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MBA in healthcare management online programs develop foundational business skills for those working in the contemporary healthcare system and market. Students learn about finance, marketing, accounting, and leadership, along with health informatics, healthcare operations, and health law.
Earning an MBA in healthcare management can carve a pathway to improving the U.S. healthcare system.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average growth for healthcare management occupations from 2019-2029, driven by the aging of the baby-boomer population and increased use of electronic health records.
This guide includes a list of online MBA in healthcare management rankings. We also explain what to expect from a typical MBA in healthcare management online program, potential career paths for graduates, and strategies for choosing the right school.
Top 10 Online MBA Programs in Healthcare Management
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Located in Baltimore, Maryland, JHU holds distinction as America's first research university. JHU offers the top online MBA in healthcare management, designed to accommodate working professionals. Students complete the 54-credit-hour curriculum in under three years.
Thirty credit hours of business foundations coursework emphasizes analytics, communication, and leadership in organizational settings. Classes in negotiation, operations management, and information systems build knowledge of theoretical and technical business practices. Several of the business foundations classes include an on-campus residency.
Learners complete required healthcare management courses in frameworks for analyzing health markets and healthcare law and regulation. Additional healthcare management electives include healthcare organizations and management, emerging frontiers in health technologies and strategies, and a sequential healthcare strategy consulting practicum.
Online and on-campus students pay $1,410 per credit hour. Applicants need two years of work experience to apply. Application materials include a resume, essays, a letter of recommendation, and GMAT or GRE scores.
Established as a Jesuit institution in 1888, Scranton offers academic programs infused with Catholic tradition. Scranton's online MBA in healthcare management emphasizes technological integration in business settings while preparing future healthcare leaders.
This online MBA in healthcare management includes 36 credit hours. Core coursework in accounting, economics, and finance; operations, analytics, and information; and management and marketing accompany 12-18 credit hours of concentration classes.
The healthcare management curriculum explores healthcare law, hospital administration, health services and systems, and healthcare financial management. Learners also study health informatics and complete a capstone requirement at the end of their program.
To apply, learners provide three letters of reference, a statement of intent, a resume, and transcripts from previous college coursework. Applicants must have at least three years of professional or supervisory experience.
Operated by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, CSP represents one of nine schools in the Concordia University System. CSP's online MBA in healthcare management comprises 42 credit hours of core and concentration coursework.
The MBA core at CSP emphasizes business analytics, strategic decision-making, and effective communication. Students complete classes in organizational leadership and development, managerial finance and accounting, and global economics. Concentration coursework in quality practices trains students to blend customer service and happiness with efficient, effective healthcare management. Learners also build strategic leadership skills, applicable to healthcare settings and gain healthcare informatics skills.
Online MBA students at CSP work with mentors throughout the program to put together a managerial application portfolio. Each online MBA course lasts seven weeks. Online learners pay $625 per credit hour, with discounts available to active military personnel. To apply, learners submit transcripts from previous college coursework demonstrating a minimum 3.0 GPA and a personal statement.
Rooted in Benedictine Catholic values, CSS serves students from its main campus in Duluth, Minnesota, online, and at locations throughout the state. The online MBA in rural health at CSS includes 36 credit hours, which learners complete in as few as two years.
Designed to prepare students for the challenges faced by hospitals and clinics in rural settings, CSS's online MBA emphasizes core management and healthcare knowledge and skills. Managerial coursework in human resources, organizational behavior, and economics for decision-making accompany classes in marketing and organization development.
Healthcare administration and healthcare finance classes offer insights into the current healthcare business environment, also training students in budget preparation, reimbursement processes, and profitability analysis. At the end of CSS's rural health MBA, students carry out a research project, synthesizing degree knowledge in an academic paper. Applicants submit transcripts from previous college coursework for consideration. Online students pay $565 per credit hour.
