Our ranking of the Best Value Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration programs provides a great starting point for students seeking compare programs in Healthcare Administration and find one that meets their individual needs and budget. This list represents the best programs at the best price as determined by the latest rankings of the top graduate schools for healthcare and estimated tuition costs for the 2014-2015 academic year.
US News and World Report cites healthcare as one of the fastest growing industries in the US with a whopping 22% job growth over the next six years. This exponential growth, fueled by the Affordable Care Act, new technologies and a large (and aging) Baby Boomer generation, has increased the need for healthcare leadership in both clinical and administrative arenas; and, with that need, colleges and universities have found an online niche.
Qualified administrators, holding degrees in Masters of Healthcare Administration (MHA), Masters of Public Health (MPH) or an MBA (with healthcare concentrations), are critical in the oversight of a wide array of medical facilities from hospitals and healthcare systems to outpatient clinics and long-term care facilities. The potential salary compensation is as equally appealing as the work is demanding, with hospital administrators receiving a median, annual salary of $98,000 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
#1. LSU Shreveport
This 10-course program is 100% online and allows for students to participate full-or-part time. LSU-Shreveport offers a full-time or part-time curriculum to meet the working professional’s needs.
Length of program: 12 months
Tuition and fees: $10,054
Coursework Snapshot: Healthcare Organizational Behavior; Healthcare Human Resource Management; Healthcare Systems; Healthcare Law and Ethics; Healthcare Marketing; Healthcare Informatics.
#2. University of St. Fancis
Offering a MBA with a healthcare concentration, the University of St. Francis combines online learning with local classroom work in the evenings and Saturdays in campus settings throughout the country. The programs of St. Francis have been recognized by Princeton Review as one of “The Best Colleges By Region” and is in the top tier of rankings by US News and World Report.
Length of program: 12 months
Tuition and fees: $18,900
Coursework Snapshot: Medical Sociology; Health Informatics: Financial Management of Health Services; Health Care Law; Health Care Ethics
#3. Ashford University
Conferring a Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration, Ashford University focuses on healthcare leadership training for potential healthcare administrators. Regionally accredited, Ashford does not have GRE or GMAT requirements for enrollment.
Length of program: Approximately 1 year
Tuition and Fees: $20,060
Coursework Snapshot: Economics; Ethics; Finance; Health Policy Law; Human Resources; Information Systems; Leadership.
#4. Valparaiso University
Founded in 1859, “Valpo’s” online efforts have been ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News and World Report. The Masters of Healthcare Administration at Valparaiso University is offered in one of four speciality areas: Strategic Leadership, Health Informatics, Gerontology Forensic.
Length of Program: Approximately 24 months.
Tuition and Fees: $21,420
Coursework Snapshot: Understanding Health Care Organizations, Project Management, Financial Management, Ethics in Health Care, Legal Issues and Compliance in Health Care
#5. Kaplan University
Kaplan received a top ranking by U.S. News and World Report and offers mulitple start dates throughout the year, making it easier for working professionals to enroll. Significant tuition rate reductions are offered for active-duty service personnel and their families.
Length of program: 18 months
Tuition and Fees: $21,840
Coursework Snapshot: Organizational Development for Health Care; Leadership in Healthcare; Health Care Financial Management; Health Policy; Health Law
#6. University of Maryland
UM specifically offers a program designed for mid-career healthcare professionals wishing to move into healthcare administration. The program also offers a dual degree option for those wishing to receive a second master’s degree in Business Administration.
Length of program: 12 months
Tuition and fees: $16,488 (Maryland Residents); $23,724 (Non-Residents)
Coursework Snapshot: Introduction to Healthcare Administration; Information Technology for Healthcare Administration; The U.S. Healthcare System; Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration; Healthcare Financial Management; Marketing Management; Human Resource Strategies.
#7. Grand Canyon University
Offering an accelerated program with courses carrying 4 credit hours, Grand Canyon University awards a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration for healthcare professionals. GCU offers a capstone course in health administration that provides an opportunity to develop a research project or proposal that can be implemented upon program completion.
Tuition and Fees: $24,310.
