WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Comparing Health Undergraduate Degrees
Ready to Level Up In Your Healthcare Career?
Get started on a healthcare program of your choice from WGU.
Do You Want a Career in Healthcare?
If so, you might be exploring your healthcare degree options. While nursing is a popular degree choice, there are more specialized programs to consider as well. Whether you’re passionate about patient care, technology, or management, WGU offers a number of healthcare degree paths that can align with your interests and skills.
Explore WGU’s online healthcare undergraduate degree programs below and learn more about your options.
Health & Nursing
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM....
A program designed for future leaders in HIM.
- Time: 63% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $3,998 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Some careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Director of informatics
- HIMS chief
- Information systems auditor
- Outpatient coder
- Health records manager
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
Business
Healthcare Management – B.S. Business Administration
You can become a healthcare industry leader:...
You can become a healthcare industry leader:
Compare with B.S. Health Information Management
- Time: 73% of graduates finish within 37 months.
- Tuition: $3,575 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program.
Sample careers and jobs this business degree will prepare you for:
- Health information manager
- Community service manager
- Clinical manager
- Medical records manager
- Social service manager
The online courses in this career-focused business degree program will prepare you with management-level skills and an up-to-date understanding of our healthcare delivery system.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of FL, IN, TX, MO, or UT to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements
- Tuition: $6,430 for the 1st term, $7,616 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms.
- Time: This program has a set pace and completion time of 2.5 years
WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's Degree in Health Services Coordination instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Health & Nursing
Health Services Coordination – B.S.
An online health degree program for students passionate about value-based...
An online health degree program for students passionate about value-based care and dedicated to helping others.
- Time: 61% of graduates of similar programs finish within 16 months.
- Tuition: $3,650 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Sample careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Care coordinator
- Patient advocate
- Health services coordinator
- Patient educator
- Community health educator
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: 77% of graduates finish within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,998 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
With over 35,000 BSN alumni, this is one of WGU's most popular online degree programs. View our RN to BSN degree guide. If you are an RN ready to earn your BSN, this program will help you accelerate to earn your degree.
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's Degree in Health Services Coordination instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
Comparing Healthcare Bachelor’s Degrees at WGU
RN-to-BSN
This degree program is designed to help current registered nurses (RN) further their education and earn a bachelor's degree. It builds on knowledge gained in an RN program with more complex and specialized subjects, such as evidence-based practice, leadership, and community health. It can be a great option for current RNs looking for a flexible, reputable, and affordable program.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: 77% of graduates finish within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,998 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
With over 35,000 BSN alumni, this is one of WGU's most popular online degree programs. View our RN to BSN degree guide. If you are an RN ready to earn your BSN, this program will help you accelerate to earn your degree.
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's Degree in Health Services Coordination instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
Prelicensure
WGU's prelicensure pathway allows you to earn licensure as an RN and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in one program. The curriculum covers topics such as mental health, medical dosage calculations, critical care nursing, and more. Upon graduation, you’ll earn a BSN and meet the requirements to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. You must then pass the exam to become a licensed registered nurse.
WGU’s prelicensure program is open to a limited number of RNs and only available in select states: Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Indiana, Utah, and Nevada.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of FL, IN, TX, MO, or UT to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements
- Tuition: $6,430 for the 1st term, $7,616 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms.
- Time: This program has a set pace and completion time of 2.5 years
WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's Degree in Health Services Coordination instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Who Should Pursue a BSN?
For nurses who enjoy direct patient care, aim for career longevity, and want to advance in their industry, a BSN is a crucial step to achieving those goals. Many hospitals look for nurses with BSNs when they’re staffing, and in some states, a BSN is required to become a full-time nurse. It’s also a key component to stepping into senior leadership roles.
BSN Career Outcomes
If you earn your BSN, there are many career paths open to you, including:
Who Should Pursue a BSN?
For nurses who enjoy direct patient care, aim for career longevity, and want to advance in their industry, a BSN is a crucial step to achieving those goals. Many hospitals look for nurses with BSNs when they’re staffing, and in some states, a BSN is required to become a full-time nurse. It’s also a key component to stepping into senior leadership roles.