Established as North America's first pharmacy college in 1821, USciences offers an online MBA in pharmaceutical and healthcare business. The specialized program includes online coursework, on-campus intensive learning experiences, and a cooperative capstone experience.
Students earn MBAs in pharmaceutical and healthcare business from USciences in as few as 27 months. Twenty-six credit hours of required courses in managerial and corporate finance, financial accounting, and leadership and development accompany classes in team dynamics and business statistics. Learners also complete four credit hours of strategic management classes.
Concentration coursework explores issues and trends in health policy, health economics, and international pharmaceutical business. Classes in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, research, and development prepare students for a global business strategies capstone requirement.
Two courses in the MBA curriculum bring learners to USciences' Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, campus for a five-day residency. The capstone course features an on-campus presentation. Learners can take classes in the evenings, online, or both. All MBA students in pharmaceutical and healthcare business pay $1,000 per credit hour.
Applicants must submit transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and three letters of recommendation.
UD, located in Newark, Delaware, represents the state's largest higher learning institution. The online MBA in healthcare management at UD includes 44 credit hours, which students complete in as few as 16 months.
UD's online MBA core focuses on fundamentals of analytics; managing people, teams, and organizations; and financial and marketing management. Learners explore ethical issues in domestic and global business environments, also participating in professional development seminars in emotional intelligence and critical-thinking and communicating, branding, and career networking.
Fifteen credit hours of concentration coursework emphasize population health informatics, e-service management in healthcare, and patient experience and engagement. Additional healthcare management course options include leadership and innovation in public health or policy and finance for healthcare delivery.
Applicants must demonstrate a minimum 2.8 GPA from an accredited bachelor's program, plus two years of work experience. Qualified applicants may receive waivers for required GMAT or GRE scores. Online MBA students pay $900 per credit hour.
Based in Potsdam, New York, Clarkson traces its origins to 1896. It offers a 48-credit hour online MBA in healthcare management through the David D. Reh School of Business.
Clarkson's MBA in healthcare management core features 21 credit hours in healthcare operations, marketing, and systems management. Learners study statistical methods for data analytics and financial and managerial accounting for decision-making. They also participate in a leadership seminar.
Advanced classes include healthcare finance, economics, and policy. In anticipation of an internship and a capstone course, learners also explore structural dynamics, legal issues, and strategy within healthcare organizations. Students with relevant work experience may receive waivers for their internship requirement.
Most students earn their MBAs in healthcare management in three years. Applicants submit transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, and a resume for consideration. Additional application materials include a statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation.
Founded in 1929, Quinnipiac occupies campuses in Hamden and North Haven, Connecticut. Home to the well-known Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, Quinnipiac offers a 46-credit hour online MBA in healthcare management.
The MBA core at Quinnipiac emphasizes decision-making for business leaders. Students study financial, marketing, and operational decision-making, plus coursework in managing the decision-making process. To build decision-making tools, learners complete coursework in managerial economics, information systems strategy, and business decision analysis.
Fifteen credit hours of healthcare management courses include quality management in healthcare facilities, integrated health systems and managed care, and legal aspects of healthcare delivery. Learners participate in a decision-making capstone at the end of the program, applying functional business knowledge through company analysis and case-study exercises.
Applicants submit transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a letter of intent for consideration. Unless waived, students also submit GRE or GMAT scores.
Steeped in Catholic and Lasallian tradition, Lewis opened its doors under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1932. Lewis offers an online MBA in healthcare management, which comprises 36-54 credit hours.
Foundational coursework in Lewis's online MBA builds knowledge of accounting, economics, marketing, and finance. Students with previous coursework in these areas, or who successfully complete proficiency exams, may receive waivers for foundation requirements. The MBA core at Lewis includes 24 credit hours of coursework in managerial accounting, economics, finance, and communication. Learners study legal and ethical foundations of business, international business, and strategic management in a global environment.
Nine credit hours of healthcare management classes emphasize healthcare finance and economics, quality management in healthcare, and business intelligence and data analysis. Learners may also complete coursework in disaster recovery and business continuity planning as part of their degree.
