Top Health and Nursing degrees prepare students to work in many exciting, life-saving industries. Health and Nursing are the fastest growing career fields in the United States, and there is high demand for qualified medical engineers, nurses, administrators and counselors. Salaries range from $40,000 to more than $150,000 per year on average, and degrees take between 18 months and four years to complete. 

Here’s a closer look at the top degrees offered in these fields:

Biomedical Engineering 
Biomedical engineers work to save lives and improve health by designing and developing the latest breakthrough medical technologies. They build prosthetics, artificial organs, and instruments that help doctors cure cancer, keep hearts beating, and support failing organs. Biomedical Engineers’ starting salary is close to $65,000 per year, and they typically enjoy great benefits and commissions. They are expected to have knowledge of human anatomy, medical procedures, health care technology, and computer design. 

Health Care Administration
Health Care Administrators keep hospitals and physician's offices running smoothly. They take care of everything from greeting patients to maintaining health records to ordering doctor's supplies. Many move into top managerial or executive positions, and they earn more than $70,000 per year.Administrators are expected to be professional, have great interpersonal and management skills, and have in-depth knowledge of the health care industry.

Counseling
Counselors are in high demand in today’s world. More and more people are seeking counselors to help them overcome addictions, solve personal problems, and deal with mental illness. Counselors are employed by schools, hospitals, and businesses, and many open their own private practices. Counselors earn between $40,000 and $80,000 on average, and many enjoy great benefits and the rewards of helping others. With a degree in Counseling, students can specialize in community counseling, mental health counseling, psychology, educational counseling, mediation, marriage counseling, and more.

Medical Assisting
Medical Assistants are some of the most important people in hospitals and doctor's offices. They do everything from greeting patients to conducting medical coding and billing. They provide support to doctors, nurses, and especially patients. They often record patient's weight, vital signs, and prepare them for their medical procedures. Medical Assistants sometimes assist during surgery and other procedures as well. Medical Assistants earn between $30,000 and $50,000 per year, and typically receive great benefits. They are trained in First Aid, medical law and ethics, and coding and billing, and they are expected to have great interpersonal and organizational skills. 

Dental Assisting
Dental Assistants are in high demand, especially considering the rise in demand for dental care, new dental technology, and the increase of dental health care plans. Dental Assistants are responsible for scheduling appointments, ordering supplies, and assisting with many dental procedures. They earn between $30,000 and $40,000 per year on average, and many advance to become managers, instructors, and sales representatives. A degree usually takes less than one year to complete, and students learn to take X-rays, use dental equipment, and manage all aspects of a dental office.

Nursing
Nurses are in high demand in the health care industry today, especially because they are trained to complete many of the same services that doctors can. Nurses record vital signs, monitor patient health, assist with medical procedures, and oversee most of the recovery process. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, private practices, and in patient's homes. Nurses earn between $48,000 and $80,000 per year, and they enjoy many benefits and advancement opportunities, including moving into management or instructor positions.