The 25 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees In Healthcare Administration for 2021

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Updated November 16, 2022

Explore the top 20 cheap online healthcare administration bachelor's degree programs that offer flexibility, affordability, and a rigorous curriculum.

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Passionate about the fields of business and healthcare? Students with a passion for healthcare and business can combine their interests in these two fields by pursuing a healthcare administration degree, which allows you to pursue employment opportunities in hospitals, dental offices, and private practices — or anywhere else that knowledge of business practices in healthcare would come in handy.

And, the wide range of employment options isn’t the only benefit of earning a degree in this field. The job outlook for medical and health service managers is also very solid, with an expected growth rate of about 32% through 2029 in this field. The average salary for medical and health service managers is also higher than the national average, at a median of about $104,280 per year as of 2020.

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Healthcare administration refers to any leadership role within a healthcare system. Some healthcare administrators work in hospitals, while others work for private clinics.

This versatile degree allows graduates to earn management jobs in a broad range of medical settings. Professionals with a healthcare administration degree may work as department directors and managers for dental offices, hospitals, and private practices.

A bachelor’s in healthcare administration takes approximately four years to complete, as do other online healthcare administration degrees, though the time it takes you to graduate will depend on the bachelor’s program you selected and the university you attend. Completion times vary based on credit requirements, student performance, as well as students’ personal schedules.

Healthcare management deals with leadership decisions and prepares learners to oversee an entire healthcare organization. Healthcare administration, on the other hand, focuses on day-to-day operations, such as department goals and budgeting.

The average salary in this field is surprisingly high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average healthcare administrative services provider earned about $104,280 annually as of 2020.

A healthcare administration degree can be either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science, though it depends on the university and the specific healthcare administration program you enroll in. Both BA and BS programs, whether you pursue them via online schools for healthcare administration or traditional brick and mortar schools, are designed to prepare students for careers in healthcare management. However, a BS will focus more on the science and math components, while a BA focuses more on the liberal arts curriculum.

The Top 10 Online Bachelor's Degrees in Healthcare Administration of 2021

#1 Peirce College Philadelphia, PA
#2 Florida International University Miami, FL
#3 Trine Online Fort Wayne, IN
#4 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA
#5 Indiana University Indianapolis, IN
#6 University of Minnesota-Crookston Crookston, MN
#7 South Texas College McAllen, TX
#8 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
#9 Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT
#10 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI
At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs.

We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.

Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

Degree Overview

Enrolling in a healthcare administration bachelor’s degree program will teach you all about business as it applies to the healthcare industry. The goal of earning an online health administration degree is to prepare you for future management roles in this field. 

You’ll learn the fundamental concepts about both business and healthcare in this degree program. This includes strategic planning, operations finance, communication, and decision-making skills. 

You’ll also be taught the analytical components of healthcare management, such record-keeping and best practices for the healthcare management industry, and will learn the leadership skills you need for career success following graduation. 

A healthcare administration degree program will also teach you how to plan and market to insurance providers within the healthcare sector. This is an important factor of business in healthcare, as insurance dictates much of what your business is in any healthcare facility.

Graduates with this degree typically work to oversee departments and programs in healthcare settings, including hospitals, specialty clinics, and pharmaceutical companies. 

Degree Requirements

The admissions requirements for programs in healthcare administration will vary based on the school and program you choose. Each school sets its own admission requirements for programs and for admission into the college or university.

That said, there are some typical requirements for enrolling in a healthcare administration degree program. In order to enroll, students will typically need to have the following:

  • A high school diploma or equivalent
  • Standardized test scores from the ACT or SAT
  • A GPA of 2.0 or higher (though the requirements may be much higher depending on the school and program)
  • Transcripts and other required admissions paperwork

In order to graduate from a healthcare administration degree program with a bachelor’s degree in this field, you will typically need about 120 credit hours in both core classes and classes for your major. You may also be required to complete an internship or capstone project to graduate, though again, these requirements will depend on your specific program and the college you choose.
Once you have graduated, you can opt to pursue a career immediately or attend a master’s in healthcare administration program to further your education and your career opportunities. If you pursue your master’s in this field, you also have the option to continue your education with a doctoral degree in healthcare administration, should you decide to pursue one.

Courses in Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration courses teach analytical, record-keeping, and leadership skills. During these courses, students learn best practices in the healthcare management profession. They also learn how to motivate employees to serve patients.

Read on to learn about five courses common in bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs.

Principles of Healthcare Administration
This preliminary course covers foundational topics in the curriculum, enabling learners to familiarize themselves with the field before committing to the major.
Strategic Planning and Marketing in Healthcare Management
During this course, learners discover how to successfully manage projects and marketing efforts for a healthcare facility. Although insurance networks often determine where patients receive their healthcare, these organizations must still market themselves to attract patients and communicate with current patients. Learners discover how to plan marketing campaigns to reach specific goals.
Leadership and Human Resources
A leadership and human resources course teaches students how to effectively lead departments and maintain employee satisfaction. Learners discover how to choose employee benefits packages and attract and maintain talent. This course also covers basic leadership principles, ways to prevent employee burnout, and legal aspects of human resources.
Quality Assurance
A quality assurance course prepares healthcare administration professionals to oversee and assess daily operations for healthcare facilities. During this course, learners read and discuss case studies that illustrate common issues in departments. Students also learn how to constructively critique and analyze employee performance for feedback purposes.
Budgeting and Financial Management
In a budgeting and financial management course, students learn how to handle finances for specific healthcare departments and entire healthcare facilities. Learners discover how miscellaneous expenses and employee salaries add up. They also learn how to maintain quality operations on restrictive budgets and how to best prioritize budget allocations.

Career Path

A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration can provide many rewarding career opportunities for healthcare administration program graduates. Career paths for this degree can include:

As a medical or health services manager, you’ll be responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating business activities for healthcare providers.

Practice administrators are typically responsible for ensuring the healthcare facility is properly staffed for the effective delivery of health services.

In this role, you may ensure all members of a medical department maintain their required credentials and licenses in order to legally provide healthcare services.

A managed care specialist helps ensure that patients are receiving the care required for them based on individual needs, health insurance limitations, and prior authorizations.

This role typically requires you to complete the duties of a human resources manager, whether that’s dealing with insurance, recruitment, benefits administration, leaves of absences, employee relations, or other HR-related tasks.

Due to the human resources-related responsibilities that are required for many healthcare administration graduates’ career paths, it’s common for students to also concentrate on human resources management during their studies. Other concentrations for this degree include healthcare financial management, patient care quality, and healthcare informatics.

Job Outlook & Salary for Healthcare Administrators

The career outlook for healthcare administration looks positive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare occupations are projected to grow by 15% through 2029. And, healthcare professionals earned a median annual salary of about $69,870 as of 2020. Medical and health services managers benefit from a 32% projected job growth between through 2029 and a median annual salary of $104,280.

A healthcare administration degree can also serve as the first step toward becoming a top executive for a hospital. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $107,680 in 2020.

However, entry-level positions in healthcare administration are not as lucrative. According to the BLS, medical records and health information technicians earned a median annual salary of about $44,090 as of 2020.

Salaries vary based on geographical location, experience, and specific roles. Seasoned professionals often earn jobs in high-paying and competitive cities as executive leaders for large hospitals. New professionals must gain more experience before qualifying for these roles. In addition, high-level positions in this field typically require a master’s degree in healthcare administration.

The size of each organization can also influence pay. Typically, employers with more doctors on staff pay higher salaries. The Medical Group Management Association’s 2010 survey found that healthcare administrators at practices with fewer than six doctors earned $86,000. Practices with 7-25 doctors paid administrators $115,000, while practices with more than 25 doctors paid them $150,000.

Medical and Health Service Managers Salary Information

Bottom 10%Median Annual SalaryTop 10%
Less than $58,820$100,980More than $189,000

Applying for healthcare administration scholarships can lower future student loan payments. However, applying for scholarships takes time, and many award applications require a unique essay component. Prospective students should consider narrowing their search down to scholarships allocated specifically for healthcare administration majors. Thanks to a limited applicant pool, these awards often feature less competition.

Foster G. McGaw Scholarship Who Can Apply: The American College of Healthcare Executives awards this scholarship to students pursuing careers as healthcare leaders. The organization selects U.S. and Canadian citizens with financial need for the award.
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March  31

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Foundation Scholarship Who Can Apply: The American College of Healthcare Executives awards this scholarship to students pursuing careers as healthcare leaders. The organization selects U.S. and Canadian citizens with financial need for the award.
Amount: $5,000 to recipient; $200 honoraria
Deadline: Varies

Indian Health Service Scholarship Who Can Apply: Students with American Indian or Alaskan Native heritage pursuing degrees in the healthcare field may apply. Applicants must commit to working for a minimum of two years for an Indian health program after graduation.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

Medical Group Management Association Scholarships Who Can Apply: Learners studying at a college or university within the United States may apply. Applicants must major in a program related to medical practice management, like healthcare administration. Some of the association’s scholarships include additional requirements, such as pursuing a degree with programmatic accreditation.
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Varies

National Institutes of Health’s Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Who Can Apply: The National Institutes of Health allocates funds for tuition, living expenses, and paid research training for learners studying in the health science field. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and enroll in an accredited four-year program.
Amount: Up to $20,000
Deadline: Varies

Financial Aid for Healthcare Administration Students

The FAFSA allows students to apply for multiple federal student loans and grants in one place. This online form takes applicants about 45-55 minutes to complete, and deadlines vary based on state and college requirements. However, the deadline for federal aid usually falls around June 30.

This application requires tax filing information from two years ago. Students whose parents or legal guardians still claim them as a dependent must enter their guardian’s tax information. The government awards certain loans and grants based on financial need. Students can then choose to accept or decline these offers.

The FASFA provides students with two types of loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Students who demonstrate financial need can receive subsidized loans. These loans do not accrue interest while recipients complete their studies.

Students do not need to demonstrate financial need to receive an unsubsidized loan, but interest begins accruing immediately. Both types of loans require that students begin making payments after a six-month grace period following graduation.

Related Degrees

Unsure as to whether the healthcare administration degree path is right for you? There are a number of alternative routes that you can pursue if you want to earn a degree in the healthcare administration field, including:

A bachelor’s degree in medical humanities offers similar coursework to the healthcare administration program. Medical humanities students will study humanities, social sciences, and the arts as they apply to medical education and practice. The program helps prepare students to pursue careers in a broad number of healthcare professions.

Those seeking more hands-on experience in the medical field may wish to pursue a physician assistant degree. Through this program, students will learn how to take patient histories, order and administer tests, make diagnoses, determine treatments, and even assist in surgeries and set fractures. This program is much more medically focused than the business-oriented healthcare administration degree.

Public health administration is perhaps the most similar to the healthcare administration bachelor’s degree program. The main difference is that this program focuses on the public health sector rather than private practice, which is what healthcare administration is geared toward. Students in this program will learn how to effectively educate the public on health topics, create emergency response plans, understand and apply the principles of epidemiology, and assist in the formulation of public health policy.

The Top 25 Online Bachelor's Programs For Healthcare Administration of 2021

  1. Peirce College
    Location

    Philadelphia, PA

    Tuition

    $6395

    Graduation Rate
    35%
    View School Profile

    Peirce College offers an online bachelor of science in healthcare administration that prepares students to work in administrative or management roles in healthcare facilities. This program is available entirely online or in a blended format.

    The bachelor's in healthcare administration requires 121 credits and takes four years to complete. Major courses include medical terminology, healthcare delivery in the U.S., healthcare reimbursement, and cultural competency for healthcare professionals. Students who wish to pursue a master’s in healthcare administration at Peirce can earn 12 graduate credits while still enrolled in the bachelor's program.

    Applicants must hold a high school or GED diploma. Transfer students may apply up to 90 previously earned credits toward their degree.

    Peirce College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

    • Graduation Rate: 35%
    • School Status: Private, nonprofit
    • Number of Programs: 26
    • Admissions Requirements: Grade C or higher in college-level English and Mathematics; high school diploma
    • Location: Philadelphia, PA
    • Contact: (215) 545-6400
    • Website: www.peirce.edu
  2. Florida International University
    Location

    Miami, FL

    Tuition

    $9180

    Graduation Rate
    58%
    View School Profile

    Florida International University offers an online bachelor of health services administration that prepares students for entry-level management positions in healthcare organizations and facilities. This program is available entirely online.

    FIU's healthcare administration degree requires 120 credits and takes four years to complete. Core courses include communication and information technology for healthcare professionals, healthcare financial management, legal aspects of healthcare, and healthcare quality management.

    Freshman applicants must submit their high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Transfer applicants must submit college transcripts. To gain admission into the health services administration major, students must earn a minimum 2.5 GPA in general education courses. Florida residents enrolled in the program receive a significant tuition discount.

    Florida International University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

    • Graduation Rate: 58%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 277
    • Admissions Requirements: SAT/ACT test score results; 4 credits in English; 4 credits in Mathematics; 3 credits in Natural Science, 3 credits in Social Science; 2 credits in Second Language; 2 credits in Additional Academic Electives; GPA transcript
    • Location: Miami, FL
    • Contact: (305) 348-2000
    • Website: www.fiu.edu
  3. Trine Online
    Location

    Fort Wayne, IN

    Tuition

    $14712

    Graduation Rate
    50%
    View School Profile

    Trine University offers an online bachelor of science in healthcare administration that prepares students for managerial, supervisory, or executive-level positions within the healthcare industry. This program is available entirely online with courses beginning every eight weeks.

    Trine's bachelor's in health administration requires 120 credits and takes one year to complete. Core courses include infrastructure basics, healthcare market analysis, technology and clinical systems, and healthcare human resources management. Students can also choose from one of the following professional tracks: information systems, organizational leadership, healthcare specialty, and communication.

    Freshman applicants must submit high school transcripts or a GED diploma. Incoming students may transfer up to 90 credits toward the healthcare administration degree. Trine University awards credit for standardized examination programs, such as the College Level Examination Program, and alternative learning experiences. Trine offers tuition assistance to active-duty military.

    Trine University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

    • Graduation Rate: 50%
    • School Status: Private
    • Number of Programs: 129
    • Admissions Requirements: High school transcript and SAT/ACT test scores (optional)
    • Location: Fort Wayne, IN
    • Contact: (260) 665-4100
    • Website: www.trine.edu
  4. Eastern Washington University
    Location

    Cheney, WA

    Tuition

    $10751

    Graduation Rate
    44%
    View School Profile

    Eastern Washington University offers an online bachelor of arts in health services administration that prepares graduates for leadership roles in healthcare organizations.

    EWU's bachelor's in healthcare administration requires 100 credits and takes four years to complete. Core courses include healthcare organization and administration, healthcare supervision, healthcare technology, and health law regulation and ethics. The curriculum also requires a senior capstone. Students can complete an optional internship in which they work 20 hours a week in a supervised environment at a healthcare facility. Learners must maintain a 3.0 GPA to graduate.

    Freshman applicants must submit high school transcripts or GED diplomas and ACT or SAT scores. Transfer applicants must submit all previous college transcripts along with ACT or SAT scores.

    Eastern Washington University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

    • Graduation Rate: 44%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 45
    • Admissions Requirements: Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher; official SAT/ACT scores optional
    • Location: Cheney, WA
    • Contact: (509) 359-6200
    • Website: www.ewu.edu
  5. Indiana University
    Location

    Indianapolis, IN

    Tuition

    $9371

    Graduation Rate
    47%
    View School Profile

    IU offers an online bachelor of science in health information administration that prepares students to become credentialed healthcare administrators. To earn professional certification, students must complete all program requirements and pass the American Health Information Management Association's registered health information administrator certification exam.

    IU's bachelor's in healthcare administration requires 120 credits. Core courses include health quality and information management, health record law and ethics, healthcare data management, and research principles for health information management. Students must also complete a capstone and affiliation experience. IU delivers all program coursework asynchronously. Full-time students complete the degree in four years.

    Applicants need a two-year health information technology degree from Indiana University or another program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management. Transfer students may bring up to 64 credits from an associate degree or up to 90 credits from a four-year college with them.

    Indiana University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

    • Graduation Rate: 47%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 550+
    • Admissions Requirements: High school diploma; SAT/ACT test optional; 200 – 400-word essay about academic and career plans
    • Location: Indianapolis, IN
    • Contact: (317) 274-5555
    • Website: www.iupui.edu
  6. University of Minnesota-Crookston
    Location

    Crookston, MN

    Tuition

    $12135

    Graduation Rate
    48%
    View School Profile

    The University of Minnesota Crookston offers an online bachelor of science in health management that prepares students for careers in management or administration in healthcare settings. This program meets Minnesota requirements for nursing home administrator licensure. Courses are available entirely online.

    UMC's healthcare administration degree requires 120 credits and takes four years to complete. Core courses include healthcare and medical needs, healthcare leadership and planning, performance improvement in healthcare, and principles of management. Students can complete an optional 10-week supervised internship.

    First-year applicants should submit high school transcripts or a GED diploma. Admission does not require ACT or SAT scores. Transfer students should submit all college transcripts, including any credits earned from Advanced Placement or College Level Examination Program exams.

    The University of Minnesota Crookston is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

    • Graduation Rate: 48%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 30+
    • Admissions Requirements: High school transcripts/GED; answers to short essay questions on application; SAT/ACT test optional
    • Location: Crookston, MN
    • Contact: [email protected]
    • Website: www.crk.umn.edu
  7. South Texas College
    Location

    McAllen, TX

    Tuition

    $1610

    Graduation Rate
    22%
    View School Profile

    South Texas College offers an online bachelor of applied technology in medical and health services management that prepares graduates for managerial roles in healthcare organizations.

    The college's bachelor's in health administration requires 120 credits and takes four years to complete. Core courses include principles of healthcare management, healthcare information technology, risk management for healthcare professionals, and project management for healthcare. The curriculum culminates in a practicum. This program is available entirely online and offers courses in seven-week terms.

    Applicants must have an associate degree or 60 college credits in nursing, health information technology, business administration, or a related field. Prospective students must also submit ACT or SAT scores. Transfer students may apply up to 90 credits toward the healthcare administration degree.

    South Texas College is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

    • Graduation Rate: 22%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 127
    • Admissions Requirements: High school diploma or GED equivalent
    • Location: McAllen, TX
    • Contact: 1-855-GoToSTC
    • Website: www.southtexascollege.edu
  8. University of Central Florida
    Location

    Orlando, FL

    Tuition

    $13016

    Graduation Rate
    73%
    View School Profile

    The University of Central Florida offers an online bachelor of science in health services administration that prepares students for careers as health information managers, health services administrators, and nursing home administrators.

    UCF's bachelor's in healthcare administration requires 120 credits and usually takes four years. Core courses include the U.S. healthcare systems, healthcare finance, long-term care and administration, and quality management. The curriculum also requires an internship and culminates in a capstone course.

    Applicants must submit all previous transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Competitive candidates have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Admission requirements vary for transfer students based on how many college credits they have completed. Florida residents receive a significant tuition discount at UCF.

    The University of Central Florida is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

    • Graduation Rate: 73%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 230+
    • Admissions Requirements: Completed SPARK form; official SAT/ACT score; official GED or TOEFL/IELTS score; application essay
    • Location: Orlando, FL
    • Contact: (407) 823-2000
    • Website: www.ucf.edu
  9. Charter Oak State College
    Location

    New Britain, CT

    Tuition

    $8301

    Graduation Rate
    54%
    View School Profile

    Charter Oak State College offers an online bachelor of science in healthcare administration that prepares graduates to manage programs and services in health organizations.

    Charter Oak's bachelor's in healthcare administration requires 42 credits of major coursework. Major courses include healthcare systems and administration, healthcare quality concepts and principles, contemporary ethical issues in health, and human resource management. This program is available entirely online.

    Charter Oak State College allows transfer students to earn credit toward their degree through Credit for prior learning, industry examinations, and professional training and credentials.

    Charter Oak State College is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

    • Graduation Rate: 54%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 43
    • Admissions Requirements: High school transcripts
    • Location: New Britain, CT
    • Contact: [email protected]
    • Website: www.charteroak.edu
  10. Ferris State University
    Location

    Big Rapids, MI

    Tuition

    $13351

    Graduation Rate
    49%
    View School Profile

    Ferris State University offers an online bachelor's degree in allied health sciences that provides students with the flexibility to tailor their degree to their future career goals.

    FSU's bachelor's in health administration blends core courses with specialized electives in areas such as health finance and long-term care. Students may also complete additional professional certificates in specialization areas. FSU delivers the program entirely online.

    Applicants must hold an associate degree in a healthcare-related program with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Transfer students may apply up to 50 credits toward the bachelor's degree. Roughly 83% of FSU's students receive financial aid.

    Ferris State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

    • Graduation Rate: 49%
    • School Status: Public
    • Number of Programs: 200+
    • Admissions Requirements: High school transcripts; SAT/ACT test scores
    • Location: Big Rapids, MI
    • Contact: [email protected]
    • Website: www.ferris.edu
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Carly Severino

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Carly Severino is a freelance writer who covers education topics for Best Value Schools, Grad School Hub, and Criminal Justice Degree Schools, and others. Her work has appeared on Reviews.com, The Simple Dollar, and other sites.

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