The Best Associate's in Healthcare Administration for 2027
Key Points: Best Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs
- Ultimate Medical Academy ranks #1 on a 90.8 Program Score, with a 55% graduation rate.
- Only the top 22 programs make this list; every one is ranked on the same federal data, not on reputation.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Richmond Community College, ranks #20.
- Scores weigh graduation rate most, then selectivity, cost and graduate earnings, from IPEDS, College Scorecard and BLS data. No school pays for a place (methodology).
- Programs analyzed
- 95
- In-state tuition range
- $1,824-$46,175
- Average graduation rate
- 58%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $123,860
The best associate's in healthcare administration for 2027 starts with a stark number: published in-state tuition among the ranked healthcare programs spans $1,824 to $46,175 a year, and the cheapest strong-value option, Richmond Community College in North Carolina, charges just $1,824 while still posting an 82.1 Program Score. This list narrows 95 healthcare programs, analyzed nationally on U.S. Department of Education and BLS data, down to the 22 that balance graduation rate, admissions access, net cost, and reported outcomes best.
The average graduation rate across those 22 schools is 58 percent, a figure that swings from 38 percent at St. Petersburg College to 85 percent at Infinity College, so "best" here means evidence, not brand recognition. There is no single "typical" tuition worth quoting either, because the set mixes a $1,824-a-year public community college with a $46,175-a-year private university, Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania.
What follows breaks down what these healthcare programs actually cost against national pay data, how licensure and accreditation work at the associate's level, why this ranking treats the associate's as its own category rather than a stepping stone to a bachelor's, and which programs suit an online or accelerated schedule. Every figure ties back to the same IPEDS and BLS sources cited in the methodology below.
Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs, Compared by Score
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Program Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Our Methodology for Ranking Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs
The Program Score behind this ranking of healthcare programs weighs four factors pulled from federal data: graduation rate, admissions selectivity, net cost of attendance, and reported completion outcomes, each normalized before combining into a single 0-100 score. Every input traces to the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS system (https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/) or BLS wage and occupational data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/); no school paid for placement and no reputational survey feeds the score.
Every program earns a Program Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.
The 22 Best Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs, Ranked for 2027
The 22 best Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs, ranked by outcomes.
Ultimate Medical Academy
Clearwater, FL · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 55%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Ultimate Medical Academy's 64-credit online associate degree enrolls 8,932 students and posts the highest Program Score in this ranking, 90.8, despite a 55% graduation rate.
- 55% graduation rate
- Program Score 90.8, highest in this ranking
- 64-credit, 18-month online program
- Rolling admissions, new classes every 2 to 3 weeks
Ultimate Medical Academy's Health and Human Services Associate of Science/Associate of Applied Science degree runs fully online across 64 credits, with UMA advertising completion in as little as 18 months and rolling admissions that start new classes every two to three weeks. The curriculum pairs healthcare fundamentals, Medical Terminology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I, and Introduction to U.S. Healthcare Delivery, with human-services coursework such as Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services, Family Dynamics, and a capstone course. UMA's own program page points graduates toward entry-level roles like member/customer advocate, behavioral health or mental health technician, and case worker, in nonprofit organizations, public health departments, and behavioral health facilities: client-facing, community-support work rather than the billing, coding, or facility-operations track other programs in this field emphasize.
UMA graduates 55% of its students, the lowest completion rate among the four programs profiled here, yet it ranks first on a 90.8 Program Score, the highest in this ranking. That score reflects UMA's scale (8,932 students enrolled), fully online delivery with a 25-student class cap, and rolling admissions that let a working adult start within weeks instead of waiting on a semester calendar. UMA states it holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This program fits someone prioritizing the fastest possible start date and a community-facing health services role over a facility-management or billing-heavy path; for national data on the broader medical and health services manager occupation, see the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Northwest Career College
Las Vegas, NV · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 68%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Northwest Career College posts the group's best graduation rate, 68%, and pairs its 18-month associate curriculum with a 2-month Las Vegas externship and CMAA exam prep.
- 68% graduation rate, among the highest here
- Program Score 89.7
- 2-month supervised Las Vegas externship
- CMAA exam prep built into the curriculum
Northwest Career College's Healthcare Administration associate degree is built around a defined 18-month path: coursework in electronic health records, healthcare law, and healthcare finance, followed by a 2-month supervised externship at a Las Vegas healthcare facility. Early modules cover HIPAA compliance and administrative roles (HCA101), front-office operations and EHR/EMR documentation (HCA102), medical terminology (HCA103 and HCA104), and billing and coding fundamentals including ICD-10 and CMS-1500 claims (HCA105). The program prepares students for the CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) exam, and NCC is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and licensed in Nevada.
