel for half their already reasonable $408 per credit. Online students can choose a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, preparing them for a career managing health care finance, information, and quality.

10

Central Christian College of Kansas

A small, private evangelical college in McPherson, KS, Central Christian College of Kansas has followed the lead of similar institutions like Liberty University and built a system of online education to extend their reach and offer their degree programs to more students. Online students can choose between a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, or a Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

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