Applicants provide transcripts from previous college coursework demonstrating a minimum 3.0 GPA, a resume, and two recommendations for consideration. On-campus and online students in the MBA program pay $810 per credit hour.
With a main campus in Macon, Georgia, Mercer represents the state's oldest private university. Mercer's online MBA in healthcare management comprises 36-45 credit hours of foundation, core, specialized, and capstone coursework.
Students with previous coursework in economics, accounting and finance, and applied business statistics may receive waivers for foundation course requirements. Mercer's MBA core includes 21 credit hours in managerial economics and accounting, ethical leadership, and operations management science.
Twelve credit hours of healthcare management coursework emphasize healthcare economics and finance and ethical issues in the healthcare industry. Students may participate in a healthcare management internship before completing their culminating capstone course.
Applicants submit transcripts from a regionally accredited bachelor's program, plus a resume and GRE or GMAT scores for consideration. Mercer offers five admission dates each year and allows learners to complete classes online or in the classroom. Students earn their degrees in as few as 18 months.
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia offers academic programs rich in Catholic heritage from its campus in Dallas, Pennsylvania. The online MBA in healthcare management at Misericordia comprises 36 credit hours of core and concentration coursework.
Twenty-four credit hours of core courses emphasize organizational behavior and development, law and the business environment, and information analysis and interpretation. Learners study information systems for management, human resources, and managerial economics in anticipation of an integrative capstone experience.
Learners complete a required healthcare leadership and management course, plus six additional credit hours of concentration requirements. Course options include global health, healthcare finance, and healthcare law. Part-time students complete Misericordia's online MBA in healthcare management in as few as 30 months. Applicants submit transcripts for consideration. Online learners pay $645 per credit hour.
DeSales, located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, honors its namesake, St. Francis de Sales, by offering educational programs based in Catholic heritage. DeSales' online MBA in healthcare management includes 36 credit hours of core, concentration, and capstone coursework.
Individuals with no business background may take additional foundation classes. Prerequisites for the online MBA include micro- and macroeconomics, marketing, management, and accounting. However, DeSales offers these, as well. The MBA core at DeSales builds comprehensive business administration knowledge and skills. Learners complete seven classes in topics such as business and society, financial management, business computing, and executive skills development.
Twelve credit hours of healthcare management classes allow learners to explore aspects of the healthcare industry that meet their professional goals. Course options include fiscal issues in health systems management, principles and strategies for managed healthcare, and community health assessment and planning. Applicants submit a resume, three professional references, a personal statement, and transcripts for consideration. Individuals who do not meet a 3.0 GPA may supplement their applications with GMAT scores.
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, Queens University opened its doors in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1857. Dedicated to liberal arts and professional studies, Queens University offers an online MBA in healthcare management, which learners complete in as few as two years.
Foundation courses in accounting, finance, and statistics prepare learners for core and concentration coursework. Learners with previous coursework in these areas or sufficient work experience may receive waivers for foundation requirements. The MBA core at Queens University includes 21 credit hours of coursework in leadership development, managerial accounting and finance, and economics for managers. Learners study business analytics and marketing management, as well.
Nine credit hours of healthcare management classes emphasize health services organization and delivery. Learners explore management and human resources in healthcare, quality improvement in healthcare organizations, and managerial epidemiology research and statistics.
At the beginning of the MBA program, all students participate in an immersive residency experience. To apply, learners submit transcripts, an admissions essay, a resume, and two letters of recommendation. Applicants may receive waivers for required GRE or GMAT scores based on previous academic performance and professional experience.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern began as an evening institute for young men. Now designated an R1 institution, Northeastern's online MBA in healthcare management curriculum includes 50 credit hours.
The 39-credit hour MBA core at Northeastern emphasizes the managerial aspects of global enterprise, information resources, and ethics in the workplace and marketplace. Learners study strategic implications for accounting data, information analysis, and global competition and market dominance to build decision-making skills as well.
