A master of business administration (MBA) in healthcare administration is a graduate-level business degree with a concentration in healthcare management. MBA healthcare programs teach foundational skills in management and leadership, covering specialized knowledge in healthcare finance and biostatistics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 23% growth in employment for medical and health service managers from 2024-2034, much faster than the average projected 3% growth rate for all occupations. With the demand for healthcare managers quickly rising, graduates with online healthcare administration MBAs can pursue in-demand positions.
Our rankings highlight the best online MBAs in healthcare administration. This page also covers degree options, benefits, and job prospects for graduates in the field. We also cover the costs of pursuing an online healthcare administration MBA.
Popular Online Programs
Best Online MBA Programs in Healthcare Administration
How We Choose Programs
At OnlineMBA.com, we rely on reputable sources to rank the best MBA programs. We use trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to find standout programs. We consider four metrics: affordability, reputation, academics, and program availability.
This list has not been updated for 2025. Visit our rankings methodology page to learn more about how we rank programs.
Healthcare management came about in the early 20th century in the United States. Rapid growth in hospitals created a need for workers with expertise in patient record-keeping, hospital accreditation, and hospital finances. Initially, experienced business professionals filled these roles. The University of Chicago opened the nation's first healthcare management program in 1934, introducing healthcare administration as an academic discipline.
Hospital administrators of the early 20th century oversaw hospitals" compliance with accreditation standards. Initially a single page of requirements, these standards have since developed into the Joint Commission's rigorous performance policies.
Today, graduates from MBA programs in health service management often work in managerial and leadership positions for hospitals, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies.
MBA in healthcare administration graduates can pursue careers as medical and health service managers, health information directors, medical insurance underwriters, and healthcare compliance officers.
MBA programs in healthcare administration attract experienced healthcare specialists looking to advance professionally, along with budding business managers interested in the ethics of care, biotechnology, and healthcare innovation.
Why Get a Healthcare Administration MBA?
Earning an online MBA with a concentration in healthcare administration can give graduates an edge over job candidates with general MBAs. Other advantages of earning an online healthcare administration MBA include:
Strong Job Prospects The BLS projects much faster than average growth for medical and health services managers from 2021-31. With an online MBA in healthcare administration, graduates can anticipate strong job prospects.
High-Paying Salaries An online healthcare administration MBA can pave the way for a highly profitable business career. For example, the BLS reported a median annual salary of over $100,000 for health services managers as of 2021.
Opportunities to Influence the Standards of Healthcare Healthcare managers oversee healthcare organizations' compliance with accreditation and licensure standards and implement improvements. These professionals can become agents of positive change in the industry.
What to Expect From an Online MBA in Healthcare Administration
Earning an online MBA in healthcare administration usually requires 60 credits, which takes around two years of full-time study. However, some schools offer accelerated programs that take one year to complete. Part-time programs allow students to spread out the course load over 3-4 years.
A typical online healthcare administration MBA program requires core courses in business management, electives in healthcare administration, and a thesis or capstone seminar.
Common core business classes include biostatistics, operations management, microeconomics, and macroeconomics. Popular healthcare administration electives include healthcare reform, U.S. medical insurance, and healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.
The MBA Admission Process
While most online MBAs in healthcare administration admit applicants with bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions, some MBA programs require professional experience in business administration.
Applicants typically submit materials such as a CV or resume, personal essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and GMAT or GRE scores.
Some programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA, but most do not set specific minimum GMAT or GRE scores. Schools may waive standardized test scores for distance learners. Entrance exam scores in the 90th percentile, a GPA of at least 3.5, and prior work experience in healthcare can increase admission chances.
Healthcare Administration Degree Options
Common alternatives to an MBA in healthcare management include a master of health administration (MHA), master of public administration (MPA), and master of science (MS) in health administration. These degrees overlap in course content but differ in program length, credit load, career goals, and course requirements.
MHA
An MHA takes around one year to complete for full-time learners and requires 30-36 credits. MHA programs require fewer business courses than an MBA. This degree qualifies graduates for entry-level managerial positions in healthcare, insurance, or pharmaceuticals.
MPA
Students usually complete this 30-36 credits professional degree in one year of full-time study. A standard MPA curriculum encompasses more courses in public healthcare administration than typical MHA, MBA, and MS programs. Graduates with MPAs pursue careers as government, community, and nonprofit healthcare managers.
MS in Healthcare Administration
Full-time students can complete this 24-48 credit degree in 1-2 years. A typical MS curriculum includes more STEM courses than most MHA, MPA, and MBA programs. Graduates with MS in healthcare administration degrees qualify for many of the same positions as MBAs with this focus.
Comparing Healthcare Administration and General MBAs
When considering the best online MBA for you, you may wonder whether to pursue a general MBA or an MBA with a concentration in healthcare administration. The two degrees share similarities in length and credit requirements, preparing students to pursue managerial and leadership positions.
