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Healthcare has become one of the largest industries in America, generating some $1.7 trillion annually. With an increasing number of people in the industry expected to retire and a rapidly aging population overall, healthcare workers and administrators are expected to be in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of medical and health services managers will increase at a faster than average rate over the next several years.

The Value of a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or Healthcare Management Degree

Those with health care experience and solid business management skills will be in the best position to move into administrative and leadership positions. A Master of Health Administration (MHA) or Healthcare Management degree can provides students with these business and management skills, as well as the knowledge they will need to understand and navigate the complex and rapidly-changing medical industry. Graduates will be immediately qualified for leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, retirement communities, ambulatory care centers, rehabilitation and long-term–care facilities, and home healthcare settings.

Advantages of Online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and Health Management Degree Programs

Online health administration and healthcare management degree programs are among the most popular online degree programs. Prospective students seeking an accredited online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or Health Management 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 advantages of earning a degree from a top online Master of Health Administration (MHA) program is that students can maintain their employment and/or family responsibilities while earning their degree. Many of the best online Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Healthcare Management degree programs can be completed entirely online.

How We Rank Online Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Healthcare Management Degree Programs

Online colleges and Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Healthcare Management degree programs vary widely in terms of quality, name recognition, and value. To assist those looking for quality, accredited online health administration and health management degree programs, we’ve put together this ranking of what we consider to be the very best online schools offering Master of Healthcare Administration and Health Management degree programs for 2013. Our rankings of the top online schools offering healthcare management and health care administration degrees are based on publicly available data evaluated according to several different criteria, including market 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 our other top college and degree rankings on our rankings page.

Top Online Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Healthcare Management Degree Programs

#1. Benedictine University

Assessment: Benedictine University is a private institution guided by their Roman Catholic tradition. The curriculum for each program is designed to prepare students for their careers and provide opportunities for them to become leaders in their fields and communities. The school offers a variety of undegraduate, graduate, and certificate programs at thier campus and entirely online.

Program: Benedictine University offers an online Health Care Administration MBA. This is a 64-credit-hour program with several courses focusing directly on health care administration and how to apply financial, operations, and marketing techniques and models to health organizations. The goal of this online program is to equip students with the capabilities needed to manage specific clinical departments or entire health care facilities and organizations.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Benedictine University

 

#2. Kaplan University

Assessment: Kaplan is a private university founded in 1937 to provide those struggling to recover from the Great Depression with increased access to postsecondary education. Today the university offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees that can be taken online or at one of their many campuses. Kaplan’s mission is to provide a high-quality, accredited education to each student that can launch or enhance career opportunities.

Program: Kaplan University offers an online Master of Health Care Administration. This is a 52-credit program that can be completed entirely online in 18 months or less by a full-time student. Through their coursework, students will learn how to be effective leaders in the health care industry by studying theoretical health care principles, strategic health care leadership and management concepts, methods for evaluating health care practices, and more.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Kaplan University

 

#3. Ashford University

Assessment: Founded as a junior college for women in 1918, Ashford has grown into a well-respected, accredited institution. Today, they enroll close to 80,000 men and women from throughout the world, the majority of which are enrolled online. To ensure the education being delivered is of high quality, Ashford created the Office of Assessment Strategies and Instructional Systems to assess instructional development and design, working with academic leadership to continually improve their courses and programs.

Program: The online Master of Arts in Health Care Administration at Ashford University is designed to prepare graduates to assume positions of leadership with health care organizations. Students will learn about health care finance, policy, risk management, leadership, law, ethics, quality improvement, and more. This program emphasizes integrating and applying health care theories and concepts.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Ashford University

 

#4. Walden University Online

Assessment: Walden University is a fully-online institution based in Minneapolis, Minn. Nearly 50,000 students from around the world are pursuing an online degree from Walden. The university strives to make a college education accessible to working professionals who are unable to attend a physical campus by offering flexible online programs that allow students to complete their assignments and attend class around their schedules.