Twelve credit hours of healthcare management classes explore healthcare finance, strategic decision-making for healthcare professionals, and health informatics and information systems. Online students may participate in an on-campus or international field study residency, as well.
Applicants submit transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume for consideration. Learners need a minimum 3.0 GPA, an accredited bachelor's degree, and five years of professional experience for admission.
With campuses in Harrisburg and Chester, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware, Widener traces its origins to 1821. Widener's online MBA in health management comprises 33 credit hours, which students can complete in 18-24 months.
Depending on previous coursework, students may complete five foundational courses in analytics, accounting, organizational behavior, and finance. Widener's MBA core emphasizes managing business processes, managerial decision-making, and data analytics through 24 credit hours of coursework. Learners also explore theory and practice of organizational leadership.
Healthcare management courses focus on healthcare policy and community health management. Students build management skills and gain insights into management in changing and innovative settings. Widener also offers non-credit hour seminars and workshops to supplement its online MBA. Topics include leadership presence, negotiation, interviewing, and ethics.
Applicants provide transcripts from regionally accredited bachelor's degrees demonstrating a minimum 2.7 GPA, plus GMAT scores. Widener waives GMAT requirements for students with master's degrees, sufficient work experience, or undergraduate GPAs of 3.3 or higher.
Focused on healthcare-related academic programs, Parker began as a chiropractic college in 1982. Parker's online MBA in healthcare management comprises 36-42 credit hours of coursework, which students complete in 2-3 years.
Applicants admitted without bachelor's degrees in business complete six credit hours of MBA prerequisites in management, marketing and statistics, and accounting and finance. Core coursework emphasizes organizational behavior, marketing and financial management, and ethical leadership.
Twelve credit hours of healthcare management include healthcare policy analysis and decision-making and strategic management of health services organizations. Learners study corporate compliance and legal issues in healthcare before completing their business strategies capstone requirement. To apply, students submit transcripts from previous college coursework and GMAT scores. Individuals may receive GMAT waivers based on their cumulative GPA and previous work experience.
UArizona traces its origins to 1885, when it was established as the first university in the Arizona territory. Through the Eller College of Management, UArizona offers an online MBA in healthcare management, which students can complete in 14-30 months.
UArizona's MBA core includes 28 credit hours of coursework in financial and managerial accounting, business strategy, and business statistics and analysis. Students explore finance from the perspectives of analysis and managers, while building managerial skills applicable to marketing, information systems, and organizational ethics.
The healthcare management concentration emphasizes health economics, leadership in healthcare, and healthcare organization and management. Through the 17-credit hour healthcare management curriculum, learners study healthcare quality and reliability, healthcare entrepreneurship, and leading healthcare change, as well.
Applicants to the online MBA in healthcare management at UArizona submit a resume, a comprehensive essay, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts for consideration. Applicants who meet the educational and professional thresholds set by UArizona may receive waivers for required GMAT or GRE scores.
Now the largest university on Long Island, Hofstra University began as an extension of New York University. Hofstra University's online MBA in strategic healthcare management includes 38-45 credit hours, following a cohort model.
Learners can complete Hofstra University's MBA in two years in the cohort format. After the first semester, learners can opt out of their cohorts and earn their MBAs in an asynchronous format instead. Non-cohort students have up to five years to earn their degrees.
The online MBA in strategic healthcare management at Hofstra University features three areas of coursework. Students complete six credit hours of core competency requirements in legal, political, regulatory, and ethical business environments, plus business ethics and society. The advanced core offers a comprehensive look at business administration fundamentals through courses in information systems for managers, managerial finance, organizational behavior, and qualitative analysis.
Concentration coursework focuses on innovation, creativity, and design; strategic planning and accounting; and financial policy and analysis as they relate to the contemporary healthcare industry. Two four-day residencies bring together students at the beginning and end of the program.
