Key takeaways:
- Online medical degrees allow students to pursue jobs or advance their careers at their own pace.
- Some healthcare majors and concentrations ideal for remote and hybrid learning include Registered Nursing, Health Sciences, and Physician Assistant.
- Online programs tend to have lower costs and more flexibility than fully on-campus studies.
Earning your medical degree online is a fantastic way to keep working, save money, and advance your career from the comfort of your home. Some programs, such as Health Information Management and Healthcare Administration are entirely online, while others – including Physician Assistant and Registered Nursing – require hybrid learning for labs and clinical rotations. In this guide, we highlighted several online medical degree options, what you can expect from them, the benefits of learning remotely, and tips that can help you choose the right school for your goals.
What medical degrees can you learn online?
These are just eight examples of medical degrees you can pursue online or through a hybrid program. We also included median salary information and projected job growth between 2024 and 2034 for potential jobs.
1. HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Health Information Management (HIM) programs focus on the details behind healthcare, from the data to patient privacy and compliance to policy design. Students learn how to code for billing, create and monitor records, follow healthcare regulations and laws, manage risk, analyze data, manage projects, and lead teams.
A few career options with HIM degree include:
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- Median Salary: $117,000
- Projected job growth: 23.2%
- Required education level: Bachelor’s
- Health Information Technologist
- Median Salary: $67,000
- Projected job growth: 14.7%
- Required education level: Master’s or Bachelor’s
- Medical Record Specialist
- Median Salary: $50,000
- Projected job growth: 7.1%
- Required education level: Associate’s or some college
2. HEALTH SCIENCES
Health Sciences is a broad undergraduate program that gives you a general education on different aspects of allied health or prepares you to enter a specialized training program depending on your goals. Courses cover public health, wellness, nutrition, policy, ethics, quality improvement, research, data analysis, and management. Graduates can opt to enter the job market or pursue further education to become a Physician Assistant (PA), Dentist, Doctor, Occupational Therapist (OT), and more.
Here’s a look at some jobs you might want to consider with a Health Sciences/Allied Health degree:
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Median Salary: $223,000
- Projected job growth: 8.6%
- Required education level: Master’s
- Physicist
- Median Salary: $166,000
- Projected job growth: 4%
- Required education level: Doctorate/Professional Degree
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Median Salary: $161,000
- Projected job growth: 3.7%
- Required education level: Bachelor’s
3 HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION
With some overlap with Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration undergraduate programs lean more towards working directly with staff. Students learn about staffing, scheduling, finance, patient relations, strategic and operations management, analyzing data, and human resources.
A degree in Healthcare Administration can prepare you for a career as a Medical and Health Services Manager.
4. MEDICAL/CLINICAL ASSISTANT
Many Medical/Clinical Assistant undergraduate studies are 2-year programs, but there are higher degree options as well. You might see these majors called “Health Management Specialist,” “Anesthesiologist Assistant,” or similar. Courses can vary, depending on the program and the student’s goals, but students tend to learn about working with patients, taking vitals, cleaning medical equipment, administering basic treatment, and administrative skills such as coding, billing, and scheduling.
Medical Assistants have a median salary of $44,000 and employment is projected to grow by 12.5% nationwide by 2034. Most in this field have either an Associate’s or some college.
5. REGISTERED NURSING/NURSING
Yes, you can take some Registered Nursing programs online! However, expect some of it to be hybrid. Your remote classes will cover the coursework, including patient care, anatomy, chemistry, and nutrition. Your college will then arrange in-person clinical rotations and labs at a healthcare facility close to you.
Future nurses in undergraduate schools have a few options when it comes to careers and education:
- Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses (LPN) care for patients at home or in healthcare facilities. Most in this field have an associate’s, some college, or a high school diploma.
- Median Salary: $62,000
- Projected job growth: 2.6%
- Registered Nurses provide care to patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. A bachelor’s can lead to more leadership positions.
