Are you considering attending one of the many accredited healthcare schools in New York? That could be a smart choice, as the healthcare industry has seen consistent growth in recent years across the country, and New York is no exception.
In 2017, New York ranked third in the country for healthcare employment, accounting for 7.2 percent of the total nationwide healthcare workforce. Further, as of March 2019, New York City alone saw a gain of 45,200 jobs in the education and healthcare sector over a one-year period — the most of any sector measured. Because of this record job growth, healthcare workers in New York have been able to find numerous opportunities in different areas of the field, from nursing to medical assisting, from gerontology to physical therapy, from medical billing and coding to healthcare technology.
In addition to the job security offered by such explosive growth, healthcare workers in New York may also be able to expect a competitive salary. The average pay for community health workers in the state, for example, is over $45,000 a year — about four percent higher than the national average.
Besides the Empire State's growth in healthcare employment opportunities, there are other important factors to be aware of when considering attending online healthcare programs in New York, including that:
Below is our ranking of the most popular Healthcare degrees in New York, based off how many degrees of each type were awarded by New York schools in the 2017-18 school year.
While the actual responsibilities of different healthcare-related occupations may be similar from state to state, New York has several unique qualities and situations that bring about greater need and demand for certain occupations.
For example, there are over 50,000 medical assistants in New York. Why is it such a popular career choice? Because, unlike in many other states, medical assistants in New York do not need to be licensed in order to work in the role. This makes it a much more accessible career for healthcare professionals.
New York is also home to more physician assistants than anywhere else in the country. Besides the demand driven by the state's large population, its higher costs of living also contribute to physician assistants in New York earning an average of $5,000 more than the national average for the position.
Because the healthcare industry has such a wide variety of jobs, it's usually possible for healthcare professionals to focus on a career that fits their passions, interests and/or personality. Picking the right healthcare major can be easier if you consider it from this angle.
For example, if you love interacting with people and want to be involved in hands-on treatment with patients, you might consider becoming a registered nurse. Alternately, if you prefer more "behind-the-scenes" work and you're more office-oriented, healthcare can still work for you: you could become a medical biller or coder. And if you're a person who enjoys learning and wants to dive deeper into your education, you may be interested in a specialized field like radiology or clinical laboratory science.
Whether you'd enjoy working in a calmer environment as a massage therapist in Rochester, or you'd prefer thinking on your feet as an emergency nurse in Brooklyn, consider what you enjoy doing and how you enjoy doing it before you decide which healthcare major might be right for you.
Our list of the best healthcare colleges in New York is determined by several different factors. Firstly, we only considered accredited New York colleges for our list. Secondly, in order to be considered one of the best online healthcare programs in New York, each school must offer either a degree or certificate program in the healthcare field, either 100 percent online or as a hybrid option. Finally, the schools were compared using various data points from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
These online healthcare programs in New York are designed to give you the tools and resources you need for a long, successful career in the healthcare industry.
New York University is a privately-owned, nonprofit university with online degree programs that focus on both the intellectual and the administrative sides of healthcare. Students can pursue online master's degrees in public health, health administration or bioinformatics. Alternately, students interested in a more focused path of healthcare study may consider one of NYU's online certificate programs in public health, applied global public health, bioinformatics, or health and human rights.
NYU uses their own private learning portal, NYU Classes, to conduct learning management for both online classes and hybrid classes. Hybrid classes are an option of particular interest in the public health degree program, which allows students to take online electives while they split face-to-face studies between Washington, D.C. and an international location.
The SUNY College of Technology at Canton actually tops our list of the best online colleges in New York for 2019-20, so it's no wonder that the school has achieved a distinction as one of the best healthcare colleges in New York as well.
SUNY uses the Blackboard system to keep its online students connected to assignments and other coursework. One of the best online healthcare programs at SUNY is the 2+2 nursing program, designed specifically for nursing students who have already earned an associate's degree. This program is designed to allow RNs to earn their degrees efficiently on their own time, as many of its students are already working as nurses and thus have busy schedules.
