University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for healthcare administration.
Healthcare is perhaps the hottest industry in the nation. Employment statistics for nearly every healthcare occupation reflect 20% growth for the foreseeable future. These jobs fall on both the clinical and the administration side. In fact, for most professions elsewhere in the economy, there is usually an equivalent career track in healthcare administration. To meet the exploding demand, colleges and universities have developed healthcare administration degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and even doctoral levels.
To help students determine the best colleges for them, University HQ's best colleges team has done the research and found the very best values in Healthcare Administration degree programs. Every program on this list offers top-notch academics and career preparation for undergraduate or graduate students, if not both. Each program has unique things to offer its students and each student brings unique talents and expectations to the table. With that in mind, we hope that students will review the following knowing that we applied the most objective measures so that they can discover what works best for them.
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What to Expect in a Healthcare Administration Degree
A degree in healthcare administration prepares students for leadership roles in healthcare settings, focusing on the business, management, and policy aspects of the industry. While specific curriculums can vary by program, students can generally expect to study a combination of healthcare-related subjects and core business principles.
Courses and Experience
Healthcare administration programs usually include courses in healthcare management, finance, organizational behavior, medical law, healthcare ethics, public health, and healthcare information systems. These courses prepare students to manage healthcare facilities, navigate regulations, and improve patient care delivery.
Many programs also include internships or practicum experiences in hospitals, clinics, or insurance companies. These hands-on opportunities help students gain real-world insight into healthcare operations, patient care logistics, and administrative challenges.
Skills
A healthcare administration degree helps students develop skills in leadership, problem-solving, communication, and strategic planning. It covers financial management, human resources, and healthcare policies, preparing graduates to make informed decisions and improve efficiency and patient outcomes.
This degree provides a strong foundation for those pursuing leadership roles in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry.
What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s?
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration provides access to a variety of career opportunities within the healthcare industry, equipping graduates with the skills needed for managerial, operational, and leadership roles in different healthcare settings. Healthcare managers or administrators often oversee operations in facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics, managing budgets, coordinating staff, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving patient care quality.
A medical office manager focuses on managing the daily operations of a medical practice. This includes overseeing staff, patient scheduling, medical record maintenance, compliance with healthcare laws, and financial management. Health services managers work to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services, both large and small. They ensure smooth operations, manage patient care strategies, and implement policies.
A growing field within healthcare administration is health information management, where professionals ensure the security and accuracy of patient data, manage electronic health records (EHR) systems, and ensure compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA. Insurance administrators work in health insurance companies to manage claims, process billing, and ensure adherence to insurance procedures. They may also help develop policies or handle claims disputes.
And there are a huge variety of other roles in medical coding, public health, etc. A bachelor's in healthcare administration provides a solid foundation for diverse career opportunities in the field and offers pathways for further specialization, certifications, and advancement into senior management roles.
Top 25 Best Campus Healthcare Administration Schools
Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 89.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,982
- Out-of-State:$62,982
- Net Price: $23,432
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 17,012
- Undergrad Students: 8,132
- Graduate Students: 8,880
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Score: 89.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,989
- Out-of-State:$39,330
- Net Price: $10,614
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 31,705
- Undergrad Students: 20,029
- Graduate Students: 11,676
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Southern California
Score: 88.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,237
- Out-of-State:$68,237
- Net Price: $36,808
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 48,945
- Undergrad Students: 20,699
- Graduate Students: 28,246
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Georgetown University
Score: 87.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,081
- Out-of-State:$65,081
- Net Price: $35,566
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 20,984
- Undergrad Students: 7,900
- Graduate Students: 13,084
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Detroit Mercy
Score: 80.47
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $32,300
- Out-of-State:$32,300
- Net Price: $18,197
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 5,360
- Undergrad Students: 3,156
- Graduate Students: 2,204
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of St. Francis
Score: 80.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,000
- Out-of-State:$37,000
- Net Price: $18,560
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 3,297
- Undergrad Students: 1,414
- Graduate Students: 1,883
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Trinity University
Score: 78.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $51,352
- Out-of-State:$51,352
- Net Price: $30,038
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,692
- Undergrad Students: 2,512
- Graduate Students: 180
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
George Washington University
Score: 78.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,990
- Out-of-State:$64,990
- Net Price: $42,723
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 25,939
- Undergrad Students: 11,482
- Graduate Students: 14,457
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Regis University
Score: 78.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,980
- Out-of-State:$43,980
- Net Price: $26,377
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 4,668
- Undergrad Students: 2,398
- Graduate Students: 2,270
