Register By: November 28
Classes Start: November 30
Lead with Your Healthcare MBA
- $627/credit (36 - 51 total credits)
- Transfer up to 12 graduate credits
- 14% healthcare industry growth through 20281
- Program accredited by ACBSP
- Complete in as few as 15 months
- No GRE/GMAT required
MBA in Healthcare Management Online Overview
Gain a competitive advantage in the healthcare field when you complete the Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management program at Southern New Hampshire University.
With the business of healthcare continually increasing in size and complexity, the skills you'll learn in the MBA in Healthcare Management program prepare you to transition into or excel in leadership roles in hospitals, clinics, medical offices, healthcare corporations, insurance and pharmaceuticals.
The coursework helps you develop unique skill sets to excel at managing the day-to-day intricacies of major organizations, including healthcare systems. You'll also learn to build a business plan, which can help you understand how businesses work – as well as develop the skills to think critically, fix programs and undertake strategic planning.
Learn how to:
- Navigate the complexities of major organizations
- Analyze data for effective problem-solving and decision-making
- Lead and operate in complex and diverse business environments
- Communicate in diverse business environments
- Solve complex business problems in a global environment
- Make sustainable business decisions
- Apply management knowledge to healthcare concepts
Career Outlook
It's no secret that the healthcare industry is growing. It's even less of a secret that an MBA stands out on a resume. And when you put them together, you have an unstoppable combination.
With that, the job outlook for medical and health services professionals is bright as the healthcare industry continues to expand and diversify.
“There is a need for healthcare administrators and healthcare managers to provide leadership for day-to-day operations and for monitoring clinical and non-clinical staffing needs,” said Dr. Toni Clayton, associate dean of healthcare professions at Southern New Hampshire University.
Jobs in the healthcare field are projected to grow 14% through 2028, meaning the creation of about 1.9 million new jobs.1 As the baby boomer population moves into the 65-and-older age group, the need for elder care surges – specifically personnel and facilities
In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects management occupations could see 7% growth – thanks to the formation of new organizations and the expansion of current ones.1 Meanwhile, employment specifically for medical and health services managers is projected to grow 18% by 2028, according to the BLS – more than triple the rate of growth of all occupations.1 Medical and health services managers are in demand to both improve the quality of healthcare and control costs.
SNHU's healthcare management MBA provides the industry knowledge and training needed to achieve these goals in a wide range of healthcare-related organizations. The BLS cites the top employers for medical and health services managers1 as:
- Hospitals (state, local and private): 33%
- Offices of physicians: 11%
- Nursing and residential-care facilities: 10%
- Government: 8%
- Outpatient care centers: 7%
A 2019 recruiters survey conducted by the Graduate Management Council (GMAC) of MBAs and other business master's degrees highlights hiring growth. It shows healthcare as one of the top 4 industries that's seeking out MBA graduates – in the same category as energy/utilities, consulting and technology.2
In addition, it found that larger companies are the ones seeking MBA talent. Which makes sense: Think hospital systems, pharmaceuticals and insurance companies, to name a few.2 With that, the U.S. boasts the largest health industry in the world, with over 780,000 employers.3That's plenty of places that have opportunities for a healthcare MBA.
The GMAC report also states that within healthcare, the top 3 areas within healthcare organizations in which MBA grads are in demand are finance, marketing and strategy. 2 Southern New Hampshire University's curriculum prepares you – and can position you – for all 3 of these job functions. (Plus, through 2028, business and financial occupations are seeing 7% growth and advertising, promotions and marketing manager roles may see 8% growth.1)
A Managed Healthcare Executive article states that healthcare leaders should look to take on skill sets that work well for executives in other industries.4 An MBA can help you develop those traits, such as:
- Collaborative intent: Cast a wider net when it comes to who you need to collaborate with. You'll want to look past your own department and build connections with other teams. Create internal and external partnerships with similar interests.
- Execution discipline: Merge quality and speed to help improve service, quality and cost. Keep in mind patients want accessibility and affordability.
