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Author: Abrie Edwards, BSN, MHA
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Abrie Edwards is a registered nurse with over 15 years of experience spanning across clinical practice and administrative services. She developed clinical expertise working in various inpatient settings, including ICU, PACU, Medical/Surgical, endocrine/renal, and specialty clinics, before transitioning into leadership roles focused on quality improvement, clinical transformation, and data-driven performance management. Abrie has led enterprise-wide initiatives at major health systems, with a focus on value-based care strategies, and plays a key role in regulatory reporting for programs including MIPS, MA Stars, and MSSP. She earned her BSN from the University of Vermont and MHA from Champlain College. Abrie is also passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes and is pursuing a second Master’s degree in Information Technology. In addition to her clinical and operational work, Abrie has trained providers and care teams, facilitated quality improvement events, and served as faculty for a clinical residency program. Her combined experience in patient care, clinical operations, and health IT brings a grounded, systems-level perspective on healthcare delivery.
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Editor: Jordan Cosselman
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Jordan Cosselman is an editor with a BA in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. Since joining EduMed in 2021, she has been focused on making nursing and allied health education more approachable for students at every stage of their journey. With three years of experience in healthcare education content, Jordan is especially interested in highlighting low-cost, fast-track pathways into the field.
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Is Healthcare Administration a STEM degree?

Healthcare administration often overlaps with areas like technology, analytics, and systems-level problem-solving. Because of that, many students question whether the field falls under STEM and how that classification affects their academic and career options.

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

A woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black cardigan over a pink top and stands in front of a plain light-colored background.
Author: Abrie Edwards, BSN, MHA
A woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black cardigan over a pink top and stands in front of a plain light-colored background.
Abrie Edwards, BSN, MHA Arrow up right
Abrie Edwards is a registered nurse with over 15 years of experience spanning across clinical practice and administrative services. She developed clinical expertise working in various inpatient settings, including ICU, PACU, Medical/Surgical, endocrine/renal, and specialty clinics, before transitioning into leadership roles focused on quality improvement, clinical transformation, and data-driven performance management. Abrie has led enterprise-wide initiatives at major health systems, with a focus on value-based care strategies, and plays a key role in regulatory reporting for programs including MIPS, MA Stars, and MSSP. She earned her BSN from the University of Vermont and MHA from Champlain College. Abrie is also passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes and is pursuing a second Master’s degree in Information Technology. In addition to her clinical and operational work, Abrie has trained providers and care teams, facilitated quality improvement events, and served as faculty for a clinical residency program. Her combined experience in patient care, clinical operations, and health IT brings a grounded, systems-level perspective on healthcare delivery.
Areas of Expertise
Check NursingHealthcare Admin
NursingHealthcare Admin
Editor: Jordan Cosselman
A person with curly dark hair, glasses, and a green corduroy jacket stands with arms crossed in front of a textured reddish-brown stone wall.
Jordan Cosselman Arrow up right
Jordan Cosselman is an editor with a BA in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. Since joining EduMed in 2021, she has been focused on making nursing and allied health education more approachable for students at every stage of their journey. With three years of experience in healthcare education content, Jordan is especially interested in highlighting low-cost, fast-track pathways into the field.
Areas of Expertise
Check HealthcareOnline Learning
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Healthcare administration is a multidisciplinary field that blends healthcare, business, and data analytics. Professionals in this area help improve how healthcare organizations operate by combining clinical understanding with strategic and analytical insight. But does that make healthcare administration a STEM degree? Below, we explain what “STEM” actually means and how healthcare administration programs fit — or don’t fit — within that definition.

What is STEM?

The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A program is recognized as STEM degree if it is approved by the federal government and assigned a qualifying Classification of Instructional Programs(CIP) code.

The CIP list includes more than 400 fields of study across areas such as:

  • Computer and information sciences
  • Mathematics and statistics
  • Biology and life sciences
  • Engineering fields
  • Economics and quantitative social sciences

Healthcare administration is not traditionally recognized within these STEM fields.

Is Healthcare Administration Considered a STEM Degree?

Generally, no. Traditional healthcare administration programs are not classified as STEM degrees. Most MHA programs fall under business, management, or public health rather than science, technology, engineering, or math.

However, the field is broad, and many schools now offer STEM-eligible concentrations within MHA programs. These tracks incorporate advanced analytics, informatics, or quantitative methods that align with STEM criteria.

Examples of STEM-eligible MHA concentrations include:

Why STEM Designation Matters

Healthcare is increasingly dependent on technology, data, and digital workflows. STEM programs help prepare leaders who can manage this transformation by integrating:

  • Data-driven decision-making
  • Advanced analytics
  • Informatics and information systems
  • Process and systems engineering

As healthcare organizations adopt tools like predictive analytics, automation, and large-scale data platforms, administrators with technical and analytical expertise are in high demand. STEM-designated MHA programs equip graduates to lead these efforts and drive improvements in quality, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Skills Learned in a STEM-Focused HCA Program

A STEM-oriented MHA blends management and policy coursework with scientific, technological, and quantitative training. Students build skills similar to those taught in health analytics or informatics programs.

