Affordable Schools

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20 Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Healthcare Administration and Management

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates over 4M new jobs in the health care industry in the period 2012-2022, which in itself will drive a need for administrative and management roles.

In this college rankings list, we look at online bachelor’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Management. Undergraduate academic programs covered in this article are either offered 100% fully online, or in some hybrid form that may require either or both of some on-campus classes or at least orientation sessions.

For career outlook, specifically, the occupation of Medical and Health Services Managers is expected to have job growth of 17% between 2014-2024. The BLS OOH also lists other healthcare occupations that overlap. (See the “Similar Occupations tab of the OOH job profile.) From the Web pages of the 20 colleges ranked in this article, we’ve compiled a list of occupations that graduates of a baccalaureate in health care administration or management might pursue. Note that a bachelor’s degree may suffice for many of the occupations, although some require an advanced degree and/or professional certification.

  1. allied health agencies
  2. ambulance companies
  3. ambulatory care centers
  4. ambulatory surgery centers
  5. assistant administrator
  6. assisted living facilities
  7. business manager
  8. clinical manager
  9. clinical trials firms
  10. community health services
  11. community-based agencies
  12. consulting firms
  13. day surgery centers
  14. dental offices
  15. department manager
  16. director of volunteer services
  17. doctors’ offices
  18. educational institutions
  19. emergency medical services coordinator
  20. extended care facilities
  21. financial institutions
  22. government health agencies (local, state, federal)
  23. government regulatory agencies
  24. group physician practices
  25. health care administrator
  26. health care associations
  27. health care facility coordinator
  28. health departments
  29. health information manager
  30. health information specialist
  31. health insurance companies
  32. health insurance organizations
  33. health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
  34. health practitioners’ offices
  35. health research firms
  36. health services assistant manager
  37. health services director
  38. health services manager
  39. healthcare associations
  40. healthcare institutions
  41. home health agencies
  42. home health care agencies
  43. home health care organizations
  44. home health care services
  45. hospital administrator
  46. hospital departments
  47. hospital staffing
  48. hospitals
  49. industrial health programs
  50. laboratory manager
  51. long-term care administration
  52. long-term care facilities
  53. managed care organizations
  54. management consulting
  55. medical clinics
  56. medical equipment companies
  57. medical group practices
  58. medical operations manager
  59. medical services assistant manager
  60. medical services director
  61. medical services manager
  62. medical supply companies
  63. medical systems administrator
  64. mental health departments
  65. mental health organizations
  66. non-profit organizations
  67. nursing facilities
  68. nursing home administrator
  69. optometrist offices
  70. outpatient care centers
  71. pharmaceutical companies
  72. physician group practices
  73. physician practices
  74. primary care clinics
  75. private practices
  76. psychiatric facilities
  77. public health departments
  78. public health facilities
  79. public health organizations
  80. rehabilitation centers
  81. research institutions
  82. senior living centers
  83. skilled nursing facilities
  84. social service agencies
  85. software vendors
  86. surgical hospitals
  87. urgent care centers
  88. wellness programs

If you are interested in a career in healthcare administration or management, or closely-related fields, this rankings list of relevant and affordable online bachelor’s degrees may help you find a suitable college/ university. A statistical summary for the 20 ranked schools is below, followed by the NOTES section, and then the actual college rankings.

Statistics Summary

This is a summary of data available for the colleges/ universities mentioned in this college rankings list for Bachelors of Healthcare Administration and Management or related degree programs.

Yearly net price range: $1,320 – $13,622.
In-state tuition range: $3,074 – $29,745.
Out-of-state tuition range: $3,770 – $29,745.
Lowest in-state: #11 SCF.
Lowest out-of-state: #1 STC.
Graduation rate range: 9 – 71%.
Transfer-out rate range: 13 – 39%.
Highest graduation rate: #13 PC.
Lowest transfer-out rate: #11 SCF.
# students range: 274 – 36624.
# undergrads range: 274 – 36624.
# grads range: 0 – 5877.
Largest # students: #2 BYUI.
Largest # undergrads: #2 BYUI.
Largest # grads: #10 CSU.
Oldest school: #15 CC (est. 1851).
Youngest school: #1 STC (est. 1993).
# states covered: 18.
States covered: AL, CA, CO, FL, ID, KS, LA, MI (2), MN, MO (2), MS, MT, NC, NY, PA, SD, TX, UT.

Rank-order list of schools covered

The following scrolling list shows the 20 ranked schools in rank order (increasing net price), from #1 to #20, for reader convenience.

rank abbrev NCES name
1 STC South Texas College
2 BYUI Brigham Young University-Idaho
3 ULL University of Louisiana at Lafayette
4 NAU-AFB National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension
5 Cleary Cleary University
6 MSU Metropolitan State University of Denver
7 Peirce Peirce College
8 Park Park University
9 WSU Weber State University
10 CSU Columbia Southern University
11 SCF State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
12 JSU Jackson State University
13 PC Pacific College
14 MSUB Montana State University-Billings
15 CC Columbia College
16 CTC SUNY College of Technology at Canton
17 BC Baker College
18 ECU East Carolina University
19 UMC University of Minnesota-Crookston
20 CCC Central Christian College of Kansas

Alphabetic list of schools covered in this ranking

The abbreviations used in the table below may not be official and in which case are used here for convenience only, and may be repeated in other summaries and charting.