- Median Salary: $93,000
- Projected job growth: 4.9%
6. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Physician Assistants (PA) perform many of the same tasks as a doctor, but under the doctor’s supervision. As with Nursing, students will be expected to take hybrid courses, with coursework online and hands-on learning through local clinics and labs.
PAs need to get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). They have a median salary of $133,000 and projected job growth at 20%.
Nurse Practitioners (NP) are similar to PAs, but choose specializations. In 28 states, they can work without physician supervision. While most in this career have a master’s, job requirements are shifting towards a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). NPs have a median salary of $133,000 and a projected job growth of 40.1%
7. RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY/SCIENCE
Another hybrid program, Radiologic Technology/Science students tackle the coursework online and complete hands-on clinical training at local facilities. Programs can offer a variety of specializations including diagnostic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), radiation treatments, and ultrasound.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians earn a median salary of $77,000 and typically have an associate’s or bachelor’s. Job openings are expected to grow by 4.3% between 2024 and 2034.
8. RESPIRATORY CARE THERAPY
Respiratory Therapy majors study the heart-lung system, breathing, oxygenation, life support, and related equipment, such as ventilation and humidification systems. Graduates work directly with doctors to prepare individuals for care, develop plans, administer treatment, and maintain records.
Two career options are:
- Respiratory Therapist
- Median Salary: $80,000
- Projected job growth: 12.1%
- Required education level: Associate’s or Bachelor’s
- Neurodiagnostic Technologist
- Median Salary: $161,000
- Projected job growth: 3.7%
- Required education level: Some college or Bachelor’s
What can you expect in an online medical degree program?
Some online medical degree programs, such as Health Information Management and Healthcare Administration, are completely remote. However, others that require patient care training are hybrid. These students take courses, such as anatomy and nutrition, online through video lectures, discussion boards, and interactive modules. They’ll also attend labs and clinical rotations in local, approved healthcare facilities.
These programs tend to be highly flexible, allowing you to take your classes at times that are best for you. They’re ideal for working professionals and parents. Some are even accelerated so you can finish your degree in a fraction of the time compared to on-campus only programs.
What are the benefits of earning a medical degree online?
If you’re considering pursuing an online medical degree, here are some things that work in your favor by studying remotely or hybrid vs. entirely on campus:
- It’s flexible. Online studies are “at your own pace.” You can attend classes and complete schoolwork on your schedule and choose the best clinical training times that work for you. You’re better equipped to focus on your work-study-life balance.
- You don’t need to relocate. Since you can attend school from the comfort of your couch, you don’t need to move across the country to attend your top pick. You will need to make sure that the school has an approved facility nearby though if your degree requires hands-on training.
- It’s often less expensive. Compared to in-person programs, online nursing degrees tend to be more affordable. They have lower tuition rates and fees. Plus, you won’t be spending as much on transportation or room and board.
How to choose an online medical school
To choose the right online medical program for you, consider your goals. A position in Health Information Management is vastly different from a career as a Physician Assistant. Here are a few tips to select the school that is best for you:
- Review program formats. Research schools that offer flexibility that fits your current schedule. Some programs have self-paced learning while others have live online lectures in the evenings or on the weekends. Others are accelerated so you can earn your degree faster.
- Make sure you have local options for hybrid learning. Not all online medical schools will have approved medical facilities near you. Some schools allow you to find your own, though.
- Double check accreditation. Your chosen program should be accredited or it could affect your licenses, certifications, and employment options in the future.
- Research the school’s advising services. Your college should be there to help you move from your degree to the career field, with support for obtaining the required licenses and certifications.
- Compare your options. Make a list of medical schools you’re considering and write down the pros, cons, costs, job placement rates, graduation rates, and more of each. These steps can help you identify the best school for your goals and streamline the application process.
Ready to jump into your online medical degree? College Raptor can help you identify the right schools for you! Head over to College Match to get started.
