The 50 Best Online MBA Programs for Physicians for 2020

Physicians and bachelor’s degree-holders from all backgrounds can expand their skill set, increase their earning potential, and qualify for more employment opportunities with an online MBA in healthcare administration or healthcare management. Remote degree-seekers today can take advantage of the flexibility and convenience of online learning, avoid costly and time-consuming commutes to campus, and earn the same quality of education as on-campus students.

Students who earn an online MBA gain a competitive edge in the job market and position themselves for higher earnings. Most medical and health services jobs require professionals to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Employers often prefer professionals with an MBA because of their specialized knowledge and level of experience in the field. MBA-holders may also qualify for more lucrative roles in healthcare administration and management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), master’s degree-holders earn approximately $250 more per week than professionals with bachelor’s degrees.

Moreover, the job outlook for MBA degree-holders in medical and health services management roles looks bright. BLS projects a 32% increase in available positions in this area of the healthcare field by 2029. In other words, medical and health services management roles today grow 29% faster than the projected growth of all other management roles in the U.S.

Methodology

To calculate our ranking of the best and most affordable online MBA in healthcare administration programs, we applied the rating and ranking methodology noted above only to schools that offer the program completely online. Schools with annual tuition costs less than $25,000 a year were specifically rewarded, though in cases of a tie, the more affordable program was awarded the higher ranking.

The Best Online MBAs in Healthcare Management

#1 — University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware

Tuition: $950/credit
Delivery Format: Asynchronous and synchronous

UD holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and offers one of the best online MBA programs for physicians. This MBA with a concentration in healthcare management takes as few as 16 months to complete and follows a seven-week course schedule. Learners complete this degree entirely online with no on-campus obligations.

MBA-seekers can take classes in multiple concentrations to supplement their healthcare management curriculum. A dual-concentration track adds only three credits to the 44-credit program. Required healthcare management concentration courses include population health informatics, e-service management in healthcare, and patient experience and engagement.

#2 — The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, Texas

Tuition: $1,000/credit
Delivery Format: Synchronous

UT Dallas is a public institution with regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The school today serves approximately 29,300 students and offers one of the best online MBA programs for physicians.

UT Dallas offers a part-time MBA online for remote students in need of a flexible schedule. Degree-seekers complete courses online and take exams through the online platform or a proctored testing center. This program boasts 15 available concentrations, including healthcare leadership and management. Required courses for this concentration include healthcare financial and operations accounting, the American healthcare system, strategic leadership of healthcare organizations, and healthcare informatics. Degree-seekers must complete an internship at an approved healthcare facility in their area for graduation.

#3 — University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

Tuition: $25,000/year in-state, $45,000/year out-of-state
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

Established in 1885, UArizona is a public research institution with approximately 46,000 students. Remote physicians can take advantage of its online MBA program. This flexible program offers six concentrations, including a specialization in healthcare. MBA students may begin coursework during any of the six starting dates per year and often complete the program in 14-30 months.

Online MBA students complete 45 credits for graduation. Required courses at UArizona include applied business statistics, economics for managers, communications management, and marketing of innovations. Students In the healthcare concentration complete three specialized courses and choose from options such as health economics, leadership and healthcare, and healthcare entrepreneurship.

#4 — Frostburg State University

Frostburg, Maryland

Tuition: $624/credit in-state, $784/credit out-of-state
Delivery Format: Asynchronous and synchronous

FSU is a public university with one of the best online MBA programs for physicians. Founded in 1898, the school today serves approximately 5,000 students. This MBA with a concentration in healthcare management holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The degree requires 36-42 credits for graduation and takes full-time learners as few as 12 months to complete. Online MBA students in the healthcare management concentration take four classes in addition to the core curriculum: healthcare management and finance; healthcare policy, law, and ethics; principles of population health management; and healthcare information management systems.

#5 — Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Tuition: $449/credit in-state, $661/credit out-of-state
Delivery Format: Asynchronous and synchronous

Established in 1918, Ball State is a public research institution. Online learners can take advantage of its MBA program which offers 10 concentrations, including one in healthcare administration.

The online MBA in healthcare management requires three concentration courses in addition to the core curriculum: introduction to healthcare administration, financial management and performance evaluation in healthcare organizations, and strategic management in health administration. Incoming master’s students without a bachelor’s degree in business or a closely related area may need to take up to three remedial courses: fundamentals of accounting and finance, economics and statistics, and management and marketing.

#6 — West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

Tuition: $500/credit in-state, $540/credit out-of-state
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

WTAMU offers one of the best online MBA programs for physicians. The school holds regional accreditation from the SACSCOC and serves approximately 10,000 students. Degree-seekers choose from six available concentrations including healthcare management. Only incoming students with a four-year bachelor’s degree in the health sciences or two or more years of hands-on patient care experience may apply for this specialization.

Students choose from healthcare management concentration classes such as healthcare marketing and public relations and economics of health and medical care. WTAMU requires MBA students to acquire 37-46 credits for graduation. Most learners can complete the program in as few as two years.

#7 — The University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Tuition: $562/credit in-state, $609/credit out-of-state
Delivery Format: Asynchronous and synchronous

UTC is a public institution with one of the top online MBA programs for physicians. Online MBA students at UTC can pursue a specialization in healthcare administration. In addition to coursework, students can also take advantage of extensive graduate career services online through the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.