NCES Name (abbrev, estdate, rank) location $in-state $out-of-state $net price
Baker College (BC, 1911, 17) Flint, Michigan 8640 8640 12880
Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYUI, 1888, 2) Rexburg, Idaho 3830 3830 7968
Central Christian College of Kansas (CCC, 1884, 20) McPherson, Kansas 14501 14501 13622
Cleary University (Cleary, 1883, 5) Howell, Michigan 20000 20000 8593
Columbia College (CC, 1851, 15) Columbia, Missouri 8240 8240 11031
Columbia Southern University (CSU, 1993, 10) Orange Beach, Alabama 5175 5175 10054
East Carolina University (ECU, 1907, 18) Greenville, North Carolina 6580 22154 12908
Jackson State University (JSU, 1877, 12) Jackson, Mississippi 6886 16841 10417
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU, 1965, 6) Denver, Colorado 6420 20057 9145
Montana State University-Billings (MSUB, 1927, 14) Billings, Montana 5808 17842 10881
National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension (NAU-AFB, 1941, 4) Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota 6075 6075 8585
Pacific College (PC, 1993, 13) Costa Mesa, California 29745 29745 10596
Park University (Park, 1875, 8) Parkville, Missouri 11470 11470 9326
Peirce College (Peirce, 1865, 7) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 14184 14184 9302
South Texas College (STC, 1993, 1) McAllen, Texas 3486 3770 1320
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (SCF, 1957, 11) Bradenton, Florida 3074 11606 10102
SUNY College of Technology at Canton (CTC, 1906, 16) Canton, New York 7855 12245 11884
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL, 1898, 3) Lafayette, Louisiana 8256 21984 8463
University of Minnesota-Crookston (UMC, 1905, 19) Crookston, Minnesota 11646 11646 13055
Weber State University (WSU, 1889, 9) Ogden, Utah 5321 14235 10005

Interactive Charts

This rankings article of online bachelors degrees in healthcare administration and management contains a number of charts, including a tuition summary of all 20 ranked colleges, plus additional charts for each ranked college (stats dashboard). The majority of charts are interactive (with the exception of the “circular comparison chart,” explained separately. Here is a summary on how to use them:

  • A modern browser is required for most of the charting features.
  • For the bar charts, including the rectangular one directly below and the individual ones in each school summary, the vertical Y axis represents cost in dollars, for net price and in-state and out-of-state tuition per college. The horizontal X axis represents the schools ranked.
  • The chart directly below shows in-state tuition (blue bars), out-of-state tuition (orange bars) and net price (connected green dots). Hover your mouse over a tuition bar or net price point and a tooltip will pop up that shows the institution name and the two cost values – net price and tuition. Use your mouse’s scroll wheel to zoom in on a section in the main chart. The sub-chart below the main chart will indicate what section you are viewing. Hover your mouse over either of the three labels, “in,” “out” or “net” underneath the sub-chart to visually highlight just the selected chart.
  • The circular chart below the grouped bar chart/ line chart combo is an alternative view of tuition info, as well as additional data points. See below for more details.
  • Each school ranked also displays two donut charts. The leftmost donut chart is a breakdown of number of students, with the total displayed in the middle, and the blue arc representing the percentage of students that are undergrads. The rightmost donut chart represents graduation rate of undergrads, with the rate displayed in the middle and also represented by the blue arc. Hover your mouse over any arc to get the student percentage or the graduation rate, depending on the donut chart.
  • All the charts are built using C3.js or CircosJS JavaScript code libraries, which in turn both build on the D3.js data visualization library. The CircosJS library builds on the original Circos code. See http://c3js.org and https://github.com/nicgirault/circosJS if you want to explore further.

Interactive Histogram/Line Chart: Tuition vs Net Price

As mentioned above, this chart compares in-state and out-of-state tuition, as well as net price, for all 20 schools ranked in this article on the most affordable online Bachelor’s degrees in Health Care Administration/ Management.

CircosJS Circular Comparison Chart: Multiple Data Points

Compare all 20 ranked colleges simultaneously with this circular “Circos” chart (non-interactive). It might be intimidating at first, but by understanding what each “ring” or “track” represents, it becomes fairly easy and quite useful. You can see which colleges cost the most and least, which are the oldest and youngest, which have the most students, and more. See the “Tips for Use” section below, for more information.

Tips for use:
  • Colleges are arranged clockwise by rank from #1 to #20, starting with #1 STC at the top. Each ring is called a track.
  • All bars and arcs are scaled in color and darkness based on their associated value with the entire set of ranked colleges. Bars are also scaled in size. As such some bars/arcs may be very faint or even nearly invisible.
  • Outermost track (T+6): Tuition histogram: three green-blue bars per college. Clockwise: bar 1 =$in-state; b2 =$out-of-state; b3 =$net price. So #11 SCF has lowest $in-state (left bar is the shortest and lightest blue-green – nearly invisible).
  • T+5: Text track: graduation/ transfer-out rates: Clockwise per college: pct 1 =grad’n rate; pct 2 =transfer rate. So #13 PC has highest grad’n rate at 71%. “n/a” means data is not available.
    • T+4: Text track of ‘other’ info: clockwise: year of establishment, 2-letter state code, Areavibes.com ‘cost of living’ score (independent of on-campus housing costs).
    • T+3: Student population histogram (blueish-green bars pointing inwards). Clockwise: total students, #undergrads, #grads. So #2 BYUI has the most students and undergrads.
    • T+2: Rank track: for reader convenience. Partially overlaps T+3.
    • T+1: Heatmap track of age of school: reddish-orange arcs. Darkest is oldest: #15 CC (~165 years old).
    • T0: Label track: rank and college abbreviation (purple lozenges, starting at top, clockwise from “#1 STC” to “#20 CCC”).

