Earn Your MBA With a Healthcare Administration Concentration
100% Online Program
The Healthcare Administration concentration equips students with the skills to lead and innovate in the fast-growing healthcare sector. From analyzing policies to managing healthcare data and finances, this program prepares graduates to solve impactful problems while thriving in diverse and lucrative roles across public, private, and entrepreneurial settings.
Why is NDNU partnering with Rize for the Healthcare Administration Concentration?
Rize’s program doesn’t require a background in healthcare administration or in medicine. It’s accessible, engaging, and relevant, designed with practical case studies and hands-on assignments that will prepare you for the full variety of healthcare administration jobs, from public and private healthcare systems to healthcare start-ups and healthcare roles within banks and consulting. With its emphasis on understanding the real problems that healthcare systems face today, and in using both quantitative and qualitative skills to address those problems, this program is designed to be an ideal complement to the topics covered in a core MBA.
We’re experiencing a data explosion right now, and the healthcare industry is not immune to that. By 2025, the compound annual growth rate of data for healthcare will reach 36%—6% faster than manufacturing, 10% faster than financial services, and 11% faster than media & entertainment. Rize’s program has a substantial focus on empowering graduates to use both financial and healthcare data to drive responsible decision-making. We prepare future healthcare leaders to identify the key metrics and data-driven strategies they’ll need to make impactful decisions confidently.
For more information regarding the NDNU Rize partnership Click Here
Why Healthcare Administration
Working in healthcare administration is so much more than simply managing doctors; it’s work that can be entrepreneurial, innovative, and lucrative, taking place in start-ups and banks just as much as it is in hospitals and fast-growing public programs like Medicare. Employment for healthcare administrators is projected to grow by 28% between 2022 and 2032. With the median annual wages of medical and health services managers at $110,680 as of May 2023, and the top 10 percent earning more than $216,750, the financial rewards in this field are substantial and the job options rich and diverse. And total compensation for top late-career for-profit health system executives can be truly astronomical, with total compensation pushing into the eight figures.
But beyond the financial benefits, pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Administration prepares you to make a meaningful impact in a vital industry. How can our clinics attract and retain a healthcare workforce? How do we decide whether a new hospital should focus on pediatrics or oncology? How can we evaluate the financial impact of new drugs becoming available to Medicaid beneficiaries? A career after an MBA in Healthcare Administration means a commitment to solving interesting and impactful problems just like these—and just when technology is poised to revolutionize healthcare.
Program Mission Statements
Transform Healthcare, Transform Lives: Every decision in healthcare ripples through countless lives. Through our MBA in Healthcare Administration, you’ll develop the vision and skills to lead positive change – not just in organizations, but in the communities they serve.
Shape Tomorrow’s Healthcare Today: Healthcare needs more than managers – it needs innovators who can balance the books while improving lives. You’ll learn to make data-smart decisions that serve both your organization’s mission and its bottom line.
Bridge Business and Better Care: In healthcare, success isn’t just measured in dollars – it’s measured in lives improved. You’ll master the unique intersection of finance, management, and healthcare delivery, turning challenges into opportunities for meaningful change.
Lead with Purpose: Healthcare organizations need leaders who understand both the head and heart of the industry. You’ll develop the financial expertise to keep organizations healthy and the strategic vision to help them thrive.
Pursue Career Stability: Healthcare is one of the largest and most complicated industries in the country, with incredible growth opportunities and upcoming challenges. Positioning yourself as a business expert within this field can give you a great chance at career and financial stability.
Admissions Information
To be admitted into the MBA program, students need to meet the following requirements:
- A four-year bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from a regionally accredited institution
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better
- Two academic and/or professional recommendations
- One or more courses in each of the foundation areas of accounting, economics, statistics, and math.
International students should also refer to the general graduate admission requirements.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the effect of policy changes in the US healthcare system by applying relevant economic frameworks.
- Evaluate key challenges for today’s healthcare systems — from IT systems to human resources and revenue cycles — and manage them effectively and ethically.
- Effectively and ethically manage and communicate healthcare data to support clinical decision-making and improve healthcare outcomes.