NCC graduates 68% of its students, a top completion rate among the programs here, and carries an 89.7 Program Score. NCC's own outcomes disclosures report an 83% job placement rate and 84% retention rate for the program; the school's page also cites O*Net data putting the median salary for medical and health services managers at $106,240 nationally, the same occupational benchmark that applies across this field rather than a number unique to NCC graduates. With 2,937 students enrolled, NCC fits someone who wants a structured, credential-focused path built around billing, coding, and EHR skills, backed by a named local externship rather than a purely academic transfer track.
Miami Dade College
Miami, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 46%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,987
- Out-of-state
- $7,947
Miami Dade College's Health Service Management A.S. runs $1,987 a year in-state versus $7,947 out-of-state, a $5,960 annual gap, while still scoring an 89.6 Program Score.
- $1,987 in-state tuition, low for this list
- 46% graduation rate
- Program Score 89.6
- 60-credit A.S. with required HSC 2810 internship
Miami Dade College's Health Service Management Associate in Science, offered through its Medical Campus, is a 60-credit, two-year program built for immediate career entry or transfer into a bachelor's or graduate health program. Discipline courses include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Legal Aspects of Health Care, Medical Terminology, Health Care Quality Management, and Health Services Management Concepts, on top of general education and business coursework. The program requires a supervised Professional Practice Experience (HSC 2810), for which students must line up a healthcare facility and preceptor at least four months before the course starts. Most classes run evenings and weekends, and MDC offers the coursework through in-person instruction, MDC Online, and MDC LIVE, a fully virtual option with live faculty.
In-state tuition runs $1,987 against $7,947 out-of-state, a $5,960 annual gap; over the 60-credit, two-year program that is roughly $3,974 total for a Florida resident versus $15,894 for an out-of-state student. Miami Dade graduates 46% of its students, a below-average completion rate here, a tradeoff of its large, open-access, 58,941-student enrollment against the smaller cohorts at the other schools in this ranking. It still carries an 89.6 Program Score. MDC's page recommends against full-time outside work during the program and caps outside employment at 20 hours a week for students who need it. This program fits a Florida resident who wants the lowest sticker price in this ranking and can commit real study time around evening and weekend classes; see IPEDS for federal tuition and completion data across colleges: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS).
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $27,631
- Out-of-state
- $27,631
Colorado Christian University's flat $27,631 tuition, the same for in-state and out-of-state students, funds a 60-credit associate degree that transfers in full into its bachelor's and MBA in Healthcare Administration.
- 64% graduation rate
- Program Score 87.4
- $27,631 flat tuition, same in-state and out-of-state
- 60 credits transfer directly into CCU's B.S. and MBA in Healthcare Administration
Colorado Christian University's Associate of Science in Healthcare Administration is a 60-credit-hour program, 18 credits in the major core, delivered through the College of Adult and Graduate Studies with courses taken one at a time in five-week blocks. CCU's page frames the curriculum around medical terminology, delivery systems, informatics, and human resource management basics, taught, in the school's words, with a Christian worldview that folds in ethics and servant leadership. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the school states all 60 credits apply directly toward its Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, with a further path into CCU's MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration.
CCU graduates 64% of its students, second-best among the four programs here, and carries an 87.4 Program Score. Tuition is a flat $27,631, identical for Colorado residents and out-of-state students since the program runs online with no in-state/out-of-state split, roughly 14 times Miami Dade College's $1,987 in-state rate profiled elsewhere in this ranking, the tradeoff for a single national rate and a built-in pipeline into CCU's own bachelor's and MBA programs in Healthcare Administration. CCU enrolls 9,951 students overall. The school's page cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 28% growth for medical and health services managers from 2022 to 2032; for current national wage and outlook data, see the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This suits a student who already plans to continue toward a bachelor's or MBA at CCU and values flat-rate, predictable pricing over the lowest sticker price.
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- In-state
- $46,175
- Out-of-state
- $46,175
Thomas Jefferson University backs its five 2+2 and 3+2 health-science pathways with dedicated advisors and a 69% graduation rate, at a flat $46,175 tuition no matter where a student calls home.
- Program Score 86.9
- 69% graduation rate
- $46,175 tuition, in-state or out
- Five 2+2/3+2 pathway tracks with dedicated advisors
Thomas Jefferson University routes students into healthcare careers through its Health Sciences Program, a foundation built around a team of specialized advisors who track students from course selection through graduate or professional placement. Rather than a single stand-alone administration curriculum, the program is a hub of pathways: Medical Laboratory Sciences & Biotechnology, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences, and Pre-Respiratory run as 2+2 tracks, while Athletic Training, Community & Trauma Counseling, Nutrition & Dietetic Practice, and Physician Assistant Studies extend to 3+2 or 3+3 combinations. Students also complete a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with electives in psychology, nutrition, genetics, and public health that double as prerequisites for graduate programs.