 

NOTES:

  • In terms of topic categories searched in the NCES.ed.gov database, we queried only for “Healthcare Administration” and “Healthcare Management” categories. However, if the final 20 colleges in this rankings article have interdisciplinary programs, they may be mentioned in a school’s ranking.
  • A college’s tuition for online programs may differ than that quoted for the on-campus program. This could be due to either or both of technology fees and out-of-state-portion waivers. Check with a college if you’re unsure. We have listed the tuition and net price values recorded in the NCES.ed.gov database.
  • As accreditation can change or only be valid regionally, please verify accreditation of any college to which you are planning to apply.
  • NCES data is subject to change and some of these “affordable degrees” guides may use more recent data than described in the Methodology.
  • For the full list of programs covered to date, please check our School Rankings page.
  • Online programs are strongly self-directed and recommended only for students who are self-driven when it comes to studying and researching.
  • Some online program selection tips:
    • Spend the time to carefully read the degree requirements.
    • Browse the course curriculum and make notes of the courses that interest you most.
    • Consider creating a spreadsheet to compare summaries of course/ programs across the schools referenced here. If you are looking for a minimum set of courses, make a list of those courses, one per column. Then list ranked schools vertically in the spreadsheet, one per row. Color code or make an annotation for each course offered by a given school.
    • Add other columns to record information about tuition, net price, #credits/ courses required, etc., and color code their cells as suitable.
    • This visual approach to online program selection can be quite effective compared to staring at bare numbers.
  • The methodology for this series on online bachelor’s degrees is essentially the same as for our 15-school college rankings list. For example, see the “Methodology” section of the ranking list article 15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Marketing for an explanation of the process we use to rank colleges in each topical bachelor’s list.

Rankings: Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Healthcare Administration/ Management

20: Central Christian College of Kansas

Central Christian College of Kansas (CCC) is a private, nonprofit, evangelical Christian college established in 1884. CCC is located in McPherson, Kansas, some 55 miles northwest of Wichita, KS, and about 190 miles roughly southwest of Kansas City, KS. Original name: Orleans Seminary. Religious affiliation: Free Methodist Church.

CCC offers several online Healthcare Management/ Administration program options. The Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (BSHA) requires 120 credit hours, with 12 for electives, 30 for major courses, 9 for bridge courses, and 15 for the chosen concentration. There are nine concentrations in all — including Healthcare Business Management, Health Information Management, Medical Practice Management, and Pharmacy Management — giving students a chance to specialize in an area of career interest. For students who want more control over their course of study, CCC has the 120-hour BS in Interdisciplinary Studies – Healthcare. It not only has more electives, but allows for the selection of two 15-hour concentrations (from the same nine in the BSHA). Finally, for students who want a stronger business foundation to their careers as healthcare administrators or managers, CCC has its 120-hour Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – Healthcare Management Concentration. It requires 36 hours for business core courses and 21 for the concentration.

Sample courses: Applied Research Project; Financial Management in Healthcare; Healthcare Marketing Strategies; Healthcare Reimbursement; Leadership and Change in Healthcare; Patient Communication and Service Excellence; Principles of Managed Care; Statistics for Healthcare Managers; Strategic Planning

  • Graduation rate: 39%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $14,501.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $14,501.
  • Yearly average net price: $13,622.
  • Student population: 1165.
  • # undergrads: 1165.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: Town: Remote.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

19: University of Minnesota-Crookston

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) is a four-year public university established in 1905 as the Northwest School of Agriculture. UMC is part of the University of Minnesota system and is located in Crookston, Minnesota, about 290 miles northwest of Minneapolis, MN, but only some 25 miles southeast of Grand Forks, ND.

UMC has one online Health Care Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Management. This BS requires 120 credits, with 62 for the major. The degree gives traditional students the entry point into management careers in the health care industry. For those already working as health care professionals, the BS provides them with career advancement opportunities. One unique career benefit for students is that this program has been approved by the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators and graduates can sit for the state’s nursing home administration licensing exam (allowing them to pursue careers in long-term care administration). In terms of affordability, students pay the same tuition rate regardless of where they reside (even if that’s overseas); and those who can take more than a standard course load benefit from having a set tuition cost for 13 credits or more per semester.

