Best Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration of 2024
TheBestSchools.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:
- Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
- Provide specific, corrective feedback.
- Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for TheBestSchools.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
Are you ready to discover your college program?
An online bachelor’s in healthcare administration program can prepare you for a challenging career at the intersection of healthcare and business. Find out how to choose the right program, concentration, and work environment for you.
Explore our rankings of the best online bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs, and read about the factors to look for while researching schools.
Popular Online Healthcare Administration Bachelor’s Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,000
- Out-of-state$15,000
- In-State$18,900
- Out-of-state$18,900
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled145,533
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,721
- Out-of-state$16,529
- In-State$8,912
- Out-of-state$21,393
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled56,664
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
University of Central Florida
- Orlando, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,478
- Out-of-state$19,810
- In-State$6,916
- Out-of-state$25,759
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate36%
- Students Enrolled70,310
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment9%
- AccreditationYes
Colorado State University-Global Campus
- Aurora, CO
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$8,400
- Out-of-state$8,400
- In-State$9,000
- Out-of-state$9,000
- Retention Rate35%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled10,844
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses
- Fort Wayne, IN
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$9,576
- Out-of-state$9,576
- In-State$10,350
- Out-of-state$10,350
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate60%
- Students Enrolled1,367
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment97%
- AccreditationYes
National University
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$13,320
- Out-of-state$13,320
- In-State$15,480
- Out-of-state$15,480
- Retention Rate100%
- Acceptance Rate55%
- Students Enrolled17,135
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment80%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Florida
- Jacksonville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,996
- Out-of-state$16,799
- In-State$8,570
- Out-of-state$19,585
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled16,594
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
Herzing University-Brookfield
- Brookfield, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,320
- Out-of-state$13,320
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled351
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment76%
- AccreditationYes
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
- Bradenton, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,365
- Out-of-state$2,365
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,424
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment72%
- AccreditationYes
Santa Fe College
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$1,872
- Out-of-state$7,418
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled12,830
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
The Advantages of a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
Online bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs offer flexibility for students with jobs and families, with options for part- and full-time study.
The benefits of earning an online bachelor’s in healthcare administration include:
Marketable Skills: Coursework covers accounting, communications, data analysis, human resources management, information management, and organizational leadership.- Specializations: Students can focus on healthcare informatics, law and policy, project management, and strategic communications.
- Employment Growth: Graduates can enter a field with a faster-than-average projected job growth rate of 28% from 2022-2032.
What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management Degree?
Graduates of bachelor’s in healthcare management programs qualify for various positions, including healthcare informatics managers, medical marketing managers, medical office managers, and nursing home administrators. They are also eligible to apply to law school and become healthcare attorneys or enter healthcare administration master’s programs.
Job Growth
29%
Projected Job Growth for Medical and Health Services Managers
160,600
Projected New Jobs for Medical and Health Services Managers
Source: BLS
Salary
The table below lists the median annual salaries graduates of bachelor’s in healthcare management programs earn. Wages can vary according to geographic location and type of workplace, and healthcare managers can boost their earnings with higher degrees, skill-based certifications, and experience.
| Career Title | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Administrator | $78,530 |
| Human Resources Manager | $74,000 |
| Medical Marketing Manager | $72,510 |
| Healthcare Program Director | $88,480 |
| Nursing Home Administrator | $99,140 |
| Medical Office Manager | $54,950 |
Choosing an Online Healthcare Administration Degree Program
While researching online healthcare administration degree programs, consider whether you can afford the tuition, transfer college credits, and learn fully online or if you must travel to campus for classes.
Program Cost
College can cost a lot of money. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the median total cost of online bachelor’s in health administration programs is $22,370 per year.
However, a smart shopper can find affordable degree options. Some schools offer a reduced rate or
in-state tuition for online courses or program-specific scholarships. Make sure to look at the total cost before committing to a school.
Transfer Policies
You can reduce the time and cost of earning an online degree through transfer credits. Some schools let you transfer credits from your previous associate degree or schooling, while others accept work or volunteer experience as credit. Most schools have a limit for how many transfer credits and how much experience you can transfer into their program, but these transfer limits vary by program. Check with an admissions counselor before you apply.
School Size and Type
A school’s size determines how many students you share resources with — and how many you can network with. Larger schools may also have a greater student-to-teacher ratio, making one-on-one time with faculty harder.
Choosing between a private and public school proves important since, on average, public schools cost less than private schools, and only public schools offer in-state tuition.
Program Length
Accelerated online programs can take as little as 18 months. Full-time online bachelor’s degrees take four years. An online program can take up to six years of part-time study. Schools usually charge a flat rate per credit, semester, or year.
On-Campus Requirements
An online program may require an internship or an on-campus intensive, which could mean traveling to complete your education. Some schools even use a hybrid model, requiring some on-campus classes. If you cannot commute, you probably should not apply to that school.
