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Best Online MBA Programs for Physicians Online MBA Rankings

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Many leaders in healthcare climb the ladder from different places, within administration, the nursing profession, and even the pool of physicians. In order to be well versed in leadership, many of these physicians will turn to online MBA programs to help them in their journey.

Management of healthcare organizations touches all areas of business leadership. These leaders are often responsible for overseeing workers, validating procedures, working with teams, and vision casting for greater healthcare goals. Healthcare managers are also responsible for dealing with conflict resolution within organizations, motivating employees, and making sure that decisions are made with the best interest of the organization in mind.

It is no wonder that the optimal healthcare manager is a well-trained business professional who is task-driven, well-organized, and is capable of communicating with executives to part-time service employees. An online MBA focused in healthcare or executive management is a great choice for physicians looking to move to executive leadership in healthcare organizations.

The online MBA is famous for its ability to train business professionals in the many aspects of business, including finance, accounting, economics, and marketing. Some of the United States’ best business schools currently offer online MBA specializations in Healthcare and Executive Management. The specialized courses in Healthcare will expose an online MBA student to the intricacies of this exciting business sector, and executive management courses train professionals for elite C level positions. Here are 25 of the Best Online MBA Programs for Physicians currently offered in the United States.

Methodology

To find the best Online MBA programs for Physicians, we researched more than 570 online MBA programs from around the country. Only MBA programs offered 100% online were considered for this list, in order to accommodate the busiest physician’s schedule. Then online MBA programs that included a focus or specialization in healthcare or executive leadership were ranked on their affordability, reputation, and convenience.

Affordability: Since most physicians spend many years paying off medical school debt, affordability is an important issue to consider. All tuition data was collected from each university’s website. The base tuition was calculated for the entirety of the online MBA degree, excluding fees, books, or lodging. The base tuition was inverted and placed on a 100-point scale to find the Affordability Score. This score attributes to 33% of the ranking score.

Reputation: Each online MBAs reputation is made up of scores from national MBA ranking sources: BusinessweekThe Economist, and US News. The scores for each MBA were averaged, to find a balanced consensus, and placed on a 100-point scale. This Reputation Score attributes to 33% of the ranking score.

Convenience: To find the optimal convenience for the best Online MBA programs for Physicians, programs were ranked on if it can be completed 100% online and if the GMAT/GRE requirement is waived or omitted during the admission process. Special notation was given when schools offer GMAT waivers for MCAT scores. This Convenience Score attributes to 33% of the final ranking score.

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The Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University provides an online MBA with a specialization in Executive Communication. The business school states that its purpose is to help MBA students think critically, solve problems effectively, and make tough decisions in business strategy across the many functional areas of business. Graduate students within this 48-60 credit hour program are encouraged to collaborate with others in cross-functional teams. A graduate with an online MBA in Executive Communication should be competent in motivating, leading, and mentoring others. The program’s curriculum is designed to help distance learners articulate ideas and information persuasively and effectively in many business contexts. The tuition rate for this degree comes in at just over $50,000. Graduate students pursuing an online MBA in Executive Communication can expect to graduate in only one year by taking advantage of the business school’s accelerated program. The Hankamer School of Business also provides online MBA students with focuses on Marketing and Cyber Security.

Affordability Score
69.28
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
79.73

The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management features an online MBA with a concentration in Health Care Management. Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Management and Organizations, and Management Information Systems are the other top-notch specializations currently offered to online MBA students. The AACSB International accredits the Eller College of Management with its reputable business accreditation. Split between 17 elective credits and 28 core credits, this 45-credit hour degree features a 100% online course delivery format. No campus visits throughout the degree mean students can complete classes virtually anywhere in the world that receives an online connection. Businessweek calls the business school the 96th best place in the nation to pursue an online MBA. The business school also receives high marks from U.S. News and World report with a 52nd spot among the country’s best. Graduate students within this 45-credit hour program can expect to enroll in courses like Communication for Managers, Economics for Managers, Business Strategy, Strategic Management of Information Systems, Survey of Finance as Analyst, and Leadership in Organizations.