Sample courses: Administration of the Long Term Care System; Health Care Leadership and Planning; Health Care Law and Biomedical Ethics; Health Care Policy and Comparative Systems; Internship; Medical Terminology; Performance Improvement in Health Care; Regulatory Management; Risk Management in Health Care

  • Graduation rate: 48%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 39%.
  • In-state tuition: $11,646.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $11,646.
  • Yearly average net price: $13,055.
  • Student population: 2850.
  • # undergrads: 2850.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: Town: Distant.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

18: East Carolina University

East Carolina University (ECU) is a public research university that was established in 1907. ECU is part of the University of North Carolina System and is located in Greenville, North Carolina, some 85 miles east and somewhat south of Raleigh, NC, and about 140 miles southwest of Virginia Beach, VA. Original name: East Carolina Teachers Training School.

ECU offers one online Healthcare Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Services Management. This BS is a degree completion program that requires 126 semester hours in total, with 19-22 for restricted electives, 52-55 for core courses, and 6-11 for one of two concentration options: Health Services Management (HSM) or Allied Health Management (AHM). The HSM concentration is for traditional students who want to pursue mid-level management positions in health care or continue on to graduate studies in an allied health program. The AHM concentration is for working, credentialed allied health professionals who want to build on their Associate’s degree and complete a Bachelor’s degree so they can become supervisors/ managers in their field. Students applying for admission to the BS must first complete an appropriate Associate’s degree or at least an initial two years of undergraduate study, maintaining an overall GPA of 2.5 or better.

Sample courses: Allied Health Management Experience; Health Care Payment Systems; Health Data Management; Interpersonal Team Skills for Health Care Supervisors and Practitioners; Management of Health Care Operations and Patient Flow; Medical Practice Management; Professional Roles and Environments in Health Care; Quality Management in Health Care; Written Communication and Documentation in Health Care

  • Graduation rate: 59%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 17%.
  • In-state tuition: $6,580.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $22,154.
  • Yearly average net price: $12,908.
  • Student population: 27511.
  • # undergrads: 22252.
  • # grads: 5259.
  • Campus setting: City: Small.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A.

17: Baker College

Baker College is a private, non-profit college established in 1911, but has roots that go back to 1888 with Muskegon College (which was brought into the same management group with Baker in 1965). Baker College’s main/ flagship campus is in Flint, Michigan, some 65 miles northwest of Detroit, MI. Original name: Baker Business University.

Baker has one online Healthcare Administration program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Services Administration (HSA). This BS requires 180 quarter hours for graduation, with 32 for core competencies, 4 for a restricted elective, and 32 for the HSA major. (Baker will switch to a semester system in 2017.) The degree provides students with the critical thinking skills needed to become healthcare managers. It also provides tangible skills in assessment, budgeting, co-ordination, directing, and planning that will help managers improve an organization’s efficiency and care delivery. Students in Baker’s online classes benefit from small class sizes (normally only 12-15 students per class), which ensures everyone can participate and interact more fully. All Baker programs benefit from employer/ industry advisory boards that ensure curricula meet the market’s needs. Baker also helps students on the job front through its free Lifetime Employment Assistance program and HireQualified employer recruiting service.

Sample courses: Ethics for Health Professionals; Healthcare Administration; Health Law and Regulations; Health Services Administration Externship; Health System Finance; Introduction to Healthcare; Planning and Evaluation of Health Services; Seminar in Health Issues

  • Graduation rate: 9%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $8,640.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $8,640.
  • Yearly average net price: $12,880.
  • Student population: 3726.
  • # undergrads: 3720.
  • # grads: 6.
  • Campus setting: Suburb: Large.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

16: SUNY College of Technology at Canton

SUNY College of Technology at Canton (SUNY Canton) is a public college established in 1906. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system and is located in Canton, New York, some 130 miles northeast of Syracuse, NY, and about 115 miles southwest of Montreal, Quebec. Original name: School of Agriculture at St. Lawrence University.

SUNY Canton offers one online Healthcare Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Care Management (HCM). This BS requires at least 120 credits, with 34-43 for HCM courses. The degree suits traditional students, transfer students, and those already working in health care but who are looking to advance to leadership, management, or supervisory roles in their chosen field. For any type student, the BS provides the business, health care system, and management knowledge needed to succeed in the public or private sector. To help with affordability and accelerate/ fast track a program of study, students can earn credit for life and/ or military experiences, and through proficiency exams. Military personnel can also qualify for concurrent admission (get admitted to SUNY Canton and join the military at the same time) and defer enrollment until their period of enlistment is completed. About 85% of SUNY Canton students receive some financial aid.

Sample courses: Health Care Facility Administration; Health Care Financing; Internship/ Internship Alternative; Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare; Managed Care; Medical Terminology and Coding Classification Systems; Quality and Patient Safety; Senior Seminar; U.S. Health Care System

  • Graduation rate: 29%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 32%.
  • In-state tuition: $7,855.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $12,245.
  • Yearly average net price: $11,884.
  • Student population: 3278.
  • # undergrads: 3278.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: Town: Remote.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: C+.

15: Columbia College

Columbia College (CC) is a private, nonprofit college established in 1851 as Christian Female College. Its main campus is in Columbia, Missouri, about 125 miles west and somewhat north of St Louis, MO, and around 125 miles east and slightly south of Kansas City, MO. Columbia College has an affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but admits students of all faiths.

