phd in healthcare administration harvard

Online MS in Management

Healthcare administration concentration.

Weekly Live Sessions

Lead the future of healthcare

As the healthcare industry continues to rapidly evolve, the demand for professionals who can effectively manage complex healthcare systems is growing. Our Online MS in Management with a Healthcare Administration concentration offers a comprehensive understanding of healthcare policy, management, finance, and quality improvement.

With a focus on leadership and strategy, this program equips you with the skills and knowledge to excel in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and health insurance companies.

Led by expert faculty with real-world experience from the D'Amore-McKim School of Business and the Mayo Clinic, you will have the opportunity to learn from seasoned healthcare professionals. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to positively impact the healthcare industry and enhance the lives of patients and their families.

Whether you have experience in healthcare or not, you'll be  equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and manage healthcare organizations effectively.

⇒ Download the program brochure.

The Healthcare Administration concentration is for

• Professionals from   any field outside of healthcare   who want to transition into the healthcare field
• Early- to mid-career healthcare professionals who want to move into the business side of the field as management
• Non-healthcare professionals including but not limited to: human resource professionals, social workers, marketing and communications professionals, urban planners, project managers, retail managers

100% online

The program is 100% online. Courses are asynchronous with optional live faculty connect sessions.  

Experiential learning

You’ll practice by doing, not just reading and viewing. You’ll practice –and get feedback—throughout the entire course, not just at the endpoint. You’ll analyze examples, interact with experts, do hands-on projects, and more. And each course starts with a case study drawn from Mayo Clinic.

Choose your own pace

Built specifically for working professionals, you can complete the degree in as few as 12 months or adjust the schedule to meet your needs.

Courses are 7.5 weeks long to allow you to deep dive into each topic. Stack courses or take them one at a time – you get to choose your own pace.

Connect with faculty and executives

You’ll interact personally with faculty and healthcare executives through optional faculty connect sessions, faculty office hours, industry roundtables, and Mayo spotlights.

Specialized support

You’ll benefit from the support of a dedicated Online MS in Management success manager to help you through the program and connect you with Northeastern events and resources, including full access to Northeastern’s career support services.

Expand your network

Through in-class discussion groups, faculty connects, and industry roundtables, you’ll build connections with classmates from a range of fields and functions.

You’ll also join a network of 50,000 D’Amore-McKim School of Business graduates.

Program timeline

⇒ Download the curriculum map

When you graduate you will

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry, including healthcare policy, management, finance, and quality improvement.
• Excel in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and health insurance companies, by focusing on leadership and strategy.
• Effectively manage human resources in various organizational structures, including cross-functional teams and boundaryless organizations.
• Develop skills for conceiving, financing, and organizing new ventures with a competitive advantage in emerging markets.
• Gain insight, apply frameworks and tools for effectively managing and developing talent in teams and organizations, including promotion and cross-functional systems, retention strategies, and skills involved in implementing talent management systems.
• Work effectively and communicate with others as colleagues and as a manager, and use those skills in analysis and presentation of business problems.
• Identify activities/issues that create ethical and/or cultural challenges and identify ways to appropriately address these challenges.

Upcoming deadlines

Submit your application by September 30 to start courses October 21.

Not ready to start yet? Request more information.

Want to get in touch?

Four ways to connect:

Email us: [email protected]

Healthcare Management Requirements You Should Know About

5 master’s degrees for healthcare professionals, the business side of healthcare: the role of non-clinical healthcare jobs, what is the future of healthcare administration, 5 careers in healthcare administration, healthcare management jobs & salary: how much can you make, what is digital transformation in healthcare and why is it important, how to become a healthcare data analyst: 4 steps, how an ms in management can help healthcare managers improve patient outcomes, 6 benefits of a master’s in healthcare management.

For technical support or any other inquiries, please reach out to our dedicated support team at [email protected]

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
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• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics

Health Policy (Management)

• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management
• Program Requirements

Curriculum & Coursework

Research & dissertation, areas of specialization.

• Health Care Quality
• Health Care Ventures
• Operations Strategy
• Process Improvement

Celia Stafford

Olivia Zhao

“ No other institution but HBS could have given me the same level of access to resources that span business, health policy, and medicine. ”

Current Harvard Health Policy Faculty  

Current health policy (management) students.

