What Are the Top Healthcare Administration and Management Schools?
Learn about what makes healthcare administration and management schools stand out - like accreditation, facilities, and areas of specialization. Get an overview of three top schools, and see what your undergraduate and graduate program options are.
What Should I Look for in a Top School for Health Care Administration and Management?
As most healthcare administrators have at least a graduate degree, you might want to first look for a school that offers a master's degree program in health care management or health care administration. You may also want to enroll in a program that offers a specialization in a field that is of interest to you, such as long-term care administration or public health.
You might look at schools like those below that belong to the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) and have nationally-ranked master's programs accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Special centers, research facilities, honors programs and opportunities to participate in research projects may also be attractive qualities in a school.
Three Top Schools for Healthcare Administration Programs
Ohio State University in Columbus, OH
OSU's CAHME-accredited master's program in health administration is ranked 7th among healthcare management programs ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2019. OSU's Fisher College of Business ranked 15th in the U.S. for its undergraduate business program according to U.S. News & World Report for 2018, and 31st for its graduate business program. Fisher offers healthcare administration training through an undergraduate bachelor in business administration cluster option or a special master's degree for healthcare operational excellence. OSU hosts the Healthcare Transformation Learning Laboratory for Executives. These degrees are available:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Master of Business Operational Excellence, specialization in health care
- Master of Health Administration
- Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration
- Master of Public Health
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Services Management and Policy
University of Alabama in Birmingham, AL
UA-Birmingham master's program in health administration at the Birmingham campus is ranked first in U.S. News & World Report's 2019 evaluation of health care management programs. Birmingham's Department of Health Services Administration offers undergraduate and graduate programs in health care administration. These degrees are possible:
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Science in Public Health
- Master of Science in Health Care Administration
- Executive Master of Science of Health Care Administration
- Master of Science in Health Informatics
- Doctor of Public Health
- Doctor of Philosophy in Health Education/Promotion
- Certificate in Public Health
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
UM was U.S. News & World Report's 27th-ranked national university in 2019. It's master's program in health services administration was tied for 3rd for health care management programs in 2019, according to U.S. News & World Report. The School of Public Health's master programs in health administration and public health address both health management and policy. You'll complete a 10-12 week internship between your first and second years. The school encourages flexible dual degree options, most commonly taken in nursing, business, medicine, law, public policy or industrial engineering. In any program, you might benefit from the mentorship and action-learning opportunities with health care organizations offered by the Griffith Leadership Center. These programs are available:
- Certificate in Global Public Health
- Master of Health Services Administration
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Science in Health Management and Policy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services Organization and Policy
Ten Top Health Care Administration and Management Schools
| College/University | Institution Type | Location | Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition* |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | 4-year, Public | Minneapolis, MN | $17,100 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | 4-year, Public | Richmond, VA | $12,200 |
| Rush University | 4-year, Private | Chicago, IL | $36,800 |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | 4-year, Public | Chapel Hill, NC | $10,200 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 4-year, Private | Baltimore, MD | $53,700 |
| St. Louis University | 4-year, Private | St. Louis, MO | $11,400 |
| Trinity University | 4-year, Private | San Antonio, TX | $42,400 |
| University of Iowa | 4-year, Public | Iowa City, IA | $9,800 |
| University of Washington | 4-year, Public | Seattle, WA | $15,500 |
| Cornell University | 4-year, Private | Ithaca, NY | $29,500 |
*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education