Top Online MBA Programs in Healthcare Administration
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A master of business administration (MBA) in healthcare administration is a graduate-level business degree with a concentration in healthcare management. Programs in this field deliver foundational skills in management and leadership, plus specialized knowledge in healthcare finance and biostatistics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 32% growth in employment for medical and health service managers from 2019-2029, much faster than the average projected growth rate for all occupations. With demand for healthcare managers on the rise, graduates with online healthcare administration MBAs often secure lucrative positions shortly after graduation.
Our rankings explore the best online MBAs in healthcare administration. This page also covers degree options in healthcare management, the benefits of an online MBA in healthcare administration, and job prospects for graduates in the field. We also consider the costs of pursuing an online healthcare administration MBA.
Top 10 Online MBA Healthcare Administration Programs
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Online MBA Programs for You
Grow your career, leadership, and business acumen with an accredited online MBA program.
What Is Healthcare Administration?
The field of healthcare management arose in early 20th-century America, as rapid growth in hospitals nationwide 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 the academic discipline of healthcare administration.
Like today’s healthcare managers, hospital administrators of the early 20th century oversaw facilities’ compliance with hospital accreditation standards. Initially comprising 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.
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. Careers available to MBAs in healthcare administration include occupations like health information director, medical insurance underwriter, and healthcare compliance officer.
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 consistent growth for managerial and leadership positions in the healthcare industry from 2019-2029. With an online MBA in healthcare administration, graduates can anticipate strong job prospects.
Lucrative 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 $100,980 for health information directors as of 2019.
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 long-lasting agents of positive change in the industry.
Top Online MBA in Healthcare Administration Program Rankings
SJU, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers academic programs infused with its Jesuit Catholic heritage. The online MBA in health and medical services administration at SJU takes most learners only 12 months to complete.
Students earning SJU’s top online MBA complete 20 credit hours of foundation courses, plus six credit hours of gateway content to build fundamental business knowledge and skills. The MBA core at SJU emphasizes decision-making and leadership competencies through coursework in data analytics, excellence in organizations, and shareholder value management.
Courses in the nine credit hours of medical and health services administration cover topics such as pharmacoeconomics, coding coverage reimbursement, and supply chain management in healthcare prepare learners for managerial roles in profit and nonprofit healthcare settings.
Online and on-campus students pay $1,075 per credit hour. Applicants submit transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume for consideration. Students may receive waivers for required GMAT and GRE scores based on previous educational and professional experience.
Founded as a women’s academy in 1872, Maryville sits on more than 130 acres near St. Louis, Missouri. Coeducational since 1968, Maryville offers an online MBA in healthcare administration, which learners complete in as few as 12 months.
The MBA core at Maryville includes 27 credit hours of coursework in business fundamentals. Classes in organizational behavior and development, accounting for managers, and corporate financial policies accompany comprehensive courses in business ethics, policies, and economics.
Twelve credit hours of health administration coursework analyzes the healthcare industry's impact. Learners study healthcare operations; healthcare law, ethics, and risk management; and population health management. Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree and provide a personal letter explaining their admission qualifications. Online learners pay $714 per credit hour.
GMercyU, established as a Catholic institution in 1948, offers an accelerated online MBA in healthcare administration. GMercyU’s 30-credit hour online MBA in healthcare administration builds technical and practical skills, applicable to managerial roles in the industry.
Twenty-one credit hours of core coursework focus on managerial finance, business operations, and strategy. Learners also study ethical decision-making and corporate social responsibility. Concentration coursework in healthcare budgeting, planning, and finance; managing healthcare delivery systems; and healthcare information systems precede a capstone requirement.
Online students pay $640 per credit hour. Applicants must submit transcripts from an accredited bachelor’s degree, demonstrating a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants lacking previous business coursework will take six additional credit hours of foundation coursework.
Located in Omaha, Nebraska, NMC functions as an affiliate of the Methodist Health System. NMC offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs in nursing and allied health, including an online MBA in healthcare.
Most students complete NMC’s 42-credit hour MBA in healthcare in 24-30 months. Core classes blend business fundamentals and healthcare essentials, emphasizing healthcare economics, policy, and finance. Learners also study strategic management, business law and ethics, and leadership in healthcare.