Application materials include transcripts, GMAT scores, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation.
Academic programs at Walsh -- an independent, Catholic university located in North Canton, Ohio -- emphasize faith, character, and leadership. Students earn an online MBA in healthcare management from Walsh in as little as one year.
Walsh's online MBA core includes 18 credit hours of coursework in sustainable ethical leadership, financial accounting and management, and information systems. Learners also study organizational behavior and communication, marketing, and applied organizational research and analysis.
The healthcare management curriculum emphasizes quality and performance management, healthcare finance and economics, and legal and policy aspects of healthcare. Coursework in healthcare organization and systems accompanies elective coursework in nonprofit accounting, services marketing, or entrepreneurship and innovation.
During their healthcare management capstone course, learners focus on strategic management, diagnosing and identifying realistic solutions to existing, complex problems and issues in the healthcare industry.
Applicants must submit transcripts and a resume for consideration. Walsh admits students at six start dates each year.
Established in 1819, UC functions as part of the University System of Ohio. UC's online MBA in healthcare operations includes 26 credit hours of core courses, plus 12 credit hours of concentration classes.
The MBA core at UC builds comprehensive knowledge of accounting, financial and strategic management, and leadership. Learners study managerial economics, information and technology, and decision modeling in anticipation of a capstone requirement.
The healthcare operations curriculum focuses on health policy, healthcare finance, and healthcare economics. Classes in health systems management emphasize organization and delivery, while health quality courses explore evidence-based decision-making and total quality management.
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Application materials include a goal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, and GRE or GMAT scores. UC may award GRE/GMAT waivers for individuals who meet GPA and work experience requirements.
Based in the greater St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area, Webster offers academic programs through a network of campuses worldwide. Webster's online MBA in health administration includes 36 credit hours of core and concentration coursework. Individuals who need foundation prerequisites may take up to nine additional credit hours in business, accounting, and economics.
The MBA core at Webster integrates 27 credit hours of classes in organizational behavior, business statistics, corporate finance, and marketing. Additional core courses include strategy and competition, managerial economics, and operations and project management.
Nine credit hours of health administration courses build comprehensive knowledge and skills applicable to the healthcare industry. Learners study organizational and management in health administration, health administration law, and financial management for health administrators.
To apply, learners must submit transcripts demonstrating a minimum 2.5 GPA. Webster may award provisional and conditional admission on a case-by-case basis.
Absorbed into the University of Texas System in 1961, UT Dallas occupies a main campus in Richardson, Texas. The online MBA in healthcare leadership and management prepares students for leadership in the healthcare industry through 53 credit hours of cross-functional and industry-focused coursework.
Thirty-two credit hours of core classes emphasize accounting, financial, and strategic management. Learners study international business, business economics, and organizational behavior, building decision-making skills through classes in statistics, data analysis, and managing information technology in the analytics age.
Students complete 21 credit hours of elective coursework, 12 of which may apply toward the healthcare leadership and management concentration. Healthcare-specific courses include healthcare cost management and control, strategic leadership of healthcare organizations, and electronic health records applications.
Students earn an MBA in healthcare leadership and management from UT Dallas in as few as 21 months. Program prerequisites include quantitative foundations of business and communications for management.
Applicants must provide GMAT scores, transcripts from an accredited bachelor's program, and at least one letter of recommendation. Additional application materials include an essay and a resume.
From its 350-acre campus in West Hartford, Connecticut, UHart offers a 36-credit hour online MBA in healthcare management. Students complete 12 courses, earning their MBAs in as few as 24 months.
UHart's MBA core includes 27 credit hours of comprehensive business coursework. Students learn about the managerial aspects of organizational processes, accounting, statistics, and economics. Coursework in global strategy, business law and compliance, and organizational management builds decision-making and leadership skills.
Healthcare management learners complete nine credit hours in healthcare economics and analytics, healthcare insurance and financing, and health systems and management.
