Best Online Healthcare Management Degrees of 2026
Healthcare managers are in high demand. Discover the best online healthcare management programs to earn your degree.
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2026Wondering which colleges offer the best online healthcare management programs? Our ranking list features the best available options, using a proprietary methodology designed around the factors that matter most to students: affordability, flexibility, student outcomes, and program reputation.
Read on to make an informed decision and learn tips on how to choose the best healthcare management program for you.
Top Online Healthcare Management Degrees
How We Measured Student Satisfaction: We partnered with College Pulse to bring you data from students themselves on the schools on our list. The data and reviews aren’t part of our ranking methodology.
How We Rank Schools
East Carolina University — Most Reputable Program
- Greenville, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: ECU's is the only program on our list with full Association of University Programs in Health Administration certification.
ECU's online health services management degree stands out on our list for its certification by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), an organization with over 70 years of experience in leading healthcare management education. AUPHA certification means the program has undergone rigorous external peer review — evaluating its faculty, curriculum, educational processes, and outcomes — and met high national standards for healthcare management training.
This signals the degree's quality and your preparedness to employers and graduate programs. AUPHA also offers six scholarships, with some exclusive to students in member programs like ECU's.
What We Like About ECU
- Get real experience through a built-in internship at a healthcare provider in eastern North Carolina and beyond.
- Choose between a concentration for first-time traditional students or a concentration for adult learners to transfer in some general education and technical courses.
- ECU has the cheapest in-state tuition by far of all the schools on our list, beating our next most affordable option by $200 per credit hour.
What We Don't Like
- While ECU is cheapest for in-state tuition, it is the most expensive for out-of-state students at $885 per credit hour.
- ECU only covers $4,000 in remaining tuition for 15 military students after Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
98%
98%
86%
83%
- Online Enrollment
- 72%
- Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- $ 4,452
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- $20,729
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Students Enrolled
- 26,940
- Institution Type
- Public
Immaculata University — Most Faith-Focused Program
- Immaculata, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: This Catholic university's program includes a major course requirement on Christianity or spirituality.
If you're interested in healthcare management through a Christian/Catholic lens, Immaculata University's program is our top choice for you. Within the core curriculum, you'll choose between "Christian Faith in Action" or "Foundations of Spiritual Freedom." Christian Faith in Action is a theology course teaching students the role of prayer and spirituality in living an authentic life. Foundations of Spiritual Freedom studies morality through a biblical lens and holiness, Christ as a model, and analyzing virtue. As a healthcare manager, you can use these courses to influence your decision-making while managing and caring for others.
Outside the major you'll need to take the "Pursuit of Faith" and "Pursuit of Wisdom" general education courses. St Francis University is also Catholic, and has some faith-related gen ed requirements, but Immaculata's online healthcare management program is the only one on this list to require a Christian course within the major.
What We Like About Immaculata
- Immaculata's courses are condensed into seven-week courses instead of the traditional 16 weeks to help you finish faster.
- You can transfer up to 72 prior credits to the 120-hour program, accelerating your degree.
- The university is the second-most affordable school on our list at $465 per credit for adult in-state and out-of-state students.
What We Don't Like
- Traditional learners — those without prior education or experience — pay a higher tuition fee at $805 per credit.
- Immaculata may not be for you if you don't prefer required religious or spiritual courses in your education.
62%
$27,700
83%
$27,700
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,532
- Institution Type
- Private
Maryville University of Saint Louis — Best Program for Laddering to a Master's Degree
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: You can earn up to 12 credits toward a master's degree at the affordable undergrad tuition rate.
Students looking to fast-track their degree into a master's program will appreciate Maryville's Early Access online healthcare management program. The online healthcare management program allows you to take up to 12 credits toward both your bachelor's and master's degrees. These courses cost the same as an undergraduate course at $575 per credit instead of the typical $600-$825 graduate tuition-per-credit costs, depending on the program you transfer into.
The program covers financial, communication, legal, and business topics, which translate seamlessly into several online master's degrees with healthcare focuses like business administration, management and leadership, and healthcare administration.
What We Like About Maryville
- You have the opportunity to earn an optional senior living management certificate displaying your expertise in senior care.
- Get real-world experience in a healthcare setting through the required practicum.
- Turn your professional healthcare licenses into college transfer credits to put toward your degree.
What We Don't Like
- Tuition is high for our list at $575 per credit, but it is still more affordable for out-of-state students compared to other schools like ECU.
100%
100%
50%
50%
- Online Enrollment
- 84%
- Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State
- $24,766
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
- $24,766
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Students Enrolled
- 9,261
- Institution Type
- Private
University of St Francis — Best Degree Completion Program
- Joliet, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: This is the only program on our list strictly for adult learners with some college but no degree.
The University of St. Francis' online healthcare management program is designed specifically for adult learners who've completed at least their associate degree but have never earned their bachelor's degree. Students must transfer 64-90 credit hours, which is up to three years of credits.
St. Francis has by far the most gracious transfer cap on our list, beating Immaculata by 18 transfer credits. By maximizing your transfer credits, you can complete your degree in as little as one year. Despite the accelerated course options, the program is designed to accommodate working adults' schedules by allowing them to take one course at a time and complete work at any time during the seven-week module.
What We Like About St. Francis
- Choose between seven- or eight-week courses, which are shorter than the traditional 16-week semester.
- St. Francis has an affordable flat rate $475 per credit tuition, making it great for out-of-state students.
- St. Francis is accessible, only requiring a minimum 64 credit hours and a 2.0 GPA for admission.
What We Don't Like
- The program is strictly for adult learners with some college experience and is unavailable to new college students.