Affordability Score
69.10
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
71.65

An online MBA with an emphasis in Health Care Management is offered at the College of Business at the University of North Alabama. The optimal candidate for this illustrious program is one who has achieved at least three years of professional work experience before applying for this 100% online MBA. The tuition rate for the program is well under $20,000, and the business school requires no GMAT or GRE score to be reported during the application process. Placement tests often require graduate students to invest time and money. The admissions office leans on other aspects of a graduate student’s application resources to validate their acceptance into the program. Online MBA students seeking other concentration tracks will be happy to see the College of Business delivers emphases in Global Business, an Executive track, Information Systems, Finance, Sales and New Business Development, and Accounting. While the university’s campus in Florence, Alabama, is a beautiful and stately collection of historic and modern buildings, online MBA students will never have to visit there as all program requirements can be satisfied with zero campus visits required.

Affordability Score
94.05
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

The Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business at Northern Kentucky University delivers an online MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. The tuition rate of this 33-credit hour program is advertised at just over $15,000. Finance, Data Analytics, Leadership, Innovation Through Competitive Intelligence, and Marketing can also be added as focuses on this substantial degree in business leadership. The revered AACSB International accredits the Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business so distance learners can rest assured they are receiving the very best in online graduate-level education. The online MBA is split between twelve credit hours of concentration courses, sixteen credit hours of essentials, and five capstone credits after the degree. Managing in Organizations, Financial Management in Organizations, Operations Management, Accounting in a Corporate Environment, Marketing in Organizations, Strategies for High Performing Organizations, Legal Environment for Business, and Intro to Info Systems in Organizations are some of the high-quality courses available to distance learners enrolled in this program.

Affordability Score
93.83
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online MBA with a specialization in Medical Management is offered at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The business school also provides online MBA students with excellent concentrations in Business Analytics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, and Sport Management. A tuition rate of just between $30,000 and $25,000 is offered with this degree making it a lot of bang for the academic buck. The Isenberg School of Management is considered the 74th best business school to pursue an online MBA by the U.S. News. A GMAT waiver combines with a 100% online course delivery format to make this 34-credit hour course one of the most convenient distance degrees in the country. Students enrolled in the Physician’s Leadership program have the option of transferring up to nine credit hours into this program. Healthcare courses included in this degree are Ethical Issues in Public Health, Health Program Planning, Healthcare Quality and Performance Improvement, and LEAN Management.

Affordability Score
86.02
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
31.86

An online MBA with an emphasis in Health Care Administration is delivered by the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Other top-notch concentrations currently offered by the business school include Financial Planning and International Trade. This online MBA can also be pursued as a general MBA. The AACSB International deems the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship worthy of its illustrious and well-respected business accreditation. Courses within this degree are delivered within seven-week modules that are provided to students on a carousel basis, adding to the program’s convenience and accessibility. A student can complete all requirements for this 100% online degree in business leadership in just one calendar year. High-quality core courses like Accounting and Financial Analysis, Managerial Economics, Organizational Behavior, Data Modeling and Business Intelligence, Production and Operations Management, Business Ethics, Advanced Corporate Finance, Marketing Strategy, and Information Systems for Managers are just some of the classes distance learners will be exposed to within this noteworthy distance degree.

Affordability Score
93.45
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

The D. Inez Andreas School of Business at Barry University delivers an online MBA with a specialization in Health Services Administration. International Business, Marketing, and Management are three other emphases that can be pursued along with this online MBA. Candidates less interested in a focus may pursue this distance degree as a general online MBA. Some have said this 36-credit degree is the perfect pairing of real-world application and solid business theory. The business school takes a holistic approach to leadership training. Graduates of this stellar online program will have the tools they need to understand and process ethics and social responsibility within whatever organizations they work in. An attractive tuition rate of less than $20,000 is associated with this 36-credit hour degree. The coursework for the program is split between 27 core credits and nine Health Services Administration credits. Graduate students seeking an accelerated experience will be pleased to know the business school provides a completion time of just 12 months.