Accreditation for Online Healthcare Administration Degrees
Accreditation is one of the most important factors to consider when searching for a school, as it can impact your federal financial aid. In addition, most graduate schools and employers will turn you away if your degree does not come from an accredited university.
Schools can hold regional or national accreditation, with the former proving harder to achieve — rendering it the more reputable. National accreditation typically applies to vocational schools, and students should note that national accreditation does not usually transfer to regionally accredited institutions. In general, students should prioritize schools with regional accreditation.
Accreditation is regulated through collaboration between the Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The ED sets standards for accreditation, and CHEA oversees regulatory agencies. If a school does not hold accreditation from a CHEA-approved organization, it may not offer a legitimate degree.
Individual degree programs also hold programmatic accreditation in addition to the university’s accreditation. For healthcare administration, look for programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.
Healthcare Administration Concentrations
With so many career choices for graduates with a degree in healthcare administration, some schools offer concentrations to help students specialize. These concentrations can increase an individual’s chances of finding a job immediately after earning an online healthcare administration degree.
Healthcare Informatics
This concentration emphasizes computer science. Students learn to operate commonly used healthcare software and take data analysis, digital security, and information management courses.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Informatics analyst, informatics manager
Project Management
Keeping projects on track and within budget is a skill that many employers seek. This concentration covers contract management, negotiation, budgeting, and scheduling. Students also learn to make decisions in complex situations.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Healthcare project manager, project coordinator
Strategic Communications
Healthcare professionals deal with complex topics and serve a variety of patients. Keeping messaging clear and in line with facility values is vital. A strategic communications concentration covers communicating internally and externally, resolving conflicts, and developing and building brands.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Human resources, health communications
Healthcare Law and Policy
Law and policy surrounding healthcare are complex and constantly changing. With a healthcare law and policy concentration, students learn to keep facilities compliant with regulations. This pathway also covers human resources and ethics policies.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Healthcare attorney, healthcare law executive
Accounting
Handling the finances of any healthcare facility can prove challenging. This concentration establishes a firm understanding of accounting principles related to healthcare, including taxes, financial management, and auditing. Students in this specialty also learn about payroll and departmental accounting.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Healthcare accounting, accounts payable specialist
How Long Does It Take to Get a Degree in Healthcare Administration?
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration online usually takes four years. However, the length can vary depending on several factors. For example, students with transfer or experience credits take much less time. Some schools offer year-round courses, allowing students to forge ahead during the summer.
Most bachelor’s degree programs require at least 120 credits. Working students often enjoy studying part time, depending on their schedules. If you work and need to study part time, find an online school that offers an affordable per-credit tuition rate.
Courses in an Online Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration Program
While specific courses vary by program, most healthcare administration programs online cover similar topics. The list below includes a few sample classes to give you a feel for what you might encounter during one of these programs.
- U.S. Healthcare Systems: The U.S. healthcare system can be complicated, and healthcare administrators must know how to navigate it. This course covers the history of U.S. healthcare, the U.S. healthcare delivery system, and common U.S. healthcare facility styles. It also provides an overview of how health insurance billing works.
- Principles of Healthcare Management: Principles of healthcare management teaches you how to plan and direct operations within your organization as a healthcare manager. This course blends management and learning about the structure of healthcare facilities.
- Organizational Leadership: Most healthcare administrators take on leadership roles in their facilities. This course covers different leadership methods, including the best methods for individual workers and larger groups and the basics of psychology. This course sometimes emphasizes healthcare facilities.
- Strategic Management: Healthcare administrators must take a strategic approach to management and delegation to get the most out of a facility. This course covers planning and implementing strategies to achieve short- and long-term goals.
- Human Resources Management: Healthcare administration is often about human resource management, such as processing new hires and ensuring a safe and compliant work environment. This course covers evaluating, hiring, and training healthcare professionals while balancing against discrimination. It also covers how to structure and manage employee compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration
Healthcare administration is a complex field, but as long as you understand that it requires knowledge and skills in both business and healthcare, you should not find it harder than other business, science, and technology majors. You can expect a learning curve and should prepare to be challenged.
While there is overlap, the main difference between healthcare administration and healthcare management lies in the focus. Healthcare administrators oversee healthcare facility staff and services. Healthcare managers direct hospital and clinical operations, including finances and building maintenance.
Like most professionals, healthcare administrators experience stress and challenges. Healthcare administrators must handle staff issues and conflicts, stay informed about changing government regulations, and navigate rising healthcare costs while providing safe, high-quality patient care.
Healthcare professionals are in demand, and medical and health services managers should see strong job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 160,600 new jobs for medical and health services managers between 2023 and 2033. An aging U.S. population needing healthcare and a broad shift to electronic health records point to long-term stability in the healthcare industry.
Healthcare administration is a challenging and rewarding career with rising employment growth projections. Median annual salaries for healthcare administrators range from $54,000 to $98,000, with six-figure average wages in some healthcare workplaces, U.S. states, and metropolitan areas.
