healthcare is a $1.7 trillion industry in America, making up nearly 16% of the U.S. gross national product. The healthcare industry is on the cusp of its largest expansion ever as “Baby Boomers” approach retirement age, which means a new generation of industry leadership is needed in states across the country – Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming, etc. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment of medical and health services managers is expected to increase at a faster than average rate over the next several years.
The Value of an Online Health Management or Health Administration Degree
Those with healthcare experience and solid business management skills will be in the best position to move into administrative and leadership positions. An online bachelor’s in health management or health administration provides students with these business and management skills, as well as the knowledge they’ll need to navigate a complex and rapidly-changing industry. Graduates will be immediately qualified for entry-level leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, retirement communities, ambulatory care centers, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, and home healthcare settings.
Advantages of Online Health Management and Health Administration Degree Programs
Online health administration and health management degree programs are among the most popular online. Prospective students seeking an accredited online health management or health administration degree now have several high quality choices for their education. In fact, many of the very best health administration programs in the country are now offered online. Among the many advantages of earning a degree from a top online health management program is that students can maintain their employment and/or family responsibilities while earning their degree. Many of the best online health administration degree programs can be completed entirely online without any campus visits required.
How We Rank Online Health Management and Health Administration Degree Programs
Online colleges and health administration degree programs vary widely in terms of quality, name recognition, and value. To assist those looking for an accredited online health administration degree program, we’ve put together this ranking of what we consider to be the very best online schools offering healthcare administration and healthcare management degree programs for 2015. Our rankings of the top online schools offering healthcare management and healthcare administration degrees are based on publicly available data evaluated according to several different criteria, including reputation, accreditation, student satisfaction, ratio of students to instructors, and tuition. All schools in our rankings are regionally accredited, the highest form of accreditation a school can achieve. You can read more about our rankings philosophy and find a list of other top college and degree rankings on our rankings page.
Top 10 Online Bachelor of Health Management and Health Administration Degree Programs
Note that tuition rates are those listed as of August 2011 and may not include all applicable fees. Also, some of the programs are degree completion programs requiring some prior college credits prior to enrollment.
#1. Saint Leo University Online
Assessment – The oldest Catholic university in the state of Florida and a respected pioneer in online and distance education offers an excellent online bachelor’s in healthcare management, complete with competitive tuition.
Program: Saint Leo University’s online Bachelor of Science in healthcare Management is a 120 credit hour program. The program offers students a combination of traditional liberal arts courses and more specialized business courses looking at the leadership, financial, policy, and legal dimensions of healthcare management. Leadership is taught from a Catholic, values-centered perspective respectful of people from all faiths and none. The programs is completed entirely online, but students are invited to the Saint Leo campus for graduation ceremonies.
Regional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
#2. Liberty University Online
Assessment – Pioneering distance education since 1985, Liberty University now enrolls more than 90,000 students from around the world in its thriving online program. With more than 230 fully accredited programs of study, Liberty University Online offers degrees from the certificate to the postgraduate level.
Program: Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Healthcare Management program will help you master business skills pertinent to the field of healthcare. As you enrich your understanding of the healthcare industry, you will gain knowledge and insight of the ethical, professional and financial issues related to the field
Regional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Click here to learn more about online degrees at Liberty University
#3. Drexel University Online
Assessment – This highly regarded private university with an award winning online division and a strong interdisciplinary approach offers one of the top online bachelor’s of health administration programs in the country but is on the pricy side.
Program: Drexel University’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration is a 180 quarter credit (120 semester credit) degree completion program requiring at least 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits) of college work prior to enrollment. Students will learn about both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of health management through an interdisciplinary curriculum covering all aspects of healthcare from both a practical and philosophical perspective. All coursework is completed entirely online, with no campus visits required. Students with fewer than 90 quarter credit (60 semester credits) are still encouraged to apply and complete their prerequisites online through the Drexel Goodwin College of Professional Studies.
