by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Health Unit Manager/Ward Supervisor involves the study of Health Unit Manager/ward Supervisor. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Nursing Or Medical Service Administrators, To Supervise And Coordinate The Operations Of One Or More Patient Care Units In Hospitals Or Other Health Care Facilities. Includes Instruction In Planning And Initiating Administrative Procedures, Personnel Supervision, Interpersonal Skills, General And/or Specialized Health Care Operations And Procedures, And Consultation With Other Medical, Nursing, And Administrative Team Members. Continue reading for the important information every health unit manager/ward supervisor student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health unit manager/ward supervisor programs.
In the U.S., health unit manager/ward supervisor is a popular field of study, with 38 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Unit Manager/Ward Supervisor Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health unit manager/ward supervisor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health unit manager/ward supervisor programs later in this article.
Studies in Health Unit Manager/Ward Supervisor emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health unit manager/ward supervisor graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a health unit manager/ward supervisor program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a health unit manager/ward supervisor major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health unit manager/ward supervisor degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 38 |
People currently working in careers related to health unit manager/ward supervisor tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.4% |
| Master’s degree | 21.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health unit manager/ward supervisor careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in health unit manager/ward supervisor opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to health unit manager/ward supervisor.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health unit manager/ward supervisor.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of health unit manager/ward supervisor graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,041 |
| 4 years | $36,054 |
| 5 years | $40,847 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health unit manager/ward supervisor graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health unit manager/ward supervisor grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
With 4 different health unit manager/ward supervisor programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health unit manager/ward supervisor school rankings to help you.
Those considering health unit manager/ward supervisor, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
