A recent employment survey shows that 67% of medical and health services managers are educated to at least a bachelor’s degree level.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are expected to be 136,200 new job openings for healthcare administration graduates by 2031.
The average salary for workers in this field is $101,340, with the top 10% earning more than $205,620.
This list features some of the best online bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. Programs on our list are accredited by agencies like The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the primary body that accredits programs in healthcare administration, and The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for online students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Healthcare administration degrees start at the associate level, although it’s more common for entrants into the field to pursue a bachelor’s degree or an MBA. Some people choose a more narrow specialization for their degree, such as a B.S. in healthcare informatics.
Healthcare administrators can work in small clinics, manage a department or ward in a hospital, or pursue careers at a higher level such as managing a hospital or working in public health.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment opportunities in healthcare administration will grow by 28% between 2021 and 2031, far exceeding the broader economy.
Licensure and certifications are not required for healthcare administration jobs. However, applicants with a degree that is accredited by the CAHME are likely to be viewed more positively than those from universities with a more general focus. The Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional (cHAP) examination offered by the Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals (AHCAP) is valued by some employers.
Here are some questions to ask when researching online bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs:
When you’re selecting a program, pay attention to the application requirements and deadlines. Each institution can set its own schedule, fees, and application process. The admissions department will be happy to provide these details and information about financial support.