Top 12 Online Healthcare Degrees

Table of contents:

1. What are the top healthcare degrees you can get online?
2. What nursing degrees can you get online?
3. Can I get into medical school with an online degree?
4. What is the easiest healthcare degree to get?
5. What is the easiest medical field to study?
6. What are the fastest growing careers in healthcare?
7. What is the quickest medical degree?
8. What is the highest paid healthcare career?

If you’re interested in joining one of the fastest growing career sectors in the country, consider the many great options for online healthcare degrees or certification programs. 

Whether you are looking for a position in health administration, management, public health, or patient care, there are online learning opportunities available. This industry promises fast-track degree programs, high starting wages, and the ability to make a true difference in the lives of others.

Let’s take a look at the variety of positions, which online healthcare programs are quick and easy, and what the earning potential is. 

What are the top healthcare degrees you can get online?

The healthcare field is more than just physicians and surgeons! It takes nurses, assistants, therapists, technicians, administrative and technical professionals and more to keep the entire medical system running smoothly. 

Check out all of these exciting healthcare degrees that you can pursue through online learning:

1) Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists use therapeutic and/or rehabilitative services to help patients participate in things they need or want to do.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Master’s
• Median Pay: $84,950

2) Physician Assistant (PA)
Physician Assistants provide many of the same services as doctors, diagnosing illnesses, developing and managing treatment plans and prescribing medications. They work under the supervision of physicians.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Masters
• Median Pay: $112,260

3) Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders in individuals of all ages.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Master’s
• Median Pay: $79,120

4) Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienists examine patients for signs of oral diseases, provide preventative care and assist the dentist.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s
• Median Pay: $61,270

5) Dietitian / Nutritionist
Dietitians and Nutritionists advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s
• Median Pay: $61,270

6) Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and Health Services Managers oversee, plan and coordinate the business activities in a hospital or medical facility.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s
• Median Pay: 100,980

7) Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses assist physicians by providing and coordinating patient care and educating patients and the public about various health conditions. 

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s

• Median Pay: $73,300

8) Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, along with Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, operate specialized equipment to generate images used to assess and diagnose medical conditions.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate’s
• Median Pay: $68,750

9) Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs and use imaging equipment to record images of the material in the body.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate’s
• Median Pay: $77,950

10) Radiation Therapist
Radiation Therapists administer radiation treatments to treat cancer and other diseases.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate’s
• Median Pay: $85,560

11) Radiologic and MRI Technologist
Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations (such as x-rays) on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Associate’s 
• Median Pay: $62,280

12) Medical Records and Health Information Technician
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians process, maintain, compile and report health information data.

• Typical Entry-Level Education: Certification or Associate’s 
• Median Pay: $40,350

And this is just a sampling! You can find many more online healthcare degrees by searching the particular area or career path you are most interested in.

What nursing degrees can you get online?

There are several nursing degrees you can pursue almost entirely online! The bulk of the coursework can be competed online, and you will just need to complete your clinical rotations in-person either on campus or at a nearby clinic or hospital.

You could pursue a degree level of:

• Associate in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
• Master in Nursing
• Doctorate in Nursing

Or, if you are a practicing nurse who already holds a degree, look for an online “bridging program” to get you to the next level quickly.

Follow this link to learn more about online learning opportunities for nurses. 

Can I get into medical school with an online degree?

It depends on the medical school. 

Traditionally, medical schools have been hesitant to accept online credit. Some schools, such as Stanford University’s School of Medicine, will not accept any online course work. 

Some other schools will accept some online prerequisites, but require that the science credits and lab work be completed on campus. 

Still others look at it on a case by case basis, and do consider applicants with fully online undergraduate degrees.

Ultimately, it is up to the school. If you have completed all or some of your undergraduate studies online, or if you plan to, check with the medical school(s) you are considering to find out what their requirements are and whether or not they will welcome your online credits.

What is the easiest healthcare degree to get?

Which online healthcare degree is easiest is subjective; it really depends on your interests and aptitude.  

One important consideration is time. If you know you want to earn a degree (rather than a certificate), but don’t want to spend countless years in school, a 2-year degree may be the right choice for you. 

Here are some online healthcare degrees you could earn in about 2 years:

• Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy
• Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
• Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy or Respiratory Care
• Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy Assisting
• Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
• Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology
• Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
• Associate of Science in Surgical Technology
• Associate of Science in Cardiovascular Technology 

(Some schools may allow you to earn these degrees in less than 2 years by enrolling in an accelerated program. )

Each of these online healthcare programs will provide the skills and training necessary to secure an entry-level position in the healthcare field right away.

What is the easiest medical field to study?

Here again, the easiest field to study will be one that that you are passionate about. 

Many people know they want to work in Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Nursing or Radiology, for example. They are interested in the material and excited about the career prospects, so their program will be easy for them.

But if you are not drawn to a particular area of the medical field, perhaps a generalized degree would be an easier path. 

A Health Science Degree touches on both the clinical and administrative aspects of healthcare, and can lead to a number of well-paying careers including healthcare management, medical assisting, therapy or counseling.

Or, if you are interested in a managerial role, overseeing a facility, department or a group of physicians, you might find a Healthcare Administration Degree easy.

To find an online healthcare program that is easy, you really must look for one that excites you and offers room for continued learning and growth. 

What are the fastest growing careers in healthcare?

Healthcare is among the fastest growing industries in the nation, adding more jobs than any other occupational group.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare is expected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028, adding about 1.9 million new jobs. 

Here are 10 of the fast-growing healthcare jobs and their projected percentage of growth from 2018-2028:

1. Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aids: 36% 
2. Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides: 31%
3. Physician Assistants: 31%
4. Genetic Counselors: 27%
5. Speech-Language Pathologists: 27%
6. Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners: 26%
7. Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides: 26%
8. Medical Assistants: 23%
9. Phlebotomists: 23%
10. Massage Therapists: 22%

Each of these percentages represent a much faster than average growth as compared to other industries.

The increase in demand within the healthcare industry is largely due to an aging population, increase in chronic illnesses and behavioral and mental health disorders, and the development of new medical technologies. 

What is the quickest medical degree?

You might think that it takes many years of higher education to get into the medical field, but that’s actually not the case! 

There are many careers in the medical field that don’t even require a degree at all. You can complete training and certification programs for these careers very quickly.

The following positions require a year or less of training:

1. Surgical Technologist
2. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
3. Community Health Worker
4. Dental Assistant
5. Medical Records and Health Information Technician
6. Dental Technician
7. Pharmacy Technician
8. Phlebotomist
9. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) / Parametic
10. Medical Assistant
11. Certified Nursing Assistant
12. Home Health Aid and Personal Care Aide
13. Dialysis Technician

Not only can you get into these positions fast, but they also pay well! So if you’re looking to jump into the medical field quickly, these are great options to consider.

What is the highest paid healthcare career?

As you would probably guess, physicians and surgeons are the highest paid professionals in the healthcare industry. According to the BLS, the median pay for these occupations is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year. 

But you don’t have to be a physician or surgeon, or even earn a doctorate-level degree, to make excellent money in healthcare. 

Here are some other high paying healthcare careers, as well as the level of education necessary to get started and the median pay.

As you can see, whether you’re interested in earning an associate’s, bachelor’s or masters degree (or even a certification!) you can look forward to a highly paid career in one of the fastest growing industries in the country.

Don’t forget to check out our page featuring information on all kinds of online college programs if you’re looking for more information about other online higher education opportunities!