- Strategic nimbleness: Understand that reinvention will be key to your organization's longevity. Continuing to focus on access, data and quality can help you stay relevant.
So while an MBA is in great demand, focusing on healthcare can equip you to be most attractive to large, growing organizations.
Start Your Journey Toward an Online MBA Degree
Why SNHU for Your Master's in Healthcare Management
Flexible
With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.
Affordable
Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, plus financial aid for those who qualify. We also make it easy to transfer to SNHU by accepting up to 12 graduate credits from your previous institution.
Respected
Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 100,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.
Recently, Southern New Hampshire University has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
- A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
- Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium
Network
At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 200,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate your industry. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.
Extensive Business Alumni Network
Since our first MBA graduate class in 1974, we’ve welcomed over 17,000 MBA graduates to our alumni network. For current students, that means an extensive business networking group, an opportunity to seek out college mentorship opportunities and learn from students who have already walked the path.
To this day, business programs – especially online MBAs – are some of the university's most popular degrees that students enroll in.
96.5% of students would recommend SNHU.5 Discover why SNHU may be right for you.
Admission Requirements
Part of our mission to expand access to quality, higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials — with no GRE or GMAT required.
Master's degree candidates must also submit a personal statement. Students with an undergraduate GPA below 2.75 are eligible for provisional acceptance.
To apply, use the online application.
How to Apply
Simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options, answer all your questions, and walk you through the application process, which includes:
- Completing a graduate application
- Providing undergraduate transcripts
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms. You can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.
Courses & Curriculum
The MBA in Healthcare Management online courses are designed to provide you with an understanding of the business of healthcare, with an academic and real-world foundation in healthcare issues, trends and practices.
The traditional business administration disciplines – accounting, finance, leadership, marketing, economics, operations and information technology – round out the program and provide a solid base in business management.
In addition to gaining a solid foundation in business management in your core classes, earning your MBA in Healthcare online can also expand your understanding of:
- Social, ethical and organizational challenges faced by healthcare workers and how to effectively handle these challenges
- Introducing and managing clinical information systems and their effects on patients and interdisciplinary teams
- Current trends in healthcare informatics practices and how technology can improve patient care
- Healthcare industry trends, including quality care initiatives, population health management, medical law and ethics, and other current topics
“Healthcare administrators support policies and processes for the delivery of care and services that impact our patient populations,” said Dr. Toni Clayton, associate dean of healthcare professions at Southern New Hampshire University. “It requires leaders to apply healthcare principles and methodologies as they manage people and processes."
The MBA in Healthcare Management online program consists of 9 core courses and 3 healthcare management courses. The healthcare classes include:
- Healthcare Informatics: Dive deep into the history and current state of healthcare, as well as how the industry uses information systems to improve patient care.
- Topics in Health Administration: Develop organizational processes and structures using the total quality management (TQM) approach to deliver health services.
- Social & Organizational Issues in Healthcare: Study change management strategies, including the impact of introducing or enhancing clinical information systems and the effect of these systems on patients and on interdisciplinary teams within the healthcare setting.
"These courses, combined with the business curriculum, help students to expand business management theories and methodologies to a focus on healthcare delivery systems," Clayton said.
The healthcare concentration was designed to provide a solid understanding of business, as it relates to the healthcare industry.
That's why Dr. Thomas Scott '15 returned to school for a health-based MBA. As he was promoted up the ranks and moved over to the business side, he realized more and more of the conversations he was having were business focused. "Which is when I realized I needed to get a business degree, because a lot of the time I found myself sitting in meetings and not talking about medical stuff at all," Scott said.
Now, said Scott, responsibilities like creating budgets is no longer a mysterious process. "It all makes perfect sense to me now," he said.
During your program, you'll take your MBA Capstone course. This gives you the opportunity to merge what you learned throughout both your business and healthcare classes.
Don't have a business background? Southern New Hampshire University offers foundation courses for students who don't have a bachelor's in business administration or other business-related discipline. Our admission team will look at your undergraduate transcripts to determine if you'd be required to take any or all of these courses:
- Business Law
- Economics for Business
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Human Behavior in Organizations
- Mathematics and Statistics for Business
Should you want a master's program that's more focused on healthcare, SNHU also offers an online master's in healthcare administration and an online master's in health information management.
