Online MBA healthcare management programs help you develop foundational business skills for the contemporary healthcare system and market. You can learn about finance, marketing, and leadership, along with health informatics, healthcare operations, and health law.
With an MBA in healthcare management, you could help improve the U.S. healthcare system. The outlook for the profession appears bright as well, outpacing the demand in most other fields.
Find out what the best online MBA in healthcare management programs and careers have to offer.
Popular Online Healthcare Management Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Is Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management involves overseeing various healthcare facilities, departments, and networks. Managers ensure their facility or department runs smoothly and provides high-quality patient care. Their typical job duties include setting goals, supervising staff members, and ensuring the facility complies with regulations and laws.
To prepare students for their future, MBA healthcare management programs provide general business skills and in-depth knowledge of healthcare systems and operations. Some programs offer specializations in health information management, nursing home administration, or clinical management.
Graduates with an MBA in healthcare management can pursue careers as medical and health services managers, healthcare administrators, and healthcare consultants. They may work in hospitals, physician's offices, nursing and residential care facilities, and the government. They can also take on administrative service management roles in non-healthcare industries.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 560,000 medical and health services managers were employed in 2023. The BLS also projects the addition of more than 160,000 new healthcare managers between 2023-2033, attributing the growth to the need for more healthcare services and technologically skilled leaders.
The Top Online Healthcare Management MBAs
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 2024. Visit our rankings methodology page to learn more about how we rank programs.
Healthcare Management Degree Options
Healthcare management master's programs can come in several degree types, including a specialized MBA, a master of science (MS), and a master of healthcare administration (MHA).
Each of these options features a different focus, such as business management or healthcare decision-making.
MBA in Healthcare Management
An MBA in healthcare management covers general business skills with a focus on healthcare management. Students gain leadership, communication, project management, and decision-making skills, particularly as they relate to healthcare.
MS in Healthcare Management
An MS in healthcare management provides an in-depth understanding of modern issues facing the healthcare industry. Students learn to evaluate healthcare proposals, compare technology solutions, and oversee healthcare settings.
Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
An MHA focuses on the administrative duties of a healthcare manager, including healthcare-specific finance, systems, and policy. Students learn about healthcare legal and ethical issues, laws and regulations, and evidence-based analysis.
Students may also encounter MBA healthcare management programs with other names, such as MBA in healthcare administration, MBA in hospital management, or MBA in healthcare. These degrees typically cover the same issues as MBAs in healthcare management but can differ in scope and approach.
MBAs in Healthcare Management vs. General MBAs
General MBA and MBA healthcare management programs share many similarities, including the program structure and core requirements. However, MBA healthcare management programs substitute some general business fundamental coursework with courses that explore business applications in healthcare.
If you know that you want to work in the healthcare industry, consider a healthcare management MBA. If you want to develop business management skills but haven't settled on a career destination, explore all available MBA programs.
In the table below, we compare healthcare management and general MBA programs to help you identify your ideal degree.
| Comparison Factor | MBA in Healthcare Management | General MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Program Length | Two years | Two years |
| Types of Classes | Health operations, health economics, health informatics | Accounting, finance, marketing, business ethics |
| Focus | General business and healthcare management knowledge and skills | General business management knowledge and skills |
| Available Jobs | Medical and health services manager, healthcare consultant, healthcare administrator, administrative services manager | Administrative services manager, top executive, sales manager, training and development manager |
| Admission Requirements | Bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, professional experience | Bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, professional experience |
| Course Load | 30-45 credits | 30-45 credits |
Popular Healthcare Management MBA Courses
MBA healthcare management program curriculums vary among institutions, but most focus on healthcare law and regulations, organizational and operational management, and financial reporting and analysis.
Most programs feature 30-45 credits of core and concentration/elective courses. Healthcare management students commonly complete capstone projects, as well. Some popular healthcare management courses include:
E-Service Management In Healthcare: This course considers how technological change, communications, and connectivity affect healthcare service delivery. Students learn to design, evaluate, and explain e-service solutions in healthcare.
Strategic Management: Enrollees learn about processes that affect an organization's ability to manage innovation and change. This core class explores theoretical issues of strategic management and practical frameworks for leading organizations.
Population Health Informatics: This class provides an introduction to population health management and improvement through public health data and healthcare information technology (IT). Degree-seekers apply IT strategies to improve patient care while considering social context, legal and ethical concerns, and technology availability.
