Top 10 Schools that Specialize in Healthcare Management
Healthcare Management MBAs are becoming a popular track for students who want to enter a growing industry that’s ripe with innovation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health care managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services. They manage entire medical facilities, departments at nonprofits, and medical practices for physicians.
BLS reports that employment of health care management personnel is projected to grow 20 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for nearly all other industries. This is partially because the Baby Boomer working class is aging into retirement, thus increasing more demand for healthcare services. The average pay for health care management professionals is an estimated $98,350 per year ($47.29 per hour).
While some health care managers have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degrees also are common in the field. If you’re a prospective MBA hoping to enter the health care field following graduation, are you aware of all the specialized healthcare management majors, courses and programs offered at business school across the nation? Many of the country’s top business schools have put together special options for students looking to get an in-depth look at one of the largest and fastest growing sectors in the US economy. Let’s take a look at the best of the best. Continue reading…
The Five Most Valuable Online MBAs
Choosing an online MBA program isn’t easy. Not only do you need to look at rankings, but you also have to look at what the program offers and how affordable it is. After all, the goal of an online MBA is a great return on investment. So, how do you find the most valuable Online MBA programs?
We’ve searched through the U.S. News and World Report on the “Best Online MBA Programs” to find which ones can give you the best experience at the best cost.
The programs on this list rank in the top 25 “Best Online MBA Programs,” and cost under $1,400 per credit.
The Five Most Valuable Online MBA Programs
Indiana University
Tied for first as the best online MBA program in the country, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business is also affordable.
The Kelley Direct Online program offers the ultimate in flexibility. Students can take between two to four years to graduate and tailor their classwork to their goals. Online MBA students will cover such topics as business law and ethics, economics, marketing, finance, operations, information technology, and project management. They’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad in one of Kelley’s global hubs located in Botswana, Brazil, China, India, Myanmar, South Africa, and Cuba.
- Cost: $1,330 Per Credit (out-of-state)
- Ranking: #2
Arizona State University
Ranked as the 5th best online MBA program in the U.S., Arizona State University’s W.P Carey School of Business won’t break the bank either.
The Online MBA at ASU is designed to work with students no matter where they live. The program is incredibly flexible with just five weeks per class and 17 total classes. Interested students can expect to take classes covering a range of topics including strategic management and global thinking. Classes start in either January or August with students taking the same curriculum taught by the same faculty as the full-time and part-time programs.
- Cost: $1,216 Per Credit (out-of-state)
- Ranking: #5
University of Florida
Ranked at 6th overall, the University of Florida Hough Graduate School of Business also offers an affordable online MBA program.
The UF Online MBA offers the ideal balance of work, life, and school commitments. Students can graduate in just 24 months without visiting campus, with courses taught by the full-time MBA faculty. Students cover the same topics as their full-time brethren with courses on financial accounting, economics, and more. There is also an optional Global Immersion Experience opportunity.
- Cost: $1,255 Per Credit (out-of-state)
- Ranking: #6
Lehigh University
Ranked at 19th on the U.S. News and World Report list, the online MBA at the Lehigh University’s College of Business and Economics is incredibly affordable.
The Online Flex MBA at Lehigh University is AACSB accredited and places high emphasis on maintaining excellence. Students can complete the program in as little as 16 months while taking classes on a variety of topics including managing financial and physical resources, corporate entrepreneurship, international business, and marketing. Students can also choose to pursue a concentration in one of six fields including: corporate entrepreneurship, finance, international business, marketing, project management, and supply chain management.
- Cost: $1,075 Per Credit (out-of-state)
- Ranking: #19
University of Delaware
The University of Delaware’s Lerner College offers the most affordable online MBA on our list while still ranking in the top 25.
Last but certainly not least, the Lerner Online MBA is designed to provide students with the decision-making skills and analytical tools to succeed. The program is entirely online with a customizable curriculum that can be completed in as little as 16 months. In addition, students can choose between five concentrations including business analytics, finance, healthcare, strategic leadership, and international business. Each course is seven weeks long and taught by a Ph.D.-qualified faculty member.
- Cost: $812 Per Credit (out-of-state)
- Ranking: #22
Runner’s Up
- University of Texas at Dallas: The Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Online MBA program is ranked #6 in the nation and costs $1,402 per credit (out-of-state).
- Hofstra University: The Zarb School of Business Online MBA ranks 36th on the list and costs just $1,596 per credit (out-of-state).
- Syracuse University: Ranked 42nd, the Syracuse University Online MBA costs just $1,500 per credit.
5 Highest Paying MBA Internships in Philadelphia
The moment you decide to earn your MBA, you should already be thinking about your MBA internship. Within the first few months of your education, you’ll be discussing your internship opportunities and soon afterward, applying. For the most part, you’ll choose your internship based on your career interests, but there’s one other aspect to consider: the pay.