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Truman State University
Score: 77.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,470
- Out-of-State:$17,870
- Net Price: $13,993
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 3,960
- Undergrad Students: 3,622
- Graduate Students: 338
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Webster University
Score: 77.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,730
- Out-of-State:$30,730
- Net Price: $23,069
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 6,396
- Undergrad Students: 2,197
- Graduate Students: 4,199
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Tulane University of Louisiana
Score: 76.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,538
- Out-of-State:$65,538
- Net Price: $50,263
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Total Enrollment: 14,027
- Undergrad Students: 8,785
- Graduate Students: 5,242
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
University of La Verne
Score: 76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State:$47,000
- Net Price: $25,103
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 5,662
- Undergrad Students: 3,365
- Graduate Students: 2,297
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Missouri-Columbia
Score: 75.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,130
- Out-of-State:$34,338
- Net Price: $19,889
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 75%
- Total Enrollment: 31,304
- Undergrad Students: 23,745
- Graduate Students: 7,559
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Saint Louis University
Score: 75.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $53,244
- Out-of-State:$53,244
- Net Price: $29,651
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 15,755
- Undergrad Students: 10,662
- Graduate Students: 5,093
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Saint Francis University
Score: 75.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,720
- Out-of-State:$41,720
- Net Price: $27,459
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 2,857
- Undergrad Students: 2,461
- Graduate Students: 396
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Saint Joseph's University
Score: 74.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $51,340
- Out-of-State:$51,340
- Net Price: $33,777
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
- Total Enrollment: 7,861
- Undergrad Students: 5,071
- Graduate Students: 2,790
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
St. Joseph's University-New York
Score: 74.17
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,535
- Out-of-State:$34,535
- Net Price: $18,001
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 4,348
- Undergrad Students: 3,556
- Graduate Students: 792
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Seton Hall University
Score: 73.77
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $51,370
- Out-of-State:$51,370
- Net Price: $33,472
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 9,623
- Undergrad Students: 6,012
- Graduate Students: 3,611
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Salve Regina University
Score: 73.55
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,930
- Out-of-State:$47,930
- Net Price: $37,997
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,872
- Undergrad Students: 2,190
- Graduate Students: 682
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
DeSales University
Score: 73.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,800
- Out-of-State:$44,800
- Net Price: $29,104
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 2,991
- Undergrad Students: 2,225
- Graduate Students: 766
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Evansville
Score: 72.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $42,676
- Out-of-State:$42,676
- Net Price: $19,301
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 2,017
- Undergrad Students: 1,717
- Graduate Students: 300
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
University of Scranton
Score: 72.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $52,309
- Out-of-State:$52,309
- Net Price: $35,526
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 80%
- Total Enrollment: 4,731
- Undergrad Students: 3,593
- Graduate Students: 1,138
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
California State University-East Bay
Score: 71.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,055
- Out-of-State:$18,935
- Net Price: $11,464
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 13,673
- Undergrad Students: 10,796
- Graduate Students: 2,877
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Xavier University
Score: 71.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $48,125
- Out-of-State:$48,125
- Net Price: $31,619
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 6,114
- Undergrad Students: 4,852
- Graduate Students: 1,262
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Career Outlook in Healthcare Administration
The career outlook for healthcare administration is strong, with continued growth driven by an aging population, medical advancements, and increased demand for services. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 28% growth in employment for medical and health services managers from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is fueled by the rising need for healthcare services, particularly in managing facilities like hospitals and nursing homes.
Specialized areas, such as health information management, are also in high demand as healthcare systems adopt advanced technologies and electronic health records. This trend is expected to create numerous job opportunities. Overall, a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration offers a stable, rewarding career with competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement into senior management roles.
Where Might You Work?
With a degree in healthcare administration, you can work in a variety of settings within the healthcare industry.
Common employers include:
- Hospitals – Healthcare administrators manage hospital operations, including patient services, staffing, budgeting, and regulatory compliance.
- Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities – Administrators oversee the daily functions of nursing homes, ensuring quality care for elderly residents and compliance with health regulations.
- Outpatient Care Centers – These facilities require administrators to manage operations, appointments, billing, and patient relations.
- Health Insurance Companies – Insurance providers often need administrators to help manage policyholder services, claims processing, and healthcare networks.
- Government Agencies – Local, state, and federal health departments require administrators to manage public health programs, such as Medicaid, public health campaigns, and regulatory enforcement.
- Private Practice or Physician's Offices – Healthcare administrators in smaller settings help manage day-to-day operations, patient scheduling, and finances.
A degree in healthcare administration opens doors to a wide range of opportunities in both clinical and non-clinical healthcare environments.
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