• Hassina Bahadurzada
• Derrick Bransby
• Crystal Guo
• Tanner Houston
• Bohan Li
• Celia Stafford
• Mitchell Tang
• Gabe Weinreb
• Jaxon Wu
• Olivia Zhao

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

• Robert S. Huckman
• Kris Johnson Ferreira
• Marco Iansiti

Recent Placement

Emilie aguirre, 2021, michael anne kyle, 2021, a jay holmgren, 2021, lauren taylor, 2020, olivia jung, 2021, philip saynisch, 2019.

Health Policy

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The program involves more than 100 faculty members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. You will choose your path from among five disciplines: decision sciences, economics, management, methods for policy research, and political analysis.

Students in the program have worked on a wide range of topics, including access to and utilization of health care, disability rights, physician decision-making, and health system organization. Examples of dissertations include “The Use of Information Technology in US Health Care Delivery,” “Understanding Mental Health Care Use and Outcomes among Individuals with Reduced Access to Care,” and “The Consequences of Government Provision and Regulation of Health Insurance.”

Supportive alumni can be a critical link to beginning your successful post-graduate career. Graduates of the program have secured faculty positions at institutions across the globe, including Stanford University; University of California, Los Angeles; and Yale University. Others have gone on to careers with the RAND Corporation, the Congressional Budget Office, the World Bank, and Kaiser Family Foundation.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the PhD Program in Health Policy , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

Decision Sciences | Economics | Management | Methods for Policy Research | Political Analysis

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the PhD Program in Health Policy .

Academic Background

All applicants must apply to a specific concentration of the program and must indicate this choice in their statement of purpose. Up to two concentration areas may be specified. Additionally, applicants should indicate policy areas that are of interest.

Statement of Purpose

Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a PhD in health policy at Harvard. What experiences led you to your research ambitions? Concisely state your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Briefly indicate your career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. You should also include your concentration(s) and policy area(s) of interest.

Personal Statement

Standardized tests.

GRE General (or GMAT): Optional for Decision Sciences, Economics, Methods for Policy Research, and Political Analysis. Required for Management iBT TOEFL minimum score: 100 IELTS minimum score: 7.5

Fall Grades

Fall term grades should be sent when available if attending school while applying to the program (prospective students may add this information to the Fall Grade Report, available in the applicant portal, after they have submitted their application).

Those interested in earning an MD/PhD in Health Policy may apply through the American Medical College Application Service . Once enrolled, MD/PhD students submit application materials to Harvard Griffin GSAS prior to beginning their PhD studies.

For the coordinated JD/PhD , applicants must apply separately to each program and indicate in the application to the PhD program in health policy that a concurrent application has been submitted to Harvard Law School.

Theses and Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Health Policy

See list of Health Policy faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Health Care Leadership

What do you need to lead a business in the health care sector?

About Health Care Leadership

Why is health care so expensive in America? How can digital technologies improve outcomes? What is the impact of racial disparities on patients and providers? 

Health care is a complex, multidisciplinary endeavor, requiring leaders to direct and motivate diverse teams representing varying educational and cultural backgrounds as well as different business functions. 

Health Care Leadership is designed for emerging leaders in provider, payer, and life sciences organizations. The series includes courses in business strategy, economics, and digital health, delivering key lessons in leadership and management for today’s health care landscape. Taken together, these courses allow you to develop a comprehensive approach to health care leadership and consider strategies for an ever evolving sector.

Health Care Leadership courses are developed with health care professionals in mind. Harvard University faculty guides you through topics with a specific focus on the current state of the US health care system and how you can apply innovative strategies to make improvements within your organization. 

Health Care Leadership Courses

Innovations in teamwork for health care.

In this course, experts from Harvard Business School and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health teach learners to implement a strategy for organizational teamwork in health care.

Health Care Strategy

Learn from HBS Professor Leemore Dafny how to align the principles of business strategy with the unique challenges and structures of health care organizations to capture value, define your mission, and lead your organization to success.

Health Care Economics

Taught by Harvard Medical School faculty, this course provides insights into the interactions between industries in the US health care sector and teaches what economic forces are shaping health care.