79%
$37,000
79%
$37,000
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Students Enrolled
- 3,024
- Institution Type
- Private
How We Highlight What Schools Do Best
We analyzed each school’s program to identify qualities that set it apart from others on this list, prioritizing factors like concentration offerings, reputation, and transfer policies. Based on these strengths, we assigned each school a superlative category.
Since many programs share similar offerings and outcomes, our goal is to simplify your college decision-making by highlighting the features most relevant to your needs.
We verified these schools’ facts in December 2025.
Why You Should Get a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management
- In-Demand Career Opportunities: The healthcare sector continues to grow, increasing the demand for skilled professionals. Earning a bachelor’s in healthcare management can help you qualify for several nonclinical careers such as healthcare administration or consulting and policy analysis.
- Learn Transferable Skills: Healthcare management degree programs emphasize skills in leadership, finance, and planning within the healthcare field. However, this knowledge base is transferable to other business sectors.
- Opportunities for Career Advancement: With years of experience, healthcare management graduates can pursue specialized roles with higher compensation, including hospital administration and healthcare compliance.
Benefits of Getting a Healthcare Management Degree Online
According to our 2025 Online Education Trends Report:
- 98% of current, prospective, and graduated online college students who were surveyed say they would recommend online education to others.
- 79% say that their online program prepared them well for their first job after graduation.
- 94% of online students say that their online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.
How to Choose the Best Program for You
The best program for you is the one that fits your budget, aligns with your career goals, and offers the flexibility you need. With this in mind, consider the following when comparing your options:
Cost and Financial Aid
Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Fields, 2020
Online
Avg. Tuition & Fees: $9,561
Avg. Net Price: $6,305
On-Campus
Avg. Tuition & Fees: $16,896
Avg. Net Price: $9,497
Source: NCES PowerStats
The 2020 average sticker price of a bachelor’s degree in healthcare fields — which included healthcare management — was nearly $17,000 per year for an on-campus program and around $9,500 for an online program. But these figures were averages from a study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Your actual costs can vary greatly across schools and may depend on other factors, such as your residency status.
For example, the online healthcare management degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham costs around $11,000 for in-state undergraduates. At the University of Virginia, those same students would pay around $18,000.
Keep in mind that financial aid, such as scholarships and grants, can significantly lower the total cost of a bachelor’s degree. In fact, according to NCES data, with financial aid you could end up paying around 34% less than the advertised price for a bachelor’s degree in healthcare fields.
You can estimate how much a program might cost you by using the school’s net price calculator.
Find Financial Aid for Your Degree
Program Length
Typical # of Credits
120 Credits
Typical Program Length
4 Years
Most bachelor’s programs require at least four years of coursework. During that time, you’ll typically need to complete at least 120 credits.
If you’ve already earned college credits or have professional experience, you can graduate sooner by transferring those credits. For example, East Carolina University gives licensed or credentialed practitioners with associate degrees up to 30 credits for the training they’ve already completed.
Depending on how many transfer credits a school accepts, you could potentially graduate in just 1-3 years.
Application Requirements
The typical application requirements for an online healthcare management program include:
High School Diploma: Applicants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED certificate, to enroll in a bachelor’s program.- Minimum GPA: Most programs require a minimum GPA between 2.0-3.0.
- Essay: Programs may require one or more essays to understand your goals, motivations, and what makes you a great fit.
- Resume: Resumes aren’t usually required for bachelor’s programs, but some schools — especially those for working adults or transfer students — may ask for one to understand your experience.
- Recommendation Letters: Colleges often ask for 1-3 letters of recommendation to get an insight into your skills, abilities, and readiness.
Comparing admission requirements helps you find programs that match your strengths and available materials, boosting your chances of acceptance.
For example, if a college asks for recommendation letters and you don’t have any readily available, you might have better luck applying to schools that primarily consider your transcripts.
Accreditation
Attending an accredited program is important, as this signals its curriculum meets high academic standards.
The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) evaluates healthcare management programs, so make sure to look for that certification when checking a program page. You can verify a program’s accreditation through CAHME’s website.
Additionally, make sure to choose a school that holds institutional accreditation, as this can impact your eligibility for financial aid. You can use the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to find out if a school you’re interested in is accredited.
Curriculum
Common core courses in a healthcare management curriculum include:
- Health information management
- Managing healthcare organizations
- Healthcare law and ethics
- Healthcare finance and budgeting
- Clinical information systems
While these courses will be quite standard across most healthcare management programs, it’s still a good idea to compare programs to make sure the curriculum aligns with your goals.
You should also compare elective and concentration options, as these can vary widely between schools and significantly impact your career focus after graduation. For example, some programs focus on general healthcare management, while others emphasize clinical management, healthcare marketing, or health policy.
Student Support
The student support services a school offers can impact how easily you navigate your coursework and other responsibilities.
In fact, institutions that offer comprehensive support services — including financial advising, academic tutoring, and career coaching — tend to have higher retention rates and lower average completion times.
For example, Maryville University provides online learners with continuous, 24/7 access to academic support through an online tutoring service. This readily available support can help reduce academic stress by providing immediate guidance whenever it’s needed.
What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management?
A bachelor’s in healthcare management can lead to several career paths, including hospital administration, medical practice management, healthcare consulting, nursing home administration, and health information management.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these roles are projected to grow by 23% from 2024-2034.
Healthcare management graduates often find themselves managing medical facilities, coordinating healthcare services, analyzing healthcare policies, or overseeing operations within clinical settings.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $117,960 | Plan and coordinate health services in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other settings |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $44,640 | Update patient medical records, file insurance forms, and manage administrative tasks in medical settings |
Learn More About Healthcare Management Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Management Degrees
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare management usually costs between $9,500-$17,000 per year, according to NCES. The exact price depends on the school you attend, the program format, and your residency status. Also, keep in mind that grants and scholarships can significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs.
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