Affordability Score
91.48
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

Howard University’s School of Business delivers an online MBA with an Executive focus. The program creators have designed a 42-credit hour degree, which will help working professionals take their careers to the next level. The tuition rate listed for this degree is right over $65,000. Students within the program can expect a 100% online experience with no campus visits required to graduate. For years, the GMAT and GRE have been used to help forecast a student’s effectiveness within a graduate degree program. The GMAT and GRE require time and expense that many modern graduate students would instead opt-out of. Howard University does not require students entering into the online Executive MBA to report GMAT or GRE scores to be accepted into the program. The School of Business at Howard is no stranger to awards and accolades for academic excellence. U.S. News and Businessweek have both recently championed the business school as one of the top institutions in America to pursue an online MBA.

Affordability Score
58.96
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
84.22

The University of Northern Colorado offers an online MBA with a focus in Healthcare Administration at the Monfort College of Business. The business school also provides an emphasis in Human Resource Management with this online MBA. Graduate students seeking an online MBA without a concentration may moreover pursue it as a general degree. The tuition rate for this program is advertised at less than $25,000. The AACSB International grants the Monfort College of Business its excellent business accreditation. Every assignment, test, project, and course material is delivered through a 100% online format, so students never have to travel to the school’s campus in Greeley, Colorado. The three Healthcare emphasis courses included in this degree are Managing Qualitative Issues in Healthcare Orgs, Healthcare Systems, and Healthcare by the Numbers. The 12-course program is split between nine emphasis credits and twenty-seven core credits. Economics of Managerial Decisions, Marketing Management, Advanced Financial Management, and Data Analytics and Visualization are some for the core courses distance learners will be exposed to throughout this 100% online degree.

Affordability Score
90.28
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration provides an online MBA with a specialization in Health Systems Leadership. Graduate students interested in this online MBA will also be happy to know that other emphases including Human Resource Management, Project Management, Logistics Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Value-Driven Organization Emphasis, Business Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity are also provided as options. The 36-43 credit hour degree features a tuition rate of less than $25,000. Students can enter into the program at three start times each year, adding to the convenience of the program. Core courses within the degree include Managing Information Systems in a Global Economy, Global Business and Sustainability, Managerial Accounting: A Management Perspective, Data Analysis for Managers, Managing and Leading Individuals and Groups in Organizations, Marketing-Based Management, and Financial Analysis and Risk Management. Health Systems Leadership-specific courses include Health Care Planning and Marketing, Fundamentals of Health Care Finance, and Health Care Administration and Ethical Compliance.

Affordability Score
88.63
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration is offered at the College of Business Administration at Abilene Christian University. AACSB International has awarded the business school with its excellent business accreditation. This 36-credit hour degree features a 100% online format. Student s enrolled in the program will never have to travel to the university’s campus in Abilene, Texas. A tuition rate of just north of $25,000 is associated with this degree. The program’s creators have focused on organizational innovation, leadership, data-informed decision-making, and ethics to equip distance learners to grow their faith. Graduate students seeking this online MBA in Healthcare Administration will be challenged to think critically, globally, and missionally. Program length for the degree is just 24 months, which allows students to get through coursework at a rapid rate. Courses within this high-ranking degree include Operations and Information Technology Management, Business Law and Ethics, Managerial Decision-Making, Foundations of Analytics, and Leadership.

Affordability Score
86.85
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

The Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas offers an online MBA degree program with a concentration in Healthcare Leadership and Management. The business school also provides online MBA students with such specialization options as Accounting, Business Analytics, Systems Engineering & Management, Energy Management, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, Internal Audit, Marketing, International Management, Leadership in Organizations, and Real Estate. The AACSB International grants the Naveen Jindal School of Management its exemplary business accreditation. The tuition rate advertised for this excellent online graduate degree is just less than $45,000. Program candidates that have achieved a Ph.D., JD, or US-based MD may qualify for a GMAT waiver during the application process. The business school only accepts GMAT and GRE scores less than five years old. Both Businessweek and U.S. News have placed the business school within their top 50 business schools in the nation.