Length of program: Less than 24 months
Coursework Snapshot: Leadership Styles and Development, Organizational Structure, Dynamics, and Effectiveness; Legal and Ethical Principles in Health Care; Organizational Structure, Dynamics, and Effectiveness; Evidence-Based Research Project
#8. Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU offers both a MSM and MBA in healthcare administration. Southern New Hampshire is the only university recognized with “Best of Business” Awards for Best Online Degree Program and ranked 12th on Fast Company’s list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.
Length of program: 21 months
Tuition and fees: $24,530
Coursework Snapshot: Business Ethics and Culture Healthcare Policy and Financing, Leadership in Clinical Microsystems and Process, Social and Organizational Issues in Healthcare
#9. Ohio University
Ohio University is consistently recognized as one of the outstanding universities in the country by such organizations as U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review. OU has benn recognized as one of Ameria’s 100 Best college Buys for the past 18 year.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and Fees: $25,338 (Ohio Residents) $26,022 (Non-Residents)
Coursework Snapshot: Information Systems for Health Services; Research and Quantitative Methods for Health Services; Health Care Finance; Strategic Planning and Marketing in Health Services
#10. Walden University
Walden offers a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) entirely online with an optional experience practicum. WU’s online programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission North Central Association and offers a distinguished faculty.
Length of program: 30 months
Tuition and fees: $27,030 (total)
Coursework Snapshot: Foundations in Healthcare Administration, U.S. Healthcare Delivery System, Organizational Development and Leadership, Health Policies and Economics, Strategic Planning and Implementation
#11. St. Joseph’s University
St. Joseph’s MS program provides two professional tracks in Ethics or Informatics, designed for currently working healthcare professionals who wish to move up in management. The online program offered by St. Joseph’s is a practice based model designed to prepare graduates to immediately enter the field upon graduation.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $27,864 (Ethics) $32,508 (Informatics)
Coursework Snapshot: Population and status assessment; Health Policy; Organization Development; Operations and Information Systems; Legal Principles; Leadership
#12. A.T. Still University
This Master of Health Administration program integrates web-based instruction, directed readings, email, chat room interactions and face-to-face Residential Learning Institutes (RLI) between students and faculty. A. T. Still University was highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of “America’s Best Graduate Schools”.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $27,000
Coursework Snapshot: Administration of Healthcare Organizations; Healthcare Information Systems; Ethics and Leadership; Health Administration Law and Ethics; MHA Practicum.
#13. Utica College
With a U. S. News and World Report ranking as one of the country’s “Best Regional Universities”, Utica College’s MS in Healthcare Administration, emphasizes small, online classes allowing for personalized attention by professors and promote professional growth and a choice of electives including long term care, acute and service facilities. The program also allows for specialization in either the acute care, service organization, long term care or health care advocacy tracts.
Length of program: 12 months
Tuition and fees: $27,675
Coursework Snapshot: Health Care Systems: A Continuum of Care;Health Care Ethical and Legal Issues; The Economics of Health and Health Care Policy; Quality Management and Performance: Improvement in Evidence
#14. University of Cincinnati
Money Magazine ranked University of Cincinnati 62nd among the top 100 “elite values” in higher education and U.S. News and World Report gave UC a nod as one of the Top 200 National Universities. University of Cincinnati offers a MHA degree that emphasizes leadership, utilizing a business and finance, best practices approach.
Length of program: 24 months.
Tuition and fees: $28,236 (Ohio residents); $28,821 (non-residents). Books add an additional $100-250 per term.
Coursework Snapshot: Health Systems Management, Health Care Finance, Health Care Marketplace, Health Policy and Regulation, Evidence-Based Decision Making for Managers.
#15. Oklahoma State University
OSU’s online graduate program in healthcare administration offers a concentration in either healthcare entrepreneurship or administration. The OSU MS in Healthcare Administration includes a thesis or creative component as well.
Length of program: Approximately 12 months
Tuition and fees: $32,004.
Coursework Snapshot: Leadership Methods and Styles in Healthcare; Legal Issues in Healthcare; Organizational Leadership in Healthcare; Research and Evaluation Methods in Healthcare
#16. Florida Institute of Technology
MBA graduates will develop competency in accounting, economics, finance, marketing and organizational behavior, as well as an understanding of the business functions with executive decision-making and corporate leadership in a healthcare setting. An intensive online program, Florida Institute of Technology combines specialized healthcare skills with a solid business foundation.