MBA interns can earn impressive hourly wages, which may be a shock if you’re still thinking like an undergraduate student who worked an entire summer for free. But is an MBA internship salary something to sneeze at? It could be depending on your job function, industry, and the company you work for. So, who pays the most?
We dug into Philadelphia MBA internships to find out which companies would pay the most, and here’s what we discovered. Continue reading…
Finding Your New Career: What MBAs Need to Know About Aetna
Founded in 1853, Aetna Inc. has long been one of the most successful health care companies in the world. Serving roughly 37 million consumers, Aetna makes it a priority to recruit diverse and dedicated individuals to their team of nearly 50,000 employees throughout the U.S. The company’s wide reach and impact on the world of health care cannot be overstated; last year, the company made headlines with the huge announcement that it would be purchased by CVS in a $69 billion acquisition—a move which one New York Times report said would “reshape the American health care industry.”
With a commitment to finding skilled team members, and with needs ranging from health care to technology to financial services, it’s no wonder that Aetna and MBAs can make a perfect pair. Aetna has a long history of MBA recruitment, offering a Summer Associate Program which was recently named in Vault‘s 2018 “Top Internship Survey” as the second “Best Healthcare Internship” and ninth “Best Financial Services Internship.”
Why MBAs Love Aetna
Even with massive growth and the status of Fortune 50, Aetna can hardly be described as a stuffy or overly bureaucratic workplace. And it’s no wonder with a mission to help people and build a healthier world that that work should start with their own employees. The recognition Aetna has received for their diverse workplace speaks for itself: in 2016, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation named the company among the best places to work for LGBT employees. Other awards include a 2015 “Best Employer Healthy Lifestyles Platinum Award” form the National Business Group on Health, as well ranking in Training magazine’s “Training Top 125” as the 60th best company for employee development.
MBAs may be drawn to a potential Aetna career for its focus on employee development and creating a diverse workforce, but they probably stay for the payday. According to Payscale, MBAs at Aetna can make anywhere from $84,000 to to $10,200, a significant increase from the average salary for those with undergraduate degrees (around $70,000).
In addition, Aetna’s benefits package truly reflects the company’s strive towards healthy lifestyles. In addition to healthcare, company benefits include coverage for services like counseling, legal and financial support, employee discounts, and access to fitness centers.
Life at Aetna
Aetna offers a number of early career opportunities for recent graduates, which focus on area-specific training and providing access to a network of mentors and experienced professionals. Interested students will find development programs in a wide range of fields, including:
- Actuarial
- Finance
- General Management
- Human Resources
- Information Technology Leadership
- Information Technology Technical Training
- Sales
- Underwriting
The details of each program vary from field to field, but typically span anywhere from three to six years. Most programs also include rotations that will allow students exposure to the wide variety of opportunities open at Aetna, even within a particular area. For example, possible rotations included in the Financial Development Leadership Program include business finance, investor relations, tax, and corporate investment. After the program is completed, graduates will be placed in a full-time position, though the professional development and advancement opportunities will continue long after the program is done.
Landing an Aetna Career
Aetna is an active recruiter of MBAs and interested students should keep an eye out for professional recruiting events and career fairs throughout the country.
Each Aetna career has different requirements, but most early career programs expect applicants to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, an undergraduate degree in a related field, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to succeed in a fast-paced environment.
In addition to the early career program, at the time of writing, there are 16 open jobs that require or strongly prefer applicants with MBA degrees. Below is a small sampling of the types of jobs available to MBA graduates at Aetna:
Product Strategy Manager – New Insurance Plan Design
- The Product Strategy Manager, a position for which candidates with top tier MBA degrees are preferred, will be at the forefront of decisions surrounding what healthcare is and how/where/when its delivered to those in need. According to data reported to Payscale, individuals in this role earn an average salary of $123,000 each year.
National Accounts Product & Solutions Leader
- Requiring an MBA and at least eight years of professional experience, the National Accounts Product & Solutions Director will “execute the product and solution strategy for the company in the national account employer group market” through collaboration as a member of the Large Group Solutions team.
Lead Marketing Analytics Consultant
- The Lead Marketing Analytics Consultant will use statistical predictive models to problem solve and help make decisions. The person in this role will also serve as a key contact for business stakeholders, and must be able to easily convey their predictions and recommendations to senior leadership. For this role, Aetna seeks someone with at least 7 years total business experience with an MBA preferred.
How to Find Your Role with Healthcare Giant McKesson
Since 1833, McKesson has been one of America’s most successful companies, known for its world-class health care systems including medical supplies, pharmaceutical products, medical technology, and care management tools.
Founded in New York City and now headquartered in San Francisco, CA, McKesson is a Fortune Global 500 company with the fifth highest revenue in the U.S. In 2017, the company generated $198.5 billion in revenue through its extensive network infrastructure in the health care industry. Continue reading…
Healthcare Management MBAs in Los Angeles
California’s healthcare systems are under a lot of stress. According to the Orange County Register, the state’s healthcare staffing shortages are projected to widen as the population grows and doctors retire. Continue reading…