CC has two online Healthcare Management programs — the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration – Healthcare Management (HM) Major. Both require 120 semester-hours for graduation, with 51 for core requirements and 18 for the HM Major. The differences between the two are that the BA has a 6-hour foreign language requirement and 18 hours of additional open electives, while the BS has a 21-hour business elective requirement. Both degrees provide students with a solid foundation in business and management, along with a critical understanding of key healthcare management concerns. This allows students to assume management roles in a variety of healthcare facilities or health-related organizations, and focus on the primary tasks of improving organizational efficiency and quality of care delivered. Online classes at CC are available in eight-week sessions five times a year.

Sample courses: Biomedical Ethics; Healthcare Economics; Human Resource Management; Introduction to Healthcare Management; Legal and Ethical Aspects of Healthcare; Organizational Theory

  • Graduation rate: 38%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $8,240.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $8,240.
  • Yearly average net price: $11,031.
  • Student population: 16567.
  • # undergrads: 15639.
  • # grads: 928.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A.

14: Montana State University-Billings

Montana State University-Billings (MSUB or MSU Billings) is a public university established in 1927 as Eastern Montana State Normal School. It is part of the Montana State University System (and parent Montana University System) and its three campuses are all located in Billings, Montana, about 560 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado, and around 550 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, Utah.

MSUB has several online Healthcare Administration program options. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Administration (HA) requires 120-121 credits overall, with 39 for the HA core, 15 for the business core, 9 for restricted electives, and 15 for an optional Concentration/ Certificate in Long-Term Care Management. The certificate can also be taken as a standalone program. (Two other concentration, certificate, minor options — Business or Health Information/ Informatics Technology — can also be added to the BS.) Students must apply for admission to the program, and have completed at least 40 credits with a minimum 2.5 GPA. MSUB’s two, 120-credit degree completion options, the BS in Liberal Studies (BSLS) and Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), both have two, 30-credit thematic concentration options involving HA: (i) Health Administration and Organizational Communication; or (ii) Health Administration and Public Relations. HA can also be combined with other College of Arts and Sciences disciplines to create custom thematic concentrations.

Sample courses: Aging America and Long-Term Care; Capstone; Cooperative Education/ Internship; Financial Management and Budgeting in Healthcare; Health Care Mega Trends; Health Informatics; Managerial Epidemiology and the Public’s Health; Operations, Outcomes, and Quality; Rural/ Frontier Health Care Delivery

  • Graduation rate: 24%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 26%.
  • In-state tuition: $5,808.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $17,842.
  • Yearly average net price: $10,881.
  • Student population: 4768.
  • # undergrads: 4340.
  • # grads: 428.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A.

13: Pacific College

Pacific College is a private, for-profit institution that was established in 1993. Its main campus is located in Costa Mesa, California, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles, CA.

Pacific College offers one online Healthcare Administration program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration. This BS requires 121 semester units/ hours, with 69 for the major’s core courses. The degree provides students with both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. That provides them with the foundation to pursue entry-level administrative positions, managing a specific aspect of/ department within a healthcare organization, or overseeing the entire organization or a health care system. A variety of financial aid options are available to Pacific College students, including grants, loans, and scholarships. Military personnel can take advantage of Military (Armed Forces) Tuition Assistance, while their family members can utilize the Dependents Education Assistance Program.

Sample courses: Budget Management/ Profitability; Capstone in Health Care Administration; Crises Management/ Regulatory Compliance; Current Topics in Public Policy; Healthcare Accounting; Healthcare Organization and Management; Health Information Technology Management; Insurance Billing and Reimbursement; Leadership and Change in Healthcare Administration; Patient Care and Education

  • Graduation rate: 71%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $29,745.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $29,745.
  • Yearly average net price: $10,596.
  • Student population: 274.
  • # undergrads: 274.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

12: Jackson State University

Jackson State University (JSU) is a public research HBCU (Historically Black College/ University) established in 1877 as Natchez Seminary. Its main campus is located in Jackson, Mississippi, about 185 miles north and slightly west of New Orleans, Louisiana, and some 240 miles southwest of Birmingham, Alabama.

JSU has one online Healthcare Administration program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration (HCA). This BS requires 122 credit hours, with 57 for upper-level major courses. The BS provides students with both the relevant education and direct experience needed to prepare them for entry-level administrative or managerial positions in a variety of healthcare-related organizations. They’ll also have the foundation required to further their careers immediately or in the future, which can include continuing on to advanced studies. Students must apply to gain admission into the junior and senior years of the HCA program. Online tuition at JSU is a single rate; there is no additional out of state cost. Scholarships and financial aid are available to online students. Online classes at JSU are organized into five eight-week sessions per year, allowing for accelerated learning, multiple starting points, and/ or schedule flexibility.

Sample courses: Applied Research/ Management Project; Healthcare Planning and Marketing; Healthcare Policy and Politics; Health Administration Internship; Health Economics and Payer Systems; Health Professional Career Development Seminar; Hospital Acute Care Administration; Long-Term and Mental Healthcare; Medical and Administrative Terminology

  • Graduation rate: 43%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $6,886.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $16,841.
  • Yearly average net price: $10,417.
  • Student population: 9508.
  • # undergrads: 7199.
  • # grads: 2309.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

11: State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota

The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is a public college established in 1957 as Manatee Junior College. SCF is part of the Florida College System and its main campus is in Bradenton, Florida, about 50 miles southwest of Tampa, FL.

