Online Healthcare Degrees Guide: Programs and Career Paths

Key takeaway: Online healthcare administration degrees are offered at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s level by accredited schools nationwide, preparing graduates for the business and management side of healthcare in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and public health organizations. Related occupations pay a median $45,930 to $117,960 a year depending on role, education, and experience (BLS OEWS)1. Compare accredited programs below.

Accredited online healthcare degrees cover topics relevant to health administration, public health, health informatics, and healthcare management. These programs combine healthcare policy, management principles, and data analysis to build a foundation for leadership roles in healthcare organizations. Programs are accredited by bodies such as CAHME for graduate healthcare management and CAHIIM for health informatics.

Compare Online Healthcare Degrees

These accredited schools offer online programs, report healthcare completions, and are ordered by our independent BOC Score. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Samuel Merritt University

Oakland, CA BOC Score 99.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Brooklyn, NY BOC Score 99.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, OR BOC Score 98.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Baptist Health System School of Health Professions

San Antonio, TX BOC Score 98.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 100%
Tuition
In鈥憇tate$13,760
Out鈥憃f鈥憇tate$13,760
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:Accreditor: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education SchoolsIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

MGH Institute of Health Professions

Boston, MA BOC Score 97.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, SC BOC Score 97.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Galveston, TX BOC Score 97.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston, TX BOC Score 96.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Can You Get A Healthcare Degree Online? explains how accredited online healthcare programs work, including specializations, cost, and salary outcomes.

Browse healthcare programs by state ->


Quick Answers

What do online healthcare programs cover?

Online healthcare programs explore health systems, policy, management, and informatics. They typically combine administrative skills, data analysis, and healthcare regulations.

What degree levels are commonly offered?

Online healthcare programs are commonly offered at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Associate programs typically require 60-72 credits, bachelor’s programs require 120-128 credits, and master’s programs require 36-60 credits. Specializations may include healthcare management, health policy, health informatics, or public health.

Do online healthcare programs require clinical experience?

Most healthcare administration and informatics programs do not require clinical rotations, though some include internships or practicums in healthcare settings. MHA programs often include residencies or capstone projects.

What certifications complement a healthcare degree?

Common certifications include Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional (cHAP), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), and Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC). These credentials enhance career prospects and demonstrate specialized expertise.

How does accreditation apply to healthcare programs?

Healthcare programs may be accredited by CAHME for graduate programs, CAHIIM for health informatics programs, or CEPH for public health programs. Verify institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education database.


What you’ll study

Healthcare programs blend management theory, policy analysis, and practical application. Core coursework spans healthcare management and leadership, health policy and law, health informatics and data analytics, healthcare finance and economics, quality improvement and patient safety, and medical terminology and ethics. Most programs let you focus through a specialization – healthcare management, health informatics, health policy, public health, or long-term care administration.

See the full breakdown on the Healthcare Curriculum and Healthcare Concentrations pages.


Careers and salaries

Healthcare graduates apply their skills in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, government agencies, and public health organizations. Records and administrative roles are accessible with an associate degree; technologist and social-work roles generally require a bachelor’s; health services manager and epidemiologist positions typically require a master’s.

CareerMedian SalaryJob Growth (2024-2034)Annual Openings
Medical and Health Services Manager$117,96023.2%62,100
Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar$67,31014.7%3,200
Medical Records Specialist$50,2507.1%14,200
Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant$44,6404.2%85,900
Healthcare Social Worker$68,0907.7%18,400
Epidemiologist$87,22016.2%800

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.1


Certifications for healthcare careers

While not always required for entry-level roles, professional certifications enhance career prospects and are often expected for management positions1. Healthcare graduates often pursue:

  • Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional (cHAP)
  • Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
  • Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)
  • Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
  • Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)

Certifications provide evidence of specialized knowledge and demonstrate commitment to the field.


How to choose an online healthcare program

  1. Accreditation – confirm recognized institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education database, plus program-level accreditation from CAHME, CAHIIM, or CEPH.
  2. Fit – compare the depth of healthcare management and informatics coursework, and check for internships, practicums, or residencies.
  3. Specialization – healthcare management, health informatics, health policy, public health, or long-term care, matched to your target track. See Healthcare Concentrations.
  4. Format and paceonline format, self-paced, accelerated, or part-time.
  5. Cost – compare net price, not sticker price; see Affordable Healthcare Programs, Admissions Requirements, and Is a Healthcare Degree Worth It.

Next Steps

Compare programs by level or specialty:


  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