From the moment the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented nationwide, approximately 400,000 Arkansas citizens have gained access to health insurance.
It has been reported that approximately 6,200 jobs have been created as an effect of the ACA, including high paying jobs in health services management and administration, thus causing more and more young people to get involved in this profession.
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Health Administration Degrees in Arkansas
The best possible education in Arcanasa is provided at the University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences – Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health in Little Rock.
There you can get a Master of Health Administration degree if you enroll in its program available on campus.
The estimated cost per academic year is $7428 for in-state residents and $15,980 for out of state residents.
The school is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health.
If you see yourself in the future working in the healthcare field, we would be glad to inform you that there are plenty of degree options available in Arkansas both in an online and on-campus format.
They have made programs available to suit each student’s unique needs.
those pursuing an undergraduate degree in Health Administration can expect to enroll in a program that consists of 120 credit hours and takes four years to be completed.
During the first two years, students attend general education core courses while in the final two years of their program, students can take courses that are more specialized to fit their degree program.
Future healthcare administration undergraduate students in Arkansas have a variety of different degree programs to choose from:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration or Management (BS)
- Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
Topics covered in healthcare-related undergraduate majors are:
- Finance/accounting
- Healthcare services
- Compliance to law and policy
- Business management
- Public health
Graduate Degrees in Health Administration are designed for people who wish to reach management and leadership roles in the healthcare field.
A graduate degree is necessary to secure executive positions or advance in their current workplace.
For those seeking a master’s degree in the healthcare administration field, there are various options:
- Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration
- Master of Science (MS) in Health Policy and Management
- Master of Health Administration (MHA)
In order to be allowed to enroll in a graduate program, you need to meet the requirements for admission:
- Minimum GPA requirements
- Letters of recommendation
- Experience working in a healthcare facility
- Current employment in the healthcare industry
- Official undergraduate transcripts
Graduate coursework topics include:
- Data analysis
- Advanced finance
- Healthcare economics
- Medical informatics
- Quality and performance standards
- Healthcare law and policy
- Management and leadership
- Decision making
You should know that even though you have not earned a healthcare-related bachelor’s degree and you want to enroll in a graduate program, you will still be considered for admission but you may be required to take additional prerequisite courses before the graduate program begins.
Graduate programs consist of 36-60 credit hours, and the time needed to complete them is about two years.
Before graduation, some graduate schools require the completion of a thesis or capstone project.
If you prefer on-campus learning to online programs, there are a number of graduate programs available in:
- Little Rock
- Conway
- Jonesboro
- Searcy
- Hope
Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Arkansas
We have picked the following job descriptions from job boards across Arkansas, to give you a hint of what employers expect from applicants when it comes to prior experience and education level when recruiting for various positions.
Diamond Healthcare – Program Director – A person who will be able to manage the Behavioral Health program and communicate with hospital administrators in various departments. He/she needs to possess a graduate degree in business, psychology, or healthcare administration field and 5 years of experience.
Mercy Hospital – Program Manager, Psychiatric Center – His/her job will be to oversee all daily operations of the behavioral health services department and assist with administrative tasks. He/she must have a master’s degree in business, healthcare, or related field required, plus a minimum of five years of relevant experience.
Mercy Hospital – Pain Center Manager – The employee will ensure effective and efficient administrative support to Mercy Intervention Pain Center and he/she must possess at least a Bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field.
Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Arkansas
Due to the fact that there are numerous institutions and associations where healthcare professionals can look for a job in Arkansas, we offer you a chance to take advantage of the following resources available to you and find employment opportunities.
Largest Employers of Healthcare Administrators and Managers in Arkansas
- CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, Little Rock
- Arkansas Surgical Hospital, North Little Rock
- Washington Regional Medical Center, Fayetteville
- Advance Care Hospital of Fort Smith
- Arkansas Heart Hospital, Little Rock
- Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Paragould
- Ashley County Medical Center, Crossett
Professional Resources
- Arkansas Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Arkansas Healthcare Executives
- Arkansas Medical Group Management Association
- Arkansas Healthcare Human Resources Association
- American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
- American College of Health Care Administrators
- National Association of Health Services Executives
- National Association of Healthcare Access Management
Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Arkansas
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, medical and health service management professionals in Arkansas earn a median salary of $107394.
In the top ten percent, administrators can make $126,280 or more, but there are still those who earn quite lower wages of $95842 per year.
The good thing is that the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services anticipates that job growth is going to be great, considering the fact that health administration belongs to the top three fastest-growing professions in the state.
Actually, the healthcare and social assistance sectors are the fastest growing sectors of the state economy, and the demand for healthcare administrators and managers across Arkansas will be even greater.
The profession is set to expand in the state at 22.1 percent which will lead to about 420 positions opening up per year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Healthcare Administrators in Arkansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Little Rock | $108,228 |
| Fort Smith | $101,262 |
| North Little Rock | $108,228 |
| Fayetteville | $104,954 |
| Springdale | $104,954 |
| Jonesboro | $107,096 |
| Pine Bluff | $104,220 |
| Conway | $107,180 |
| Rogers | $104,325 |
| Hot Springs | $107,180 |
Regional Salary in Arkansas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 920 | $100,290 | $48.22 | $150,340 | $55,270 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 400 | $105,410 | $50.68 | $176,280 | $51,260 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 230 | $88,070 | $42.34 | $130,140 | $45,900 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 410 | $107,670 | $51.76 | $168,830 | $60,570 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 2,680 | $101,890 | $48.99 | $151,300 | $54,230 |
| Pine Bluff, AR | 180 | $89,530 | $43.04 | $131,490 | $49,120 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
