Written By
Mikala Lugen
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Like any business, hospitals and other medical providers rely on top-quality management to be successful and meet customer needs. That’s a gap to be filled in the healthcare industry in Georgia, whose healthcare system ranks in the bottom 10 amongst all states according to a recent WalletHub report.
By pursuing a healthcare administration degree in Georgia, you’ll get the training and experience to be a leader at a hospital, nursing home, insurance company, or medical office and spearhead the quest for better patient care in the state. This guide walks you through some of the best healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia, what your courseload will look like, admission requirements for in-person and online programs, the job market, and much more.
Which Georgia Colleges Have the Best Healthcare Administration Degree Programs?
We’ve highlighted three of the best healthcare administration degrees in Georgia. Our rankings are based on affordability, accreditation, academic quality, and student support services. Scroll down to see three spotlighted healthcare administration programs in Georgia to jumpstart your school search.
Middle Georgia State University
Middle Georgia State University’s Health Services Administration program prepares students to become leaders and managers within healthcare organizations, opening the door to career opportunities in hospitals, outpatient services, home health agencies, physician and dentist offices, radiology services, pharmaceutical sales, and more. Middle Georgia State offers healthcare administration students a combination of business and health sciences in one degree. To give students a more tailored course of study, this healthcare administration bachelor’s degree in Georgia offers fourth-year concentration options in long-term care, clinical practice management, community health and wellness, and sports and fitness management.
Students can take this accredited healthcare administration program at campuses in Cochran or Macon, as well as online. The Health Services Administration degree requires 60 credit hours beyond the associate degree or its equivalent and 42 core curriculum credits, totaling 120 credit hours. The estimated total cost of the in-person, full-time campus program per academic semester is $2,381 for Georgia residents and $7,676 for out-of-state residents. The estimated total cost of the full-time online program ranges from $2,001 to $2,681 per semester.
Georgia Southern University
Housed under the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Health Sciences With a Concentration in Health Services Administration program prepares students for a variety of healthcare careers in Georgia. The bachelor’s degree program is offered at the Armstrong Campus located in Savannah and requires 124 credit hours. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), students learn the skills to effectively manage healthcare facilities and organizations. Courses include medical terminology, health communication, economics, health sciences, epidemiology, professional development, healthcare marketing, ethics, nutrition, and more. Students must complete the degree program within six years.
The current estimated total cost of the program per semester is $2,732 for Georgia residents and $9,641 for out-of-state students. These estimates don’t factor in on-campus housing and food, which adds $3,650 to $6,000 per semester.
College of Coastal Georgia
Accredited by SACSCOC, the College of Coastal Georgia offers a Healthcare Administration bachelor’s program with unique opportunities for students to learn and work alongside industry professionals. Students are challenged through coursework that spans the history of healthcare administration to current and anticipated issues in running a healthcare organization.
As one of the most affordable institutions on the southeast coast, the College of Coastal Georgia estimates $14,870 per academic year for Georgia residents and $23,502 for out-of-state students. The cost includes a meal plan and housing. The College of Coastal Georgia also offers the equivalent of in-state tuition to residents of Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee through its Border State Waiver.
What Will I Learn in a Healthcare Admin Bachelor’s Degree Program in Georgia?
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration in Georgia takes students through coursework in management, business, and health policy. Most programs require about 124 credit hours and focus on a variety of learning outcomes, including healthcare theory, healthcare delivery systems, daily operations, business management, health policy and law, leadership, health informatics, and more.
- General Requirements & Prerequisite Coursework: Before taking courses that are specific to healthcare administration, your first two years will be spent taking an average of 42 credits of core curriculum courses. This starts your academic journey toward obtaining your healthcare administration bachelor’s degree in Georgia with traditional classes including English, mathematics, history, arts and humanities, cultural studies, and more.
- Essential Skills & Major Coursework: Because a healthcare administration career spans various roles in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nonprofit health agencies, hospice organizations, insurance companies, home health agencies, and more, upper-level coursework is tailored to maximizing career opportunities for students. Typical classes include Research Methods for Health Sciences, Leadership in Healthcare, Legal Issues in the Healthcare Environment, Epidemiology, Financial Management for Health-Related Organizations, Nutrition, Health Communications, and more. Schools such as Middle Georgia State University give students the option to choose a concentration that focuses coursework on specific healthcare administration fields, including clinical/practice management, long-term care administration, preprofessional management, public health management, and sports and fitness management.
- Final Year Field Experience: In the final year of many healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia, students learn outside of the classroom and apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations and environments. Typically, students work with professionals in the field to earn this experience.
What Are the Admissions Requirements for Healthcare Administration Degrees in Georgia?
Most healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia don’t have specialized admission requirements. Many programs require a cumulative GPA of 2.25 if you’re enrolling after high school or a 3.0 if you’re in college. Schools expect a strong application that exemplifies solid academic standing, letters of recommendation, and more. Some schools require evidence of liability insurance and a health assessment prior to a student’s final year practicum.
Can I Earn My Healthcare Administration Bachelor’s Degree Online in Healthcare Administration?
