15 Most Affordable Online MBA Healthcare Programs 2025

Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees are some of the most common and useful types of degrees out there. If you're interested in applying business knowledge to healthcare settings, then earning an affordable online MBA in healthcare management or administration can help you pursue an array of high-demand and potentially lucrative careers.

There are many affordable online colleges offering these types of degree programs. In this article, we'll explore some of the cheapest online MBAs in healthcare management and administration. We'll also answer a few questions you may have about earning your healthcare MBA online and the career opportunities you can pursue.

How Much Does a Healthcare MBA Degree Cost?

The cost of a healthcare MBA can vary widely. Private schools typically charge more than public schools, though tuition for out-of-state students at public schools can also be high. On the other hand, tuition for online students, regardless of residency or school type, tends to be lower than on-campus rates.

On average, total tuition costs range from $20,000 to $30,000. Some programs can cost upwards of $100,000 to $200,000. Among the schools featured in this article, tuition is far more affordable, ranging from $12,358.50 to $17,872.50 for the entire program.

Cheapest Online MBA in Healthcare Programs

Several schools throughout the U.S. offer highly affordable online MBA programs. Many of these degree programs feature healthcare specializations. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most affordable programs available in the U.S.

1. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University, a public school in Kansas, provides a wealth of online and in-person degree programs, including an MBA in healthcare management. The program consists of 33 credit hours, including 24 in general business courses and nine in the healthcare management specialization.

Students choose three courses from options such as legal issues in healthcare, health promotion programming, global health, and complexity in healthcare organizations. Courses are offered in convenient eight-week sessions for maximum flexibility.

In-state tuition: $12,358.50

Out-of-state tuition: $12,358.50

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: institutional scholarships, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and military benefits

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg State University is a public school located in Massachusetts. It provides one of the most affordable healthcare MBA programs for working professionals in the country.

Students in this program complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. Courses cover fundamentals of healthcare management to help students improve their leadership and decision-making skills and apply them to real-world settings.

In-state tuition: $13,080

Out-of-state tuition: $13,080

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: FAFSA aid (grants, loans, work-study), scholarships, and assistantships

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

3. Lamar University

Lamar University is located in Texas. This public school provides an affordable and flexible MBA in healthcare administration that students can complete part-time or full-time.

Students in this 30-credit-hour online master's degree develop key competencies in strategic management, legal considerations, and how to lead in complex healthcare systems. Students can complete the program in as little as one year.

In-state tuition: $13,153

Out-of-state tuition: $13,153

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare administration

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: FAFSA aid, scholarships, and military benefits

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

4. West Liberty University

West Liberty University is a public school in West Virginia that provides an online MBA in healthcare management. The program requires 30 credit hours of business and specialized healthcare management courses.

Topics covered in the program include strategic human resource management, healthcare economics, and healthcare information systems management. Students are also expected to complete a business capstone project.

In-state tuition: $13,500

Out-of-state tuition: $13,500

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, work-study programs, and military benefits

Accreditation: HLC

5. Youngstown State University

Youngstown State University in Ohio is a public school offering many types of degree and certificate programs. Graduate students at this school can earn an MBA in healthcare management.

Students complete 24 hours of core courses and six hours of healthcare management courses for a total of 30 credit hours. Students enjoy flexible courses, multiple yearly start dates, and a generous transfer policy to graduate in as little as a year.

In-state tuition: $13,500

Out-of-state tuition: $13,650

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: FAFSA aid, scholarships, and private loans

Accreditation: HLC

6. Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University is a public school with an affordable and flexible online healthcare management MBA. The program can be completed in 12 to 18 months and consists of 30 credit hours.

Students take courses in financial management, organizational behavior, healthcare delivery systems, and more to gain a well-rounded education. Courses consist of 21 hours of business courses and 9 hours of healthcare management courses.

In-state tuition: $13,750

Out-of-state tuition: $13,750

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: FAFSA aid, scholarships, and military benefits

Accreditation: HLC

7. University of South Carolina Aiken

The University of South Carolina Aiken is a public school whose college of business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It offers an online MBA in healthcare administration.

Students have a great degree of flexibility when choosing courses; core business classes, flexible core classes, specialization courses, and electives are all part of the 30-credit-hour program. The degree program is one of the shortest on this list and can be completed in just 10 months.

In-state tuition: $13,948

Out-of-state tuition: $13,948

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare administration

Program length: 10 months

Financial aid: scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study programs

Accreditation: SACSCOC

8. University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana is a public school with a highly affordable and 100% online MBA in healthcare administration. The AACSB-accredited program can be completed in 12 months and consists of 30 credit hours.

GMAT and GRE scores are optional for this program, which teaches competencies and methodologies in risk management, information systems, and leadership and decision-making. Students have multiple yearly start dates to choose from so they can pursue enrollment whenever it's convenient for them.

In-state tuition: $13,950

Out-of-state tuition: $13,950

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare administration

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: scholarships and FAFSA aid

Accreditation: HLC

9. Southeast Missouri State University

Southeast Missouri State University provides various flexible online degree programs for nontraditional learners. One of these is an MBA in healthcare administration that consists of 33 credit hours.