Elective classes allow learners to focus on an aspect of healthcare that aligns with their personal interests and professional goals. Students choose from options such as healthcare information technology project management, consumer health informatics, and business intelligence and applied healthcare analytics.
Applicants submit transcripts from previous college coursework with a minimum 3.0 GPA for consideration. Additional application requirements include a written statement, a resume, and an interview with an admissions representative. Online students pay $719 per credit hour.
Based in Joliet, Illinois, USF operates as a private institution steeped in Catholic tradition. Founded in 1920, USF offers an online MBA in health administration, which includes 36 credit hours.
USF’s online MBA core emphasizes managerial economics, finance, accounting, and strategy through 12 credit hours. Twelve credit hours of competency courses in topics such as international business, social media, and information technology allow learners to focus on the aspects of business that meet their professional goals.
The health administration concentration includes 12 credit hours of classes in healthcare finance, law and compliance, and ethics and decision-making.
Students can transfer up to nine credit hours to USF's online MBA, shortening their degree length to as few as 12 months. Applicants submit transcripts from business-related bachelor’s degrees and demonstrate two years' professional experience or appropriate business exam scores for consideration.
Located in Poughkeepsie, New York, on the banks of the Hudson River, Marist offers an online MBA in healthcare administration. Learners complete the 36-credit hour, asynchronous program in as few as four semesters.
Marist’s MBA in healthcare administration emphasizes business analytics throughout the curriculum. Core classes include economics, finance, operations and strategic management, and global business. Learners also participate in an analytics bootcamp, exploring data-driven disciplines and technologies through hands-on, practical exercises.
Healthcare administration courses include managing organizational change, healthcare policies and systems, and ethical and legal issues in healthcare. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry, while building effective, efficient decision-making skills based on specific healthcare policies, regulations, and ethics.
Applicants submit transcripts, a resume, a personal statement, and GRE or GMAT scores for consideration. Business administration graduate students pay $880 per credit hour both online and on-campus.
Founded in 1858, BU holds distinction as the first university in Kansas. BU offers an online MBA in healthcare administration, which learners complete in 12-20 months.
Baker’s MBA core focuses on principles and practices of organizational, human resource, financial, and marketing management. Learners study business analytics and economic aspects of business decisions, also developing leadership acumen to address challenges and opportunities within contemporary business environments.
Twelve hours of healthcare administration courses focus on the knowledge and skills required to thrive as leaders in the American healthcare industry. Students complete coursework in hospital management, information systems for healthcare management, and healthcare policy and politics. During their capstone requirement, students develop a strategic plan for a competitive healthcare organization.
To apply, learners must submit documentation from an accredited bachelor’s degree. Business administration graduate students pay $600 per credit hour.
Chartered by an act of Congress in 1821, GWU offers a 56-credit-hour online MBA in healthcare. Students complete the program in three to five years.
The MBA core curriculum at GWU integrates 32 credit hours of coursework in accounting, data analysis, and economics. Courses in organizations and human capital, foundational management, and business ethics and policy build skills for leadership roles in the healthcare industry.
Students choose 12 credit hours of health-related coursework from GWU’s school of medicine and health sciences. Options include clinical operations and healthcare management, correctional health administration, health services and outcome, and healthcare regulatory affairs. GWU offers graduate certificates in these areas, as well, and learners may apply certificate coursework toward their healthcare MBAs.
To apply, students need at least three years of professional experience in the healthcare field and a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Additional application materials include GMAT or GRE scores, a resume, one letter of recommendation, and a statement of objectives and goals.
Sponsored by the churches of Converge, Bethel offers academic programs infused with evangelical Christian tradition. Bethel, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, provides online learners a 42-credit hour MBA in healthcare administration.
Students complete Bethel's healthcare administration program Bethel in 18-24 months. Core coursework builds foundational business knowledge in accounting, marketing, economics, and business strategy. Healthcare administration courses in policy, health informatics, and finance focus on principles and practices of business in healthcare settings.