Regional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#4. Robert Morris University Online
Assessment – This small but rapidly growing private school is known for its professionally-oriented programs and a hands-on approach that has helped make its online health services administration program one of the very best. But it’s worth noting that the tuition is on the high side when compared to comparable programs.
Program: Robert Morris University’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Services Administration is a 120 credit hour degree program only offered online. Students get a solid grounding in the liberal arts while developing the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership in the modern healthcare industry. The program is completed entirely online, with no campus visits required. Some professional healthcare experience is required for admission to the program.
Regional Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Click here to learn more about online degrees at Robert Morris University
#4. New England College Online
Assessment – A top-ranked baccalaureate college known for its practical, hands-on approach to learning offers one of the best online bachelor in healthcare administration degree programs at a relatively low cost.
Program: New England College’s online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration is a 69 credit hour degree completion program for students who have completed an associate’s degree or at least 60 credit hours of college coursework from a regionally accredited school. The program is designed for working students and can be completed entirely online in as little as 18 months. Students wanting to accelerate their degree completion can attend optional on-campus intensive summer and winter study sessions. Graduates will be trained in modern organizational theory and how to apply it in a healthcare context. Students will also learn the financial, legal and policy issues affecting the current healthcare industry.
Regional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
#5. University of Cincinnati Online
Assessment – A highly regarded public university with an excellent reputation for its healthcare programs offers one of the best and most affordable online bachelor’s in healthcare information management programs in the country.
Program: The University of Cincinnati’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is a 90 credit hour program designed to prepare working Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs) to pass the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam. The program itself is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The program is entirely online and can be completed in 2 1/4 years. Students will be assigned to a small cohort of other learners with whom they will complete the program.
Regional Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
#6. Immaculata University Online
Assessment – This comprehensive Catholic university known for being the birthplace of women’s college basketball offers an outstanding online bachelor’s of healthcare management program with competitive tuition.
Program: Immaculata University’s online Bachelor of Arts in healthcare Management is a 126 credit hour accelerated degree-completion program. The program is designed specifically for working-adults who want to continue working full-time while pursuing their degree. It is expected that students will be self-directed, goal-oriented and have professional experience. Students will gain the management, communication and negotiation skills necessary for leadership along with the essential knowledge of policy, regulatory procedures, and legal issues affecting the healthcare industry. Students will also learn how to analyze healthcare research in order to adequately respond to a rapidly-changing healthcare environment. The program can be completed entirely online.
Regional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
#7. Saint Joseph’s College Online
Assessment – This small Catholic liberal arts college has over a quarter-century of experience in distance learning and offers a top online bachelor program in health administration with a values-centered curriculum and very affordable tuition.
Program: Saint Joseph’s College’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Administration is a 128 credit hour program that can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Students with some healthcare experience will be prepared with the knowledge and skills to move into management and administrative positions in the healthcare industry. Students will be encouraged to incorporate prior or current healthcare experience into their coursework. The program can be completed entirely online but optional two-week summer sessions at the school’s lakeside campus in Maine are available for students wanting to accelerate their degree. The school also offers a fast-track option to its Master of Health Administration degree program.
Regional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
#8. Sullivan University Online
Assessment – The largest private university in the state Kentucky has a solid reputation for graduate job placement and offers a very good online bachelor of healthcare management program that won’t break the bank.
Program: Sullivan University’s online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Healthcare Management concentration is a 180 credit hour degree completion program for working students with an associates degree or at least 60 semester credit hours of prior college work. In addition to learning broad business skills applicable to many different working environments, students will gain the knowledge they need to provide management and administration oversight within the healthcare industry. The program can be completed entirely online.
Regional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
#9. Ohio Christian University Online
Assessment – A private, career-oriented Christian university with a growing online presence offers a very good online bachelor of healthcare management program with a faith-based curriculum and competitive tuition.
Program: Ohio Christian University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Business with a Healthcare Management concentration is a 45 credit hour degree completion program for students with at least 50 credit hours of prior college work. The program is designed for working adults with students taking a single class at a time. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of increasing quality while decreasing cost in healthcare delivery. All courses are taught from a Christian worldview perspective.
Regional Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
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