Common skills include:

  • Quantitative analysis and statistical modeling
  • Systems thinking and process optimization
  • Health informatics and data management
  • Data visualization using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or SAS
  • Predictive analytics and population health modeling
  • Understanding of interoperability and EHR systems

These skills prepare graduates for roles requiring deeper analytical and technical abilities than a traditional MHA.

Career Paths for STEM-Oriented Healthcare Administration Graduates

Traditional MHA programs generally lead to roles in operations and management. STEM-focused programs expand opportunities into technical, analytical, and digital transformation roles.

Examples include:

  • Health Informatics Manager – Oversees EHR and information systems.
  • Clinical Data Analyst – Interprets clinical and operational data to guide decisions.
  • Population Health Analyst – Analyzes community health data and risk patterns.
  • Healthcare Data Scientist – Uses programming and statistical modeling to generate insights.
  • Quality and Performance Improvement Manager – Leads data-driven improvement initiatives.
  • Health Information Systems Director – Manages enterprise-level healthcare IT infrastructure.
  • Healthcare Operations Engineer – Optimizes workflow, systems, and processes.
  • Healthcare Analytics or Digital Transformation Consultant – Helps organizations use analytics and automation to improve performance.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 28% job growth for medical and health services managers from 2022–2032, with median pay above $110,000 per year—strong outcomes that also apply to many STEM-oriented roles.

How to Choose the Right Program

When comparing programs, consider where your strengths and interests align.

Ask yourself:
  • Do I prefer management, strategy, and operations?
  • Or am I more interested in analytics, informatics, or technology?

If you want a STEM-eligible path, check the program’s CIP code before enrolling and review the curriculum for evidence of quantitative, analytical, or technology-based coursework. Some schools also provide partnerships with healthcare systems or tech organizations, which can enhance real-world experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is healthcare administration a STEM degree?

Healthcare administration is not usually considered a STEM degree. Most programs fall under business or public health. However, programs with concentrations in analytics, informatics, or quantitative methods may qualify as STEM.

Which MHA concentrations are STEM-eligible?

MHA concentrations that focus on analytics, informatics, or quantitative methods are most likely to be recognized as STEM degrees. Examples include health informatics, data analytics, biostatistics, population health analytics, and health economics.

Why choose a STEM-designated MHA?

An MHA with a STEM designation signals that the program includes strong technical and analytical training. Graduates are prepared for roles in data analytics, digital transformation, information systems, and performance improvement.

How do I know if a program is STEM-designated?

To check whether an MHA program has a STEM designation, check the program’s CIP code. If it appears on the federal STEM-eligible list, the program is considered STEM-designated. Schools can confirm this directly as well if you reach out to them.

The Bottom Line: STEM Opportunities in Healthcare Administration

While healthcare administration programs are not typically classified as STEM, the field increasingly overlaps with science, technology, and data analytics. Choosing a STEM-focused specialty can expand your technical skill set, increase career options, and support long-term earning potential. As healthcare organizations continue to rely on digital tools and data-driven decision-making, professionals who bridge the gap between business and technology will be in especially high demand.

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Abrie Edwards, BSN, MHA AUTHOR

Abrie Edwards is a registered nurse with over 15 years of experience spanning across clinical practice and administrative services. She developed clinical expertise working in various inpatient settings, including ICU, PACU, Medical/Surgical, endocrine/renal, and specialty clinics, before transitioning into leadership roles focused on quality improvement, clinical transformation, and data-driven performance management. Abrie has led enterprise-wide initiatives at major health systems, with a focus on value-based care strategies, and plays a key role in regulatory reporting for programs including MIPS, MA Stars, and MSSP. She earned her BSN from the University of Vermont and MHA from Champlain College. Abrie is also passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes and is pursuing a second Master’s degree in Information Technology. In addition to her clinical and operational work, Abrie has trained providers and care teams, facilitated quality improvement events, and served as faculty for a clinical residency program. Her combined experience in patient care, clinical operations, and health IT brings a grounded, systems-level perspective on healthcare delivery.

Read More About Abrie Edwards

Jordan Cosselman EDITOR

Jordan Cosselman is an editor with a BA in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. Since joining EduMed in 2021, she has been focused on making nursing and allied health education more approachable for students at every stage of their journey. With three years of experience in healthcare education content, Jordan is especially interested in highlighting low-cost, fast-track pathways into the field.

Read More About Jordan Cosselman
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