Healthcare Degrees Without Clinical Components

The healthcare industry continues to outpace other industries, with 1.9 million job openings annually from 2024-2034, according to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

But did you know that many in-demand healthcare careers do not require clinical training?

Earning a healthcare degree can help you pursue administrative, educational, and support careers — or take your current healthcare career to the next level.

Clinical healthcare careers focus on direct patient care. However, most require a graduate degree and extensive clinical training.

But the healthcare industry relies on a spectrum of professionals, many with specialized training in health science, healthcare administration, informatics, and other non-clinical areas.

The following healthcare degrees can help you launch or advance your healthcare career with no clinical training.

A healthcare administration degree blends business and leadership skills. These professionals plan, coordinate, and direct health services. Courses in health policy, healthcare finance, and strategic healthcare management build the skills required for in-demand careers.

Graduates can pursue lucrative career paths. While earning potential varies by location and work setting, medical and health services managers earn a median annual salary of $117,960, according to the BLS. These careers are also in high demand, with 23% projected job growth from 2024-2034. Healthcare administrators can advance their skills by earning a master’s degree to establish a competitive advantage in the job market.

A bachelor’s in health sciences emphasizes health issues and outcomes, preparing graduates for roles including health educator, patient care advocate, behavior analyst, and mental health counselor. Many of these roles report above-average salaries. According to BLS data, health educators earn a median of $63,000, while Payscale data from Sept. 2025 shows that behavior analysts earn an average salary of $74,000.

The emphasis on healthcare delivery, medical ethics, and health policy during a health science degree offers a strong foundation for graduate study in clinical or non-clinical programs.

A bachelor’s in public health explores multiple topics related to the science of preventing disease and promoting health. This degree does not require a clinical component, and universities often offer online options. Graduates qualify for multiple careers, including community health worker and health educator.

Community health workers promote wellness across populations, drawing on their public health knowledge. These roles, which are projected to grow 11%, report a median pay of $51,030. A bachelor’s in public health also prepares graduates for clinical graduate programs or a master’s in public health to pursue roles such as epidemiologists.

A health and wellness bachelor’s degree emphasizes preventive care. Students acquire knowledge and skills related to wellness advocacy and management. Career opportunities for graduates include corporate wellness coordinator, health services manager, recreational therapist, and community health worker.

A bachelor’s in health and wellness can lead to diverse careers in healthcare. For example, hospitals hire wellness coordinators to help patients incorporate healthy practices into their routines. According to July 2025 Payscale data, wellness coordinators earn an average salary of $57,000.

Students interested in earning a health-related degree without a clinical component may want to consider a bachelor’s degree in health or nutritional science. This degree focuses on ways that food and nutrition impact overall health. Colleges and universities often provide elective options, allowing students to tailor their degree to meet their career goals.

A bachelor’s in health or nutritional science can prepare graduates for many healthcare career paths. According to Payscale data from Sept. 2025, nutritionists earn an average salary of around $54,000, while food policy analysts earn an average of $67,300.

Healthcare informatics uses technology to assess and organize data, creating a bridge between nursing and analytical science. This advanced degree prepares graduates for administrative and specialized roles. Potential careers include health information manager, health IT project manager, or health informatics director.

A master’s in health informatics can lead to high-earning careers. According to Payscale, health IT project managers earn an average salary of $101,000. Health information managers earn a median salary of nearly $118,000, with 23% projected job growth from 2024-2034, according to the BLS.

Students who prefer a healthcare degree without a clinical component may consider a bachelor’s degree in psychology. This degree allows students to work in multiple healthcare fields. Students can concentrate on addictions and recovery, child and adolescent development, or pre-counseling.

Psychology majors interested in healthcare careers can pursue opportunities as psychiatric technicians and behavioral health technicians. These roles have a median pay of $42,200 with 16% projected job growth from 2024-2034, according to BLS projections. Advanced psychology positions typically require a master’s degree and a clinical component. For instance, counselors and psychologists must satisfy state requirements for clinical hours.

A bachelor’s in counseling incorporates courses in human development, counseling methods, and ethics. With a counseling degree, graduates can work in several healthcare-related roles. For example, substance use counselors may work in outpatient or inpatient facilities.

According to the BLS, substance use counselors earn a median salary of $59,190, with those in hospitals, health practitioner offices, and outpatient centers reporting the highest salaries. These counseling roles are projected to grow 17% from 2024-2034, much faster than average. For advanced counseling roles, you may need a graduate degree and a license depending on the state in which you practice.

A bachelor’s degree in human studies combines social assistance fields, including psychology, social work, sociology, and criminal justice. Graduates often pursue careers in substance abuse counseling, youth services, or domestic violence services. Human services majors can also find employment in developmental disability agencies.

A bachelor’s in human services can lead to careers in patient services. Patient care coordinators build relationships with patients to help them navigate the healthcare system. These roles report an average pay of $54,000, according to August 2025 Payscale data.

Medical billing and coding certificate programs prepare learners to perform administrative work in healthcare. Responsibilities include updating medical records and entering codes for patients’ diagnoses and procedures. This career path does not include patient care, so professionals do not need to complete clinical requirements.

According to the American Academy of Professional Coders, medical billers and coders’ salaries can range from $60,320 to $74,480, depending on their credentials. Working in medical billing and coding can also strengthen valuable skills for careers in healthcare informatics.