Reducing Racial Disparities in Health Care

In partnership with the Disparities Solutions Center at MGH, this course will help you deliver high-quality health care to all through organizational change.

Digital Health

Digital technologies and big data offer tremendous opportunities to improve health care.

Earn A Certificate of Specialization

The Health Care Leadership Certificate of Specialization offers participants a Learning Path to accelerate their professional development. This Learning Path provides unparalleled access to a faculty of experts who introduce cutting-edge solutions to current industry challenges using the methods you can only find at Harvard.

Participants can take courses that are part of the Health Care Leadership Learning Path in any order, but we suggest they begin with  Health Care Economics ,  then move on to complete any two of the courses listed above to gain deeper insights and expertise based on their professional needs. 

Those who successfully complete three courses from the Health Care Leadership Learning Path within 18 months will earn a Certificate of Specialization, which can elevate professional standing and signify to employers a commitment to growth and lifelong learning.

In less than 18 months, learners will develop relationships with other rising leaders around the globe and cultivate skills they can immediately apply to advance their careers, strengthen their teams, and become changemakers within their organizations.

How To Get Started

Begin your Health Care Leadership Learning Path by applying for the next cohort of Health Care Economics   or one of the other courses listed above. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT LEARNING PATHS

Who Will Benefit

Rising Leaders

Researchers - Entrepreneurs

Medical Providers

Doctors - Nurses - Clinicians

Administrators

Support Staff - Insurers - Managers

About the Faculty

These series courses represent the breadth and depth of Harvard University and its faculty. Learn from professors across disciplines—from Harvard Medical School to Harvard Business School—and hear from experts in leading industries around the globe. Benefit from this wide ranging expertise, studying topics from different points of view and with different categories of emphasis.

Health Care Leadership Courses in Development

In the internet age, and especially with social media, anyone can believe themselves an expert in a given field. While false information can be dangerous in a variety of contexts, reliable public health information can be a matter of life and death. This course aims to present the challenges and opportunities faced by health experts and public health advocates, scholars, journalists, and those working in related fields to promote effective dissemination and comprehension of information about and related to public health. 

More on Health Care Leadership

Blogs, webinars, and more, the business of health care in the united states.

The business of health care in the United States is complicated. How can we ensure that patients have access to care while still adopting important, life-saving innovations that have the potential to improve health and health care?

Addressing Racial Disparities in Health Care

A discussion with health care leaders, moderated by Aswita Tan-McGrory, Director of the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.

How To Earn CME Credits with Harvard Online Courses On Health

Harvard University faculty guide you through topics with a focus on the current state of the US health care system and how you can apply innovative approaches to make improvements within your organization.

Related Courses

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Bioethics provides an overview of the legal, medical, and ethical questions around reproduction and human genetics and how to apply legal reasoning to these questions.

Innovating in Health Care

Innovating in Health Care (IHC) explores how creating successful global business ventures in health care will not only improve access, but also better meet the needs of consumers and societies.

Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health

This course provide businesses with strategies, tactics, and tools to gain a competitive advantage by implementing a Culture of Health to address these issues and stay ahead.

Global Health Delivery

Drive global healthcare transformation with an understanding of the challenges facing healthcare delivery and the factors influencing health and disease.

• Best Online Doctorate in Healthcare Administration

Best Online Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Of 2024

Published: Mar 22, 2024, 1:49pm

Healthcare executives analyze patient outcomes to develop procedures that improve quality. They also oversee healthcare facility budgets and monitor compliance with healthcare laws and regulations. Earning a doctorate in healthcare administration can prepare you for executive-level roles in these organizations.

At the doctoral level, healthcare administration programs offer several degree options. A Ph.D. emphasizes theory and research, while an applied doctorate like a Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.) or a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) with an emphasis in healthcare focuses on applied skills. Consider your future career goals to decide which program is right for you.