Additional healthcare administration classes in strategic communication, organizational diagnostics and health, and leadership theory precede an integrative team capstone. During their capstone, learners synthesize degree content in a collaborative leadership project.
Applicants must hold two years of applicable professional experience, plus a minimum 3.0 GPA. Online and on-campus MBA students pay $723 per credit hour.
Located near Lake Champlain and Burlington, Vermont, Champlain opened its doors in 1878. With more than 150 areas of study, Champlain offers an online MBA in healthcare administration to prepare mid-level healthcare professionals to advance in the field.
Champlain’s healthcare administration MBA includes 36 credit hours. Learners complete 24 credit hours of core coursework in managing risk in organizations, business analysis and performance, and the impact of globalization on business.
Healthcare administration classes emphasize healthcare system design and innovation, information systems, law, and project management. During a field-based capstone project, students apply degree knowledge to a healthcare-related project with their current employer or sponsoring workplace, or as part of an internship.
Online students pay $795 per credit hour, while active-duty military pay $398 per credit hour. To apply, learners must submit transcripts from a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree and any graduate coursework with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1934, Salve Regina overlooks the Atlantic Ocean from its 80-acre campus in Newport, Rhode Island. Salve Regina offers an online MBA in healthcare administration and management, which includes 36 credit hours.
Salve Regina’s MBA core emphasizes management in the global economy, in business operations, and in cyber opportunities and threats. Learners study creative problem-solving, social justice and business ethics, and business law in anticipation of a comprehensive strategic management and business policy capstone requirement.
Nine credit hours of concentration coursework includes healthcare marketing, finance, and ethics. Additional healthcare administration and marketing course options include ethics for health professionals and health policy.
Prerequisites for Salve Regina’s online MBA in healthcare administration and management include six credit hours in accounting, three credit hours in economics, and six credit hours in quantitative analysis or calculus and statistics. Applicants must submit transcripts, a personal statement, a current resume, and two letters of recommendation for consideration. Online and on-campus students pay $605 per credit hour.
Endicott, situated on a campus near Boston, Massachusetts, offers a 42-credit hour online MBA in healthcare. Learners complete 30 credit hours of required coursework, plus 12 credit hours of concentration classes.
Endicott’s MBA core includes managerial coursework in accounting, finance and decision-making, and economics. Students gain knowledge and skills applicable to managing information systems, projects, and the evolving workplace, as well.
Twelve credit hours of healthcare-focused courses emphasize American health policy, healthcare finance, and health informatics and information technology systems. Additional concentration classes in healthcare regulation and strategic planning prepare learners for leadership positions in the healthcare industry.
Online and on-campus MBA students at Endicott pay $761 per credit hour. To apply to an online MBA in healthcare, learners submit two letters of recommendation, transcripts from previous college coursework, and a statement of program and career goals.
Affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, MVNU was established in 1968. From its location in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU offers an online MBA in healthcare administration to prepare practicing clinicians and healthcare professionals for leadership roles in the field.
MVNU’s online healthcare administration MBA includes 36 credit hours of core and concentration coursework. The MBA core emphasizes managerial economics and accounting, organizational behavior, and global business.
Healthcare administration classes provide comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry. Learners study health services strategy, legal aspects of healthcare administration, and current healthcare trends. Additional healthcare administration coursework includes management of healthcare human resources, ethical leadership in healthcare administration, and quality management in healthcare organizations.
To apply, learners submit transcripts from previous college coursework with a minimum 2.8 GPA for consideration.
Steeped in Benedictine Catholic tradition, Mary opened its doors in Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1968. The online MBA in healthcare at Mary includes 36 credit hours, which learners can complete in as few as 16 months.
Core classes in the healthcare MBA at Mary emphasize managerial aspects of finance, accounting, leadership, and law. Additional core coursework includes business research and writing, marketing, and ethics.
Nine credit hours of healthcare coursework prepares students to analyze practices and policies in the current healthcare industry. Learners study contemporary issues in healthcare administration, healthcare organizations and finance, and healthcare law and policy. At the end of the program, learners participate in a business capstone, producing a literature review to demonstrate mastery of degree content.
