If you want to land a great job in the world of healthcare, then you have some good options from an educational standpoint. Many students have found that the medical world offers growth possibilities, good salaries, and a chance to make a positive impact. It should come as no surprise, then, that the job market is flooded with quality candidates. In order to stand out, you might choose either a master’s degree in health administration or an MBA in healthcare. Which of these will better serve you in your career a future leader of the health industry? Both could help, and there are certain advantages to consider when thinking about each.
Evaluate Your Long-Term Career Plans
In order to determine which degree is better, you must first evaluate your own desires and goals. Different people may find that one degree is superior to the other, but this can only happen after you have put in a healthy period of self-reflection. The first question you must ask yourself is whether you plan to stay in the healthcare field for your entire career. If you are absolutely certain that you want to just climb the ranks in that particular industry, then an MHA might serve you better. An MBA with a healthcare focus will provide you with a broader background that can eventually lead to more career flexibility. You should also consider the sorts of connections you have in the healthcare industry. If you have few helpful connections, then you may need the strength of an MHA to get in the door.
Broadening You Skill Set
This choice should also be one that is made with your background and skill set in mind. Did you get an undergraduate degree in health administration? If so, then you could add the healthcare-focused MBA to broaden your appeal just a little bit. The flip side is also true. A person who has an undergraduate background in business may find that an MBA does not improve his or her resume as much as an MHA would. Your goal should be to make yourself as widely marketable as possible.
Consider the Strength of Each Individual College Program
Not all MBA programs are created equally, and the same is true of MHA programs. You will want to consider the strength of the MBA or MHA that you are getting, as this will help you determine the merits of each one. If you have a chance to get an MBA from MIT or Northwestern’s Kellogg College, then you might choose the MBA. If you are given the opportunity to study at one of the top healthcare schools in the country, then that might outweigh a generic MBA from your local state college.
Where Do Your Interests Lie?
Finally, you need to consider precisely where your interests lie within the healthcare field. Are you interested in one day running the business side of a medical operation or do you like the patient side? Answering this question can help you determine which of these two great options is the best one for you at this point in your career.
Further reading: MBA Vs. MHA: Early Insights