Just a few schools offer options for online healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia. Many institutions lean toward offering undergraduate programs in person, with more online options for master’s programs. There are a couple schools, though—including Middle Georgia State University and the University of North Georgia—that offer healthcare administration bachelor’s degrees online in Georgia.
Earning a healthcare administration bachelor’s degree online allows students the flexibility to pursue their studies at their own pace while also offering lower tuition rates and transferrable credits. Most healthcare administration online programs include practical experiences during the final year, when students complete in-person field practice. Some programs—such as the one offered at Reinhardt University—offer students the flexibility to earn their healthcare administration bachelor’s degree online in Georgia in as little as 16 months. As with any online program, earning your healthcare administration degree online in Georgia requires diligence and motivation to keep up with coursework, research, and exams to successfully complete the program.
Quality Examples of Online Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in Georgia
- University of North Georgia (Fully Online)
- Brenau University (Fully Online)
- Middle Georgia State University (Fully Online)
- Reinhardt University (Fully Online)
How’s Job Demand and Pay for Healthcare Admin Graduates in Georgia?
The demand for students with healthcare administration degrees in Georgia continues to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the number of healthcare administration jobs nationwide, including health services managers, will grow by 28% between 2021 and 2031.
According to the BLS, medical and healthcare service managers in Georgia earn a median salary of $98,320. This is slightly below the U.S. average of $101,340. However, as you’ll see below, healthcare administration graduates interested in living in Atlanta will find high demand and salaries that match the national average.
Yearly Earnings for Medical and Health Services Managers in Georgia
| 10th Percentile | Median Earnings | 90th Percentile | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $60,780 | $101,340 | $205,620 |
| Georgia | $46,560 | $98,320 | $190,060 |
| Albany, GA | $42,950 | $91,560 | $130,850 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $46,750 | $99,040 | $162,410 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,760 | $101,540 | $208,000 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $45,390 | $97,930 | $161,340 |
| Brunswick, GA | $57,760 | $77,310 | $98,850 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $46,560 | $95,560 | $160,540 |
| Dalton, GA | $46,740 | $96,750 | $208,000 |
| Gainesville, GA | $48,250 | $97,200 | $161,400 |
| Hinesville, GA | $76,830 | $92,290 | $119,770 |
| Macon, GA | $36,780 | $75,110 | $128,270 |
| Savannah, GA | $37,630 | $97,590 | $163,080 |
| Valdosta, GA | $36,660 | $75,390 | $121,970 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $44,710 | $78,280 | $118,830 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021
Additional FAQs About Earning Your Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration in Georgia
How long do healthcare admin bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia take to finish?
Most healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia take an average of three to four years to complete. The amount of time required varies depending on if you have transferable credits and if you enroll part-time or full-time. One way to speed the process is to earn a bachelor’s in healthcare administration in Georgia online. Programs such as the one at Reinhardt University allow full-time students with no other outstanding course requirements outside the major to finish in just 16 months.
How much do Georgia healthcare admin bachelor’s degree programs cost?
The annual costs of healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia vary depending on how many credits you plan to take each semester as a part-time or full-time student, whether you require on-campus housing, and if you take courses in person or online. Scroll down to see three specific tuition examples for healthcare administration bachelor’s degree programs in Georgia.
Middle Georgia State University
Health Services Administration (BS)
Total Credits: 120
Cost: $2,381 per semester for full-time Georgia residents/$7,676 per semester for full-time out-of-state students/$284.67 to $330 per credit hour for online classes
Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Concentration in Health Services Administration
Total Credits: 124
Cost: $2,732 per semester in-state / $9,641 per semester out-of-state
Bachelor of Healthcare Administration
Total Credits: 120
Cost: $921 per credit hour/$13,540 per semester
What type of accreditation should a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration in Georgia have?
As the Council for Higher Education Accreditation explains, accreditation is a review of the quality of higher education institutions and programs. All colleges and universities can be accredited through 19 recognized organizations, and a school’s specific program can be accredited through 60 recognized organizations. Attending an accredited bachelor’s degree program is crucial to ensure your hard work will be recognized and respected by future employers.
SACSCOC is responsible for regional accreditation of degree-granting institutions of higher education in the state of Georgia. Students seeking to enroll in a healthcare administration bachelor’s degree program in Georgia should verify the school is accredited through SACSCOC.
Can I get financial aid to help pay for my healthcare admin bachelor’s degree program in Georgia?
Healthcare administration bachelor’s degree students in Georgia qualify for several financial aid opportunities. These include national and school-specific scholarships, grants, federal and state student loans, and more. Many schools in Georgia offer students flexible financial aid options that make it easier and less stressful to obtain a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. For example, Middle Georgia State University offers HOPE scholarships and grants for qualifying students to use toward eligible tuition charges.
Many students take out student loans to help fund their higher education degree, but these loans do have to be paid back. Instead, scholarships and grants are a great way to allow students to pursue a healthcare administration bachelor’s degree without needing to pay back the money. There are dozens of healthcare administration student scholarships available to qualifying students to help fund your bachelor’s degree. These include the Harry J. Harwick Scholarship, Leaders Scholarships, Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition in Healthcare Management Scholarship, and more.