Bryan University Graduate Amanda Harper’s Journey from Certificate to Bachelor’s Degree

This month we’re spotlighting Bryan University graduate Amanda Harper, who started at BU by earning her Medical Billing and Coding Undergraduate Certificate. She was such a big fan of BU’s learning structure that she went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration.   

“So I originally started with my billing and coding certification, and from there, I just really liked the way BU structured everything, so I moved into my associate’s, and I really liked the way that program went, and so I moved into my bachelor’s,” she said. 

Before signing up for BU, Amanda was already working in healthcare as a patient financial representative at a clinic. She now works for an electronic health records company, and, since earning her degree, she’s been promoted internally, and her goal is to keep growing within the company. 

She knew she wanted to learn billing and coding during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she needed something that was flexible while she took care of her mother, who was ill. She saw an ad for BU and took the leap when she realized she would be able to learn while working full-time and taking care of her mother and kids. 

“I thought it was gonna be hard, not being able to be in live classes, and I was worried that I wouldn’t have support, but the instructors are all really great, and there’s a team you can meet with to help with homework. Anytime you need help, you can reach out to your teachers,” she said. “I thought it was gonna be a challenge, but I felt really supported throughout the whole process.” 

She said managing her time was the biggest challenge she faced during all of her programs. She said setting aside time to get her work done really helped her fit her education into her already busy life. In addition to that, feeling supported and knowing she could reach out for help if anything came up made it possible for her to get everything done. 

“I would not have been able to get any of my degrees had I not been able to do them remotely because there’s just no way with the kids in sports, and, when I started, my youngest was only two, so there’s no way I would have been able to manage it,” she said. 

From financial aid to student advisors and her instructors, she said everyone she interacted with at BU was helpful. 

She would tell anyone considering enrolling at BU to just go for it and remember you have resources there to help you. 

“The teachers and everything, they’re just great, they’re really supportive, the help is there,” she said. “If you want to work full-time and get your education on top of it, I highly recommend BU.” 

She continued, “I just think that this is a great opportunity for people that do have kids and need to work full-time. Like I said, without a program like what BU offers, I would not have been able to get any degree until all of my children were grown. It really helped me show my kids that yeah, if you don’t go to college right after graduation, it’s okay because there are programs like BU that, even if you wait until you’re in your 30s, you can still get it done, and I just think that’s great for a lot of families that don’t necessarily have the opportunity to go to college right after high school because they do need to join the workforce.” 

Are You Ready to Earn Your Degree? Start Your Journey With Bryan University Today! 

At Bryan University, our programs are stacked, which means you can start by earning a Certificate, and, if you want to continue your education, those credits transfer directly into the related Associate and Bachelor’s Degree programs. 

In addition to that, all of our programs are accelerated with no waiting lists and include industry certifications, all e-books and courseware, tutoring and academic support, a personal success coach, and career services that connect you with employers upon graduation. 

Ready to start your education journey? Explore our programs and enroll online today!