Hey everyone, I’ve been thinking about whether getting a master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) or an MBA in healthcare admin is worth it. I already have a bachelor’s in public health and have been working at a social service organization for two years. I’d love to move into hospital admin or management roles, but these programs are pricey, and part-time can take up to three years. Would networking and experience be enough to grow in this field? Or do you think a master’s is a must?
I think it depends on your career goals. If you’re aiming for a small hospital, experience and networking might be enough. For larger institutions, you might need a master’s.
Ellis said:
I think it depends on your career goals. If you’re aiming for a small hospital, experience and networking might be enough. For larger institutions, you might need a master’s.
Agreed! Networking seems to be the key everywhere. But what do you mean by ‘larger institutions’? Like research hospitals?
@Kenan
Yeah, exactly. Big research hospitals or academic centers usually prefer candidates with advanced degrees, plus experience.
If you’re making $26/hr now, you could try for entry-level hospital positions and see if you can grow from there. Networking could help bump you to $30-35/hr.
Avery said:
If you’re making $26/hr now, you could try for entry-level hospital positions and see if you can grow from there. Networking could help bump you to $30-35/hr.
That’s a good point. So focus on networking and moving into a hospital role first, then maybe think about a master’s later?
@Bliss
Exactly. Get your foot in the door and see how far you can climb before deciding if a degree is worth it.
For stability, it’s more about managing your spending than just income. The average household of four makes $64k. You and a partner could manage with $55k if you’re careful.
Jagger said:
For stability, it’s more about managing your spending than just income. The average household of four makes $64k. You and a partner could manage with $55k if you’re careful.
Wait, $64k for a whole family? That seems low… is that average everywhere or just certain places?
@Jace
That’s a national average. Cost of living changes everything though. In some areas, $64k might be tight.
Masters programs are super expensive, especially without work covering it. If you hate loans, maybe hold off and focus on growing your experience and connections first.
Denver said:
Masters programs are super expensive, especially without work covering it. If you hate loans, maybe hold off and focus on growing your experience and connections first.
Yeah, loans scare me. Plus, working and studying part-time for three years sounds exhausting. Experience first might make sense.
@Bliss
Exactly! And once you’re in the hospital system, you might find opportunities for tuition reimbursement later.
FYI, some people go the experience route and still end up earning as much as those with master’s. Just depends on how you leverage it.
Addison said:
FYI, some people go the experience route and still end up earning as much as those with master’s. Just depends on how you leverage it.
Good to know! Any tips on leveraging experience to stand out?
@Bliss
Network like crazy and try to take on projects or roles that show leadership skills. People notice those things.