Applicants write letters of intent and supply resumes for consideration. Additional application materials include transcripts from previous college coursework and GMAT scores. Individuals with at least three years' work experience and/or a 3.0 GPA can request GMAT waivers. Online and on-campus students pay comparable per-credit hour tuition.
From its campus in Greenville, North Carolina, ECU offers an asynchronous, online MBA in healthcare management comprising 33-54 credit hours. Students with previous coursework and professional experience can waive foundation requirements and earn their degrees by completing as few as 11 courses.
Seven foundation classes in ECU's healthcare management MBA build essential business knowledge. Learners study financial and managerial accounting, business regulations, comparative management, and quantitative methods. ECU's MBA core includes 24 credit hours of coursework in management science, financial and strategic management, and organizational behavior.
Through MBA electives, learners can complete a healthcare management certificate. Twelve credit hours of required classes include healthcare systems and problems, management of healthcare operations, financial management of healthcare organizations, and healthcare strategic planning and management.
Applicants submit GMAT scores and transcripts reflecting a minimum 2.7 GPA for consideration. ECU may award GMAT waivers based on academic performance and professional experience.
One of the first higher education institutions designed specifically for adults, TESU opened its doors in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1972. TESU offers a 39-credit hour online MBA in healthcare management, which students can complete in as few as 15 months.
TESU's MBA core includes 21 credit hours of coursework in management fundamentals. Students learn about marketing, financial, global strategic, and operational management. Coursework in ethics for managers and organizational research precede a required management capstone.
The healthcare management curriculum includes 12 credit hours in healthcare delivery, finance, and law. A course in strategic management within a healthcare organization prepares students to effectively apply business competencies to trends, regulatory changes, and financial realities of the healthcare industry.
To apply, prospective learners must submit transcripts, a resume, and a personal statement for consideration. Candidates must complete prerequisite coursework in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics.
The healthcare management field considers the oversight of healthcare facilities, systems, and networks. Professionals help systems run efficiently to provide high-quality patient care. Typical job duties include creating departmental goals, recruiting and supervising staff members, managing facility finances, and ensuring that facilities comply with regulations and laws. Healthcare management MBA graduates combine general business skills with in-depth knowledge of healthcare system functionality.
Some students specialize in health information management, nursing home administration, or clinical management. Graduates with MBAs in healthcare management find employment as medical and health services managers, administrative services managers, healthcare administrators, and healthcare consultants.
Healthcare management professionals most frequently work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing and residential care facilities, and the government. Some individuals with healthcare management MBAs use their business and management skills in administrative positions outside of the field.
The United States employed 422,300 medical and health services managers as of 2019. The BLS attributes more demand for healthcare management professionals to the growing complexity of medical practices and systems and an increasing dependence on electronic health records.
A healthcare management MBA requires a significant investment of time, money, and hard work, but it can pay off. Students gain the general business knowledge and practical skills of a typical business administration graduate program while specializing in the in-demand area of healthcare management.
These candidates stand out from those with general MBAs and qualify for specialized positions in healthcare. Some benefits of earning an MBA in healthcare management include:
New Skills
Healthcare management MBA programs provide a foundation in business while also developing specialized knowledge of the healthcare field. Enrollees develop analytical, communication, leadership, and technical skills.
Continued Growth
The BLS projects medical and health services management occupations to grow by 32% from 2019-2029, much faster than the national average projected growth of 4% for all occupations. Earning a degree in an in-demand field makes it easier to find open positions and negotiate a competitive salary.
High Salaries
Graduates with MBAs in healthcare management qualify for high-level administrative and management positions in healthcare that command competitive salaries. For example, medical and health services managers earned a median annual salary of $100,980 as of 2019.
Top Online MBA in Healthcare Management Rankings
What the Best Online Healthcare Management MBAs Have in Common
What to Expect From an Online MBA in Healthcare Management
MBA in healthcare management online programs prepare students for administrative positions in healthcare. Many schools include healthcare management as a concentration within standard MBA programs, while others offer this subject area as a standalone degree.