SCF offers one online Healthcare Administration program — its Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Health Services Administration (HSA). This BAS requires 120 credit-hours in total, with 45 for upper-level major courses (30 for required, 15 for elective). The BAS provides students with an understanding of overall and current health care issues, and with specific skills in health-care-related financial management, human services, and information systems. This prepares them for a range of administrative/ managerial positions in health care organizations or to focus on health systems service delivery. Students must apply separately to the program and have completed at least 45 hours of courses, including 26 for specific pre-requisites, to qualify for admission into the BAS. Those who have completed an SCF Health Professions program and gained a Florida license in that field can receive up to 30 hours of course credit toward the BAS in HSA.

Sample courses: Contemporary Issues in Health Care; Health Care Capstone Course; Health Care Delivery in the United States; Health Care Economics; Health Care Finance; Health Care Management; Health Care Risk Management; Informatics in Healthcare; Quality Management in Health Care

  • Graduation rate: 31%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 13%.
  • In-state tuition: $3,074.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $11,606.
  • Yearly average net price: $10,102.
  • Student population: 10314.
  • # undergrads: 10314.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: Suburb: Large.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A.

10: Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private, for-profit university that was established in 1993. It has two locations in and around Orange Beach, Alabama; the larger one is about 45 miles southeast of Mobile, AL, and about 35 miles west and somewhat south of Pensacola, FL. CSU also has affiliated colleges in Iowa and Vietnam.

CSU has three online Healthcare Management/ Administration program options. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Care Administration (HCA) requires 120 semester hours, with 36 for the major. This degree is suited to students who are already working in healthcare and want to advance their careers into management or leadership roles. Students who are already first responders (e.g., EMTs or firefighters) and want to become initial supervisors or mid-level managers, can add the 12-hour Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Management Concentration to the HCA BS. Those who want to become administrators or leaders of an EMS organization can start their professional development path with CSU’s BS in EMS Administration. It also requires 120 hours, with 36 for the major. Students at CSU can choose from several online learning options (incl. accelerated, extended, military veteran, or structured) to fit their unique schedules or learning styles.

Sample courses: Critical Issues in Health Care; Development and Strategic Planning in Health Care; Financial Management in Health Care Organizations; Health Care Law; Health Care Management; Standards for Health Care Staff; Emergency Medical Services Management; EMS Planning and Development; Public Health Emergencies

  • Graduation rate: 52%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $5,175.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $5,175.
  • Yearly average net price: $10,054.
  • Student population: 21359.
  • # undergrads: 15482.
  • # grads: 5877.
  • Campus setting: Town: Fringe.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: D.

9: Weber State University

Weber State University is a public university established in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. Its main campus is located in Ogden, Utah, about 30 miles roughly north of Salt Lake City, UT, and about 310 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho.

Weber offers four online Healthcare Management/ Administration program options. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Service Administration (a.k.a., Health Administrative Services or HAS) requires 120 credit hours, with varying totals for its three emphasis options. The Health Services Administration Emphasis needs 41-44 hours for required courses and 6 for required electives. The Health Information Management Emphasis needs 32-33 hours for required courses, 4 for support courses, and 9 for required electives. The Long-Term Care Administration Emphasis needs 47 hours for required core courses and 6 for required electives. Each emphasis has both semester-based and independent study online course options. Students must apply to enter the upper-level of the HAS program and have completed specific prerequisites. (An HAS Minor with the same three areas of emphasis may also be available online; check with the school to confirm). Finally, Weber also has a Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) where HAS is one of the online emphasis options.

Sample courses: Health Care Administrative and Supervisory Theory; Health Care Data Analytics; Health Care Economics and Policy; Health Care Financial Administration; Health Care Marketing; Health Communication; Long-Term Care Administration; Medical Practice Management; Practicum/ Internship

  • Graduation rate: 35%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 17%.
  • In-state tuition: $5,321.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $14,235.
  • Yearly average net price: $10,005.
  • Student population: 25954.
  • # undergrads: 25316.
  • # grads: 638.
  • Campus setting: City: Small.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

8: Park University

Park University is a private, non-profit university established in 1875. Its main campus is located in Parkville, Missouri — a suburb of Kansas City, MO, which is about 10 miles to the southeast.

Park has three online Healthcare Management programs: one Bachelors, two minors. Its main program, the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management with a Concentration in Health Care Management, requires a minimum of 120 credits/ credit hours, with 60 for the major: 39 for the business core and 21 for health care requirements and electives. The BS can prepare students for immediate entry-level administrative or management careers in health care or for graduate studies in healthcare administration. The major courses of the program are available online, but some liberal education courses and elective requirements may need to be taken on campus. For students in other programs, Park has two Health Care Management Minors: an 18 credit/ credit-hour one for business majors and a 21 credit/ credit-hour one for non-business majors. Park has a number of resources and services for military personnel and veterans, including a Success for Veterans online program that helps in the transition to college.