Affordability Score
73.71
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
100.00

Mercer University’s Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics offers an online MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Management. Human Resources, Marketing, Economics, Finance, and General Business are the other fine specializations a graduate student pursuing an online MBA at the business school may choose from. Students lacking academic experience in business are encouraged to apply for this stellar degree yet may be subject to up to nine credit hours of leveling courses. The tuition rate for this program lies between $25,000 and $30,000. Distance learners working through this 100% online program will enroll in such classes as Managerial Economics, Ethical Leadership, Marketing Concepts and Practices, Managerial Accounting, Operations Management Science, Issues in Business Law and Corporate Responsibility, and Corporation Finance. All qualifying applicants who hold a master’s degree from an accredited university or college may apply for a GMAT or GRE waiver during the application process. Mercer University features the main campus in Macon, Georgia.

Affordability Score
85.69
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online MBA with an Executive focus is provided at the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno. Mid-career executives and experienced professionals in business will thrive within this two-year program, which features 12 courses. All of the program’s classes are led by the College of Business’ premier business faculty. Distance learners can expect to sit under the teachings of instructors who share their real-world expertise as they expose students to executive leadership training by integrating knowledge, skills, and experience. Graduate students within this program can expect to be encouraged through the application of theoretical solutions to real-time business issues. The 100% online program focuses on managerial abilities in problem identification and analysis, with the implementation of those managerial skills to create alternative solutions. The tuition rate for this program is $30,000. AACSB International stands behind the business school with an exemplary business accreditation. Courses within the degree include Personal Branding, Strategic Management for Executives, and Economics of the Firm.

Affordability Score
84.28
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Management is provided by the Arthur J. Kania School of Management at the University of Scranton. Graduate students looking for a stellar online MBA with a different focus may also choose from Accounting, Enterprise Resource Planning, Operations Management, Human Resources, and International Business. The business school also provides a general online MBA track for students less interested in a concentration. Working professionals in business with a desire to work at the executive or healthcare management level will thrive in this program, which features 36-credit hours of coursework. The rigorous academic experience students are led through throughout the program will prepare them to become excellent decision-makers and problem solvers in the area of healthcare management. Distance learners will have 24-jour access to course materials and assignments and will never be expected to attend classes or meetings at the school’s campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The tuition rate or this degree is listed at less than $35,000.

Affordability Score
80.94
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

Saint Xavier University’s Graham School of Management offers an online MBA with a focus in Health Administration. The other high-quality specializations that online graduate students can pursue include Digital Marketing, Finance, Project Management, Financial Fraud Examination and Management, Management, Forensic and Investigative Accounting, Generalist, and Human Resource Management. A 100% online format advertised within this degree means that enrolled students will never have to visit the school’s campus in Chicago, Illinois, and instead will enjoy access to all resources, projects, assignments, and exams through distance learning. The AACSB International grants the Graham School of Management its excellent business accreditation. Students within this program can rest assured that they are receiving a solid graduate education in business. Convenience is the name of the game with this online MBA in Health Administration as the business school provides students with five start times each calendar year. Some programs only allow candidates to enter their programs at the beginning of the fall semester. Saint Xavier takes incoming students during the fall semester, spring semester, and three terms over summer.

Affordability Score
77.96
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online MBA with a focus in Healthcare Management is provided at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. Finance, High Technology Management, Supply Chain Management, Innovation Entrepreneurship, International Management, and Marketing are the other specific areas of business that graduate students can pursue as a specialization. A tuition rate of just over $80,000 is associated with this 50-credit hour degree in business leadership. The business school at Northeastern is no stranger to accolades. U.S. News and World Report places the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at the 58th spot as one of the best business schools in the US. Businessweek hails the business school as the 78th best in the country. Candidates pursuing this degree are expected to submit application requirements that reflect their past academic and professional performance. Resources included in a qualified candidate’s packet can consist of a resume, transcripts from previously attended schools, letters of recommendation, and various other materials. The business school at Northeastern University does not require a GMAT score to be accepted into the program.