The program carries a Program Score of 86.9, among the highest in its tier of associate-level healthcare administration programs, on a 69% graduation rate and an 81% admit rate, meaning Jefferson accepts most applicants but still graduates roughly seven in ten of them. Tuition runs a flat $46,175 whether a student lives in Pennsylvania or out of state, since Jefferson is private; across an enrollment of 8,238, that flat rate matters more for budgeting than any in-state discount would. It fits a student who wants a structured, advisor-guided on-ramp into a specific allied-health license or degree rather than a stand-alone two-year administration credential.
Healthcare Career College
Paramount, CA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Healthcare Career College turns out graduates in 11 months, among the fastest timelines here, backed by a 71% graduation rate.
- 71% graduation rate
- Program Score 86.9
- 11-month program length
- Insurance billing, collections, and diagnostic coding coursework
Healthcare Career College's Healthcare Management associate degree is an 11-month program based in Paramount, California, built for students who want to run the administrative side of a medical office, clinic, or hospital rather than provide clinical care. Coursework covers medical and dental office procedures, insurance billing and collections, and procedure and diagnostic coding, delivered in a flexible format that lets students take one class at a time while learning from faculty with practical healthcare management backgrounds.
The college posts a 71% graduation rate and a Program Score of 86.9, placing it at rank 6 in this associate's field, on total enrollment of 447 students across its programs, a small campus where the management track is one offering among several allied-health programs. Prospective students should confirm cost directly with the school before enrolling. The 11-month timeline is the shortest of this group, a fit for someone who needs to move from classroom to a medical office manager, coding, or billing role in under a year rather than complete a full two-year associate sequence.
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 65%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix offers its Health Care Administration credential online through a 16-campus network that enrolls 780 students in Phoenix alone and posts a 65% graduation rate.
- Program Score 86.9
- 65% graduation rate
- 780 students enrolled at the Phoenix campus
- Health Care Administration offered online across Pima's multi-campus network
Pima Medical Institute's Phoenix campus is part of a network spanning Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington, and its on-campus associate program hub lists Health Care Administration among its offerings delivered online rather than on-campus, alongside eleven hands-on clinical associate tracks the Phoenix campus runs directly, including Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiography, and Surgical Technology. Every on-campus track leans on the same real-world-lab model, training students on equipment they will use in hospitals and clinics after graduation.
Phoenix enrolls 780 students, and the Health Care Administration track carries the same campus-wide numbers behind its Program Score of 86.9 (rank 7 in this ranking) and 65% graduation rate, on the lower end here programs profiled here. It suits a student already comfortable with Pima's network model, perhaps one who wants the option to pair the administration credential with one of the campus's clinical programs, since both share advising, facilities, and an accelerated, hands-on structure.
National Career College
Panorama City, CA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 74%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
National Career College's 100% online AAS costs $29,900 all-in and graduates 74% of students, a top completion rate here associate's programs.
- 74% graduation rate, highest of this group
- Program Score 86.7
- $29,900 total program cost, itemized on the program page
- 100% online, 14-month AAS with a 160-hour externship
National Career College's AAS in Healthcare Administration is a 100% online, 14-month program (61 weeks with externship) built around 65 semester credits that combine healthcare core courses, medical terminology, medical insurance and coding, electronic medical billing and records, medical office procedures, and hands-on medical assistant training, with business courses in management principles, healthcare operations, and human resource management. Classes run as live virtual sessions Monday through Thursday in day or evening sections, students complete a 160-hour externship at a California healthcare site, and the program's page states ABHES accreditation and lists graduates as eligible to sit for the Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist credential through AAHAM and the Certified Coding Associate credential through AHIMA.
National Career College posts a 74% graduation rate, among the highest here programs on this list, with a Program Score of 86.7 putting it at rank 8. Enrollment is small at 398 students. The program page itemizes total cost directly: $28,252 tuition plus $713 in materials, $860 in books and uniforms, and a $75 registration fee, for an estimated total of $29,900, and NCC provides each student a Chromebook at no extra charge. Admission is restricted to California residents who hold a high school diploma or equivalent and score 12 or higher on the Scholastic Level Exam, so this is a fit for an in-state student who wants a fixed, published price and a defined 14-month finish line rather than an open-ended community-college transfer track.
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga posts an 85.7 Program Score, backed by a 60% graduation rate across its 4,462-student network.
- Program Score 85.7, highest of this group
- 60% graduation rate
- Fully online delivery
- 4,462-student Miller-Motte network
Miller-Motte College's Healthcare Management program is one entry in a healthcare training lineup that spans campuses in Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee, plus a fully online track. The program page frames it as leadership training for the business side of care: students study healthcare policies, administrative skills, management strategies, and compliance, building toward roles in healthcare operations rather than direct patient care.
The program carries a Program Score of 85.7, the highest among this group of four associate's programs for 2027. Its 60% graduation rate is the second-best in this set, and it sits inside a 4,462-student Miller-Motte network. It suits a student who wants a fully online, self-paced format and is comfortable with a for-profit career-college structure rather than a traditional community college associate's degree.
College of Health Care Professions-Northwest
Houston, TX · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 47%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
College of Health Care Professions-Northwest converts a prior allied health certificate into a 36-credit bridge, letting students finish this AAS in as little as 32 weeks.
- 47% graduation rate
- Program Score 85.1 (rank #10)
- 36-credit Allied Health Core Bridge Credit
- As little as 32 weeks to complete
The College of Health Care Professions built its Health and Medical Administrative Services AAS as a degree-completion pathway, not a stand-alone start. It targets students who already hold an allied health diploma or certificate, in fields such as Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Pharmacy Technician, and lets eligible graduates apply a 36-credit Allied Health Core Bridge Credit (AHBC300) toward the 60 credits the AAS requires. Coursework layers business, human resources, and leadership training on top of general education in psychology and college math, and it is offered online or in blended formats across CHCP's Texas campuses, including Houston-Northwest.
CHCP's Program Score of 85.1 ranks the program #10 nationally in this field for 2027. Its 47% graduation rate is on the lower end here programs here, while enrollment across the CHCP network runs 4,530, the largest of the group. The program page cites BLS projections that employment for medical and health services managers will grow 24% from 2025 to 2035. This program fits someone who already holds a healthcare certificate and a 2.0 GPA in that program, and wants to convert it into a degree in as little as 32 weeks rather than starting from zero.
Ross College-Sylvania
Sylvania, OH · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Ross College's online AAS offers four concentrations, from Medical Office Management to Health Care Operations and Strategic Management, across a 20-course track spanning 75 to 100 weeks.
- 53% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.9 (rank #11)
- 4 concentration tracks
- 75-week accelerated option, 100-week standard
Ross College's Health Care Administration AAS is offered only online, through the Sylvania, Ohio campus, and runs 20 courses across a 75-week accelerated track or a 100-week standard track. Students choose one of four concentrations: Medical Office Management; Human, Social and Health Services; Health Care Operations and Strategic Management; or a General Concentration. The curriculum covers facility management, human resource management, medical law and ethics, electronic health records software, and financial recordkeeping including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll preparation.
The program holds a Program Score of 84.9, ranking #11 nationally in this field for 2027, with a 53% graduation rate, a mid-range result here schools. Enrollment across Ross College is 1,714, a small network, pointing to a tighter online cohort than the larger for-profit chains here. It fits a student who wants to pick a specific administrative track, such as medical office management versus broader health care operations, rather than one generic curriculum.
Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque
Albuquerque, NM · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 68%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Pima Medical Institute posts the group's best graduation rate, 68%, and gets qualifying transfer students through the AAS in as few as 12 months.
- 68% graduation rate, best of this group
- Program Score 84.5 (rank #12)
- Entrance exam: Wonderlic + PMI Math Admissions Test
- 12-month accelerated path with qualifying transfer credit
Pima Medical Institute's online AAS in Health Care Administration runs five semesters over roughly 20 months, covering health information technology, healthcare accounting, business communication, and project management, with named courses like Medical Law and Ethics, Electronic Health Records, and Health Care Economics. Students who already hold a qualifying healthcare credential, including Dental Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, or Sterile Processing Technician, can transfer up to 24 credits and finish in as few as 12 months. Graduates can continue directly into PMI's online bachelor's in Health Care Administration or master's in Organizational Leadership.
Pima's Program Score of 84.5 ranks it #12 nationally in this field for 2027, but its 68% graduation rate is strong for this list programs by a wide margin. Enrollment is just 562, the smallest of the group, reflecting a more selective, exam-gated intake: applicants must clear the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam and a PMI Math Admissions Test rather than enroll on a GED alone. That combination, a compact cohort plus an entrance exam, tracks with the higher completion rate. The program fits a working adult already in a clinical or front-office healthcare role who wants the fastest credible path to an administrative credential and a stated bridge to a bachelor's degree.
Infinity College
Lafayette, LA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 85%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Priced per program
Infinity College's Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Management lets students transfer up to 45 credits and finish in 2 years or less, with live online lectures or recordings.
- 85% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.3
- Open admission
- Up to 45 transfer credits, online with live lectures
Infinity College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Management that covers healthcare management, accounting, healthcare law and a healthcare specialty the student chooses. The curriculum includes Introduction to Healthcare Management, Healthcare Law & Ethics, Electronic Healthcare Records, Healthcare Informatics & Statistics, Human Resources Management and Healthcare Marketing Principles, alongside general education courses such as Anatomy and Physiology. The school says graduates are eligible to sit for the national Certified Professional Coder exam and other national licensure exams. Classes run online with live lectures, or students can watch the recordings when it suits them, and the school reports small class sizes. Students can transfer up to 45 credits and complete the degree in 2 years or less.
Federal data shows an 85% graduation rate at Infinity, and the school is open admission, so no admit rate applies. It is a small college with 179 students, which fits learners who want close access to instructors. The program earns a Program Score of 84.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits people with prior college credit, working adults who need flexible class times, and those aiming at entry-level healthcare management or coding-related roles.
Saint Johns River State College
Palatka, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,892
- Out-of-state
- $7,572
Saint Johns River State College offers its Health Services Management A.S. fully online, with a required internship in the HSC 2930 capstone.
- 49% graduation rate
- Program Score 83.3
- $1,892 in-state tuition
- Fully online with internship capstone
Saint Johns River State College (SJR State) offers an A.S. degree in Health Services Management for students preparing for positions in health care services and management. The school states that all classes are available online, and that full-time students can finish the degree in about two years. Start dates run in fall, spring and summer. The capstone, HSC 2930, carries a required number of internship hours based on credit hour requirements, so students get workplace time before they finish. An optional one-year college credit certificate in Health Care Services Specialist serves as an intermediate step toward the A.S. and prepares students for direct entry into the workforce. Graduates who want a bachelor's degree can continue into SJR State's Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management with a specialization in Health Care Administration, which the school describes as a four-year path in total.
The federal data show a 49% graduation rate, and SJR State is open admission, so there is no admit-rate hurdle. In-state tuition is $1,892 and out-of-state tuition is $7,572. The program earned a Program Score of 83.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to work while studying online, who value a low-cost entry point into health care management, and who may want to transfer credits toward a bachelor's degree later.
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Alexandria, MN · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $5,478
- Out-of-state
- $5,478
A 60-credit Healthcare Administrative Specialist associate degree with management and medical coding emphasis areas.
- Program Score 82.3
- 60% graduation rate
- $5,478 in-state tuition
- Management or coding emphasis
Alexandria Technical & Community College offers a 60-credit Healthcare Administrative Specialist associate degree meant to prepare graduates for leadership roles across a variety of healthcare environments. The curriculum builds technical skills for healthcare office management and pairs them with college-level coursework in technical writing, ethics, intercultural communication and psychology. Students choose an emphasis in either management or medical coding. Shorter awards sit alongside the degree, including a 45-credit diploma that trains office specialists in appointment scheduling, telephone communications, medical record maintenance, healthcare data analysis and patient billing. The page also lists a medical coding diploma and certificate and a Patient Access Specialist certificate, and notes that out-of-state online students should confirm the program is recognized in their home state.
The program holds a Program Score of 82.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Alexandria Tech is an open admission college, so there is no admit rate to clear, and 60% of students graduate. In-state tuition is $5,478, the same as the out-of-state figure. The fit is a student who wants a practical path into medical offices, billing or coding, with the option to stack a diploma or certificate toward the full associate degree. It is also built for anyone who needs an online route, though state recognition should be checked first.
Seminole State College of Florida
Sanford, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 41%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,393
- Out-of-state
- $2,393
Seminole State's health services management A.S. offers most courses in person or online and credits that apply toward a UCF bachelor's through DirectConnect.
- Program Score 82.2
- Open admission
- $2,393 tuition
- Online option and UCF transfer path
Seminole State College of Florida offers an Associate in Science in Health Services Management. The program page notes that most A.S. courses are offered in person and online, so students can study when and where they choose. Classes are described as 30 students or fewer. Most A.S. graduates earn credits that apply to a bachelor's degree at Seminole State or at the University of Central Florida through DirectConnect to UCF, and the college says students planning to transfer should meet with an advisor to confirm required courses. The page also reports that most Seminole State A.S. programs have state-reported placement rates above 90 percent, and it cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 20 percent growth for medical and health services managers.
Seminole State is open admission and graduates 41% of its students. Tuition is $2,393 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The Program Score of 82.2 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a low-cost start in healthcare management, who need an online option, or who plan to transfer into a bachelor's program. The program page does not publish a course list, so applicants should review the catalog before enrolling.
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Public
- Grad rate
- 39%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,968
- Out-of-state
- $7,402
A 60-credit associate degree that requires a practicum in a health facility and articulates into a bachelor's at Florida International University.
- 39% graduation rate
- Program Score 82.1
- $1,968 in-state tuition
- Practicum plus FIU bachelor's pathway
Broward College's Associate of Science in Health Services Management prepares students for administrative work in healthcare, in roles with little or no direct patient contact. It requires 60 credits, and the coursework includes Introduction to Management, Principles of Accounting I and II, Reimbursement Methodologies, Accounting and Billing Procedures, Health Care Economics and Managerial Accounting. Two certificates are built in, an Accounting Specialist Technical Certificate of 12 credits and a Health Care Services Technical Certificate of 27 credits. A practicum in health facility administration comes in the last term, with a background check and drug screening required first. Classes are offered in day, evening, weekend and online options, and the college says the degree aligns with the Bachelor of Health Services Administration at Florida International University.
The federal data show a 39% graduation rate and open admission, so no admit rate applies. In-state tuition is $1,968 against $7,402 for out-of-state students. The program's Program Score of 82.1 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want to enter healthcare management at an affordable public price, work around a job with flexible scheduling, and transfer into a four-year degree later.
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 45%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $2,496
- Out-of-state
- $9,360
Indian River State College's Associate in Science in Health Services Management prepares students for front-office clinic roles and transfers into its healthcare management bachelor's degree.
- Open admission
- $2,496 in-state tuition
- Program Score 82.1
- Bachelor's transfer pathway
Indian River State College offers an Associate in Science in Health Services Management in Fort Pierce. The program prepares students for entry-level work in medical offices and clinics, where health services managers typically oversee front-office operations. Day-to-day duties named on the page include setting appointments, maintaining confidential medical records and assisting with billing or accounting. Students can join the Health Occupations Students of America, a student organization for building personal and professional skills in healthcare. After finishing the associate degree, graduates can continue into the college's healthcare management bachelor's degree program or transfer to another Florida public university. The program page is part of the college's health sciences offerings and points students to an admissions team for questions.
IRSC is an open admission college, and 45% of its students graduate. Florida residents pay $2,496 in tuition, while out-of-state students pay $9,360. The program earns a Program Score of 82.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. It fits students who want a low-cost start in healthcare administration, a route into a clinic job after two years, or a first step toward a bachelor's degree without leaving the state college system. Students who plan to go further should check how credits transfer before enrolling.
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 38%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,943
- Out-of-state
- $7,774
St. Petersburg College's health sciences A.S. can be taken online and includes an embedded Certificate in Health Care Services.
- Program Score 82.1
- Open admission
- $1,943 in-state tuition
- Fully online with embedded certificate
St. Petersburg College's Associate in Science in Health Sciences, general health sciences focus, is offered as a fully online program. The school describes it as preparation for basic management and administrative, non-clinical health care work. Students can take all six core health sciences courses online. Graduates receive an embedded Certificate in Health Care Services, and the degree transfers to the college's bachelor's in Health Services Administration. The same A.S. also has focus areas for clinical fields such as nursing, radiography and respiratory care, and an A.A. transfer plan exists for students heading into selective admissions health programs. The page lists medical secretaries and administrative assistants as a related occupation, citing 2024 Florida employment of 70,370 and projected growth of 15%.
St. Petersburg College is open admission and graduates 38% of its students. In-state tuition is $1,943, compared with $7,774 for out-of-state students. The Program Score of 82.1 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a low-cost start in health care administration, those who need online scheduling, and those who plan to continue toward a bachelor's degree in health services administration.
Richmond Community College
Hamlet, NC · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 46%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $1,824
- Out-of-state
- $6,432
An open-admission Healthcare Management Technology associate degree with an online version and a certificate option.
- 46% graduation rate
- Program Score 82.1
- $1,824 in-state tuition
- Online degree and certificate options
The Healthcare Management Technology curriculum at Richmond Community College prepares students for employment in healthcare business and financial operations, in areas such as general healthcare management, entrepreneurship and long-term care. Coursework includes medical office management, financial management, legal aspects of healthcare, and medical insurance and billing analysis, with other topics depending on the subject area chosen within the curriculum. Richmond offers the associate degree (A25200), an online version of that degree, and a certificate (C25200). The college says graduates should qualify for jobs in hospitals, medical offices, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and insurance companies, and that industry-recognized certifications may be available to graduates with work experience. A program coordinator is listed for questions.
Richmond is an open-admission college. Its graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition is $1,824, compared with $6,432 out of state. The program has a Program Score of 82.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a low-cost start in healthcare administration, people who need to study online while working, and those who prefer to begin with a shorter certificate. Students who plan to continue to a bachelor's degree should confirm transfer terms with the college.
Southwest University at El Paso
El Paso, TX · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 59%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $14,000
- Out-of-state
- $14,000
Southwest University's Associate of Applied Science in Health Administration is a 60-week, 103.5-credit program delivered 100% online.
- 59% graduation rate
- Program Score 81.4
- $14,000 in-state tuition
- 100% online, 60 weeks
Southwest University at El Paso, through its College of Allied Health, offers an Associate of Applied Science in Health Administration. The page lists a 60-week duration, 103.5 total credits and 1,240 total hours, with 100% online delivery. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for employment in health administration, covering the principles and practices of administration, management, law, economics and policy. Students also learn health record maintenance, medical insurance processes and healthcare classification systems, along with team building, collaborative decision making and financial skills. Listed career settings include hospitals, insurance companies, long-term care facilities, public health agencies, outpatient facilities and doctors' offices. Entry requires a high school diploma or GED, a success interview, and being at least 17.
The program earned a Program Score of 81.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 59% graduation rate, and the school is open admission. In-state and out-of-state tuition are both $14,000. The short timeline suits adults who want an entry credential for medical office, records or insurance work without a four-year commitment. Students who plan to move into management roles later should ask how the associate credits transfer toward a bachelor's degree.
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown
Morgantown, WV · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $13,196
- Out-of-state
- $13,196
An online associate degree in healthcare administration that includes an externship and is designed to be finished in 18 months.
- Program Score 81.2
- 71% graduation rate
- $13,196 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- Online with required externship
West Virginia Junior College's online healthcare administration program leads to a specialized associate degree, which the college says students can complete in 18 months. It prepares graduates for the non-care side of medical facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and insurance companies. The page lists medical office management, CPT and ICD-10 CM coding, overseeing billing systems, healthcare statistics, quality control, healthcare law and HIPAA regulations among the responsibilities the training addresses. Every online student completes an externship, an on-the-job placement that lets them apply coursework in a real setting. The college also lists 24/7 tech support, mobile access to classes and career services.
WVJC is open admission, so no admit rate applies, and federal data show a 71% graduation rate. Tuition is $13,196 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The program's Program Score is 81.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and career changers who want a short, flexible online path into medical office or billing work and who value a smaller school atmosphere with a required externship. Students planning a bachelor's degree should confirm how the credits transfer.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs
The median school on this list graduates 60% of its students. The highest rates belong to Infinity College (85%) and National Career College (74%). The top graduation rate is not at the #1 school, because the score also weighs selectivity, cost, and earnings.
- #13 Infinity College85% graduation rate
- #8 National Career College74% graduation rate
- #6 Healthcare Career College71% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs?
On this list, 21 of 22 schools are open-admission, taking every qualified applicant.
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs
This list holds 8 public, 3 private nonprofit, and 11 for-profit schools. Their median Program Scores: 82.2 public, 87.4 private nonprofit, and 85.1 for-profit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Where the Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs Are
The 22 ranked schools are spread across 14 states. Florida (7), California (2), and Texas (2) are the only ones with more than one ranked school.
Main campus state as reported to IPEDS.
Campus Size Across the Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs
Enrollment on this list runs from 179 at Infinity College to 58,941 at Miami Dade College. Of the 22, 3 enroll 20,000 students or more and 13 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs Earn
Four years out, medians on this list run from $30,765 at Ultimate Medical Academy to $103,137 at Miami Dade College.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Ultimate Medical Academy (#1), reports $30,765, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at St Petersburg College, $1,079 a year, and most at College of Health Care Professions-Northwest, $35,447.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What the Best Healthcare Programs Cost, and the Real ROI
Cost splits cleanly by control among these healthcare programs. Public two-year options in the ranked set charge $1,824 to $5,478 a year in state tuition, led by Richmond Community College ($1,824), Saint Johns River State College ($1,892), and St. Petersburg College ($1,943). Private options run far higher: Colorado Christian University lists $27,631 a year, and Thomas Jefferson University lists $46,175, a gap of more than $44,000 against the cheapest public option on this list.
Run those numbers against national pay context and the payback gap is enormous. The BLS OEWS median for medical and health services managers is $123,860 a year. Richmond Community College's $1,824 annual tuition equals about 1.5 percent of that median, or roughly 5.4 days of pay at that annual rate; two years of tuition there totals about $3,648, still under 11 days of median pay. Thomas Jefferson University's $46,175 a year equals 37.3 percent of that same median, or roughly 136 days, about four and a half months, of at-median pay just to cover one year of tuition. That comparison only holds if two graduates land the identical job: the BLS "manager" occupation generally expects a bachelor's degree or higher, so an associate's from either school is usually a bridge into medical office administration, health information, or patient access roles first, not straight into that median-pay title.
Between those extremes sits a mid tier of private career colleges charging $13,000 to $14,000 a year: West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown ($13,196) and Southwest University at El Paso ($14,000). None of the for-profit career colleges in the top 12 of this ranking report a published in-state tuition figure in the underlying data, a reminder to request a net-price quote directly before enrolling.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Licensure, Certification, and What Passing Actually Means
Healthcare programs at the associate's level do not funnel into a single state license the way nursing leads to the NCLEX or physical therapy leads to a state board exam. There is no universal, national certifying exam that every graduate of a healthcare administration degree must pass before working, and none of the 22 schools in this ranking report a licensure pass rate because none applies at this level.
That absence shifts the weight onto curriculum and credential. Employers hiring for medical office administration, health information, patient access, and medical billing and coding roles look for coursework aligned with recognized standards, not a licensing number. That is why accreditation, covered next, substitutes for an exam as the main quality signal at the associate's level.
The Accreditation That Actually Matters
Two organizations set the standard for healthcare programs at the college level. CAHME, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (https://www.cahme.org/), accredits graduate-level healthcare management education, mostly master's programs, so it will not apply directly to most of the associate's programs in this ranking. AUPHA, the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (https://www.aupha.org/), is the body that certifies undergraduate health administration curricula, including associate's and bachelor's programs, and tracks program-level data across member schools.
Before enrolling, ask directly whether a program is AUPHA-certified or affiliated, since that status is not always obvious on a school's marketing pages, and confirm it independently rather than taking a single admissions page's word for it. A CAHME or AUPHA connection is a stronger signal than a school's own claim of being accredited, a word used loosely across for-profit and public healthcare programs alike in this data set.
Associate's vs. Bachelor's: Why This Ranking Stops at Two Years
The best associate's in healthcare administration exists as its own category because the two-year credential serves a different purpose than a bachelor's or master's. An associate's typically runs four semesters full-time and centers on medical office administration, billing and coding, health information basics, and healthcare law and ethics; it is built to get a graduate into an entry-level role fast and cheap, not to qualify them for a department-head title.
A bachelor's adds two more years of coursework in finance, health policy, and operations, and is generally the minimum credential for the BLS "medical and health services manager" title that carries the $123,860 national median. A master's, often a CAHME-accredited healthcare administration degree, targets director and executive roles at larger systems. Comparing healthcare programs across these three levels on one scale would understate what an associate's is actually for: speed and cost control, not an immediate management title.
That is also why this ranking does not penalize two-year public colleges for lacking the infrastructure of a university master's program. Richmond Community College and Miami Dade College are not competing with Thomas Jefferson University's four-year footprint; they are competing on getting a student into paid work in two years for a fraction of the cost.
Online and Accelerated Healthcare Programs: Who They Fit
Online and accelerated healthcare programs suit working adults and career changers more than first-time college students who benefit from in-person structure. Colorado Christian University is one of the clearest online options in this ranking, priced at $27,631 a year with an 87.4 Program Score, competitive with Thomas Jefferson University, an on-campus private option at $46,175 a year.
Career-focused private colleges such as Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix, Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque, and Northwest Career College post some of the highest graduation rates in this data set, 65 percent, 68 percent, and 68 percent respectively, often on accelerated, cohort-based schedules rather than a traditional two-semester calendar. That format fits someone who wants to finish in under two years and start working, but it fits poorly for a student who needs a slower course load or a longer financial aid timeline.
Public community college programs, by contrast, mostly run on a traditional semester calendar at a lower cost, but graduation rates there trail the accelerated private schools: Broward College (39 percent), St. Petersburg College (38 percent), and Seminole State College of Florida (41 percent) all post grad rates well under half. Choosing between the two paths means weighing a faster, pricier private timeline against a slower, cheaper public one with a real completion-rate tradeoff attached.
- #1 Ultimate Medical AcademyClearwater, FL
- #4 Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO
- #6 Healthcare Career CollegeParamount, CA
- #7 Pima Medical Institute-PhoenixPhoenix, AZ
- #8 National Career CollegePanorama City, CA
- #9 Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN
- #10 The College of Health Care Professions-NorthwestHouston, TX
- #11 Ross College-SylvaniaSylvania, OH
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Careers, Salary, and the BLS Outlook for Graduates
Every graduate of these healthcare programs enters the same national labor market, and the BLS tracks it under medical and health services managers, reporting a $123,860 median annual wage (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm). That figure is a national number, identical regardless of which of the 22 schools a graduate attended; it is context for the field, not a specific outcome any single school can promise.
For an associate's graduate specifically, the realistic first jobs are medical office administration, patient access coordination, medical billing and coding, and health information support roles, not the manager title itself. Wage data specific to those entry-level titles sits below the $123,860 management median; BLS OEWS (https://www.bls.gov/oes/) is the source to check for a specific job title and metro area rather than relying on the management figure alone.
The honest reading of this data is that an associate's is a fast, cheap entry point, not a shortcut to a six-figure management median. Graduates who want that $123,860 ceiling typically stack a bachelor's, and often a CAHME-accredited master's, on top of the associate's foundation these programs provide.
Best Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs by State
Prefer a state-by-state view? We rank Healthcare Administration Programs in 1 state, each grounded in that state's real, accredited programs.
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Common Questions About Associate's in Healthcare Administration Programs
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Is an online associate's in healthcare administration respected by employers?
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Do I need to pass a licensing exam after an associate's in healthcare administration?
Data Sources
- U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS)
- BLS Occupational Outlook: Medical and Health Services Managers
- BLS wage data (OEWS)
- CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education)
- AUPHA (Association of University Programs in Health Administration)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (earnings by field of study; net price)