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Courses May Include
HIM
500
Healthcare Informatics
Students will learn the history and current state of healthcare and how the industry uses information systems. Throughout the course students will discuss types of information systems, such as the electronic medical record (EMR), laboratory and radiology systems and more. Students will also study trends in new practices, such as telemedicine and home healthcare, and how they function in various healthcare settings. Finally, students will explore how these and other industry trends, with the use of technology, can improve patient care.
HRM
630
Topics in Health Administration
This course focuses on developing organizational processes and structures utilizing the Total Quality Management approach to deliver health services which meet the needs of diverse clientele and a complex environment. Included are topical presentations by health care providers concentrating on the structure and delivery of quality health services.
IHP
600
Social & Organizational Issues in Healthcare
Students will learn the social, ethical and organizational challenges healthcare workers at all levels face with the incorporation of technology into the healthcare setting. Students will study change management strategies, current in the Healthcare Industry, including the impact of introducing or enhancing clinical information systems, while providing quality care, and the effect of these systems on patients and on interdisciplinary teams within the healthcare setting.
Program Outcomes
- Lead and operate within cross-functional teams by effectively navigating the complexities of healthcare management
- Analyze primary and secondary data using quantitative and qualitative techniques and information technology skills for effective problem solving and decision making
- Lead and operate within cross-functional teams in complex and diverse business environments
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills to effectively articulate thoughts and intentions in diverse business environments
- Integrate cross-cultural, economic, geopolitical and systems knowledge to solve complex business problems in a global environment
- Incorporate legal and ethical conduct, and corporate social responsibility in making sustainable business decisions
- Create intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial opportunities in a global environment that add value to an organization through the integration, synthesis, and application of business practices
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
|
Online Graduate Programs
|
Per Course
|
Per Credit Hour
|
Annual Cost for 15 credits |
|
Degree/Certificates
|
$1,881 |
$627 |
$9,405 |
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)
|
$1,410 |
$470 |
$7,050 |
Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
Additional Costs:
$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with an MBA in Healthcare Management?
As healthcare is one of the fastest rising career fields today, an MBA in Healthcare Management allows you to combine leadership, business and management principles into an exciting and dynamic career.
While some people with an MBA in Healthcare Management work in hospitals, many also work in healthcare organizations, doctor’s offices or residential care facilities. There are also career options in local, state and federal government.
Careers in marketing, market research, project management and strategy within healthcare organizations are also great career options.
With an MBA in Healthcare Management, you could take on business roles in healthcare as well as in marketing, business management, communications, consulting, finance or project management. This is a truly dynamic degree that offers many career paths. Some other career options are:
- Nursing home administrator, where you would manage staff, finances, and business processes for the facility you lead. You may also oversee resident care.
- Clinical director, where you could run a specific department, such as nursing, physical therapy, or surgery. This role would likely include policy making, goal setting, and writing and designing procedures for your department.
- Heath information executive, where you would be responsible for the maintenance and security of all patient records and data. Applying business skills to the management and operationalization or health information systems is key here.
An MBA in Healthcare Management could also help nurses, doctors, emergency medical technicians, and other experienced medical personnel advance in their careers.
Because healthcare is one of the top career fields that companies plan to fill with MBA talent, the professional possibilities are truly endless.2
How much can you make with an MBA in Healthcare Management?
The healthcare industry is expected to grow bigger and faster than any other occupational group in the United States over the next 10 years.2 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for all healthcare occupations is expected to grow as much as 14% through 2028. About 1.9 million new jobs are expected.1
This growth and demand is expected largely because the population is aging. That creates more demand on healthcare services across the board.
The workers who commanded the biggest salaries work in government, with median annual wages of $111,520. Medical and health services managers earn six figure salaries as well, with an average of $110,430 and $95,320, respectively. Managers in physician offices and residential care facilities also have considerable earning potential, with median annual salaries of $91,600 and $86,820, respectively.1
How do I get an MBA in Healthcare Management?