Colleges provide healthcare management MBAs online, in person, and as hybrid programs. Most learners complete the degree in two years, but some schools offer accelerated pathways with shorter degree timelines. The average credit load for this degree is 30-45 credits. Typical courses include healthcare informatics, health systems marketing, and healthcare operations.
Minimum admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree and completion of basic business prerequisites. Below, we explain more about what to expect from your MBA in healthcare management program.
The MBA Admission Process
Admission requirements for MBA in healthcare management programs vary among schools but typically require each candidate to possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Some colleges stipulate that applicants hold bachelor’s degrees in business or related fields, but most accept applicants from diverse undergraduate backgrounds.
Prospective students with non-business bachelor’s degrees typically must complete prerequisite undergraduate business courses prior to enrollment. Other common requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA and satisfactory GMAT/GRE scores. Some MBA programs require or prefer individuals with 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in the business world.
Applicants often must submit letters of recommendation, written essays, a statement of goals, and resumes. Other required materials include college transcripts, test scores, and a completed online application. Although not required, experience in the healthcare industry may increase your chances of acceptance.
Master’s programs in healthcare management programs may offer other types of degrees than MBAs, such as a master of science (MS) or master of legal studies (MLS). These options focus less on developing business skills than an MBA in healthcare management. Similarities and differences among these types of healthcare management degrees include:
MBA in Healthcare Management
An MBA in healthcare management focuses on general business skills with a focus on healthcare management. Students gain leadership, communication, project management, and decision-making skills.
MS in Healthcare Management
An MS in healthcare management provides an in-depth understanding of the issues facing the healthcare industry. Students learn to evaluate healthcare proposals, compare technology solutions, and oversee healthcare settings.
MLS in Healthcare Management
An MLS in healthcare management focuses on legal issues related to the healthcare system. Professionals with MLS degrees ensure that healthcare organizations meet legal obligations and follow regulations.
Students may encounter healthcare MBAs 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 differ in scope.
General MBAs and healthcare management degrees share similarities and some key differences. Broadly speaking, a healthcare management MBA adds coursework relating to hospital administration and oversight.
If you know that you want to work in the healthcare industry, consider a healthcare management degree. If focusing on business aligns more with your career goals, explore available MBA programs. In the table below, we compare healthcare management and general MBA programs to help you identify your ideal degree.
Comparing Healthcare Management MBAs to General MBA Programs
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 and
General business 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
MBA in healthcare management curriculum varies among institutions, but most programs focus on healthcare law and regulations, organizational leadership, and financial reporting and analysis.
Most programs require 30-45 credits of core and concentration/elective courses. Healthcare management students commonly complete capstone projects, as well. Some popular healthcare management courses include:
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.
Enrollees learn about organizational processes that affect the ability of organizations to manage innovation and change. This core class explores theoretical issues of strategic management, as well as practical frameworks and tools for leading organizations.
This class provides an introduction to population health management and improvement through public health data and healthcare information technology. Degree-seekers apply information technologies to improve patient care while considering social context, legal and ethical concerns, and technology availability.
This course emphasizes the role of leadership in improving healthcare service delivery. Learners explore financing structures and consider programs to improve population health.
This class serves as a culminating experience, synthesizing the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program into one final project. Students put their skills into practice working on real-world problems in the healthcare industry.
How Much Will an MBA in Healthcare Management Cost?
The cost of earning an MBA in healthcare management varies significantly by program and school. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that as of the 2018-2019 academic year, graduate students paid an average of $19,314 per year. However, the cost varies significantly by type of school. Individuals attending public institutions paid an average of just $12,170 annually, while the average private school charged graduate students $25,930 per year.
Other factors affecting tuition include program format (online or in person), school prestige, and residency status (in state or out of state). Prospective students looking to save money can find the best option by comparing public colleges that maintain in-state tuition policies.