Policy and Finance for Healthcare Delivery: This course emphasizes the role of leadership in improving healthcare service delivery. Learners explore financing structures and policy changes that can improve patient care.
Healthcare Management Capstone: This culminating experience allows students to apply the knowledge and skills they gained throughout the program into one final project. Students put their education to practice by working on real-world problems in the healthcare industry.
How Much Does an Online Healthcare MBA Cost?
The cost of earning an MBA in healthcare management varies significantly by program and school. Many factors can affect tuition rates, including program format (online or in-person), school type (public or private), and residency status (in-state or out-of-state).
For example, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports an average graduate tuition rate of $11,827 at public schools and $20,515 at private schools for the 2023-24 academic year.
While the NCES does not provide out-of-state tuition rates, many schools charge out-of-state students considerably higher rates than in-state students. For example, Arizona State University (ASU), one of the largest schools in the country, charges a base graduate tuition rate of $12,562 for Arizona residents and $26,496 for nonresidents.
Online programs may offer different prices for tuition and fees. Online learners save on travel costs, but they may also pay lower facilities fees and housing costs. Many schools even offer online learners the same tuition rate no matter where they live, including ASU.
Prospective students looking to save money can typically find the lowest tuition rates at in-state public schools. An online MBA in healthcare management might offer the lowest overall education costs.
Paying for Your MBA Degree
Regardless of your choice, you have several options to finance your MBA. Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which could qualify you for federal loans, grants, and scholarships.
Prospective MBA students may have access to specialized MBA scholarships. Along with awards from individual business schools, eligible MBA learners can pursue financial aid from groups including theConsortium for Graduate Study in Management, the National Black MBA Association, and Prospanica.
They can also pursue MBA fellowships, such as those from the Forte Foundation and Reaching Out. Some organizations even offer tuition assistance programs for employees who want to upgrade their skills with an MBA.
Is an MBA in Healthcare Management Worth It?
Individuals with a passion for healthcare leadership may find an MBA in healthcare management worth the time and price commitment. MBA healthcare management programs provide students with advanced business expertise and relevant practical experience through internships, hands-on projects, and mentorships.
Before enrolling, calculate your possible return on investment from a healthcare management MBA by comparing tuition and fees to potential future earnings. While MBA tuition costs can exceed the NCES-reported average graduate tuition of $20,513, these degrees can also significantly increase your postgraduate earnings.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council's 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey, the estimated median starting salary for an MBA graduate nearly doubles that of bachelor's graduates.
Jobs for MBAs in Healthcare Management
Earning an MBA in healthcare management prepares graduates to pursue careers in the health industry and beyond. BLS projections indicate faster-than-average growth for these positions, along with strong salaries. Some common careers include:
Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and health services managers, also known as healthcare administrators or healthcare executives, coordinate health and medical services. They manage facilities, departments, practices, and systems. Typical job duties include setting departmental objectives, recruiting and training staff members, maintaining facility service records, and preparing budgets. This occupation typically requires a bachelor's degree at minimum, but many employers require or prefer candidates with master's degrees.
Administrative Services Manager
Administrative services managers coordinate the actions that help organizations function efficiently. Specific duties vary depending on organization size but may include supervising administrative staff, managing records, setting departmental goals, and overseeing equipment repairs. Earning professional certification from the Institute of Certified Records Managers or the International Facility Management Association can improve job competitiveness.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers coordinate, plan, and oversee companies' administrative tasks. They plan employee benefits programs, advise other managers on human resources issues, mediate disputes, and oversee recruitment efforts. Many employers prefer managers who have an MBA in human resources.
Healthcare Consultant
Healthcare consultants conduct research, devise solutions to problems, talk to and observe employees, and write reports. Healthcare organizations hire healthcare consultants to improve service delivery. Many healthcare consultants are self-employed, but some maintain full-time employment within large healthcare organizations. Clients often prefer or require healthcare consultants with master's degrees and extensive relevant experience.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree
Average Annual Salary (August 2024):$87,202
Frequently Asked Questions About MBA Programs in Healthcare Management
MBA healthcare management programs provide business and management skills within a practical healthcare context. Some of the courses may include healthcare finance, policy, and administration.