Program: Walden University’s online Master of Healthcare Administration is a 36-credit program with the option of adding a 3-credit practicum course, which allows students to gain hands-on experience and apply what they have learned in a public health setting. Courses in the MHA program include Financial Management, Foundations of Healthcare Administration, Operations Analysis, and Quality Assessment and Improvement. The goal of this program is to allow students to develop expertise in healthcare management.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Walden University

 

#5. Colorado State University-Global Campus

Assessment: Colorado State University-Global Campus is a 100% online, accredited public university. CSU-GC focuses on providing higher education opportunities for nontraditional students and working adults by offering flexible and convenient degree programs that can be completed entirely online. The student body at CSU-GC has grown from only 200 students in September 2008 to more than 5,600 in May 2012. Each program is designed to provide students with relevant job skills to increase their earning potential.

Program: The online Master of Healthcare Administration and Management provided by CSU-GC includes eight 3-credit courses focusing on areas such as management tools, leadership skills, problem solving, personal and professional development, decision making, and analytical ability. Through this program, students will gain professional knowledge and skills that can lead to leadership positions with health care organizations.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Colorado State University-Global Campus

 

#6. Grand Canyon University Online

Assessment: Grand Canyon University, a private Christian university, was founded in 1949 and has been accredited since 1968. The university was founded on four pillars: academic advancement, Christian camaraderie, extracurricular excellence, and wellness and well-being. GCU offers a variety of traditional and online degree programs with the goal of preparing students to be critical thinkers and responsible leaders in their chosen fields.

Program: Grand Canyon University offers an online Master of Science in Health Care Administration with flexibility that allows students to earn their degrees without interfering with their careers. This is a 48-credit program that focuses on teaching students how to develop and implement solutions to issues commonly found in the health care industry. Upon gradutating, students will be equiped with knowledge and skills that may lead to middle and upper-level management positions within health care orgranizations.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Grand Canyon University

 

#7. George Washington University Online

Assessment: GWU is the largest university in Washington, D.C. and one of the top ranked colleges in the country. GWU’s highly regarded School of Business offers an AACSB accredited Healthcare MBA in partnership with the university’s School of Public Health & Health Services that promises high academic standards and the resources to provide personalized attention to students.

Program: George Washington University’s online Healthcare MBA is a 52 credit hour program that can be completed in two years. The program is designed to expand the business and management knowledge of healthcare professionals to prepare them for leadership in a broad range of healthcare and other business environments. All coursework is completed entirely online.

Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at George Washington University

 

#8. Northeastern University Online

Assessment: Recognized as a university on the rise, Northeastern has a great reputation and receives more applications than any other private university in the United States. The school’s nationally ranked AACSB accredited College of Business Administration offers students one of the top online Healthcare Management MBAs available.

Program: Northeastern University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Healthcare Management specialization is a 50 credit hour program designed for working professionals. Students are trained in the evolution and development of the healthcare industry in order to develop of deep knowledge of the current dynamics at play. A management strategy that takes into account a comprehensive understanding of how all of the various aspects of the healthcare system operate and affect one another is developed. All coursework is completed entirely online.

Accreditation:  Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Click here to learn more about online degrees at Northeastern University

 

#9. Vanderbilt University Online

Assessment – Vanderbilt is one of America’s best universities and boasts one of the most highly regarded nursing schools in the world. Their online healthcare management nursing degree isn’t cheap, but offers outstanding quality and a reputation few other programs can match.

Program: Vanderbilt School of Nursing’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Health Systems Management is a 39 credit hour program that can be completed in two years of part-time study. The program is designed to provide nurses with the business and management skills they need to move into management and leadership positions in health care delivery organizations. Students are not required to visit campus. Observations are arranged within student’s geographic region.

Accreditation: National League for Nursing Accreditation: Commission (NLNAC); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

 

#10. University of Cincinnati Online

Assessment: The University of Cincinnati is one of the top public universities in the country and has been recognized for its strengths in both business and medicine. Top-notch faculty and affordable tuition help make this one of the best online Master of Health (MHA) degree programs.

