What Are Popular Colorado Schools for Healthcare Administration Degrees?
Find out which Colorado schools offer healthcare administration degree programs. See program requirements and prerequisites, and learn about the job prospects for a healthcare administration career in Colorado. Schools offering Health Care Administration degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Education and Career Information for Healthcare Administrators in Colorado
Healthcare administrators oversee the planning and coordination of services for healthcare facilities, medical practices and clinical departments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most healthcare administrators have at least a bachelor's degree, and some even have master's degrees. Schools in Colorado offer both types of healthcare administration degree programs. Colorado residents who enroll in an undergraduate program at a public school may be eligible for a College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend, which will help offset the cost of tuition.
Those wishing to work as healthcare administrators in nursing care facilities need to have a state license. To get the license in Colorado, you must be at least 21 years old and satisfy one of the following criteria to take the state examination: complete the state's administrator-in-training program, obtain a bachelor's degree in a healthcare-related field or have at least an associate degree and two years of experience as a nursing home or hospital administrator. You may also be eligible to sit for the exam if you have a license from another state.
Salary Info and Job Outlook for Healthcare Administrators in Colorado
In May 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported there were 3,110 healthcare administrators working in Colorado. The BLS also noted at that time that those professionals earned a mean annual wage of about $99,000, slightly higher than the national average salary of healthcare administrators, which was approximately $96,000 in that year. Primarily due to the aging population, the demand for healthcare services should remain strong, and the BLS predicted a 22% increase in healthcare administrator jobs between 2010 and 2020, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
Colorado Schools Offering Bachelor's Degree Programs in Healthcare Administration
Metropolitan State College of Denver
- Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
- Program Length: 4 years (full time)
- Tuition: Colorado residents pay $748.68 for three credit hours, non-residents pay $2,105.73 for three credit hours (as of Spring 2012)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED certificate; coursework in English, social sciences, foreign language, physical science and math
- Requirements: Be at least 16 years old on the first day of the semester, have minimum scores of 18 on the English portion of the ACT and 17 on the reading portion (a verbal score of 440 or higher on the SAT is also accepted), have a Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) index score of 91 or higher
- School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 24,000 students (nearly all undergraduate)
- Address: Campus Box 33, PO Box 173362, Denver, CO 80217
- Phone: 303-556-3130
Metropolitan State College of Denver's healthcare management program includes business courses taught within the context of the healthcare industry, providing you with the various skills you need to work in this field. For example, you'll take classes such as healthcare economics, management principles and human resources management, along with information systems used in healthcare, research methods for healthcare and disparities in the U.S. healthcare system. Courses specific to the healthcare management major are available online.
Regis University
- Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
- Program Length: 2- 2½ years
- Tuition: $466 per semester hour (as of Fall 2012)
- Prerequisites: High school diploma, 12 college-level semester hours
- Requirements: Official school transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, personal statement essay, grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5, drug screen, criminal background check
- School Type: 4-year, public; about 6,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students
- Address: 3333 Regis Blvd. G-9, Denver, CO 80221
- Phone: 303-964-5400
Regis University offers a bachelor's degree program designed with the full-time working professional in mind. All of the classes can be taken online, and you can begin the program at any time. The curriculum includes classes in healthcare delivery systems, economics, finance and leadership. You'll also complete a capstone project and a 120-hour internship.
Colorado Schools Offering Master's Degree Programs in Healthcare Administration
Regis University
- Program Name: Master of Science in Health Services Administration
- Program Length: 1½-2 years
- Tuition: $582 per semester hour (as of Fall 2012)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in a health-related field, two years of healthcare work experience, management experience
- Requirements: GPA of at least 3.0, official school transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, personal statement essay, interview
- School Type: 4-year, public; about 6,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students
- Address: 3333 Regis Blvd., G-9, Denver, CO 80221
- Phone: 303-964-5400
Regis University's master's degree program in health services administration is for those with bachelor's degrees in health care fields looking to advance their education and career. Students take courses in such areas as finance, operations and technology management. You can take classes either online or on-campus; the on-campus classes meet on Saturdays and Sundays so that you can keep a full-time job while earning your degree.
University of Colorado - Denver
- Program Name: Health Administration Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Specialization Areas: International health management and policy, health information technology management, financial health management
- Program Length: 1¼-5 years
- Tuition: Colorado residents pay $496 per credit hour, non-residents pay $1,169 per credit hour (as of Summer 2012)
- Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree
- Requirements: Response to four essay questions, resume, GMAT scores, official school transcripts, two letters of recommendation
- School Type: 4-year, public; approximately 13,000 undergraduate and 11,000 graduate students
- Address: 1475 Lawrence St., Denver, CO 80202
- Phone: 303-315-8200
You can obtain the healthcare administration MBA from the University of Colorado - Denver (CU) in just 16 months, or you can take your time and complete the program in any amount of time up to five years. Students at this school take classes in topics such as healthcare systems, leadership, process improvement and international health policy. The international health class provides an opportunity for students to spend 14-18 days in an Asian country studying how the community handles public health issues. You can also take advantage of the optional mentoring program in which students are paired with healthcare professionals.
University of Denver
- Program Name: Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership - Strategic Leadership in Healthcare Organizations
- Program Length: 2 years
- Tuition: $483 per credit hour, $532 per credit hour if you choose the online program (as of Summer 2012)
- Requirements: Official school transcripts, two letters of recommendation, personal statement essay, resume, advisor-approved degree plan, GPA of at least 3.0 on undergraduate work
- School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; around 5,000 undergraduate and 6,000 graduate students
- Address: 2211 South Josephine St., Denver, CO 80208
- Phone: 303-871-3367
Through the University of Denver's (DU) healthcare leadership program, you can earn a master's degree that will prepare you to take a leadership role in a healthcare environment. You'll study topics such as ethics, communications, organizational behavior and macroeconomics, all within the context of the healthcare industry. You'll also complete a capstone project. DU offers the option of taking this program completely online.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below: