The healthcare industry is constantly changing, and while this presents the healthcare professional with many challenges, it also provides healthcare professionals with many opportunities. One of the surest ways to be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities is to pursue a master’s degree in the healthcare field. Two types of degrees present themselves as attractive options: either a Masters in Health Administration, or an MBA in Healthcare. Both have different strengths. The MBA has more of a business emphasis and the MHA puts more of an emphasis on the healthcare side of the coin. The good news is that there are several high quality institutions offering online distance education opportunities for either of these degrees.
Ranking the Top 10 Best Online Masters in Health Administration Degree Programs 2013
All of the programs on the list below are accredited regionally, and many of the MBA programs are accredited either through AACSB or ACBSP. All of the schools have a long, rich academic tradition.
#1. University of Southern California: Executive Masters in Health Administration
Executive Summary: Founded by a few academically inclined individuals in the frontier town of Los Angeles in the 1870s, USC has become one of the top universities in the country. USC is ranked #24 on U.S. News and World Report’s “Top National Universities” list.
Tuition: Tuition for the EMHA is $54,000 for the whole program; this breaks down to $1588.24 per credit for their online Masters in Health Administration degree.
Unique Features: The Executive Masters in Health Administration requires two five day residencies during the course of the program. This is an important feature of the program because it provides valuable face to face interactions with colleagues, and a networking opportunity at one of the top schools in the country can be invaluable in a competitive job market.
#2. Northeastern University: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare
Executive Summary: Another top of the line distance learning MBA-Healthcare program from another top of the line school. Founded in 1898, Northeastern has a rich academic tradition and is one of the country’s top private research Universities.
Tuition: Tuition for the MBA-Healthcare program at Northeastern is $1,345 per credit.
Unique Features: Northeastern’s College of Business Administration is AACSB accredited and has been recognized as “One of America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report and one of the Princeton Reviews “290 Best Business Schools.” Students in the program will not only learn the mechanics of the business end of the healthcare industry, but also study the regulatory, economic, political, and social aspects of the healthcare system.
#3. George Washington University: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare
Executive Summary: GWU was founded in 1821, fulfilling George Washington’s vision of an institution in the heart of the U.S. capitol devoted to the training of future United States leaders. The mission of GWU has stayed the same in its long history; that is, to provide an environment in which knowledge is created and acquired, enriching not only the United States, but the world.
Tuition: Tuition for the MBA-Healthcare program at GWU is $1420.00 per credit.
Unique Features: GWU is AACSB accredited and listed on U.S. News and World Report’s honor roll for top online business programs. The MAS-Healthcare program boasts world renowned faculty with extensive experience in both the healthcare and business world, meaning that students will graduate with a unique perspective and skill set that will aid them in a competitive job market.
#4. University of Cincinnati: Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Executive Summary: The University of Cincinnati is a large public research university with over 40,000 students. The University of Cincinnati may be large, but it boasts an impressive 15:1 student/faculty ratio. UC has been distinguished as one of the top tier national universities by U.S. News and World Report in their 2011 rating of top national universities.
Tuition: Tuition at the University of Cincinnati for the online Masters in Health Administration degree is $790.00 per credit.
Unique Features: The MHA program at the University of Cincinnati was ranked in the “Top 100 Elite Value” list by Money magazine. In addition to its high quality program, UC offers a unique “virtual residency” program for online students that provides a vast array of professional networking opportunities within the healthcare community.
#5. Quinnipiac University: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare Management Track
Executive Summary: Quinnipiac University is a small up and coming university in the business and professional world. Offering extensive high quality programs, this university has grown in scope and reputation since its founding in 1929.
Tuition: Tuition at Quinnipiac University for the MBA-Health Administration track is $895.00 per credit.
Unique Features: Quinnipiac’s school of business and engineering is AACSB accredited and has made both The Princeton Review’s “Best 294 Business Schools” and Bloomberg’s “Top 100 Business Schools” lists. Quinnipiac leverages this tradition of excellence in its MBA Healthcare Management Track, building on the school’s foundational 20 year tradition of training high quality professionals for the healthcare field.
#6. University of North Carolina: Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
Executive Summary: UNC was founded in 1789 and is the oldest public university in the country and the only public university to have graduated students in the 18th century. It has been well regarded as one of the top public universities in the country for all of its history.
Tuition: Tuition is $497.98 for residents; $1,229.48 for non residents enrolled in the online Masters in Health Administration program.
Unique Features: The EMHA program at UNC has long been regarded as one of the top programs of this sort in the country. Expert faculty combine with state of the art technology to provide one of the best distance learning opportunities available in this field.
#7. Ohio University: Masters in Health Administration
Executive Summary: Ohio University was founded in 1804 and is the 9th oldest public university in the country. Ohio University prides itself on diversity, not only having students from every one of the 50 United States, but also boasting students from over 100 nations.
Tuition: Tuition is $654.00 per credit for Ohio residents; $673.00 per credit for non residents enrolled in the online Masters in Health Administration degree program.
Unique Features: Ohio University has been cited as one of the nation’s best schools in The Princeton Review, U.S. News and World Report, and Peterson’s Guide to Competitive Colleges. The university regularly ranks in the top 2% of United States’ schools. The online Masters in Health Administration program is designed for mid-career health care professionals looking to expand their business and healthcare leadership skills, learning to create innovative solutions to new problems arising in this ever changing field.
#8. Saint Joseph’s University: Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA)
Executive Summary: SJU is a private Jesuit university with a 160 year educational tradition. SJU provides students with an academically rigorous and challenging experience because the university understands that this is what it takes to form students into competitive professionals.
Tuition: Tuition for SJU MSHA is $752 per credit for their online Masters in Health Administration program.
Unique Features: The MSHA program at SJU is geared toward mid-career professionals looking to take the next step in their careers. Students will study health policy formulation, organization development and behavior, economic and financial analysis, market assessment, strategy formulation and implementation; this will give the student a comprehensive understanding of the field.
#9. Tiffin University: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare Administration
Executive Summary: Founded in 1888, Tiffin’s academic history has been one of providing motivated students with practical education. Tiffin is fully devoted to student success and has created many partnerships that provide competitive internship and employment opportunities to students and graduates.
Tuition: $1,400 per course; $25,200.00 for the full program.
Unique Features: The MBA-HA program at Tiffin is designed for professionals working in the fields of education, child care, social services, healthcare and business. The program is also accredited by ACBSP and ECBE, meaning the degree carries some international wieght.
#10. Brenau University: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare Management
Executive Summary: Brenau University was founded as a small Baptist Women’s College in 1878. Since then it has shed its religious affiliation and is now a non-sectarian liberal arts college; but it has kept the cornerstone of its educational experience in that its main campus is still female only. Men can take classes at satellite campuses and via online courses.
Tuition: Tuition for the MBA Healthcare Management program is $540.00 per credit.
Unique Features: The Brenau Business College is accredited by ACBSP. The healthcare management MBA program is devoted to providing students with comprehensive knowledge of business and management skill in order that they might be competitive in a highly competitive field.
