Health Administration MHA Programs in Washington & Salary Info.

Health Administration Degrees in Washington

Washington’s future students interested in health administration education can choose from two accredited schools.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SEATTLE – Health Services Administration – Seattle

• Master of Health Administration (On Campus)
• Master of Health Administration/Doctor of Medicine
• Master of Health Administration/Juris Doctor
• Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration
• Master of Health Administration/Master of Public Administration

The estimated cost per academic year is $30,020 for in-state and $33,060 for out of state residents.

The school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY SPOKANE – Health Sciences -Spokane

• Master of Health Policy and Administration (On Campus)

The estimated cost per academic year is $14,032 for an in-state resident and $30,146 for out of state ones.

The school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Undergraduate students in Washington can select from different degree options:

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Health Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (BSHA)
• Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)

The Bachelor’s Degrees in Healthcare Administration programs are made up of 120 credits, and students are required to take 60 general education credits during the first two years.

Subjects covered in courses that will be attended in the second two years of studies typically include the following:

• Clinical databases
• Introduction to the American healthcare system
• Community health
• Budget management
• Introduction to human resources
• Public relations and communications

For individuals who would rather attend a traditional on-campus program, schools are offered in several locations throughout Washington:

• Spokane
• Port Angeles
• Everett
• Pullman
• Cheney
• Lynnwood
• Bellevue
• Seattle
• Kirkland

Executive leadership positions are available only to those with proper education, that is, a master’s degree.

Washington has plenty of master’s degree options to choose from:

• 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)
• MHA/MBA dual degree programs

A graduate program can consist of 36-60 credit hours, depending on the institution where you attend education.

Students complete the coursework in about 12-24 months, and by end of the program, students may be required to complete a final thesis or capstone project.

Common topics for graduate-level courses are more advanced and career-specific and they include the following:

• Healthcare information technology
• Public health
• Leadership and management strategies
• Finance and budgeting
• Law and policy in the healthcare system
• Advanced healthcare administration
• Quality assurance and improvement
• Compliance and regulations

When it comes to admission requirements, graduate programs welcome students with a bachelor’s degree in a healthcare discipline such as nursing as well as other fields, but they will need to meet some prerequisites.

Executive master’s degree programs are specifically designed for mid-career healthcare professionals and administrators looking to gain the credentials necessary to move into executive leadership positions.

You need to be acquainted with specific requirements depending on the school you want to attend, but many programs use the following criteria as a base standard for admission:

• Experience in the healthcare administration field
• Essay or statement of purpose
• Minimum undergraduate GPA
• Official transcripts
• Letters of recommendation

You can select one of the numerous online options for your education, or can choose from residential degree programs located in the following cities:

• Seattle
• Pullman
• Bellevue
• Cheney
• Lynnwood
• Everett
• Spokane
• Kirkland
• Port Angeles

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Washington

We have included the following job descriptions to present to you various employers throughout Washington and give you an insight into what employers are looking for in an ideal candidate when educational background and experience are in question.

Puget Sound Gastroenterology, Edmonds – Clinic Operations Manager –  This professional will be supervising all clinic staff and operations, so this position requires either 5 years of management experience or 3 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in business or health administration.

Americorps World Relief, Richland – Refugee AmeriCorps Health and Wellness Coordinator – He/she will lead and recruit team members, monitor the health progress of refugees, so a bachelor’s degree in the healthcare field is preferred to be considered for this job.

University of Washington Medical Center – Program Operations Specialist –  This person’s duty will be to manage research staff, handle budgeting and ordering supplies among many others; bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration is preferred, as well as experience in an academic medical setting.

Sonobello Body Contour Center, Bellevue – Practice Manager –  He/she oversees all daily operations in the clinic, manages to schedule, ordering, and customer service; so as to be eligible for this position, an undergraduate degree in the healthcare or business field is required, plus at least three years of experience in a relevant field.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Washington

No matter whether you are new into this profession or you already have the experience, we suggest that all healthcare professionals working in Washington take advantage of a multitude of professional resources available to them.

Washington’s Largest Employers of Health Administrators and Managers

• University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
• Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia
• Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle
• Evergreen Health Medical Center, Kirkland
• Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, Spokane
• Valley Medical Center, Renton
• Capital Medical Center, Olympia
• Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee,
• Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Bellevue
• PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, Bellingham

Professional Resources

• Washington State Healthcare Human Resources Association
• Healthcare Financial Management Association
• American Health Care Association
• American Hospital Association
• American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
• American Public Health Association
• American College of Healthcare Executives
• American Medical Directors Association
• Health Facilities Management Association

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Washington

According to the salary statistics, healthcare administrators in Washington earn a median salary of $124365, which is much more than the national average.

Plus, job growth projections for healthcare administrators are impressive, being that in Washington State the demand for healthcare services grows along with the population.

We are glad to inform people who are new in this profession that job openings are projected to increase by 24.7% in the years to come.

Washington’s Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue came out on top for its number of healthcare administrators and for their median salary.

Regional Salary in Washington