| According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median | | | | Your paycheck may depend on factors such as your |
| annual earnings of individuals with a professional or | | | | organization, role, geographic location, etc. However, |
| graduate degree was $63,174 in 2008 – $15,321 | | | | a business manager can hope to earn anywhere |
| more than those who held a bachelor's degree and a | | | | between $30,000 and $100,000.** |
| whopping $35,726 more than high school graduates.* | | | | Master's in Nursing Administration: This program is |
| But a fat paycheck is not the only reason people | | | | specifically designed for Registered Nurses or RNs |
| choose to pursue graduate degrees. For many, a | | | | who return to school for professional advancement. |
| master's degree fulfills one or more of the following | | | | The master's degree in nursing administration trains |
| goals: | | | | them in the non-clinical aspects of healthcare and |
| | | | | prepares them for management roles through |
| - It helps them get a competitive edge over their | | | | courses like health services economics, issues in |
| rivals in the job market. | | | | managed care, nursing leadership, etc. |
| - It helps them gain expertise in and deeper | | | | |
| understanding of a field. | | | | According to the Department of Labor, employers |
| - It helps them switch careers by training them in a | | | | are increasingly looking to fill management-level |
| new field. | | | | nursing roles with professionals who have a graduate |
| - It helps them increase their value by enhancing their | | | | or advanced degree in nursing or healthcare |
| skills. | | | | administration. |
| - It helps them advance in certain careers that | | | | Armed with a master's degree, nurses can advance |
| require master's degrees for growth. | | | | from being a head nurse to more senior and |
| - It helps them quench their thirst for knowledge. | | | | challenging roles of assistant director, director, vice |
| - It helps them command the respect of their family, | | | | president, or chief of nursing. |
| friends, co-workers, and employers. | | | | Master's in Healthcare Administration: The Department |
| | | | | of Labor states that 10 of the 20 fastest growing |
| While a lot of students go straight from undergrad to | | | | occupations are related to the healthcare industry.*** |
| graduate schools, some professional graduate | | | | Healthcare administration is amongst the most popular |
| degrees may have prior work experience as one of | | | | and promising occupations within the field. |
| the eligibility criteria. These degrees are extremely | | | | |
| popular with professionals who return to school after | | | | A graduate degree is usually the standard |
| working for a few years. Many students these days | | | | requirement for this profession, which makes the |
| enroll in online graduate programs, which allow them | | | | master's in health care administration one of the |
| to learn and earn at the same time. | | | | most high demand programs. The degree is designed |
| Let's look at some popular graduate degrees: | | | | to provide business education and management |
| 1. Master in Business Administration: | | | | training to healthcare professionals. |
| | | | | Healthcare administrators or managers will continue to |
| A Master of Business Administration degree imparts | | | | enjoy excellent employment opportunities, according |
| advanced business education to students and | | | | to the U.S. Department of Labor. An increase in |
| prepares them for middle and senor-level | | | | demand for an occupation is usually accompanied with |
| management roles in a variety of organizations. | | | | higher salaries and the same is true for healthcare |
| Depending on their interest and area of specialization, | | | | administrators. Healthcare managers can easily earn |
| students can choose from a wide range of business | | | | upwards of $80,000 depending on their level of |
| areas including sales, marketing, operations, finance, | | | | responsibility and the type of facility they're |
| human resources, etc. | | | | employed with. |