UTC expects incoming MBA students to possess a course history in economics, statistics, business, and accounting. Learners with any missing prerequisites will need to take remedial courses before registering for official MBA classes. Degree-seekers need to complete a capstone course and an additional three concentration classes. Course options for MBA healthcare administration students include leadership and complex healthcare systems, healthcare management, and healthcare policy and economics.

#8 — University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, Kansas

Tuition: $595/credit
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

USM is a private, nonprofit institution with regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school offers one of the best online MBA programs for physicians with a healthcare management concentration, that has programmatic accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

Prospective students do not need to submit GMAT or GRE scores for consideration. Online learners can complete the program in as few as 12 months.

USM requires learners to complete 33 credit hours for graduation. The flexible curriculum follows an eight-week course schedule with six starting opportunities each year. Students in the healthcare management concentration complete three specialized classes in addition to core course requirements: healthcare informatics and technologies, leadership and business operations in healthcare, and legal and ethical issues in healthcare. The program also requires students to complete a comprehensive exam for graduation after they complete coursework.

#9 — University of Texas at Tyler

Tyler, Texas

Tuition: $856/credit
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

UT Tyler is a public institution with approximately 10,000 students. The school offers more than 90 academic degrees, including one of the best online MBA programs for physicians.

UT Tyler’s MBA in healthcare management is a 36-credit, online program that students can complete in as few as 12 months. Learners take three courses for the healthcare management concentration: special topics in healthcare management, introduction to the American healthcare system, and healthcare management in contemporary society. Incoming students can apply for graduate fellowships, application fee waivers, and veteran’s assistance to help offset the cost of their online MBA degree.

#10 — Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, Utah

Tuition: $4,530/term
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

Established in 1997, WGU is a private, online institution with approximately 120,000 students. The online MBA in healthcare management program is one of the top degrees for physicians. Many students complete this 11-course program in 12-24 months.

To qualify for graduation, students must complete a variety of courses in several essential areas, including management, accounting, and finance. Required classes for this degree include data-driven decision-making, service line development, operations management, and accreditation audit. Learners must also complete a final capstone project that applies the core competencies they acquired while completing the curriculum.

#11 — Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Tuition: $12,626/total program cost
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

LU is a public institution with regional accreditation from the SACSCOC. Remote students may choose from a variety of online graduate degrees, including one of the best online MBA programs for physicians.

Students can complete this 30-credit MBA in healthcare administration program in as few as 12 months. Required include healthcare entrepreneurship, healthcare strategy, healthcare policy and financing, and healthcare economics. Incoming students without business undergraduate degrees may need to take up to three prerequisite classes before beginning coursework.

#12 — King University

Bristol, Tennessee

Tuition: $605/credit
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

Established in 1867, King is a private institution that holds a religious affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. The school serves approximately 3,000 students and provides one of the best online MBA programs for physicians.

Degree-seekers must complete 36 credits for graduation. Healthcare administration courses include healthcare systems, legal and ethical issues in healthcare, and managed healthcare. Faculty deliver courses over five-week intervals. In most cases, MBA students finish this program in approximately 16 months. Additionally, enrolled learners at King gain access to a variety of support services, including a tuition planner and an academic success coach.

#13 — Walsh University

North Canton, Ohio

Tuition: $745/credit
Delivery Format: Asynchronous

Walsh is a private, nonprofit school and is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Established in 1960, the school today provides one of the top online MBA programs for physicians. This fully remote program holds programmatic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Incoming students can begin coursework during any of the six starting dates per year. The flexible program features eight-week classes. Required classes for the online healthcare management MBA program include sustainable ethical leadership, financial accounting, marketing, and information systems. Full-time students can complete the 36-program in as few as 12 months.

#14 — Concordia University Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin

Tuition: $779/credit
Delivery Format: Asynchronous and synchronous

CUW is a private, nonprofit institution with regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school offers remote learners one of the best online MBA programs for physicians. This online master’s program in healthcare administration offers unique study abroad opportunities. Learners can spend 1-2 weeks abroad and receive a $1,000 grant to cover travel costs.

MBA students need 36 credits for graduation. CUW expects incoming students to possess a prerequisite course history in accounting, finance, statistics, and management. Learners in the healthcare administration concentration need to take four specialized courses such as risk management and insurance, securities analysis, and portfolio mathematics. MBA healthcare management students must also complete a strategic management final capstone project for graduation.

#15 — Ohio University

Athens, Ohio

Tuition: $1,028/credit in-state, $1047/credit out-of-state
Delivery Format: Asynchronous and synchronous

Established in 1804, OU is a public research institution with approximately 25,000 students.The school provides remote learners with access to one of the top online MBA programs for physicians. Its online MBA with a concentration in healthcare requires 35 credits for graduation and takes full-time students approximately two years to complete.

In addition to the core business administration curriculum, students in the healthcare concentration complete three specialized classes: introduction to the U.S. healthcare delivery system, health law, and healthcare finance. OU alumni and veterans can receive up to $5,000 in scholarship money toward the MBA program.

The Best Online MBA Programs for Physicians