Samuel Merritt University
- 3100 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, CA 94609
- (800) 607-6377
- Visit website
- Programs offered: 3
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
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Key takeaway: Yes, you can earn an accredited healthcare degree online, and the diploma is identical to an on-campus one. When the program is accredited, the curriculum and degree are the same regardless of delivery format, and the diploma never says "online." Always confirm accreditation before you enroll.
The most important thing to verify is accreditation, not delivery format. For the full picture, see our guide to healthcare accreditation.
Yes, and accreditation works the same online as on campus. Look for a program accredited by program-specific accreditors such as CAHIIM for health informatics and CAHME for healthcare management, alongside institutional accreditation. The right programmatic accreditor depends on the specialization; always confirm both the institution and the program are accredited. To confirm a program is legitimately accredited, check the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and CHEA, and verify the program appears as currently accredited rather than a candidate.
Non-clinical healthcare degrees, such as health administration, health informatics, and public health, are widely available fully online. Clinical roles that involve direct patient care require in-person training and supervised clinical hours. For more on how courses are delivered, see online healthcare course formats and compare online vs on-campus healthcare.
Accredited online healthcare programs offer the same specializations as their on-campus counterparts, including health informatics, healthcare administration, and public health. Explore the full set on our healthcare concentrations page, or start with the online bachelor’s in healthcare.
Compare accredited schools offering online healthcare programs below. Evaluate each on the factors that predict outcomes: accreditation, cost, graduation rate, and salary outcome.
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:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education SchoolsIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Online healthcare degrees often cost less in total than on-campus equivalents because you avoid housing, commuting, and relocation, and many public universities charge flat online rates. Compare programs using net price rather than sticker tuition. For lower-cost options, see affordable healthcare programs.
For most students, yes, when the program is accredited. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare administration graduates earn a median of $67,880 per year (BLS, 2024). The return depends on the accredited credential, not the delivery format. For a full ROI breakdown, see is a healthcare degree worth it?.
It depends on the path. Administrative and informatics degrees are not licensed, while clinical roles require licensure or certification with in-person clinical requirements. Choose your specialization based on whether you want a clinical or non-clinical career.
Bottom line: You can earn an accredited healthcare degree online with the same recognition as an on-campus degree. Confirm accreditation first, compare programs on cost and outcomes, and choose the specialization that fits your goals.
Non-clinical healthcare degrees, such as health administration, health informatics, and public health, are widely available fully online. Clinical roles that involve direct patient care require in-person training and supervised clinical hours.
Yes. Look for a program accredited by program-specific accreditors such as CAHIIM for health informatics and CAHME for healthcare management, alongside institutional accreditation. The right programmatic accreditor depends on the specialization; always confirm both the institution and the program are accredited. Verify accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA before enrolling.
It depends on the path. Administrative and informatics degrees are not licensed, while clinical roles require licensure or certification with in-person clinical requirements. Choose your specialization based on whether you want a clinical or non-clinical career.
No. An accredited online healthcare degree results in the same diploma and transcript as the on-campus version, and the delivery format is not noted.
For most students, yes, when the program is accredited. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare administration graduates earn a median of $67,880 per year (BLS, 2024). The return depends on the accredited credential, not the delivery format.
Data verified: June 16, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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