Best HBCUs for Healthcare Administration Programs

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long-standing history of educating health professionals. For example, an estimated 70% of Black doctors in the U.S. attended an HBCU. However, healthcare leadership does not represent our diverse society.

According to data from the American Hospital Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives, 89% of hospital CEOs in 2019 were white, whereas 60% of the U.S. population was white (non-Hispanic or Latino/a) at the time.

The country is getting more diverse, but upper-level hospital management lags behind. The U.S. may have to lean on HBCUs to bridge this gap and award more healthcare administration degrees to Black students.

So what are the best HBCUs for master of health administration (MHA) programs or bachelor’s in healthcare administration programs? On this page, you can discover the top 10 HBCUs shaping the next generations of healthcare leaders.

Healthcare leadership is a competitive field, and that competition is amplified for Black professionals. A 2015 study found that Black administrators (38%) were more likely to take a “less than desirable position” due to a lack of opportunity than white respondents (24%). HBCUs are known for their ability to uplift Black students into leadership positions.

“For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America’s leadership at home and abroad,” Vice President Kamala Harris, an HBCU graduate, said in May 2024. “Today, graduates from our nation’s more than 100 HBCUs are in every room where important decisions are made.”

More Black graduates from HBCU MHA programs could also improve patient outcomes. Research from NEJM Catalyst showed that diversifying senior and executive healthcare leadership teams can help promote higher performance and increase patient equity.

Once you’ve settled on wanting to pursue a healthcare administration degree from an HBCU, you’ll have to narrow down your search. Examining factors like cost, location, program specifics, and student testimonials can help you determine which is the best HBCU for you.

Choosing an affordable HBCU that fits your budget is an important factor to consider.

HBCUs, especially public HBCUs, generally have lower tuition and fees than other colleges and universities. Still, it may behoove you to apply to multiple HBCUs to see what financial aid packages each institution offers.

You should take location into consideration when deciding what program is right for you. A school’s location may impact the availability of internship opportunities near you. Attending a program near a major hospital system may offer more chances to network and complete any residency requirements.

Whether a school is located within your home state can also impact tuition. Some schools charge higher tuition rates if you’re out of state.

The size of a healthcare administration program may be important, depending on what you prioritize.

Larger schools may offer more unique class offerings and varied research opportunities. Smaller institutions, however, may offer a more individualized program for you with ample one-on-one time with professors, instructors, and counselors.

Healthcare administration programs’ outcome measures and student success rates will vary from institution to institution, so it’s important to get granular in your research of each program.

The College Scorecard may be a useful resource here. This database allows you to compare programs from different colleges and universities and also provides insight into graduation rates, median student loan debt, and historical earnings of graduates from the particular program.

Current and former faculty and students can provide valuable insights into choosing an HBCU that you won’t find on the official school website.

One way to connect with students is to visit the campus before enrolling. You may also try chatting with students online through social media groups or forums like Reddit to gain a non-sanitized look at a program.

The average total net cost of attendance for on-campus students at an HBCU ranged between $26,791-$30,624 for the 2022-23 academic year. Tuition and fees vary depending on whether you attend an in-state or out-of-state institution.

Costs will also vary depending on whether you attend a public or private university. The median average net price at a public HBCU was $11,722 for in-state students in 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Meanwhile, the median average net price at a private HBCU was $15,896.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 24, 2024.