Online pay $520 per credit hour. To apply, learners submit transcripts from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
UMass Amherst, the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system, was established in 1863. The online MBA in healthcare includes coursework offered through the institution’s Isenberg School of Management and school of public health and health services.
UMass Amherst’s online MBA core includes 32 credit hours of coursework in strategic information, operations, and human resource management. Learners study corporate finance, financial and managerial accounting, and economics analysis for managers, as well. To complete the healthcare concentration, students choose nine credit hours from a rotating selection of classes. Healthcare coursework explores aspects of health politics, leadership, and analytics, plus subsets of the field including public and international health.
The MBA at UMass Amherst allows students to take classes at satellite locations in Boston, Shrewsbury, and Springfield, Massachusetts. Regardless of where students take classes, they pay $900 per credit hour.
To apply, learners submit a personal essay, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and GMAT or GRE scores. Admitted students sufficient coursework or business experience may need to complete additional foundation classes in accounting and finance.
Founded in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, by the Presbyterian Church in 1849, WU serves as a comprehensive Christian university. Students complete the 36-credit hour online MBA in health systems administration at WU in 1-2 years.
WU’s MBA core integrates 27 credit hours in business and managerial fundamentals. Learners explore accounting concepts and applications, management policy, and organizational behavior, while completing classes in statistical methods and international business.
Concentration coursework includes nine credit hours in law and ethics in healthcare systems and information, productivity, and outcomes. Students also complete a healthcare systems field survey, gaining insights into the structural and managerial aspects of U.S. healthcare services.
Applicants submit transcripts from all previous college coursework, an essay, and a current resume. Admission requirements include significant business experience and undergraduate coursework in accounting, economics, finance, and statistics.
Established in 1894, UMass Lowell became part of the University of Massachusetts System in 1991. It offers an online MBA in healthcare, which learners can complete in as few as 18 months.
UMass Lowell’s online MBA includes 30-42 credit hours. Learners with previous coursework in accounting, finance, operations, and marketing receive waivers for 12 credit hours. Twenty-one credit hours of core MBA courses emphasize managerial aspects of business operations, organizational change, and accounting.
Nine credit hours of concentration classes include required courses in law and ethics for healthcare and healthcare management. Learners choose a third class in applied health economics, healthcare project management, or strategic planning in healthcare.
Applicants submit transcripts from previous college coursework, GMAT or GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of academic and degree goals. Individuals with sufficient managerial experience may qualify for a GMAT or GRE waiver.
Named for its founder, John E. Brown, JBU offers interdenominational, Christian academic programs from its campus in Siloam Spring, Arkansas. JBU’s online MBA in healthcare administration comprises 36-45 credit hours, which most students complete in two years.
Students without undergraduate coursework or sufficient business experience complete nine credit hours of foundation coursework in accounting and finance, quantitative methods, and economics theory.
JBU’s online MBA core integrates 18 credit hours of coursework in managerial strategies, economics, and finance. Learners also study Christian foundations of business, quantitative methods, and strategic design and execution.
Another 18 credit hours of healthcare administration provide a comprehensive look at the healthcare industry. Courses include financial management of healthcare organizations, healthcare analytics, healthcare law and ethics, and strategic management in healthcare organizations.
All MBA students at JBU pay $600 per credit hour. To apply, learners must submit transcripts from previous college coursework demonstrating a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Affiliated with the Churches of Christ, ACU was founded in 1908. From its campus in Abilene, Texas, ACU offers a 36-credit hour online MBA in healthcare administration. Most students earn their MBAs in 24 months.
Core coursework emphasizes leadership, innovation, and managerial decision-making. Learners study organizational behavior, analytics, and business law and ethics, plus foundations of operations and information technology management. Nine credit hours of healthcare administration content cover healthcare policy and ethics, health services administration, and innovation and trends in healthcare.
Applicants submit transcripts from previous college coursework demonstrating a minimum 3.0 GPA, a resume, and a letter of intent for consideration. Individuals need two years' professional experience or GMAT or GRE scores if they do not possess sufficient work experience. Admission requires prerequisite coursework in accounting, economics, and statistics.
Located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, SAU holds affiliation with the Free Methodist Church. Founded in 1873, SAU offers an online MBA in healthcare administration, which learners can complete in 12-18 months.