Students must consider other costs they may incur while in school, including the price of textbooks, technology upgrades, housing, and transportation. Universities offer several financing options for MBA in healthcare management majors, including scholarships, grants, fellowships, and loans.
Earning an MBA in healthcare management prepares graduates for lucrative 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 called healthcare administrators or healthcare executives, coordinate health and medical services. They manage entire 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 requires a bachelor’s degree at minimum, but many employers require or prefer candidates with a master’s degree.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree (master’s degree often preferred)
Administrative services managers coordinate the actions that help organizations function efficiently. Specific duties vary depending on the size of the organization but may include supervising administrative staff, managing records, setting departmental goals, and overseeing the repair of equipment. Earning professional certification from the Institute of Certified Records Managers or the International Facility Management Association can improve job competitiveness.
Human resources managers coordinate, plan, and oversee the administrative tasks for organizations. They plan employee benefits programs, provide advice to other managers on human resources issues, mediate disputes, and oversee recruitment efforts. Many employers prefer human resources managers who hold master’s degrees.
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.
Our online MBA in healthcare management rankings list offers a great starting place, but prospective students should consider many other factors when choosing a program. Elements to consider when comparing MBAs in healthcare management include:
Cost/Financial Aid
Compare your budget and the estimated cost of each prospective program. Explore financial aid opportunities like scholarships, grants, graduate assistantships, and loans.
Accreditation
Any school that you consider should hold regional accreditation. This process ensures that learners can access financial aid, transfer credits to other universities, and qualify for certification opportunities. Many MBA programs also hold separate programmatic accreditation. Look for accrediting bodies such as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.
Program Length
Most MBA in healthcare management programs take two full-time years to complete. Students who want to graduate more quickly can look for accelerated online options that may take as little as one year.
University Resources
What types of student resources do your potential healthcare management MBA programs offer? Look for robust career development centers, free tutoring, access to library resources, and help with information technology issues.
Why You Should Get Your MBA in Healthcare Management Online
Earning an MBA in healthcare management online offers added flexibility, convenience, and affordability.
Most distance education programs feature asynchronous instruction, allowing learners to log on and complete coursework at any time. This flexibility allows enrollees to work and take care of other personal commitments while in school.
Online MBA programs commonly offer tuition discounts or in-state rates for out-of-state learners. Students can also potentially save money by graduating more quickly, taking out fewer loans, and avoiding costs related to commuting to or living on campus.
MBA in healthcare management students must weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of online learning to decide if an online degree suits their personal learning style. Consider the school’s delivery methods, student services, and availability of on-campus organizations or events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an MBA in healthcare management good?
Yes. An MBA in healthcare management can open the door to well-paying and high-level careers in healthcare and other fields. Graduates hold expertise in general business and healthcare administration. Depending on your career goals and personal interests, earning this degree can offer a strong professional pathway.
What is the scope of an MBA in healthcare management?
MBA in healthcare management programs differ in scope. Most provide a foundation in general business knowledge and skills with a specialized focus on healthcare management. Most MBA in healthcare management programs offer healthcare management as a concentration while requiring students to complete core business classes.
Which is better: an MBA or MHA?
One type of master’s degree in healthcare management is not necessarily better than the other, and in many cases, the curriculums may share many similarities. Decide which type of degree to pursue based on your career goals. Students who know they want to work in healthcare administration may want to choose the master of healthcare administration, while those interested in gaining more broadly relevant business skills may prefer the MBA.
What can you do after an MBA in healthcare management?
Graduates with MBAs in healthcare management qualify for employment as medical and health services managers, administrative services managers, and healthcare consultants. MBA in healthcare management degree-holders can also continue their education and pursue doctoral degrees.
What is the salary of an MBA in hospital management?
MBA in healthcare management degree-holder salaries vary, depending on the type of job, employer, level of experience, and undergraduate background. Medical and health services managers earn a median annual salary of $100,980 as of 2019.
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