by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Health Services Administration involves the study of Health Services Administration. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Policy Analysis, Public Administration, Business Management, And Communications To The Planning And Management Of Health Services Delivery Systems In The Public And Private Sectors, And Prepares Individuals To Function As Health Services Administrators And Managers. Includes Instruction In Health Systems Planning, Public Health Organization And Management, Pubic Health Policy Formulation And Analysis, Finance, Business And Operations Management, Economics Of Health Care, Organizational And Health Communications, Marketing, Human Resources Management, And Public Health Law And Regulations. Continue reading for the essential details every health services administration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health services administration programs.
In the U.S., health services administration is a popular field of study, with 2,629 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Services Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 123 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health services administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health services administration programs later in this article.
Coursework for Health Services Administration emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health services administration graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a health services administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a health services administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health services administration degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 37 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 242 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,046 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,279 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
People currently working in careers related to health services administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.4% |
| Master’s degree | 21.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health services administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in health services administration opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to health services administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health services administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of health services administration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,939 |
| 4 years | $60,432 |
| 5 years | $70,561 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health services administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health services administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
With 123 different health services administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health services administration school rankings to help you.
Students interested in health services administration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 25,004 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,785 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,803 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 2,571 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,500 |
| Environmental Health | 1,269 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 623 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 313 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 288 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