Program: The University of Cincinnati’s online Master of Health Administration (MHA) program can be completed in 2 1/2 years. Utilizing a competency-based curriculum, students are given a solid grounding in basic business theory, the intricacies of healthcare administration, and essential management skills. All coursework is completed online, but a Health Management Academic Residency is required.

Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

 

#11. Saint Joseph’s University Online

Assessment: Saint Joseph’s is a nationally ranked Jesuit university with over 150 years of tradition. Known for its academic rigor and small class sizes, SJU offers one of the very best online Master of Health Administration programs in the country at a reasonable cost.

Program: Saint Joseph’s online Master of Health Administration (MHA) is a 36-42 credit hour program, depending on which specialization a student chooses. The specialization in Informatics (42 hours) allows students to take courses focused on emerging technologies and policies of medical record keeping. A Health Care Ethics specialization (36 hours) provides students with a grounding in moral theory and a framework for ethical decision making in healthcare related issues. Both specializations can be completed entirely online.

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

 

#12. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Online

Assessment: UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the highest ranked public universities in the country and its Department of Health Policy & Management is ranked among the top two or three. Their academically rigorous online program deserves to be at or near the top of any list of the best online Master of Health Administration degree programs.

Program: UNC-Chapel Hill’s online Executive Master of Health Administration is a 48 credit hour program that can be completed in two years. Students are trained in the communication, analytical, technical, and innovative thinking skills necessary for success in healthcare management and administration. Though most of the coursework is completed online, there are three intensive on-campus “BaseCamp” sessions required per year, each running from 4-6 days.

Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation: Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

 

#13. Boston University Online

Assessment: Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the country and frequently ranked among the top universities in the world for academic quality. The first university to offer a Public Relations degree, BU now offers the first fully online Master of Health Communication degree–an excellent award-winning program for those interested in the communications side of healthcare administration.

Program: Boston University’s online Master of Science in Health Communication is an accelerated 40 credit hour program which can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to help working students become progressive leaders in health communication, actively shaping private and public perceptions of healthcare and improving healthcare literacy. All courses are completed entirely online.

Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

 

#14. Quinnipiac University Online

Assessment: Quinnipiac is a small, up and coming university with a nationally ranked Business School. With over 20 years of experience training healthcare administrators, Quinnipiac’s online MBA-Health Care Management Track is a quality, highly respected and competitively priced program.

Program: Quinnipiac University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Health Care Management Track is a 46 credit hour program designed for working adults. The program is designed to ground students in the basics of both business and health care administration to prepare them for management and administrative leadership in all areas of the health care industry. Curriculum is administered through a combination of online lectures, case studies and optional residencies or consulting practicums in an existing healthcare organization.

Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

 

#15. University of Scranton Online

Assessment: The University of Scranton is a small, nationally ranked Jesuit university with a over 120 years of history and a commitment to values-based education. Small class sizes, reasonable tuition and a solid reputation puts this AACSB accredited Healthcare Management MBA a great deal.

Program: The University of Scranton’s online Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Management is 36 semester credit hour program. The program is designed to provide working professionals with essential business skills and an understanding of the rapidly changing healthcare industry. It takes a Jesuit approach to education, emphasizing social responsibility and ethical decision-making. All courses are completed entirely online with no residencies required.

Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

 

#16. Seton Hall University Online

Assessment: Seton Hall is one of the oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities in the country, with an outstanding reputation for its nursing and health programs. Small class sizes and outstanding faculty helps make this one of the best online Master of Health Administration degree programs in the country.

Program: Seton Hall’s online Master of Health Administration is a 42 credit hour degree program that can be completed in two years. The program focuses on six key areas: Understanding the Healthcare Environment, Managing Change, Financial Competencies, Decision Making, and Strategic Leadership and Analysis. It is described as a student-centered program and utilizes a cohort model in which students take courses with the same group of peers throughout the duration of the program. Three on-campus weekend residencies are required.

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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