Affordability Score
47.61
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
72.87

Fayetteville State University offers an online MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Management at the Broadwell College of Business and Economics. Other high-rated business concentrations that accompany this degree include Business, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, Finance, International Business, Management, and Marketing. Graduate students also have access to stellar graduate certificates focusing on Business, Cybersecurity Management, Project Management, and Healthcare Management. The 39-credit hour program is delivered through a 100% online format and is divided between nine credits of Healthcare Management courses and twenty-seven core credits. Core credits include Managerial Accounting, Business and Society, Leading Organizations, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Business Analytics, Modern Marketing, and Data Analytics. Candidates interested in forgoing a placement test like the GRE or GMAT may request a GMAT waiver from the admissions office during the acceptance process. A tuition rate of far under $10,000 makes this great distance degree the most affordable program within this ranking. Fayetteville State University is home to the Broncos.

Affordability Score
100.00
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
15.24

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke delivers an online MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration at the School of Business. Other high-quality concentrations currently offered at the business school at UNC Pembroke include Supply Chain Management, Finance, Financial Services, and Business Analytics. A tuition rate of well below $10,000 accompanies this degree, which will be a pleasant surprise for graduate students seeking a value-minded program. The tuition rate presented by the business school places this program at the second-most affordable degree within this ranking of the twenty-five best online MBA programs for physicians. Primary topics of business, such as accounting, statistics, finance, management, and economics, are presented throughout this degree’s core coursework. The three courses of Health Economics, Health Administration and Organization, and Legal and Ethical Issues for Healthcare Professionals are fused with core classes like Organizational Theory and Behavior, International Business, Managerial Accounting, and Quantitative Methods. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke opened its doors in 1887 as the Croatan Normal School.

Affordability Score
99.43
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online Professional MBA (For Leaders in Healthcare) is offered by the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. This degree offers a veritable goldmine to nurses, military, physicians, administrators, pharmacists, and more who want to progress their careers in the medical field of business leadership. The program leverages knowledge shared by industry leaders and a seasoned staff of educators to offer core courses in business and specialized coursework in healthcare. The tuition rate for this degree comes in at less than $35,000. The AACSB-International grants the Gatton College of Business and Economics its top-notch business accreditation. The business school offers a GMAT or GRE waiver to qualifying applicants, and there are never any visits to the campus in Lexington, Kentucky, required during the acceptance process through the program’s completion. Kentucky’s business school has been called one of the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and Businessweek.

Affordability Score
81.57
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
52.82

Iona College’s LaPenta School of Business features an online MBA with a certificate in Healthcare Management. This 100% online MBA has just been converted into a degree that requires no campus visits during the acceptance process and throughout the program’s entirety. Students looking for an accelerated experience will be pleased to know that 18 months is all the program requires from the start date to graduation. The staff that instructs students at the business school in New Rochelle, New York, is the same staff that presents coursework through online modules. Graduates students seeking this online MBA in Healthcare Management will enroll in two concurrent courses each 10-week trimester. Featuring a rolling admissions process, online MBA students can jump into the program at any one of the four program-start dates offered each year. The 39-credit hour program costs less than $50,000 in total tuition. The LaPenta School of Business does not require business school candidates to submit GMAT or GRE scores during the acceptance process.

Affordability Score
72.27
Convenience Score
100.00
Reputation Score
15.24

West Texas A&M’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business delivers an online MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Management. The attractive features of this stellar degree begin with a tuition rate of below $10,000. This program is one of the most affordable degrees within this entire ranking of the twenty-five best online MBA programs for physicians. Some of the core courses that distance learners will progress through over the course of the program include Accounting for Decision Making, Strategic Management, Quantitative Analysis in Business, Information Technology Management, Marketing in the Age of Social Networks, and Financial Management of Biotechnology and Health Care. Candidates with the proper academic experience and professional credentials will forgo some prerequisite coursework and complete all requirements of this degree through 31 credit hours of course work. Some students may opt to forgo the Healthcare Management focus and seek one of the other high-quality specializations offered by the business school, including General Business, Marketing, Computer Information Systems, and Management.

Affordability Score
98.45
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
15.24

The SMSU Harrison College of Business and Computing delivers an online MBA with a specialization in Health Administration. Students interested in this online MBA but also looking for another concentration may also choose General Management or Sport Management. For just over $10,000 in tuition, a distance learner can pursue this 33-credit hour program that is backed by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. A candidate holding an M.D. will want to contact the business school’s admissions department and request a GMAT waiver. Graduate students lacking a degree in business are welcome to apply for the degree but may expect to need some prerequisite courses before enrolling in core courses. Organizational Behavior in Practice, Strategic Cost Management and The Financial Environment, Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, Integrated Decision Information Systems, Strategic Decision Making, and Strategic Marketing are some of the courses the curriculum designers have infused within this 33-credit hour degree.

Affordability Score
96.94
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
15.24

The University of Central Arkansas offers an online MBA with a concentration in Health Care Administration. The business school also features specializations in Finance, Information Management, and International Business at the College of Business. Graduate students will be impressed by this program’s attractive tuition rate of between $10,000 and $15,000. Convenience and flexibility abound within this distance degree that offers three start times each year and a GMAT waiver for qualifying applicants. Candidates with a terminal degree, like an M.D., will want to request a waiver for the graduate degree program during the application process. All course material, projects, and assignments within this degree are delivered 100% online, with no visits required to the school’s campus in Conway, Arkansas. Distance learners enrolled in the program will work through courses like Operations Management, Information Technology for Managers, Organizational Behavior, Accounting for Management Decisions, Financial Decision Making, Marketing Strategy, and Strategic Management.

Affordability Score
96.81
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
15.24

An online MBA in Healthcare Administration is offered at the University of Southern Indiana at the Romain College of Business. The business school also provides Accounting, Data Analytics, Human Resources, and Engineering Management as options for online MBA students. The 30-credit hour degree is divided between ten courses, which account for three credits each. A tuition rate of less than $15,000 accompanies the program. The attractive tuition rate is just one of the many reasons to consider this program. Core courses provided in the degree include Data-Driven Decision Making, Leadership Skills and Innovation, Strategic and International Management, Accounting for Decision Making and Control, Marketing Strategies, Information Systems and Technology, Managerial Economics, and Financial Management and Financial Markets. The business school provides interested applicants with criteria for a GMAT waiver. Students failing to meet the application requirements may be subject to reporting a GRE or GMAT test score before being accepted into the program.

Affordability Score
96.34
Convenience Score
75.00
Reputation Score
15.24

There is no doubt that the healthcare industry continues to grow and expand each year. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a job outlook of 18% growth between now and 2026. This increase in job opportunity for medical and health services managers lies well above the national average and shows that pursuing an advanced education progress into healthcare leadership is a sound idea. Many believe that the growth in the healthcare sector of business is due to the large baby boomer population in America, advances in technology, and longer lifespans expected due to people’s active lifestyles and access to advanced medications.

A professional interested in healthcare leadership has a wide choice of options when it comes to planning a career. The majority of healthcare administrators work within hospitals at the private, local, and state levels. Other areas of employment for medical and health service managers include residential care facilities, government positions, outpatient care centers, and physician offices. The work of a leader can be as varied as the types of jobs available to them. Most professionals in this field are responsible for the daily management of a facility and staff. A solid work ethic will serve a professional in this field well. A healthcare manager or medical director should be well trained by pursuing a degree that helps build them as decision-makers, communicators, and problem solvers.

An online MBA is an excellent degree for a leader in healthcare.

Leadership in healthcare involves overseeing the many intricate details of a healthcare facility. A manager, director, or administrator in healthcare should be well-versed in the areas of healthcare technology, medical practice, and business leadership. No other degree on the planet can prepare a physician interested in leadership quite like an online MBA with a concentration or specialization in Healthcare Administration or Executive Leadership. The online MBA was designed for working professionals as it allows them the chance to continue working in their current position. Classes within an online MBA are typically completed during the evenings or weekends. Professionals have the opportunity to manage their active professional and family schedules while using available times to complete assignments for the degree. Coursework for an online MBA can include reading books and resources, working on projects alone or with a cohort group, watching course lectures online, and completing assignments, and taking exams over units covered throughout the coursework.

Many business schools that provide these online MBA programs do so through a 100% online format. Short residencies at the beginning or throughout a program are standard as these opportunities give students a chance to meet business school instructors and fellow students. Unfortunately, many professionals, like full-time physicians, do not have the margin to pursue such degrees and require a 100% online format. The requirements needed for a fully online degree usually amount to a laptop computer and dependable internet access.

Another benefit to an online MBA is the natural opportunities it affords the physician to apply course content to their work environment in real-time. In a traditional educational experience, the student listens to lessons, works through projects, takes tests, and then graduates with a degree. The student seeks a job where she can apply the knowledge she attained and subsequently is responsible for being able to recall and apply years of content for whatever position she has acquired. An online MBA works differently as it was designed for the working professional with often two or more years of experience. A working professional with experience will often have a better working knowledge of what principles will work in the real world. The online MBA degree will present concepts and strategies for business leadership that the physician can implement in their clinic or organization.

The coursework for an online MBA serves the student well.

The foundation of the online MBA is the core coursework that expands on a student’s experience and solidifies her understanding of the principle concepts of business. Many core courses will center on subjects like accounting, economics, leadership, finance, and statistics. The optimal graduate student seeking an online MBA is one that has achieved a bachelor’s degree in business, but it is common today to find business schools that offer its online MBA to students lacking an undergraduate business degree. Many schools will provide leveling courses to students before they move on to core classes. While many online MBA programs are at least 30-credit hours of coursework, a majority of these credits are assigned to core credits. The purpose of many business schools is to shape a graduate student into a strong leader who knows how to make difficult decisions, solve unique issues on multiple levels, and communicate with many types of people. Typically, the specialization courses will account for 30% of a program’s curriculum. Specialization courses will seek to train online MBA students in the specific areas they choose to specialize in. Healthcare Management-focused classes will learn more about what it means to lead teams and organizations that provide healthcare programs and services to people, and executive leadership courses will provide specific training for C-suite management that work on the large organizational level.

Business schools have different requirements for applicants.

The best way to begin researching different business schools currently offering the best online MBA programs for Physicians is first to see what is advertised on a business school’s website and then make contact with a counselor or student liaison at the school. Application requirements will vary from program to program. Most admissions offices at business schools will require an application packet to include transcripts of previously attended schools, a resume, the completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited university, and perhaps a placement test score. The GMAT and GRE have been utilized for years to help business schools forecast a graduate student’s success within a particular program. While placement tests cost time and money, many of the country’s top business schools either offer a GMAT waiver for qualified applicants or simply do not include a GMAT requirement anywhere within admission requirements. And many business schools that do require a test score will accept MCAT scores instead of the GMAT, giving physicians a more accessible application process.

While MBA programs are not necessary for physicians to pursue leadership positions, this degree is a helpful and accessible tool for physicians to gain a solid foundation of business and management skills needed for leadership in the healthcare industry.

Related Resources:

Most Affordable Online MBA Programs
Best No-GMAT Online MBA Programs
Best EMBA Programs
Best 1-Year Online MBA Programs
Best Online Doctorate in Leadership Programs

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?