Sample courses: Basic Issues in Community Based Health Care Delivery; Health Care and the Political Process; Legal Issues in Healthcare Delivery; Organization and Administration of Health Care Programs; Planning and Organizing Community Health Services; Senior Seminar in Health Care Management; The Hospital and the Community; Third Party Reimbursement and Risk Management

  • Graduation rate: 42%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $11,470.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $11,470.
  • Yearly average net price: $9,326.
  • Student population: 10792.
  • # undergrads: 9892.
  • # grads: 900.
  • Campus setting: Suburb: Large.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

7: Peirce College

Peirce College is a private, not-for-profit college established in 1865 as Union Business College, one of the few post-secondary schools of the time to offer career education to women. Its main campus is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Peirce offers two online Healthcare Administration programs, both Bachelor’s degrees. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration requires a minimum of 121 credits, with 75 for the major: 51 for required courses, 24 for electives. The BS gives students the foundation needed to help improve the business of health care, which can include a particular area of the industry (finance, HR, patient services, staff relations/ communications) or the overall aspects of a particular organization or industry as a whole. For those who specifically want to manage or improve upon the keeping and use of patient health records, Peirce has its 121-credit BS in Health Information Administration. This degree is well suited to students who have already earned Peirce’s Associate in Science (AS) in Health Information Technology and who may already be working in the industry.

Sample courses: Advanced Quality Management and Performance Improvement in Healthcare; Computer Systems for Health Information Technology; Cultural Competency for Healthcare Professionals; Electronic Health Records; Healthcare Administration Capstone; Healthcare Law and Ethics; Healthcare Research Methods; Health Policy; Strategic Planning and Organizational Development in Healthcare

  • Graduation rate: 40%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 20%.
  • In-state tuition: $14,184.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $14,184.
  • Yearly average net price: $9,302.
  • Student population: 1833.
  • # undergrads: 1771.
  • # grads: 62.
  • Campus setting: City: Large.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: C.

6: Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State University of Denver (Metro State or MSU Denver) is a public comprehensive university that was established in 1965 as Metropolitan State College. Its main campus is located in Denver, Colorado.

MSU Denver has two online Healthcare Management programs — one Bachelor’s, one minor. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Care Management requires 120 credits with 18-24 for a required minor and 57-61 for major courses and electives. This BS gives students the foundation to pursue a wide array of career options, not just in terms of focus/ role and management level (especially for those who continue on to graduate studies), but organizational type, as well. While the BS is not fully available online, all the major courses are (although some elective options, if chosen, may require on campus study). Some of the degree’s other course requirements are also available online, but how many are will depend on the courses chosen. Finally, students in other majors can take MSU Denver’s 18-21 credit Health Care Management Minor. This minor can be taken fully online, but it depends on the elective options chosen (most but not all are available online).

Sample courses: Global Health Systems; HCM Internship II; Health Care Economics; Health Care Research Methods; Health Disparities in the U.S.; Health Information Systems; Human Resources Management in Health Care; Management Principles in Health Care; Strategic Management in Health Care

  • Graduation rate: 24%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 32%.
  • In-state tuition: $6,420.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $20,057.
  • Yearly average net price: $9,145.
  • Student population: 21674.
  • # undergrads: 21196.
  • # grads: 478.
  • Campus setting: City: Large.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: D+.

5: Cleary University

Cleary University is a private, non-profit business university established in 1883. Cleary’s main campus is in Howell, Michigan, about 5 miles northeast of Ann Arbor, MI; and around 40 miles roughly west of Detroit, MI. Original name: The Cleary School of Penmanship.

Cleary offers one online Healthcare Management program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Health Care Management (HCM). The BBA is an online degree completion program that requires 120 credits in total, with 60 for the completion, including 18 for HCM major courses and prerequisites, 13 for business core courses, and 9 for the BBA project sequence. To gain admission into the BBA, students must first have completed an appropriate Associate’s degree or at least 60 credits of suitable lower-level courses (at Cleary or another accredited institution), and must have maintained a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The HCM BBA is a cohort program that can be completed in four semesters. It combines a strong business foundation with detailed knowledge of the health care industry’s current concerns and challenges to prepare students for management roles. To help with affordability and overall degree fast tracking, students can earn up to 30 credits for prior experience.

Sample courses: Health Care Business and Policy; Health Care Informatics; Introduction to Health Care Management; Legal Issues in Health Care; Marketing Health Care Services; Quality Management in Health Care

  • Graduation rate: 45%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $20,000.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $20,000.
  • Yearly average net price: $8,593.
  • Student population: 537.
  • # undergrads: 441.
  • # grads: 96.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

4: National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension

National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension (NAU-Ellsworth, est. 1974) is a campus of National American University, a private, for-profit university established in 1941 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Located in Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, this campus is some 10 miles northeast of Rapid City, and about 395 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado. Several other NAU campuses also offer economical online Healthcare Management programs (please check with NAU or its website to determine what offerings are available at locations in your state of residence).

NAU-Ellsworth has one online Health Care Management program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Management. This BS requires 180 credits, with 49 for the major core, 18 for the support core, and 47 for one of two specialty options. Option 1 allows students to potentially get a diploma or an Associate’s degree in an Allied Health field (an Associate’s degree in Nursing is possible in some locations), take a core of Allied Health courses, or take a core of upper-level business electives. Option 2 is a mixture of economics and mostly management courses, along with some open electives. Depending on the option chosen, the BS can prepare students to become leaders/ managers in their particular healthcare field or in a specific area (e.g., business, financial, medical records, patient services, technology) for any health care field. The program is available fully online or in a blended format where students study mainly on campus but take the Healthcare Management major courses online.

