Bachelor's in Health Science Degree Online Allied Health Program

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

This program requires an associate degree in allied health for admission. An associate degree in allied health can include dental hygiene, medical assistance, respiratory therapy, sonography and more. Ask an admission counselor to confirm that your associate degree applies.

No associate degree in allied health? Don't worry –you still have options:

1. Start or finish your associate degree in allied health at an accredited college. SNHU also partners with many community colleges throughout the country, to maximize transfer credits and offer tuition discounts.
2. We offer over 100 online bachelor's programs to choose from, such as healthcare administration and public health, which do not require associate degrees to enroll.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

No. But don't worry. If you're looking to start or continue your education without a degree in an allied health field, SNHU also offers:

1. The option to start or finish your associate degree in allied health at an accredited college. SNHU partners with many community colleges throughout the country to maximize transfer credits and provide tuition discounts.
2. Over 100 online bachelor's programs to choose from, such as an online healthcare administration degree and online public health degree, which do not require associate degrees to enroll.

SNHU's online BS in Health Science is specifically designed for students with an associate degree in the allied health field.

Our goal is twofold:

1. First, by offering a BS in Health Science, we want to give working professionals the tools they need to take their careers to their next level. For many, that means assuming a leadership role where their voice is valued, and finding ways to "steer the ship" within their healthcare organization.
2. Second, we want to offer a seamless pathway between degrees, so our learners won't have to put their lives on hold. This has been one of our university's No. 1 priorities since we first opened our doors in 1932 – and now, more than ever, we're able to make good on that initiative for an even larger and more diverse student population.

According to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions – or ASAHP – allied health can be defined as all "health professions that are distinct from medicine and nursing,"² including, but not limited to:

• Cardiovascular technology
• Clinical laboratories
• Dental hygiene
• Diagnostic medical technology
• Medical assisting & office management
• Neurodiagnostic technology
• Nuclear medicine technology
• Occupational therapy assistant
• Physical therapy assistant
• Radiography
• Radiation therapy technology
• Respiratory therapy
• Sonography
• Surgical technology

The allied health classification encompasses a wide range of roles under the broad umbrella of healthcare – and accounts for as much as 60% of the entire U.S. healthcare workforce.3 Right alongside nurses and physicians, these professionals are making a major impact on the present and future state of healthcare.

Every day, medical personnel affect patients' lives on an immediate and personal level. By earning a health sciences degree, you can gain the skills and experience you need to help transform the healthcare system from within. The BS in Health Science may open doors for a lab technician to take on a leadership role, where they use data to improve process at their employer's healthcare institution.

If you're still unsure whether or not your prior education or credits will qualify you for the BS in Health Science degree program, reach out to us. One of SNHU's admission counselors would be happy to help.

A health science degree does not lead to nursing licensure. This program is specifically designed for students who have earned an associate degree in an allied health field and are looking to advance their careers.

If you're interested in becoming a nurse, you'll need to start by earning an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing. SNHU partners with a number of community colleges that offer associate degrees in nursing. From there, you can opt to seamlessly transfer credits to one of our online RN to BSN or online MSN degree programs.

A Bachelor of Science in Health Science from SNHU can help open doors to leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings.

A graduate of the program will have the ability to think strategically about the many facets of business – from delivery systems and reimbursement to ethical and legal considerations and finance – then apply them to a number of healthcare organizations.

In an industry where team-based care and accountability is the standard, graduates of the BS in Health Science program are uniquely qualified to demonstrate interdisciplinary leadership in the healthcare setting of their choice. 

You can gain the knowledge and skills you need to keep up in a fast-moving, complex industry where reform, legislative changes and interdisciplinary, highly educated teams are commonplace. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $101,340 in 2021 – well above the median annual salary for all occupations in that same time period.¹

With that said, there is a wide range of salary expectations for medical and health service managers, as pay expectations vary greatly depending on the setting. Some of the top industries and their annual median salaries in 2021 include state, local and private hospitals ($119,450), government ($117,000), outpatient care centers ($99,540), physician's offices ($98,230) and nursing and residential care facilities ($83,550).¹

While many allied health employees can find entry-level work with an associate degree, leadership or management-level roles often require a bachelor's.

The BS in Health Science offers a transfer-friendly next step from an allied health associate program – saving you time and tuition along the way.

While not required, you also have the option to continue on to a master's program. Graduates of the online BS in Health Science would be well-suited candidates for an MBA in Healthcare Management or our online Master's in Healthcare Administration – but those aren't the only pathways you can take.

Just ask Christen Ganley '19, a radiation therapist who decided to apply her skills to teaching. It all started when she was a college senior and diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. “The prognosis was poor, and the outcome was grave,” Ganley said.

Always a fighter, Ganley started a research trial at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She was able to beat her cancer – twice – and the experiences changed the trajectory of her life.

"It’s really hard not to look over your shoulder when cancer has already tapped you twice. But I realized I cannot be defined by cancer, just as I cannot be defined by the letters that follow my name,” she said. “What I am defined by is the unyielding character that stood up to cancer and depression and who fights for patient rights."

Now, Ganley continues to fight for patients, helping empower the next wave of healthcare professionals as the clinical coordinator for the Baptist College for Health Science Radiation Therapy Program. Building upon her heath science skill set, she also earned her master’s in higher education administration from SNHU in 2019.

“Completing my master’s has proven to me that I can see things through to the next level,” Ganley said. “I didn’t see that in myself before. Perhaps it was because I was faced with life and death, but now I see that the same qualities can be used to take on many other endeavors.”

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1 (viewed Oct. 21, 2022)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm (viewed Oct. 21, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

² What is Allied Health – ASAHP, on the internet, at http://www.asahp.org/what-is (viewed March 18, 2021).