Health Information Management
This program is all about keeping patient data and information safe, organized, and accessible. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in computer information systems and technology for healthcare organizations. Coursework in data analytics, health systems, and security will teach you how to handle patient and financial data. WGU’s health information management program also provides a simulation experience that gives you a glimpse into how HIM operates and functions in the real world.
Who Pursue a Health Information Management Degree?
If direct patient care isn’t your passion but health and technology are, a health information management degree is a great intersection of these two fields. Because there’s a strong statistical and information technology component to this field, this degree works best with people who have experience or interest in these subjects.
Health Information Management Career Outcomes
If you earn a health information management degree, there are many career paths open to you, including:
Health & Nursing
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM....
A program designed for future leaders in HIM.
- Time: 63% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $3,998 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Some careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Director of informatics
- HIMS chief
- Information systems auditor
- Outpatient coder
- Health records manager
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
Healthcare Management
Because this program is more directly focused on the business side of healthcare, it sits within WGU’s business college. WGU’s healthcare management degree will help you get the medical understanding you need, as well as give you business fundamentals that will enable you to run medical facilities effectively. The coursework in this program includes topics such as human resources, healthcare management, business management, healthcare data, and more.
Who Should Pursue a Healthcare Management Degree?
Every healthcare organization needs to be run with strong business principles in order to be successful, and healthcare managers are the people who make it happen. If you want to help people on their healthcare journey, but aren’t interested in directly working with their medical needs, a healthcare management degree could be a good option for you.
Healthcare Management Career Outcomes
If you earn your healthcare management degree, there are many career paths open to you, including:
Business
Healthcare Management – B.S. Business Administration
You can become a healthcare industry leader:...
You can become a healthcare industry leader:
Compare with B.S. Health Information Management
- Time: 73% of graduates finish within 37 months.
- Tuition: $3,575 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program.
Sample careers and jobs this business degree will prepare you for:
- Health information manager
- Community service manager
- Clinical manager
- Medical records manager
- Social service manager
The online courses in this career-focused business degree program will prepare you with management-level skills and an up-to-date understanding of our healthcare delivery system.
Health Services Coordination
The health services program readies students for responsibilities in patient-focused healthcare, communication, leadership, care coordination and more. It includes instruction in value-based care, social determinants in health, and care coordination. Graduates of this program are prepared to help patients in other areas of their care, beyond physical healing. They’re able to navigate patients through a complex health system, assisting with everything from insurance, provider referrals, medical resources, and appointments.
Who Should Pursue a Health Services Coordination Degree?
This program is geared toward those who want to help patients but don’t necessarily want to be a doctor or nurse, or have a job focused on physical patient care. If you consider yourself highly organized, are an excellent communicator, and can work well under pressure, you might want to consider a degree in health services coordination.
Health Services Coordination Career Outcomes
If you earn your health services coordination degree, there are many career paths open to you, including:
Health & Nursing
Health Services Coordination – B.S.
An online health degree program for students passionate about value-based...
An online health degree program for students passionate about value-based care and dedicated to helping others.
- Time: 61% of graduates of similar programs finish within 16 months.
- Tuition: $3,650 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Sample careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Care coordinator
- Patient advocate
- Health services coordinator
- Patient educator
- Community health educator
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
What Program is Right for You?
It ultimately comes down to your interests and career aspirations. Ask yourself:
Do I want to work directly with patients?
Am I interested in helping people navigate their medical journey?
Do I see myself in a management role?
Is technology something that interests me?
Wherever you land on these questions, the good news is, WGU has a healthcare degree program that will connect with your passions and prepare you for the career you desire.
What Do WGU's Programs Have in Common?
Whichever degree you choose, there is a wide variety of career opportunities open to students of both degree programs. There are also major benefits associated with pursuing a degree program with WGU, including a flexible schedule, coursework and lessons that are fully accessible online, affordable options for every student, and more. Any of the nursing undergrad degrees from WGU can help you achieve your goals—it just depends on your experience and what you want your future to be.
Why WGU?
Earning Potential
A nursing bachelor's degree can dramatically impact your earning potential. After graduation WGU IT management students report earning $15,729 more per year.
On Your Schedule
Competency-based education means you can move as quickly through your degree as you can master the material. You don't have to log in to classes at a certain time—you are truly in the driver's seat of your education
Entirely Online
You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
COST & TIME
An Affordable Bachelor's Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Prepared for Success
on the Job
From a 2021 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates
97% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.
95% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.