SAU’s online MBA in healthcare administration includes 36 credit hours of core and concentration classes. The MBA core at SAU builds leadership skills through classes in managerial accounting, statistics, and accounting. Students may participate in an experiential learning trip to New York City, as well. Concentration coursework explores trends in healthcare administration and management. Learners also study managerial finance and managing quality in healthcare.
A culminating capstone course allows learners to synthesize core and concentration knowledge and skills through organizational assessment. Students work in teams to identify a problem or opportunity in a healthcare setting, providing efficient and effective decisions and strategies for organizational improvement.
To apply, learners submit transcripts from an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA for the last two years of coursework. Additional application materials include two recommendation surveys.
Dedicated to its Christian foundations, Cedarville provides undergraduate and graduate programs steeped in biblical-theological doctrine. Located in Cedarville, Ohio, Cedarville offers an online MBA in healthcare administration, which offers business and healthcare content through a biblical lens.
Cedarville’s online MBA in healthcare administration includes 36-39 credit hours, which learners may complete in two years. The MBA core blends coursework in managerial economics, financial management, and strategic marketing with biblical and theological knowledge.
Nine credit hours of healthcare administration classes emphasize healthcare systems, healthcare policy and data analysis, and quality management in healthcare. Healthcare management students complete a legal and ethics class focused on the healthcare industry prior to a capstone requirement.
Prerequisite coursework for admission includes accounting, microeconomics, and business statistics. To apply, learners must submit transcripts from previous college coursework with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students can transfer up to nine credit hours into the program. Online students pay $623 per credit hour.
Established in 1819, UC’s online MBA program offers several healthcare-related concentrations, including a degree in healthcare administration. The online MBA in healthcare administration at UC integrates 38-48 credit hours of core and specialized coursework.
Students without undergraduate coursework in business or previous professional experience complete 10 credit hours of foundational coursework in economics, finance, accounting, and marketing. UC’s 26-credit hour MBA core emphasizes decision-making, strategic management, and managing across cultures.
A curriculum including twelve credit hours of healthcare administration coursework incorporates multidisciplinary content covering healthcare management, finance, and quality. Students can also focus on global health systems, strategic success in the healthcare marketplace, and health informatics. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Application materials include GMAT or GRE scores, a resume, a statement of goals, and two letters of recommendation.
Originally one of the first Catholic women’s colleges west of the Mississippi River, Webster functions as a nondenominational, coeducational institution. With a main campus near St. Louis, Missouri, Webster offers an online MBA in health administration, which includes 36 credit hours of core and concentration coursework.
Webster’s MBA core combines 27 credit hours of advanced business and managerial content. Coursework includes organizational behavior, finance, managerial accounting, and operations and project management. Nine credit hours of health administration courses emphasize organization and management in health administration, financial management in the healthcare industry, and health administration law.
Prerequisites include business, accounting theory and practice, and current economic analysis. To apply, students must submit transcripts from previous college coursework demonstrating a minimum 2.5 GPA for consideration.
OKCU, a private, United Methodist university established in 1904, offers an online MBA in healthcare administration. The program, which most students complete in two years, includes 36 credit hours of core and concentration coursework.
OKCU’s MBA core emphasizes business managerial and decision-making skills. Coursework includes effective leadership and communication, data analysis, managing in a global economy, and technology and operations management.
The healthcare administration curriculum focuses on business foundations as they relate to the healthcare industry. Learners study healthcare financial strategies, healthcare marketing, and strategic management of healthcare organizations. During a capstone requirement, learners integrate business knowledge during simulations, case study exercises, and live-case client projects.
Applicants submit transcripts from previous college coursework, plus a resume, an essay, and two letters of recommendation. They do not have to submit prerequisites or GMAT scores, but they should possess at least three years of relevant work experience.
Affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, NNU began as a Bible school in Nampa, Idaho, in 1913. NNU offers an online healthcare MBA comprising 33-48 credit hours of core and concentration coursework. Learners earn an MBA in as few as 18 months.