- Assess career opportunities and key sectors relevant to healthcare administration.
- Analyze, model, and communicate financial analysis to evaluate and make financial decisions for healthcare organizations.
Key Skills You'll Gain:
- Healthcare Economics & Policy
- Navigate financial models & regulations
- Leadership & Management
- Optimize healthcare operations
- Data Analytics in Healthcare
- Leverage big data for better decision-making
- Healthcare Finance
- Drive financial sustainability
The Role of a Healthcare Leader:
- Lead Healthcare Organization:
- Drive hospital, insurance, and startup growth
- Manage Costs & Revenue Cycles:
- Ensure financial sustainability and efficiency
- Leverage Data for Better Care:
- Use analytics to improve patient outcomes
- Shape Healthcare Policy:
- Navigate regulations and advocate for strategic change
Rize Concentration (3 Units / 8-Week Courses)
BUS 4120 – Structure and Economics of US Healthcare System
- Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the US healthcare system’s structure and economics, covering topics such as principles of health economics and insurance markets, hospital and physician payment models, financing of the healthcare system, analysis of health policy changes, and consolidation and integration of the industry.
BUS 4150 – Management of Healthcare Organizations
- Students explore healthcare management principles and practices, emphasizing strategic analysis, workforce and IT management, revenue optimization, leadership, recognition and dealing with ethical issues, effective teams, and quality management.
BUS 4160 – Data Analysis for Healthcare Management
- Students learn to manage and communicate healthcare data, focusing on dashboards, patient-level data presentation, EHR systems, data analytics, data visualization tools, and ethical considerations.
BUS 4170 Healthcare Finance
- Students learn to use financial data for quantitative decision-making in healthcare organizations, covering cost accounting, financial statement analysis, capital budgeting, pricing and cost analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, Excel modeling, and presenting financial recommendations.
Course Highlights
Structure and Economics of the US Healthcare System: Decode the complexities of healthcare economics and policy. You’ll explore how money flows through the system and how changes in policy ripple through organizations. Through real examples, you’ll learn to navigate – and influence – this evolving landscape.
Management of Healthcare Organizations: Master the art of leading in healthcare’s unique environment. From building strong teams to optimizing revenue cycles, you’ll learn to balance the human and financial sides of healthcare delivery.
Data Analysis for Healthcare Management: Turn information into insight. You’ll learn to work with healthcare data in ways that improve decision-making and patient outcomes. No prior analytics experience needed – just bring your curiosity and drive to make things better.
Healthcare Finance: Make the numbers work for your mission. Through hands-on practice with financial modeling, you’ll learn to make decisions that keep your organization financially healthy while serving its community
Subject Matter Expert
Dr. Robert Hansen is the Norman W. Martin 1925 Professor of Business Administration at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and was previously Senior Associate Dean. He served as faculty director of the Center for Business and Society and co-faculty director of the Business Bridge Program and the Master of Health Care Delivery Science Program at the College. His expertise is in microeconomics, with a focus on game theory, auction markets, and public policy. His teaching has been in the economics, public policy including healthcare policy, and finance areas. He has written and published articles in the areas of auction theory, corporate finance and corporate policy, industrial organization, and law and economics.
Healthcare Administration Concentration FAQ’s
Online-First: This program is built to ensure that its online classes are not merely attempting to recreate the in-person experience but truly leverage the strengths of online learning. Students can enjoy the flexibility of remote coursework and engage with students at other leading institutions, bolstering their professional networks for the future.
Holistic Approach to Healthcare Leadership: This MBA specialization is designed to address the unique complexities of the healthcare ecosystem, blending policy, finance, operations, and patient care. Courses like “Structure and Economics of the US Healthcare System” and “Management of Healthcare Organizations” equip students to lead with both financial expertise and human-centered strategy.
Interdisciplinary Skill Development: This program is a comprehensive leadership development experience designed to balance financial performance with ethical decision-making, data visualization, and policy navigation in healthcare. It bridges disciplines to prepare graduates as innovators who drive meaningful change and align organizational goals with patient needs.
