Health Administration MHA Programs in Tennessee & Salary Info.

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Tennessee offers a variety of opportunities for health administration students both experienced ones who want to get executive positions and for new students looking to begin their studies at the undergraduate level.

Options include either online programs and programs at campus locations throughout the state, whichever is more suitable for students.

Holding a relevant graduate degree is becoming a standard for professionals who want to start and advance their careers in health administration and whether you will get a bachelor’s or master’s one depends on your interests and goals related to future jobs.

Health Administration Degrees in Tennessee

The best possible education when it comes to a healthcare administration degree is available at the University of Memphis – School of Public Health in Memphis where students can enroll in an accredited Master of Health Administration (On Campus) program.

The estimated cost per academic year is $10,696 for in-state and $19,481 for out of state students.

The school is proud to be accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

These are relevant degree programs for careers in the healthcare administration field:

  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a focus in Health Administration
  • Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration

To finish a bachelor’s degree program you will need approximately four years as it consists of at least 120-semester credits.

The first half of the degree program focuses on general course requirements and prerequisites

The second two years of the bachelor’s program focus on developing key skills in the field of health administration and the courses will cover topics like:

  • Principles of management
  • Principles of marketing
  • Analysis of financial statements
  • Strategic planning in healthcare organizations
  • Healthcare economics
  • Legal issues in the healthcare business environment
  • Supply chain and operations management
  • Organizations and information systems

Prospective students who prefer attending classes on campus rather than online can find relevant bachelor’s degree programs in cities like:

  • Nashville
  • Knoxville
  • Chattanooga
  • Bristol

Relevant graduate programs include:

  • 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)
  • JD/MSHA dual degree program
  • MSN/MBA dual degree program

Each program has unique admissions standards, and many of the programs will admit students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any field.

Admission requirements set by the majority of schools often include:

  • Previous professional work experience
  • Some programs require current employment a related field
  • Essay on career goals and personal motivations
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Completion of specific course prerequisites
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA

During graduate studies, core topics covered are the following:

  • Advanced management for healthcare organizations
  • Strategy for large healthcare organizations
  • Global economics for healthcare managers
  • Medical informatics and logistics management
  • Healthcare policy and law
  • Quantitative methods for healthcare organizations
  • Compliance for national accreditation
  • Compliance for state and federal regulations

To complete a graduate program in health administration, you will need between 12-24 months as it consists of 30-60 semester credits.

Many graduate programs culminate with a thesis or capstone research project.

Relevant graduate programs that are offered at campus locations throughout the state can be found in the cities of:

  • Memphis
  • Murfreesboro
  • Nashville
  • Clarksville
  • Knoxville
  • Johnson City

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Tennessee

Earning a qualifying education is just the first step towards your new career, being that graduates will need to begin exploring health administration jobs throughout Tennessee.

We offer you the following job descriptions as examples to show you what qualifications you may need for certain positions.

Hospital Corporation of America in Brentwood – Senior Director of Clinical Resource Management – He/she will supply expense management and supervise facility managers and regional directors; candidates should hold an MHA, MBA, MSN, or PharmD.

Director of Surgical Services Expense Management – This professional will support the agency’s overall strategies through effective leadership so highly preferred candidates should hold an MHA, MBA, or MSN.

Southern Tennessee Regional Health System in Winchester – Market President – He/she will be responsible for driving performance and increasing market share, so the eligible applicants must have an MHA, MBA, or equivalent degree.

Community Health Systems in Franklin – Regional Director of Operations – His/her duty will be to implement, plan, direct, and evaluate programs throughout the assigned region; preferred applicants should hold an MHA or MBA.

LifePoint Health in Brentwood – Director of Population Health Management – He/she will be working closely with the vice president of population health, and will develop, implement, and manage newly formed programs; preferred applicants should hold an MHA, MBA, or MPA.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Tennessee

Both aspiring and current professionals in health administration will find it useful to take a look at resources for employment and career development.

Largest Employers of Healthcare Administrators in Tennessee

  • Methodist Hospitals of Memphis
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville
  • University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville
  • Memorial Health Care in Chattanooga
  • Centennial Medical Center in Nashville
  • Cookeville Regional Medical Center
  • Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville
  • Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville
  • Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville
  • Dyersburg Regional Medical Center
  • Memphis VA Medical Center
  • Mountain Home VA Medical Center
  • BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
  • Hospital Corporation of America

Professional Resources

  • Medical Group Management Association of Tennessee
  • Tennessee Association of Healthcare Access Management
  • Tennessee Association for Healthcare Quality
  • East Tennessee Healthcare Executives Affiliation
  • Tennessee Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association
  • Health Management Associates
  • Health Care Administrators Association
  • American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Tennessee

The average annual salaries for healthcare administrators are approximately $105792 in Tennessee.

These numbers are higher than the national average of $99,730.

The highest salaries are given to those with the experience and master’s degrees, reaching up to $119314, but the main factors that can affect the salary are the location where you find a job and the level of responsibility you have.

Furthermore, job growth for Tennessee’s healthcare administrators also surpasses the national average, ad it is even expected to increase by 25.4% in the next decade.

Annual Salary Range:
$94K
$105K
$119K

Average Salary of Healthcare Administrators in Tennessee

City NameSalary
Memphis$107,911
Nashville$107,986
Knoxville$107,655
Chattanooga$104,986
Clarksville$104,674
Murfreesboro$107,171
Jackson$107,096
Johnson City$101,347
Kingsport$101,728
Franklin$107,605
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in Tennessee

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Chattanooga, TN-GA980$137,570$66.14$#$64,410
Clarksville, TN-KY430$103,050$49.55$154,980$58,310
Cleveland, TN110$114,630$55.11$168,080$58,260
Jackson, TN250$105,990$50.96$157,950$59,670
Johnson City, TN330$113,560$54.6$164,630$62,040
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA310$113,570$54.6$177,720$62,250
Knoxville, TN1,700$121,310$58.32$168,070$63,920
Memphis, TN-MS-AR2,100$124,060$59.64$179,470$64,340
Morristown, TN100$102,690$49.37$155,610$56,340
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN5,130$127,380$61.24$208,850$60,690
* 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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