Core MBA classes at NNU explore managerial aspects of accounting, law, and information systems. Learners study leadership development, ethics in management, and organizational dynamics. The curriculum also allows learners to participate in an international learning experience, during which they focus on managing in a global economy.
Nine credit hours of healthcare emphasize leadership perspectives for advancing the nursing profession, population health and interprofessional collaboration, and healthcare systems and health policy. The healthcare curriculum at NNU begins each fall semester, with courses running sequentially for five weeks each.
Applicants provide transcripts from previous college coursework, including a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Online students pay $615 per credit hour.
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 enable learners to finish in one year. 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Prospective students 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, both qualifying learners for general managerial and leadership posts.
MBA programs in healthcare management deliver a more in-depth understanding of leadership in healthcare, medical insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. A specialized MBA suits learners who aspire to managerial positions in these industries.
Comparing Healthcare Administration MBAs to General MBA Programs
MBA in Healthcare Administration
General MBA
Length
Two years full time
Two years full time
Credit Load
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 move to a higher position
College graduates and business professionals aspiring to secure a position 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
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 newfound business prowess to real-world business challenges.
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 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 among programs. Private schools tend to be more expensive than public institutions. Public universities commonly charge an additional $10,000-$20,000 for out-of-state residents, bringing the cost of tuition at public institutions in line with the tuition expense at private schools.
Most schools charge less for their distance learning programs, however. Public schools commonly 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 the degree. The links below provide more information about these financial options.
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 six figures as of 2019.
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 (2019-29):+32% Median Annual Salary:$100,980
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 (2019-29):+6% Median Annual Salary:$96,940
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 (2019-29):-6% Median Annual Salary:$70,020
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:$91,510
Selecting Your Healthcare Administration MBA Program
Our rankings can help students narrow down their available school options to a more manageable size. Prospective enrollees should consider the factors that align most with their goals and perform their own research, as well, such as affordability. Students who graduate with substantial amounts of debt may never see a return on investment.
An MBA can be a valuable credential, but only if earned at a regionally accredited university, ideally from a business school accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. These designations convey to future employers that a degree meets the highest educational and industry-specific standards.
An MBA can be a valuable credential, but only if earned at a regionally accredited university
Prospective MBA students should also consider the success of a school’s alumni. While the success of a single graduate does not provide insight into program quality, the overall accomplishments of a program’s alumni point to the school’s reputation.
The availability of networking opportunities for distance learners also plays an important role. Networking events offer crucial connections to gaining references, internships, and job offers.
Why You Should Get Your MBA in Healthcare Administration Online
Prospective students considering online MBAs in healthcare administration may wonder whether employers hold the same view of online degrees as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. With distance learning on the rise, employers increasingly regard online and on-campus MBAs from the same prestigious business school 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 program formats that match their learning style. Individuals who learn best in a classroom setting with peer discussions should prioritize synchronous online programs. These immersive learning experiences simulate on-campus experiences.
Aspiring MBA enrollees who prefer to study at their own pace may want to consider asynchronous online programs. Degree-seekers can access course materials and complete assignments and discussion boards at their convenience. Keep in mind, however, that an asynchronous format requires significant self-determination to stay on pace with course deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with an MBA in healthcare administration?
An MBA in healthcare administration qualifies graduates for managerial and leadership posts in the healthcare, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. Career options include healthcare manager, nursing home director, healthcare compliance officer, and healthcare financial director.
Is an MBA in healthcare administration worth it?
Yes. Even when factoring in all the costs of completing the degree, MBAs in healthcare administration still tend to see a return on investment within a few years of finding employment.
How much does an MBA in healthcare administration cost?
Tuition for an MBA in healthcare administration at a top-tier school can cost $20,000-$150,000 in total, depending on prestige, school type (public vs. private), and program type (on-campus vs. online). However, most schools offer their online MBAs at a discounted rate.
Do employers care if your MBA is online?
No. If you earn an MBA from a reputable school, employers do not mind whether the degree comes from an in-person or online program.
Is it better to get an MBA or an MHA?
An MBA tends to qualify graduates for higher positions in the field than an MHA. However, an MBA can be much more expensive than an MHA, as the former tends to take twice as long to complete.
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