Health Administration MHA Programs in Rhode Island & Salary Info.

Rhode Island map

Earning a degree in health administration in Rhode Island is not that complicated, as there are numerous options that include undergraduate and graduate degrees offered online and at campus locations throughout the state.

Plus, the medical and health services managers profession in Rhode Island belongs to the top-50 fastest-growing occupations, so the state’s health administrators are expected to see a high number of job openings followed by a stable and quite satisfying annual salary.

These are the reasons good enough to start thinking about becoming a health administrator in Rhode Island.

Health Administration Degrees in Rhode Island

Interested students can select from other accredited online programs offered as there are no campus locations that offer CAHME-accredited healthcare administration programs in this state.

Rhode Island state residents who would like to get bachelor’s degree have the opportunity to select from several different programs, such as:

  • Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Services Administration

The bachelor’s degree is made up of at least 120-semester credits, takes around four years to complete and students can expect to earn the first 60 credits by meeting general course requirements and prerequisites.

The second 60 credits can be earned by attending courses that focus on the specific healthcare administration field, like:

  • Principles of management, leadership, accounting, and advertising
  • Health care informatics
  • Principles of marketing
  • Analysis of financial statements
  • Strategic planning and healthcare management
  • Business and administration leadership
  • Legal issues in the healthcare business environment
  • Managerial economics
  • Supply chain and operations management

If you do not like attending online classes, campus locations in communities like Kingston and Warwick are available for you.

 In-state residents can choose among several types of master’s programs, including:

  • Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management or Administration
  • MHA/MBA dual degree program
  • Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA)

Nowadays, a graduate degree in health administration is becoming a generally accepted industry standard and if you wish to get an executive position, you will need to reach a master’s degree.

Even though each school has its own admissions requirements, graduate programs will often admit students who have completed their undergraduate major in any field.

Besides having an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, there are additional common admission standards that have to be met:

  • Completion of specific course prerequisites
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA
  • Essay on career goals and academic motivations
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Professional work experience and/or current employment in the healthcare industry

Topics covered in Rhode Island’s graduate-level courses are:

  • Advanced healthcare management
  • The leadership of large healthcare organizations
  • Global economics for healthcare managers
  • Healthcare informatics
  • Financial management for healthcare organizations
  • Data and performance-based decisions
  • Quantitative methods for healthcare organizations
  • Compliance for accreditation

The graduate program can consist of 30-60 semester credits and takes 12-24 months to complete.

By the end of the program, students must write a thesis or do a capstone research project.

Those who do not want to attend online schools in Rhode Island can find relevant degree programs at campus locations in places like:

  • Newport
  • Kingston
  • Providence

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Rhode Island

being that you have finished the education, it is expected that you would like to start working right away, so we gathered the following job descriptions just to give you examples of possible positions you may take and what educational requirements have to be met for each of them.

New England Rehab Care in Warwick – Rehab Program Executive Director – This person will be responsible for all operations including the planning, directing, and implementation of program activities; the preferred candidates should hold an MHA or MBA.

Clinical Liaison – The employee will be responsible for maintaining positive relationships with existing clients, and making contact with new potential clients; the applicants must hold a college degree, such as a BHA or BS in health services administration.

Healogics in Providence – Program Director – He/she will be in charge of the overall program management, including managing inpatient care, outpatient care, so he/she must have a BHA, BBA, nursing degree, or a degree in a related field.

Rhode Island Hospital in Providence – Program Manager of Surgery –  the direction, operation, and planning of the clinical and administrative aspects of this program are some of his/her future duties; successful applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and either college courses in healthcare administration or a related field.

Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket and Providence – Director of Occupational Medicine and Employee Health – candidates for this position must have at least a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Rhode Island

We are pleased to say that both graduates and already established professionals can find a variety of helpful resources regarding employment and professional development throughout Rhode Island:

Significant Employers of Healthcare Administrators

  • Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston
  • Rhode Island Hospital in Providence
  • Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick
  • Miriam Hospital in Providence
  • Newport Hospital
  • Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket
  • Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket
  • Saint Joseph Health Services in North Providence
  • Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island in Providence
  • Providence VA Medical Center

Professional Resources

  • Rhode Island Health Information Management Association
  • Medical Group Management Association of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association
  • Rhode Island Health Care Association
  • Health Management Associates
  • Health Care Administrators Association
  • American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Rhode Island

Due to the rising senior population, the need for more health administration workers will grow.

When it comes to access to healthcare services, Rhode Island is a clear winner, and opportunities for healthcare administrators are numerous.

Rhode Island’s healthcare administrators earn a median salary of $122735, which is considered much higher than the national median average of $99,730.

Jobs in healthcare administration and management are projected to increase in the coming years, rising 10.5% between 2016 and 2026, causing the openings of new positions and excellent job outlook for novice health administrators.

Annual Salary Range:
$109K
$122K
$138K

Average Salary of Healthcare Administrators in Rhode Island

City NameSalary
Providence$123,317
Warwick$123,317
Cranston$123,317
Pawtucket$123,317
East Providence$123,317
Woonsocket$123,201
Coventry$123,084
North Providence$123,317
Cumberland$123,317
West Warwick$123,317
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Rhode Island

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA2,160$132,510$63.71$204,340$74,030
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Medical and Health Services Managers, OCC Code 11-9111, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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