A bachelor’s degree online, or on campus, is necessary before earning an MBA in Healthcare Management. Because the skills in an MBA are so broad, any undergraduate business degree, accounting and finance program or liberal arts program could provide a good foundation. With a degree in any of those areas, or in many other fields, you may be ready to pursue your MBA.
While working as a nurse or other healthcare professional is not required, many people begin their career just that way. Experience as a nurse, medical records specialist or in an administrative role is helpful experience before deciding that an MBA in Healthcare Management is right for you.
At Southern New Hampshire University, earning a healthcare MBA is as simple as picking up the phone. Call our admission team to get started or fill out an online request for information. You’ll be matched with a counselor who can help maximize your credit transfer. He or she can help you choose appropriate courses to earn your degree at your pace.
Once you’re enrolled, our 24/7 online accessibility for courses makes attending class customizable and convenient. Multiple term start dates throughout the year allow you to complete your degree on a schedule that works for you.
What is a healthcare MBA?
A healthcare MBA is an advanced business degree typically with a strong focus in the healthcare industry. Courses provide a strong business foundation in areas such as management and finance, but with the added bonus of allowing you to specialize in healthcare management.
The healthcare MBA at Southern New Hampshire University provides that base in business-related topics, such as Economics for Business and Financial Reporting. It then allows you to build on that with 3 core healthcare management courses, Healthcare Informatics, Topics in Health Administration, and Social and Organizational Issues in Healthcare.
With a dedicated focus on healthcare, the MBA in Healthcare Management at Southern New Hampshire University can prepare you for an exciting career in a field that is increasingly in demand.
Which is better, an MBA or MHA?
An MBA in Healthcare Management is a business degree with a healthcare focus. An MHA is a healthcare degree with a business focus. Both can get you where you need to go, but the MBA provides a broader foundation, allowing you to specialize in healthcare, or take your career in towards government, policy, or the insurance and pharmaceutical industries if you wish.
With Southern New Hampshire University’s MBA in Healthcare Management, you can gain a strong base in business principles and build on that with the healthcare-related concentration of your choice. You'll also study healthcare informatics, topics in healthcare administration, and social and organizational issues in healthcare to round out your business knowledge and prepare you to excel as a leader in business and healthcare.
What is the scope of an MBA in Healthcare Management?
An MBA in Healthcare Management is the perfect foundation to set you up for career success.
With this exciting, in-demand degree program, you'll develop marketable skills in leadership and management. You may choose to work in a hospital, doctor’s office or long-term care facility. Or perhaps a career in the pharmaceutical or government sectors interests you. There are opportunities with insurance organizations as well.
No matter which industry or role you seek, you'll need to be prepared with a set of strong analytical and communication skills. Being able to write policies, think critically, and adapt to new laws are critical aspects of a career in healthcare management.
A strong leader in healthcare management also has an interest in technology. Staying up to date in healthcare technology and data analytics can set you apart from the competition in a lucrative job market. Learning to code, classify software and maintain electronic health record systems are examples of how you may use technology with your MBA in Healthcare Management.
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
More
References
Sources & Citations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm (viewed April 29, 2020)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm (viewed May, 2020)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (viewed June 11, 2020)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm (viewed May 5, 2020)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm (viewed May 5, 2020)
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
2 Graduate Management Admission Council, Business School Hiring Report: Corporate Recruiters Survey 2019, on the internet, at https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/employment-outlook/business-school-hiring-report_corporate-recruiters-survey-2019_may-2019.pdf (viewed April 27, 2020)
3 Policy Advice, The State of Health Care Industry (2020), on the internet, at https://policyadvice.net/health-insurance/insights/health-care-industry/ (viewed May 5, 2020)
4 Managed Healthcare Executive, The Future of Healthcare Leadership, on the internet, at https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/business-strategy/future-healthcare-leadership/ (viewed May 1, 2020)
5 According to more than 9,200 SNHU online students in survey responses from the fall of 2019.