Length of program: approximately 18 months
Tuition and fees: $32,256
Coursework Snapshot: Policy Healthcare; Information Management in Healthcare; Legal Aspects of Healthcare; Marketing Healthcare Planning
#17. Benedictine University
An accelerated program, the MBA in Health Administration offerered by Benedictine University focuses on the role of financial, operations and marketing activities as applied to healthcare. Benedictine University has a rich, 127 year history and is ranked as a top-tier, private university.
Length of program: 12 months
Tuition and fees: $39,600
Coursework Snapshot: Public Health Systems; Environmental Health, Marketing of Public Health, Business of Healthcare
#18. University of Scranton
Following the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) guidelines, the University of Scranton offers a combined program of 44 credit hours online coursework and 150 hours of field experience. The University of Scranton offers an evidence-based management curriculum and a flexible online learning environment.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $41,360
Coursework Snapshot: Accounting for Management; Operations Management; Management Information Systems; Organizational Behavior; Marketing Management; Managerial Economics
#19. Seton Hall University
Seton Hall blends online learning with in-person residency components. The Seton Hall MHA program focuses on key subject matter areas such as Managing Change, Financial Components, Decision Making, Strategic Leadership, Analysis and Understanding the Healthcare Environment. Seton Hall University uses a cohort model where students progress through the program as part of a Learning Team.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and Fees: $43,386
Coursework Snapshot: Understanding the Healthcare Environment; Managing Change; Financial Competencies; Decision Making; Strategic Leadership
#20. Penn State World Campus
Recognized by US News and World Report as the 29th best online graduate program in healthcare administration, Penn State World Campus is CAHME accreditation. Penn State boasts over a 100 years of distance education and more than a decade of online learning.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $45,450
Coursework Snapshot: Financing Health Care; Clinical Issues for Health Services Management; Quality Improvement in Health Care; Health Care Marketing; Health Economics; Health Law
#21. Boston University
Applicants are provided a perspective with a larger public health care systems approach and receive knowledge and skills to make them more effective and efficient managers. Boston University ranks high in the U. S. News and World Report’s “Best Online Graduate Business Programs”.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $46,686
Coursework Snapshot: Global Health; Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights; Health Policy and Management; Biostatistics
#22. University of California San Francisco
Unlike some online graduate programs in healthcare administration, UCSF offers a blended approach, with eight online courses, two on-campus courses and two workplace adminstrative practicum courses. UCSF is ranked in the top 10% of National Universities by U. S. News and World Report.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $48,200
Coursework Snapshot: Health Systems Management, Leadership and Change, Health Systems Research, Interpersonal Practice
#23. University of Minnesota
A full-time program is offered, as is an executive program, designed for working professionals. The executive program allows physicians and other health care professionals time to balance work and personal responsibilities with their coursework.
Length of program: 25 months
Tuition and fees: $54,894
Coursework Snapshot: Core Concepts in Managing Healthcare Organizations; Interdisciplinary Teamwork in Health Care; Health Policy; Organizational Integration in Healthcare Delivery; Health Care Strategies in Competitive Markets; Managing an Embedded Medical Practice Based Healthcare
#24. Virginia Commonwealth University
This is a blended curriculum of online and on-campus study designed to minimize the amount of time away from the student’s employment and travel expenses. VCU is consistently a top tier school in the U.S. News and World Report college rankings.
Length of program: 22 months
Tuition and fees: $54,608
Coursework Snapshot: Health System Organization, Financing and Performance;Health Economics;Health Care Managerial Accounting;Health Care Law and Bioethics;Strategic Management in Health Care Organizations
#25. George Washington University
One of the nation’s most prestigious schools, the George Washington University online, Healthcare MBA, has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report, Business Week, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal for excellence. Focusing on real-world experience and critical thinking, this program is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Length of program: 24 months
Tuition and fees: $74, 500
Coursework Snapshot: Strategy, Finance, Marketing, Compliance and Risk Management