MBA programs in healthcare management deliver a more in-depth knowledge of leadership in healthcare, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. A specialized healthcare MBA suits learners who aspire to managerial positions in these industries.
| MBA in Healthcare Administration | General MBA | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Two years, full time | Two years, full time |
| Credit Loads | 60 credits | 60 credits |
| Typical Courses | Healthcare law and ethics, healthcare leadership, biostatistics and epidemiology, healthcare finance | Business administration, innovation and entrepreneurship, business analytics, business law and ethics |
| Student Demographics | College graduates and seasoned healthcare employees seeking to advance in the industry | College graduates and business professionals aspiring to positions in business administration |
| Common Careers | Healthcare manager, nursing home director, hospital facilities manager, social and community service manager, medical insurance underwriter, medical record manager | Research and development director, financial manager, administrative services manager, marketing director, human resources manager, computer and information systems manager, sales director |
| Degree Goal | Prepare learners for managerial and leadership positions in healthcare, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical industries | Prepare students for general positions as business administrators and executives |
Popular Healthcare Administration Courses
An online MBA in healthcare administration usually requires coursework in biostatistics, financial reporting, and healthcare management. Popular concentration courses include healthcare strategy, global health, and healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.
Most online healthcare administration MBA programs culminate in a capstone or thesis seminar. Students apply their business knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Common courses include:
Biostatistics and Epidemiology: Students develop an advanced understanding of the statistical concepts and methods in healthcare administration. Topics include data collection, analysis, reporting, and presentation; descriptive and inferential statistics; and epidemiological theory.
Healthcare Management: Coursework explores strategic planning, managerial problem-solving, and organizational change. Enrollees learn to apply theory and best practices to the demanding environments of healthcare facilities.
Healthcare Policy and Reform: This course provides an overview of the national health crisis and leading proposals for healthcare reform. Through simulations, learners gain practical knowledge of how to identify and fulfill healthcare needs, cut patient costs, and increase the quality of care.
Healthcare Finance: Through an analysis of case studies, enrollees learn how healthcare managers have used financial data to make difficult decisions.
Capstone Seminar: Students research suitable topics within healthcare administration under the supervision of faculty members. The seminar culminates in a research project.
How Much Will an MBA in Healthcare Administration Cost?
Tuition for online MBAs in healthcare administration varies, ranging from $12,000-$35,000 for the total program. Private schools tend to be more expensive than public institutions.
Some public schools charge in-state tuition for their remote learning programs, regardless of student residency. Private schools also tend to offer their online degrees at a flat, discounted rate.
Students should factor in the costs of required technology and course materials, travel expenses associated with potential campus visits, and the loss of work income. Scholarships, loans, grants, and fellowships can help finance your MBA degree. The links below provide more information about these financial options.
Jobs for MBAs in Healthcare Administration
An online healthcare administration MBA offers a stepping stone to lucrative managerial or executive leadership roles in the healthcare, insurance, or pharmaceutical industries. According to the BLS, the median pay for medical and health service managers exceeded 100,000 as of 2021.
Common careers include:
Healthcare Manager
Healthcare managers direct the business activities of healthcare providers. Typical responsibilities include overseeing healthcare provider records and finances, improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services, and developing goals and objectives in collaboration with medical staff and top executives.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook (2024-34):+23%
Median Annual Salary: $117,960
Hospital Facilities Manager
Hospital facilities managers oversee hospital buildings, equipment, and supplies. Typical job duties include overseeing the maintenance and replacement of equipment, representing the facilities at stakeholder and board meetings, and ensuring compliance with healthcare, environmental, and security regulations.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook (2024-34):+4%
Median Annual Salary: $106,880
Medical Insurance Underwriter
These professionals make decisions about medical insurance applications. Underwriters screen applicants for eligibility, calculate the risk of insuring potential clients, and determine reasonable premiums.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook (2024-34):-3%
Median Annual Salary: $79,880
Nursing Home Administrator
Nursing home administrators manage the staff, admissions, and finances of nursing homes. Typical responsibilities include evaluating and improving the quality of eldercare, researching and implementing new approaches to care, and overseeing the recruitment and training of staff members.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree
Average Annual Salary:$101,845 (as of October 2025)
Selecting Your Healthcare Administration MBA Program
Our rankings can help students choose the right MBA program for their needs. Consider researching available programs that align with your goals, such as affordable online MBA programs.
An MBA can be a valuable credential, but only if it's from an accredited university, ideally from a business school accredited by the AACSB. These designations convey to future employers that a degree meets educational and industry-specific standards.
Prospective MBA students should also consider the program's faculty, alumni, and
networking opportunities for distance learners. Networking events offer crucial connections to gaining references, internships, and job offers.
Why You Should Get Your MBA in Healthcare Administration Online
With distance learning on the rise, employers increasingly regard online and on-campus MBAs from accredited business schools as equally valuable.
Transcripts do not reveal whether the student obtained their MBA online or on campus. So unless the subject comes up at an interview, employers cannot discern the specific degree format.
When searching for online programs, prospective students should prioritize online MBA formats that match their learning style. Individuals who learn best in a classroom setting with peer discussions should prioritize synchronous online programs.
Aspiring MBA enrollees with work or other obligations may consider asynchronous online programs. Degree-seekers can access course materials and complete assignments and discussion boards at their convenience. Asynchronous formats require significant discipline to keep pace with course requirements.
Common Questions About Online MBAs in Healthcare Administration
An MBA in healthcare administration is often worth it if you want to pursue advanced positions in healthcare leadership. It's also a valuable option for professionals who want to gain more knowledge in the field and pursue high-paying career opportunities. According to the BLS, medical and health services managers earned a median annual salary of $117,960.
