Why This Matters
-
21% OF MEDICAL SERVICES MANAGER JOBS REQUIRE GRADUATE SCHOOL
According to O*NET, 21% of medical services manager positions require a graduate degree.
-
144,700 MORE MEDICAL SERVICES MANAGERS NEEDED BY 2032
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be a 28% increase in the demand for medical and health services managers over the next decade.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN OVER $200,000 PER YEAR
The average salary for medical and health services managers is $104,830 per year, and the top 10% of workers in this field make more than $209,990. A doctorate will help you reach the high end of your salary potential.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online doctorate in healthcare administration degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online doctorate in healthcare administration degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
- 59 hours to write this article
- 123 universities and colleges we assessed
- 123 education programs we compared
The Top 50 Online Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Programs
intelligent score 98.02
Award
Rankings
#2 Best Colleges
#4 College Rank
#5 My Degree Guide
#7 Online PHD Degrees
School Information
Mount Pleasant, MI
Graduation Rate: 61%
Admission Rate: 69%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
63
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$850
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
989-774-4723
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
63
intelligent score 97.77
Award
Rankings
#1 Best Colleges
#1 My Degree Guide
#6 Grad School Center
#16 College Rank
#20 Online PHD Degrees
School Information
Kirksville, MO
Graduation Rate: 95%
Admission Rate: 9%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
76
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,000
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
877-626-5577
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
76
intelligent score 95.92
Award
Rankings
#1 College Rank
#2 My Degree Guide
#5 Online PHD Degrees
School Information
Scottsdale, AZ
Graduation Rate: 52%
Admission Rate: 73%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
84
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,175
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
855-278-5080
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
84
intelligent score 95.92
Award
Rankings
#3 Best Colleges
#7 Grad School Center
#8 College Rank
#10 My Degree Guide
School Information
Columbus, OH
Graduation Rate: 36%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
58
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$748
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
888-852-6471
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
58
intelligent score 94.08
Award
Rankings
#2 Grad School Center
#3 Online PHD Degrees
#10 College Rank
#13 My Degree Guide
School Information
Lynchburg, VA
Graduation Rate: 34%
Admission Rate: 50%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$595
accreditation
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-424-9595
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
intelligent score 92.96
Award
Rankings
#1 College Factual
#6 College Rank
#14 My Degree Guide
#17 Online PHD Degrees
School Information
Charleston, SC
Graduation Rate: 94%
Admission Rate: 4.44%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
57
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$571
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
843-792-3283
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
57
intelligent score 92.95
Award
Rankings
#4 Online PHD Degrees
#5 Best Colleges
#7 College Rank
#27 My Degree Guide
School Information
University, MS
Graduation Rate: 63%
Admission Rate: 88%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$672
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
601-815-0124
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
intelligent score 92.76
Award
Rankings
#4 Best Colleges
#8 Grad School Center
#16 My Degree Guide
#16 Online PHD Degrees
#18 College Rank
School Information
La Jolla, CA
Graduation Rate: 36%
Admission Rate: 55%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$921
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
855-355-6288
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
intelligent score 92.63
Award
Rankings
#5 College Rank
#8 Online PHD Degrees
#24 My Degree Guide
School Information
Birmingham, AL
Graduation Rate: 56%
Admission Rate: 81%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Blended
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
66
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,525
accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
205-934-8221
Delivery Format
Blended
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
66
intelligent score 91.89
Award
Rankings
#9 College Rank
#10 Online PHD Degrees
#20 My Degree Guide
School Information
Virginia Beach, VA
Graduation Rate: 30%
Admission Rate: 50%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
51
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,020
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-373-5504
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
51
intelligent score 90.99
Award
Rankings
School Information
Omaha, NE
Graduation Rate: 71%
Admission Rate: 57%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$914
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
402-552-3100
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
intelligent score 90.18
Award
Rankings
School Information
River Forest, IL
Graduation Rate: 50%
Admission Rate: 79%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$963
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
708-340-7664
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
intelligent score 89.78
Award
Rankings
School Information
Philadelphia, PA
Graduation Rate: 68%
Admission Rate: 77%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
48-50
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,083
accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-237-3935
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
48-50
intelligent score 89.44
Award
Rankings
School Information
Bloomington, IN
Graduation Rate: 79%
Admission Rate: 85%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
45
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $690
Out-of-State: $1,500
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
844-445-0117
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
45
intelligent score 88.87
Award
Rankings
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 83%
Admission Rate: 91%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
54
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$996
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
312-942-3589
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
54
intelligent score 88.13
Award
Rankings
School Information
Boston, MA
Graduation Rate: 68%
Admission Rate: 70%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
54
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,380
accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
617-879-5964
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
54
intelligent score 87.8
Award
Rankings
School Information
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Graduation Rate: 47%
Admission Rate: 76%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
55
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$692
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
954-262-1574
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
55
intelligent score 87.31
Award
Rankings
School Information
Omaha, NE
Graduation Rate: 77%
Admission Rate: 92%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
44
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$817
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
402-354-7200
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
44
intelligent score 86.95
Award
Rankings
School Information
Bridgeport, CT
Graduation Rate: 54%
Admission Rate: 73%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
61
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$700
accreditation
New England Commission of Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
203-576-4552
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
61
intelligent score 85.97
Award
Rankings
School Information
Radford University
Graduation Rate: 63%
Admission Rate: 79%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
42
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $591
Out-of-State: $821
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
540-831-5371
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
42
intelligent score 84.07
Award
Rankings
School Information
North Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 69%
Admission Rate: 16%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
61-64
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$943
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
847-578-3204
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
61-64
intelligent score 83.6
Award
Rankings
School Information
Atlanta, GA
Graduation Rate: 54%
Admission Rate: 77%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
55
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,000
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
404-752-1500
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
55
intelligent score 83.38
Award
Rankings
School Information
Philadelphia, PA
Graduation Rate: 75%
Admission Rate: 70%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
43
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,010
accreditation
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
215-951-2800
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
43
intelligent score 82.03
Award
Rankings
School Information
Boston, MA
Graduation Rate: 87%
Admission Rate: 20%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
42
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,908
accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
617-358-4095
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
42
intelligent score 80.97
Award
Rankings
School Information
Hobbs, NM
Graduation Rate: 30%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: Rural
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$799
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
575-392-6561
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
60
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About This Degree
As you prepare yourself for a rewarding career in the healthcare field, you might be considering several options when it comes to your degree. It’s important to keep in mind that a doctorate in healthcare administration is focused on the business side of healthcare while some similar degrees, such as a doctorate in public health, focus on health sciences and research.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). If your school isn’t accredited, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed.
Upon graduation, you might consider several career options. While healthcare manager is the most common role among graduates, you might also consider work as a community service manager or social service manager. Healthcare manager positions don’t generally require additional training or licensure beyond your college degree, but positions in social or community work may require state licensing.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online doctorate in healthcare administration programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? While every program is different, most require students to have a minimum 3.0 GPA and an undergraduate degree in a similar field, as well as some work experience in the healthcare industry.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? The amount of time it takes you to complete your degree program depends on whether you study part-time or full-time. While full-time students can usually complete their program in two to three years, part-time students might take up to seven years.
- What financial aid opportunities are available? With the help of grants, fellowships, and other resources, you may even be able to earn your doctorate for free.
Make sure to keep track of important program details while you research your options for this degree. Take note of the programs you’re most interested in and carefully review information about application deadlines, course prerequisites, and procedures for applying.
If you require financial aid, be sure to complete your FAFSA and submit applications for scholarships and grants on time and according to guidelines.