Sample courses: Essentials of Managed Care; Health Information Systems; Healthcare Financial Management; Healthcare Law; Healthcare Management Action Research Project; Healthcare Management Internship; Healthcare Planning and Evaluation; Healthcare Policy and Ethics; Management of Continuum Care Services

  • Graduation rate: 25%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $6,075.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $6,075.
  • Yearly average net price: $8,585.
  • Student population: 376.
  • # undergrads: 376.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: Town: Fringe.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: n/a.

3: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Our list’s third most inexpensive online Healthcare Management/ Administration degree is from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette), a public research university established in 1898 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute. UL Lafayette is part of the University of Louisiana System and its main campus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, about 140 miles roughly northwest of New Orleans, LA.

UL Lafayette offers one online Health Care Administration program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Services Administration (HSA). This BS requires 120-122 credit hours, with 41-44 for HSA courses. With this degree, students have the foundation to take on administrative, managerial, or operational positions in a variety of health care settings, or continue on to advanced studies. Those positions can be in such areas as finance, general management, human resources, marketing, medical records, patient services, policies and procedures, or regulatory adherence. To ensure online students have the same opportunities for success as on-campus students, each one is assigned an academic advisor and has access to an array of support services, including online library services, online tutoring, and 24/7 tech support. As to affordability, UL Lafayette is on the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency List as the most affordable university in Louisiana.

Sample courses: Disabilities in American Society; Emergency and Disaster Management; Financial Management in Health Care Organizations; Grant Writing and Other Fund-Raising Strategies; Health Care Across Cultures; Health Care Reimbursement Methodologies; Health Services Administration Capstone; Leadership in Health Services Administration; Social Problems and Issues in Mental Health

  • Graduation rate: 48%.
  • Transfer-out rate: n/a.
  • In-state tuition: $8,256.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $21,984.
  • Yearly average net price: $8,463.
  • Student population: 17195.
  • # undergrads: 15574.
  • # grads: 1621.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

2: Brigham Young University-Idaho

The second lowest cost online Health Care Management/ Administration degrees on our list are offered by Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho), a private, nonprofit university established in 1888. BYU-Idaho is located in Rexburg, Idaho, some 275 miles east and slightly north of Boise, ID, and about 240 miles north and slightly east of Salt Lake City, Utah. Original name: Bannock Stake Academy. Religious affiliation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

BYU-Idaho has five online Health Care Administration program options. Its main program is the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration, which requires 120 credits, with 49-62 for the major, including 17-26 for the Healthcare Administration core and 1-3 for an internship. The BS prepares students for entry level administrative or management positions in smaller healthcare facilities, or for graduate or additional studies (incl. within larger or specialized medical facilities). The program is available fully online, although students must first take at least 15 credits/ credit-hours of courses on-campus at a CES (Church Educational System) institution or complete the Pathway college prep/ advancement program. BYU-Idaho’s other online Health Care Administration options are its Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and BS in University Studies, both of which can be taken with a Healthcare Administration Minor or Cluster.

Sample courses: Healthcare Finance; Healthcare Insurance Industry; Healthcare Strategy; Hospital and Health Administration; Internship; Managing Healthcare Provider Organizations; Managing Technology in Healthcare Provider Organizations; Medical Terminology; Research Methods and Program Evaluation

  • Graduation rate: 56%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 21%.
  • In-state tuition: $3,830.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $3,830.
  • Yearly average net price: $7,968.
  • Student population: 36624.
  • # undergrads: 36624.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: Town: Distant.
  • Campus housing avail.: Yes.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A.

1: South Texas College

The most affordable online Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management/ Administration on our list comes from South Texas College (STC), a public community college established in 1993. Three of STC’s campuses are located in McAllen, Texas, some 65 miles northwest of Brownsville, TX, and about 240 miles south of San Antonio, TX.

STC offers one online Health Care Management program — its Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Medical and Health Services Management (MHSM). This BAT requires 120 semester credit hours, with 33 for technical specialty courses, 39 for MHSM required courses, and 6 for MHSM electives. Students must apply to be admitted to the BAT, and can do so from high school or a suitable Associate’s degree program. While the BAT is available fully online, certain lower-division pathways may require on campus study. The BAT prepares students to become entry or mid level managers within a variety of healthcare or medical facilities. In addition to being one of the most affordable colleges in the country (based on the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center’s net price tool), STC has several options to help students with financial concerns, including emergency loans, free tuition for many dual enrollment high school students, installment plans, and scholarships.

Sample courses: Communication for Health Care Professionals; Ethics for Health Care Professionals; Financial Management for Health Care; Health Care Management Practicum/ Residency; Human Resources in Health Care Management; Legal Issues in Health Care; Public and Community Health Management; Risk Management for Health Professionals; U.S. Health Care Delivery

  • Graduation rate: 18%.
  • Transfer-out rate: 24%.
  • In-state tuition: $3,486.
  • Out-of-state tuition: $3,770.
  • Yearly average net price: $1,320.
  • Student population: 30180.
  • # undergrads: 30180.
  • # grads: 0.
  • Campus setting: City: Midsize.
  • Campus housing avail.: No.
  • Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.



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