Another online healthcare degree program offered at SUNY Canton is the online B.S. in healthcare management, which is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Students who are interested in helping animals instead of people may instead consider the school's 2+2 program in veterinary service administration.
Online medical students at Hudson Valley Community College are able to pursue healthcare programs in subjects such as exercise science (A.S.), health information management and technology (A.A.S.), health sciences (certificate), worksite health promotion (certificate) and fitness specialist (certificate).
An area HVCC can be particularly appealing for is dentistry. The school offers an online dental assistant certification program that satisfies the New York State requirements to become a Licensed Registered Dental Assistant (LRDA). This program is typically completed in one year, as it consists of 27 hours of online coursework, combined with 225 hours of clinical experience via internship. Because the program can be completed so quickly, it's a great way to earn hands-on experience in dentistry and start working with patients. There is also an online, non-credit alternative dental assisting program, specially designed for students currently working in the field who have more than 3,500 hours of work experience and CPR certification.
Together, the Sage Colleges offer a graduate-level dietetic internship certification program that includes three online practicum classes. The program is offered each semester, and it is accredited through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. If your interest is in preventative healthcare and nutrition, this can be one of the best healthcare colleges in New York for gaining the necessary education and experience for the field, and the online components give it much-appreciated flexibility.
Students who complete this internship are automatically accepted into the M.S. in applied nutrition degree program at the Sage Colleges. The 30-credit program (21 credits for those who have successfully completed the Dietetics Internship) can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. It is available fully online for students who either:
The Sage Colleges also offer an online M.S. in healthcare administration — accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) — to those whose healthcare interests are more administrative than hands-on in nature.
Not only is Canisius College number four on our list of best online colleges in New York, but it's also one of the best online healthcare schools in New York too.
One program of interest at Canisius is the M.S. in respiratory care, which is delivered entirely through the Desire2Learn (D2L) learning management system. The program itself is made up of seven core courses that enrolled students must take. In addition, it features four specialty track courses students can choose from, allowing them to study topics such as respiratory therapeutics or respiratory care education.
Other online healthcare programs New York students can benefit from at Canisius include a master's in applied nutrition (although students should be aware it does not qualify students to sit the RD examination upon completion) and a master's in community & school health. The school's programs operate on eight-week terms, and admission is available for fall, spring and summer semesters.
The University of Buffalo comes in at No.5 on our list of best online colleges in New York. Among its various online and hybrid offerings are several healthcare-centric programs, which has also earned the university the No.6 place on this list. The School of Public Health at UB, for example, offers two online programs:
The advanced certificate program requires 16 credit hours that can be completed solely online. These credits can then be used toward the online individualized MPH program. Both programs are accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health and are hosted by UB's online learning application program, UBLearns, which allows students to complete coursework online while also facilitating interactions with professors and other students through message boards.
In addition to earning a place on our list of top schools in the state, Mercy College is one of the best accredited healthcare schools in New York for professionals who are already in the healthcare industry and looking to advance their careers. Students can complete Mercy's programs on a per-semester basis, enrolling in the fall, spring or summer semesters. Of particular note is the school's RN-BS degree completion program, which enables students currently working as registered nurses to earn their bachelor's degree in nursing in a way that builds on their work experience, reducing the chance of taking redundant courses.
Other programs available at Mercy include online bachelor's programs in community health, gerontology, and health services management, as well as online master's programs in health services management, nursing administration, and nursing education. An 18-credit residency is required for completion of the bachelor's programs; the two health services management programs require on-site class attendance; and the nursing administration program involves a 120-hour practicum. The nursing education program can be completed entirely online.
Becoming involved in professional healthcare organizations in New York can be beneficial, both when you're a student and after you graduate. It's a great way to network, meet people in your industry, learn more about the state of local and nationwide healthcare, and potentially advance your career.
Some of the most notable healthcare organizations in New York include: