Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in Chicago

You don’t have to look far to find healthcare administration degree programs in Chicago since there are many to choose from. Nicknamed the “Windy Cindy,” Chicago is America’s third most populous city with over 2.7 million residents. Since the 1850s, Chicago has been a global center for higher education and research with many top-ranking universities. Well-known for having the nation’s second largest central business district, Chicago is ideal for budding new health administrators. Nationally ranked hospitals like Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medical Center, and Advocate Christ Medical Center line Chicago’s busy streets. It’s no surprise that the Chicago metropolitan area has the country’s second highest employment level of health services managers. Grads in health administration bring home an average yearly salary of $110,900 here. Start your search off right by perusing the following master’s in healthcare administration degrees in Chi-Town.

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First established in 1898 by the Vincentians, DePaul University is a premier private non-profit Roman Catholic research institution serving more than 23,600 students from its main 36-acre urban campus in downtown Chicago Loop and satellite location in Lincoln Park. Ranked #1 in the Princeton Review’s list for “Diverse Student Population,” DePaul is currently named the 123rd best university, 101st top college for veterans, and 21st most innovative school in America by the U.S. News. Accredited by the AACSB International, the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business is also distinguished for offering the 52nd best part-time MBA nationwide.

The Health Sector Management (MBA) is one of 20 concentrations available at DePaul for graduate students to tailor their market-responsive curriculum for personal career goals. Those selecting this concentration will be positioned to seek advancement into administrative roles within the healthcare delivery system. Students engage in hands-on team projects, fellowships, and internships to develop the leadership skills for tackling real issues in 21st century healthcare. The 58-credit degree can be completed full-time, part-time, or via evening cohort at the Chicago Loop campus. MBA alumni are working in organizations like Humana, Northwestern Hospital, Baxter, and the American Medical Association.

Created in 1946 to help returning World War II veterans transition into business, the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management is a private non-profit management school with a main campus in Lake Forest and satellite location in Schaumburg. Enrolling around 250 graduate students, LFGSM is regionally accredited to grant master’s degrees in areas of management, business, and leadership. It’s their mission to mold broad thinkers and strong leaders with the capacity to transform lives across sectors. The Leadership MBA program uses a real-world approach to study issues facing business leaders in everything from marketing and finance to organizational development.

Within the Leadership MBA program, LFGSM students can select the Healthcare Specialize to build upon their general management education with a broad knowledge base in topics critical to success in health administration. Students obtain the skills to address today’s evolving models of healthcare delivery and finance high-quality care with rising medical costs. Students are required to take 13 core graduate courses and three electives. The self-paced Keys to Your Success (KEYS) online orientation is a prerequisite. Classes are held in Lake Forest, Schaumburg, or online to meet the flexibility needs of working business professionals. Healthcare MBA students could also add a certificate in Change Management, Management Analytics, or Strategy and Execution.

As a comprehensive private Roman Catholic and Lasallian liberal arts institution, Lewis University is home to more than 6,800 students on its main 410-acre suburban campus in Romeoville and satellite location in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Often declared one of Princeton Review’s “Best Midwestern Colleges,” Lewis is currently ranked the 28th best regional college and 24th top school for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. Lewis is well-known for having America’s 65th best online graduate nursing degrees. The ACBSP-accredited Graduate School of Management has a connected faculty offering personalized learning in small class sizes.

Offered in an accelerated eight-week course schedule, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is devised to give graduate students the in-depth understanding on the social, economic, and political realities significantly impacting today’s global business. There’s a Healthcare Management concentration offered for students building the theoretical foundation and rich analytical skills for executive decision-making in clinical operations. Aspiring health services managers will focus their 57-credit curriculum with courses in healthcare marketing, health finance, quality management, economics, business continuity planning, and healthcare operations management. All classes are conveniently held at night once each week to convenience working adults.

Featuring a dynamic 57-credit curriculum, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Lewis’ De La Salle campus gives individuals the unique opportunity to receive a customized graduate management education without disrupting their work or family life. There’s a Healthcare Informatics concentration available for students seeking to develop the critical thinking, analytical, and leadership skills to oversee health information systems. Aspiring health information managers will take specialized courses related to healthcare data analysis, cyber security, patient confidentiality, business intelligence, project management, and disaster recovery. For admissions, candidates must have an accredited bachelor’s degree and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Available in Romeoville, Chicago, or online from anywhere, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program gives registered nurses a rigorous, patient-focused graduate education for assuming managerial level responsibilities in a changing healthcare environment. Lewis offers six customizable curriculum tracks, including Healthcare Systems Leadership. Those selecting this concentration will develop the skills for leading the administration of patient care services and improving nursing at large. The 42-credit program will span topics from population health and healthcare informatics to financial management and human resources. An applied leadership capstone project is included.

Headquartered on a main 105-acre urban campus in the Edgewater neighborhood along the Lake Michigan shoreline with five extension Chicago area locations, Loyola University Chicago is one of the largest private non-profit Roman Catholic and Jesuit research institutions with nearly 15,100 students. Along with being named Washington Monthly’s 59th best master’s-level university for civic engagement, LUC is ranked the 99th best college and 81st top school for veterans in America by the U.S. News. Within the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS), students can follow God’s calling by receiving the spiritual development for faith-based professions.

LUC’s Master of Arts in Health Care Mission Leadership program applies a unique faith-based approach to preparing graduate students for assuming senior leadership roles in Catholic hospitals and health systems worldwide. Students are trained to develop, enhance, cultivate, and protect the identity of the church’s healthcare ministry. Great emphasis is placed on ethical challenges that healthcare organizations face in today’s business culture. Full-time students can complete the 36-credit curriculum within just two years. On-site and online coursework is available to provide flexibility for working professionals. Summer courses are also regularly offered abroad in Rome, Italy.

Formerly affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Northwestern University is a large comprehensive private non-profit research institution serving more than 22,100 students from its main 240-acre suburban campus in Evanston, Illinois, and satellite location in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. Placed as ARWU’s 27th best global university, Northwestern is crowned the 12th best college and 19th top value school in the United States by the USNWR. Also distinguished as America’s 19th best medical research school, the Feinberg School of Medicine houses the Center for Education in Health Sciences for high-quality public health training.

With an interdisciplinary curriculum that bridges theory and practice, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Northwestern prepares graduate students for obtaining public health leadership positions and addressing complex health crises on a local, national, or global scale. There’s a full-time, accelerated program option for students seeking intensive study over 12 months, but busy working professionals can follow a part-time, evening format. The 42-credit curriculum offers two concentrations in Community Health Research and Epidemiology based on career goals. All students are required to complete a 200-hour internship at an approved public health agency or healthcare organization.

After the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found that up to 98,000 people die from medical errors annually, the Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety (HQPS) program was founded at Northwestern University to help correct this public health challenge. Students develop the substantive knowledge and skills to pioneer effective healthcare initiatives for quality improvement and patient safety. Both clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals are accepted into the two-year, part-time program. Students complete a series of intensive classroom-based sessions in Chicago to learn fundamental safety methods. Certain classes are taught by knowledge faculty in Northwestern’s AACSB-accredited Kellogg School of Management.

Adjacent to the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Center, the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is an accredited private non-profit health sciences institution enrolling just over 2,100 students on its 97-acre urban campus in North Chicago. Recognized by the U.S. News for having America’s 130th best biological sciences degrees, RFUMS follows the motto of “Life in Discovery” in honor of its namesake DNA crystallographer Rosalind Franklin. RFUMS is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The College of Health Professions first opened in 1970 to provide degrees in physical therapy, medical technology, health administration, health education, nurse anesthesia, nutrition, and more.

Delivered 100 percent online, the Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) program is designed for RFUMS graduate students who are aspiring for management-oriented careers within today’s in-demand healthcare arena. Ideal for self-motivated healthcare professionals, the distance learning program gives the training to oversee financial, personnel, regulatory, legal, and informatics aspects of patient care delivery. The 46-credit curriculum will explore topics in healthcare marketing, statistics, healthcare law, risk management, quality improvement, management ethics, evidence-based healthcare, human resources, strategic planning, global health, and accounting. All students must submit a capstone portfolio prior to graduation.

Enrolling around 5,050 students, Saint Xavier University is a private co-educational Roman Catholic higher learning institution affiliated with the Sisters of Mercy on a beautiful 120-acre urban campus on the southwest side of Chicago. Featuring a low student-faculty ratio of 13:1, SXU is currently ranked as the 46th best regional college and 34th top school for military veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News. Inspired by its Mercy heritage, the Graham School of Management has achieved elite AACSB accreditation to provide excellent business education rooted in corporate social responsibility and ethics.

SXU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) Plus program is offered for current business professionals who hold a master’s degree and wish to further advance their careers with specialized knowledge in one of seven certificate areas. Those pursuing the Certificate in Health Administration (CHA) will follow a dynamic coordinated sequence of courses to examine managerial issues in America’s healthcare industry. Students will specifically study financial budgeting, healthcare law, managed care, medical system organization, and personnel management. All courses are available in evenings at the Chicago and Orland Park campuses or fully online via the Internet.

Located on a 244-acre urban campus in the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago within the Illinois Medical District, the University of Illinois at Chicago enrolls more than 27,500 diverse students as a large public state Hispanic-serving research institution (HSI). Crowned the 18th best university worldwide under 50 years old by the Times Higher Education, UIC is ranked the 129th top college, 62nd best public school, and 107th best university for veterans in America by the U.S. News. Within the School of Public Health, students can pursue the 17th best public health and 38th top healthcare management degrees in the United States.

Requiring the completion of 60 semester hours, the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program at UIC is available either full-time or part-time for qualified graduate students seeking advancement into positions of healthcare leadership responsibility. Students are prepared with the business knowledge and clinical skills to lead quality patient care services in Chicago, around the nation, and globally. The curriculum will cover topics in biostatistics, financial accounting, epidemiology, quality management, healthcare law, strategic planning, health economics, health information systems, human resource management, and marketing. All MHA students complete a 16-week preceptorship at a partnering healthcare organization.

Dedicated to the promotion of wellness at the community level, the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is a terminal, practice-oriented professional degree designed by UIC for tomorrow’s global health advocates. Students are given the opportunity to select a specialization in Community Health Science, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, or Health Policy and Administration. HPA students will develop the skills and values necessary to succeed as health services managers. Coursework in the 50-hour program can be completed physically in Chicago or online. Students will also complete a semester-long field practicum experience. There’s a Joint MBA/MPH option available with the College of Business Administration too.

Initially founded in 1920, the University of St. Francis is a premier private non-profit Catholic and Franciscan institution educating around 3,300 students annually on its elegant 22-acre suburban campus in Joliet within just 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. According to the U.S. News, USF is the 36th best regional college and 29th best school for veterans in the Midwest. Also acclaimed for hosting America’s 117th best online MBA, the College of Business and Health Administration is accredited by the ACBSP to provide cutting-edge business education where respect, integrity, and compassion are emphasized.

Recently redesigned, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at USF is focused on preparing analytical decision-makers for finding success in the increasingly competitive and technological world of business. Students can select from eight specialized concentrations, including Health Administration. Those taking this route will develop the ethical skills for strategic planning and executive leadership in a changing healthcare system. Coursework can be taken face-to-face in Joliet or online from anywhere. Full-time students can complete the training for meaningful career advancement in just 12 to 18 months. There’s also a Master of Science in Health Administration to MBA Bridge Program.

Featuring a rigorous 36-credit curriculum, the Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) program is open for upwardly mobile professionals who already possess knowledge and experience in the healthcare industry. The flexible program can be completed in just 15 months while continuing to work full-time. Coursework is available online or in Joliet with evening and all-day Saturday sessions for convenience. MSHA students will be trained with the sound administrative skills to systematically address challenging problems in healthcare delivery. Courses will span from healthcare compliance and ethics to medical sociology and health information analytics.

Attending medical school or becoming a nurse isn’t the only way to build a lucrative, in-demand career within today’s booming healthcare industry. Healthcare administration is the ideal path for anyone wishing to focus on the business side of medical care to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment. The BLS predicts that demand for health administrators will continue growing by 23 percent throughout 2022 for 73,300 new jobs. Put your business acumen to great use by considering one of these leading healthcare administration degree programs in Chicago.