Healthcare Professionals Seeking Leadership Roles
Nurses and Clinical Staff:
Why: To transition from clinical roles to administrative and managerial positions, leveraging their clinical experience to improve healthcare operations and patient outcomes.
Example: A registered nurse (RN) aiming to become a clinic manager or director of nursing.
Physicians and Allied Health Professionals:
Why: To gain business and management skills necessary for running healthcare facilities, departments, or private practices.
Example: A physician looking to manage a hospital department or start their own practice.
Individuals with a Background in Healthcare Administration
Current Healthcare Administrators:
Why: To advance their careers, deepen their knowledge, and update their skills in healthcare management and policy.
Example: A hospital administrator seeking to move into a higher executive role such as a hospital CEO or COO.
Healthcare Managers:
Why: To enhance their strategic planning, financial management, and leadership capabilities.
Example: A manager in a healthcare insurance company aiming for a director-level position.
Professionals Transitioning into Healthcare
Business Professionals:
Why: To pivot their career into the healthcare sector, applying their business acumen to healthcare settings.
Example: A graduate from a different industry wanting to specialize in healthcare administration.
IT and Tech Professionals:
Why: To understand healthcare-specific challenges and apply their technical skills to improve healthcare systems and data management.
Example: An IT manager interested in managing healthcare information systems or EHR projects.
Recent Graduates
Graduates with Degrees in Healthcare or Related Fields:
Why: To gain specialized knowledge and skills in healthcare administration, enhancing their employability and career prospects.
Example: A recent graduate with a degree in public health or health sciences looking to enter healthcare management.
Graduates with Business Degrees:
Why: To combine their business knowledge with healthcare management, positioning themselves for leadership roles in the healthcare sector.
Example: A business administration graduate aiming for a role in healthcare consulting or hospital administration.
Individuals Passionate About Healthcare Policy and Ethics
Policy Analysts and Public Health Professionals:
Why: To gain a deeper understanding of the business and administrative aspects of healthcare, enhancing their ability to influence healthcare policies and practices.
Example: A public health professional interested in developing and implementing healthcare policies at a governmental or organizational level.
Ethics and Compliance Officers:
Why: To ensure that healthcare organizations operate within legal and ethical standards, and to manage compliance issues effectively.
Example: An ethics officer aiming to oversee compliance and ethical standards in a large healthcare organization.
Entrepreneurs and Innovators
Healthcare Entrepreneurs:
Why: To understand the complexities of the healthcare market, develop viable business models, and lead successful healthcare startups.
Example: An entrepreneur looking to launch a health tech startup or innovative healthcare service.
Innovators in Healthcare Technology:
Why: To bridge the gap between technology and healthcare management, ensuring successful integration of new technologies in healthcare settings.
Example: A tech innovator aiming to develop and manage the implementation of new healthcare technologies. And of course, this program is also accessible to those who want to move into the field.
Individuals with No Related Background or Experience
Career Changers with a Passion for Healthcare:
Why: To transition into a morally rewarding, lucrative, and dynamic field that impacts lives and communities.
Example: Someone from a completely different industry (e.g., finance, education, retail) who is drawn to the healthcare sector’s potential for positive impact and career growth.
It is important to note that since the healthcare industry has such a wide reach, students who don’t want to work in a hospital or clinic per se could certainly find employment in a bank, consulting firm, start-up, or medical device company, just to name a few. Healthcare administration does not always mean working in a hospital!
If you decide you truly do not want to work in any healthcare-adjacent field, there are still many transferable skills from this course. You’ll have learned Excel modeling, data visualizations, how to identify and communicate key metrics regarding a project’s success, and how to go about thinking through whether a decision is financially and ethically sound for all involved. These are all in-demand skills for management and analytical work in other fields outside of healthcare administration.
Career Opportunities In Healthcare Administration
State Authorization for Online Programs
The Department of Education requires that institutions offering online or distance learning programs outside of their home states must seek authorization to operate from regulatory bodies in those states. Each state has a different set of requirements when it comes to allowing out-of-state colleges and universities to offer online degree programs to its residents.
