MBAs in Healthcare Management Online: Top Programs

Featured Online MBA in Healthcare Management Programs

By enrolling in an online healthcare management master’s program, you’ll take a significant step toward advancing your career into leadership in the healthcare field. These online degree programs are designed to help students gain essential business knowledge and apply business practices in healthcare settings in a convenient and flexible format.

The content, structure, and quality of online MBA in healthcare management programs vary, so it’s important to pay careful attention to the following elements as you explore your program options:

• Proper Accreditation: Both institutional and programmatic.
• Study pace: Full-time, part-time, accelerated.
• Fully-online vs. hybrid: Content may be delivered entirely online or in an online/in-person mix.
• Synchronous vs. asynchronous delivery: Online content may be delivered synchronously (students log on and participate in live classes at specifically-scheduled times) or asynchronously (students complete coursework at any time.)
• Program cost: Tuition, fees, etc., plus availability of financial aid options.

Review the following profiles of three current online healthcare management MBA programs to give you a good idea of how these programs incorporate the elements listed above.

HCM MBA Student FAQs

What will I learn in an online MBA in healthcare management program?

MBA in healthcare management students are taught both core business principles and how those principles are applied in leadership roles. Examples of core business topics include:

• Accounting and financial management
• Business analytics
• Marketing management
• Managerial economics
• Organizational behavior
• Operations management

Healthcare-specific topics typically include, among others:

• Finance and reimbursement
• Healthcare law and ethics, and regulatory compliance
• Healthcare systems and policy
• Information systems
• Population health management
• Quality improvement and patient safety

Can I specialize within my healthcare management MBA program?

It’s possible. Some health management MBA programs offer specializations or concentrations in one or more of the following subjects:

• Health informatics
• Healthcare administration
• Healthcare analytics
• Healthcare finance or policy
• Health insurance and risk management
• Human resources management

Students in programs not offering specific concentration or specialization tracks may still be able to tailor their studies to focus on a particular area within the larger healthcare management field through their elective course choices.

How long does it take to earn an MBA in healthcare management online?

Program lengths vary from program to program due primarily to the total number of credits needed to earn the degree and the student’s chosen study pace (full-time, part-time).

With that in mind, the typical completion times for most online MBA in healthcare management programs are:

• Standard full-time: 18 to 24 months
• Accelerated full-time: 12 months, sometimes less
• Part-time: 2 to 3 years, sometimes more

How much does an online MBA in healthcare management program cost?

The costs of online MBA in healthcare management programs vary, sometimes substantially, from program to program. Common factors impacting cost include:

• Total credits required to earn the degree
• Study pace: Full-time, part, time, accelerated
• Public vs. private institution: Private schools often charge higher tuition rates than their public school counterparts
• Student residence: Public colleges and universities often charge higher tuition rates to out-of-state residents than to in-state students

Given these factors, you’ll find that the total costs of most healthcare management MBA online programs generally range from around $20,000 to $60,000.

There are exceptions, though, with some particularly affordable programs with prices starting at $13,000 or less, and some programs offered by elite universities topping out at as much as $85,000 or more.

Will I need a special license or certification to work or advance in healthcare management?

State licensure is not required to work in the vast majority of healthcare management roles. The one real exception is employment as a nursing home or long-term care facility administrator, which requires a license in some states.

Professional certification is also not required. But obtaining one or more certifications can prove to be a great advantage to your career by enhancing your resume and, in turn, expanding your job opportunities.

Among the most popular professional certifications for healthcare management MBA graduates are:

• Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP)
• Certified Medical Manager (CMM)
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS)
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)

Most certifications require some level of professional work experience and passing a certification exam.

What Can I Do with an MBA in Healthcare Management?

An MBA in healthcare management prepares students for a variety of leadership roles in the dynamic healthcare industry. We’ve profiled below five popular career options for healthcare management MBA graduates to give you a start on thinking about the specific role you’d like to pursue.

Focusing on a specific career path will impact your choice of master’s program as well, so consider these (and other) options carefully.

Hospital Administrator

• Responsibilities: Oversee the day-to-day operations of a hospital or hospital system, including staff, finances, patient care, etc.
• Pros: High earning potential, impactful work, job advancement opportunities
• Cons: Long hours, stressful environment, high pressure
• Work Environment: Hospitals, hospital systems, medical centers

Clinic Manager

• Responsibilities: Manage the administrative and clinical operations of a medical clinic or physician’s practice. Common job duties include staff supervision, patient scheduling, and budget management.
• Pros: Direct patient interaction, rewarding work, regular work hours in most cases
• Cons: Fast-paced environment, demanding patients, potential for long hours
• Work Environment: Medical clinics, physician practices, outpatient care centers

Healthcare Consultant

• Responsibilities: Counsel healthcare organizations on issues such as strategic planning, financial management, operational effectiveness, and regulatory compliance.
• Pros: Variety of projects, intellectual stimulation, good earning potential
• Cons: Frequent traveling, challenging clients, lengthy work hours
• Work Environment: Consulting firms, hospitals, healthcare organizations, independent practice

Health Policy Analyst

• Responsibilities: Research and analyze healthcare policies, regulations, and legislation.
• Pros: Impactful work that contributes to healthcare improvement, intellectually stimulating
• Cons: Can be politically influenced, sometimes requires an advanced degree, bureaucratic challenges
• Work Environment: Government agencies, research institutions, think tanks, non-profit organizations

Pharmaceutical Project Manager

• Responsibilities: Manage projects related to the development, testing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals. Manage timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams.
• Pros: Assist in medical breakthroughs, competitive salaries
• Cons: High-stress work environment, stringent regulations, long hours
• Work Environment: Pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, contract research organizations