Students choose 12 credit hours from healthcare-related electives such as healthcare informatics and healthcare economics. Students also have the option to complete an internship or research project to gain practical work experience.

In-state tuition: $14,115.42

Out-of-state tuition: $14,115.42

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare administration

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, and other FAFSA aid

Accreditation: HLC

10. Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University is a public school in Georgia. Students at this university can earn an online MBA in healthcare administration.

This is a 36-credit-hour program designed for students with healthcare experience hoping to move into administrative roles. It is a flexible, non-thesis option, making it convenient for working professionals.

In-state tuition: $14,220

Out-of-state tuition: $14,220

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare administration

Program length: 12 to 18 months

Financial aid: scholarships, FAFSA aid, and military benefits

Accreditation: SACSCOC

11. University of Illinois Springfield

The University of Illinois Springfield is a public school providing an affordable online MBA for healthcare professionals. The program provides a certificate in healthcare analytics.

This is an ideal program for students interested in health information management careers. The program is flexible with multiple yearly start dates and no GRE or GMAT requirements, making it possible for students to graduate within a year.

In-state tuition: $15,270

Out-of-state tuition: $15,270

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare analytics

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: scholarships, grants, and loans

Accreditation: HLC

12. University of Mount Saint Vincent

The University of Mount Saint Vincent is a private, nonprofit school located in New York. It provides an affordable online MBA in healthcare management consisting of 30 to 36 credit hours.

Courses are fast-paced and help students develop an understanding of business principles applied specifically to healthcare settings. Courses are divided between healthcare and management topics, leveling courses, and capstone projects to ensure a thorough education.

In-state tuition: $15,630

Out-of-state tuition: $15,630

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: federal and state grants, institutional and external grants and scholarships, and work-study programs

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

13. Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University is a public school providing a flexible online MBA in healthcare management. Students can complete this degree in as little as 12 months.

The program consists of 33 credit hours, including 24 hours of business courses and 9 hours of specialization courses. Students develop skills in healthcare and business fundamentals while completing the flexible program in a timeframe that works for them.

In-state tuition: $16,962

Out-of-state tuition: $16,962

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: FAFSA aid and scholarships

Accreditation: HLC

14. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public school serving many nontraditional students through its online programs. One of the options is an MBA degree with a concentration in healthcare administration.

The program features seven-week course sessions for maximum flexibility and convenience. Students can complete the 36-credit-hour program in as little as one year.

In-state tuition: $16,999.92

Out-of-state tuition: $16,999.92

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare administration

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: scholarships, FAFSA aid, military benefits, and out-of-state waivers

Accreditation: SACSCOC

15. William Paterson University of New Jersey

William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public school with an online MBA in healthcare economics and management. The program consists of as few as 30 credit hours and can be completed within a year.

The AACSB-accredited program prepares students for a variety of leadership roles in healthcare. Students complete 15 hours each of business and specialization courses to gain exceptional preparation for their future careers.

In-state tuition: $17,872.50

Out-of-state tuition: $17,872.50

Tracks & concentrations: healthcare economics and management

Program length: 12 months

Financial aid: internal and external scholarships along with FAFSA aid

Accreditation: MSCHE

How We Rank Schools

We strive to choose only top schools when creating our college rank lists. We used the following criteria when choosing the health administration and healthcare management MBAs featured in this article:

• Accreditation: Each school maintains accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting body such as the Higher Learning Commission. Many of the business schools are also AACSB-accredited institutions.
• Affordability: All of the programs feature highly affordable total tuition costs below $20,000 and financial aid programs.
• Program reputation and quality: All of the programs are known for having high academic standards and providing quality education for MBA students.
• Online format: Each program allows students to learn about healthcare administration or healthcare management online, with many programs featuring flexible self-paced coursework and multiple yearly start dates.

What Can I Do With an Online Healthcare MBA?

There are many careers in the healthcare industry you can pursue with a healthcare management or MBA. Common job titles for those holding leadership roles in the healthcare system include:

• Health information manager: Health information managers are information technology-minded healthcare professionals responsible for ensuring secure storage and accuracy of patient records. They often work for large healthcare providers with multiple interconnected facilities.
• Health services manager: These professionals are also known as medical and health services managers, as they may work in all types of medical and healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and general businesses. They are responsible for coordinating and overseeing all health services within their organizations.
• Public health policy analyst: Public health policy analysts use data from various sources to suggest new healthcare policies and procedures. They are employed by various organizations throughout the healthcare field.
• Hospital administrator: These healthcare leaders are employed by all types of facilities and are responsible for all facets of the daily operations within their organization. Duties may include hiring staff, budgeting, procuring supplies, and overseeing patient care.
• Healthcare consultant: Healthcare consultants often work for consulting firms as freelancers. They work to help healthcare organizations identify areas of improvement to cut costs, increase revenue, and maintain high patient care standards.

Earn Your Healthcare MBA

If you're ready to pursue the best online MBA for healthcare at an affordable price, explore the schools featured on Learn.org. Reach out to any of these schools today to learn more about their programs and to choose the best option for you.