Pursuing your doctorate in healthcare administration online gives you the flexibility to work while earning the highest degree in healthcare administration . An online format also means you can choose a top-ranked program without uprooting your life. Forbes Advisor ranks the best online doctoral programs in healthcare administration so you can find the best fit for your needs.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

• 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
• 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
• All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
• Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
• Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

Our Methodology

We ranked 11 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online doctoral degree programs in healthcare administration in the U.S. using 15 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of June 2023. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Outcomes:

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

• In-state graduate student tuition
• In-state graduate student fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment

Student Experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• More than 50% of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 51% or higher.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

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Degree Finder

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• University of Denver

Virginia University of Lynchburg

William carey university, a t still university of health sciences, featured online schools.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial credit and much more by clicking 'Visit Site'

Graduate Tuition

$1,110/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Located in Boston, Massachusetts, MCPHS University offers a part-time doctorate in healthcare administration. The private institution emphasizes interdisciplinary coursework, blending topics such as healthcare systems, data analytics, healthcare leadership and finance in its D.H.A. program.

Graduate students strengthen their professional practice and leadership skills while examining healthcare administration challenges. Applicants must hold a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution plus complete three to five years of healthcare-related experience. The program also requires a faculty interview during the admissions process.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: Free
• Degree Credit Requirements: 54 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Part-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Strategic planning for health organizations, patient safety and risk management, ethics for healthcare leaders
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: No

$748/credit

At Franklin University , Doctor of Healthcare Administration students complete two years of coursework and one year working on a dissertation. During the program, learners develop organizational strategies to improve healthcare outcomes.

Franklin offers optional eight-credit focus areas, including health informatics, public administration, finance and management. A focus area can prepare graduates for specific career paths after completing the doctoral program.

• Application Fee: $50
• Degree Credit Requirements: 58 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Part-time, full-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Healthcare policy, regulations and reform; organizations, community and global health; healthcare quality, process and improvement
• Concentrations Available: Education, health informatics, human resource management, instructional design leadership, management, marketing, methodology, public administration, information technology, finance

$595/credit (full-time)

Liberty University offers an online Doctor of Business Administration in healthcare management. Learners complete courses on an eight-week schedule, with the option to transfer up to half of the 60 credits required for the D.B.A. degree.

Graduate students strengthen their management, quality control, and human resource development abilities. The curriculum emphasizes streamlining business processes and practical knowledge. At the culmination of the program, doctoral students complete an applied research project that contributes to their specialization.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Healthcare informatics, managing human capital in healthcare, legal and ethical issues for health professionals

$442/credit

The fully online Doctor of Health Administration program at National University uses a practice-based curriculum. Graduate students examine legal and ethical issues in the healthcare industry while learning how policy impacts outcomes. The program prepares graduates for executive-level roles in healthcare.

Applicants should hold a master’s degree and complete at least three years of industry experience before enrolling in the D.H.A. program. NU also offers a dissertation completion pathway designed for doctoral students who have completed their coursework elsewhere but still need to finish their dissertation.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Healthcare quality management, health leadership and systems thinking

$234/credit (in-state)

The University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center offers one of the most affordable tuition rates for a healthcare administration doctorate. Oklahoma residents enrolled in the D.H.A. program pay just $234 per credit, while out-of-state online students pay $364.

During the program, learners explore clinical operations management while reviewing case studies on healthcare quality and process improvement. Incoming students with a master’s degree can apply up to 30 credits toward the 62-credit doctoral program requirements.

• School Type: Public
• Degree Credit Requirements: 62 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Healthcare public policy, dynamics of healthcare markets, advanced healthcare law

$595/credit

From its main campus in Marion, Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan University offers several online graduate programs. Degree-seekers can pursue a Doctor of Business Administration with a specialization in healthcare administration at the private institution.

Learners complete one class at a time, with no dissertation requirement to graduate. Instead, doctoral candidates complete a project that focuses on real-world problems. The program requires one weekend residency each year and takes approximately three years to complete.

• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Organizational, community and global health administration; issues in strategic planning and organizational development for healthcare administrators; healthcare innovation, informatics and change management
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, one weekend residency per year

$85,000 total cost

The University of Colorado Denver uses a hybrid format in its Executive Doctorate in Health Administration program. Graduate students primarily complete coursework online, with two one-week sessions on the private university’s Denver campus each year.

As part of the Business School Alliance for Health Management, the program takes an interdisciplinary approach, with instructors who bring experience as healthcare practitioners, executives and educators. Students benefit from executive-focused career support and a mentoring program.

Applicants should hold a master’s degree and bring at least five years of professional experience in a health-related organization.

• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Healthcare leadership, global health systems, managing healthcare information
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, two one-week sessions on campus per year

$19,500 total cost

The Doctor of Healthcare Administration program at Virginia University of Lynchburg uses a self-paced, module-based curriculum. At the private Christian university, doctoral students in healthcare administration strengthen their leadership and business skills.

In the fully online 12-month program, learners complete three practicums in teaching, research and leadership to prepare for top-level healthcare roles. Applicants must hold a master’s degree, and the program requires at least 90 credit hours at the graduate level.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on a set schedule
• Application Fee: $25
• Degree Credit Requirements: 36 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Global healthcare strategy, risk management, organizational communication

$475/credit

A private Christian institution in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, William Carey University offers a Ph.D. in health administration and education designed for healthcare professionals with a master’s degree.

Coursework in role development, program evaluation and strategic management prepare graduates for careers in healthcare administration or education. The online program takes two to three years. It incorporates two in-person meetings and two synchronous online weekend meetings each year, allowing graduate students to work full time while pursuing a doctorate.

• Application Fee: $40
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Healthcare economics and finance, human resources in healthcare administration, strategic management and planning
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, two in-person meetings per year

$1,010/credit

A.T. Still University specializes in graduate-level healthcare programs. Designed for current health professionals, the Doctor of Health Administration program emphasizes leadership and problem-solving in the healthcare industry. Students explore innovative approaches to health administration while learning advanced business strategies.

The program’s academic focus areas include healthcare law, the economics of medical care and organizational theory in the health industry. Applicants benefit from four start dates each year; the doctorate typically requires three to five years. Doctoral candidates write a theoretical or applied dissertation during their final 20 credits of coursework.

• Application Fee: $75
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Population health, healthcare economics and financial management, healthcare organization informatics

Pursuing a doctorate in healthcare administration can advance your career. But is an online or on-campus format right for you? Online learning prioritizes accessibility and convenience, allowing degree-seekers to attend a top-ranked program without relocating.

Before deciding to earn your doctorate online , consider the following factors.

What’s your budget for earning a doctorate in healthcare administration? Most doctoral programs require a substantial time commitment, which can influence the total cost of the degree.

Choosing an online format can save you money on tuition and expenses. For example, distance learners typically spend less on transportation and housing costs, because they study from home rather than commuting to campus or relocating for graduate school.

Online programs offer a significant benefit over in-person programs: the flexibility to complete coursework on your schedule. Most online healthcare administration doctoral programs use asynchronous classes, meaning you can earn your degree without set log-in times. That can make earning a doctorate easier for working professionals and busy adults.

Learning Style

Earning a doctorate online requires strong time management and organizational skills, especially if you plan to work while in graduate school. Self-motivated students often benefit from the flexibility of an online learning style, while others prefer the structure of an in-person program.

Which is right for you? If you haven’t taken classes online before, consider whether the format works well for your unique learning style.

Accreditation

You should always choose an accredited institution, whether earning your degree online or on-campus. Online universities with accreditation meet the same high standards as brick-and-mortar institutions, so check the school’s accreditation status before applying.

The best universities hold accreditation from an independent, nonprofit accrediting agency. In order to receive accreditation, institutions undergo a rigorous review that covers their graduation requirements, faculty qualifications and student learning outcomes. Accredited schools regularly repeat this process to maintain their credential.

In addition to institutional accreditation, healthcare administration programs may hold accreditation from specialized accrediting agencies. For example, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education grants accreditation to master’s programs in healthcare administration and management. Doctoral programs housed in the business school may also hold accreditation from a programmatic accreditor in business.

The U.S. Department of Education maintains a Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs where you can check accreditation status.

Consider Your Future Goals

An online doctorate can prepare you for executive leadership positions, academic positions or top-level careers in healthcare administration . When researching your options, make sure you look for programs that match your future goals.

For example, Ph.D. programs often lead to academic and research roles, while D.H.A. and D.B.A. programs prepare graduates for leadership careers in the healthcare field.

It’s also a good idea to review each program’s curriculum to understand their emphasis areas and your opportunities to customize the program. Check if the degree requires you to complete a research-based dissertation or a doctoral project.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

The cost of a doctorate in healthcare administration varies widely. Programs on our list range from $234 to over $1,000 per credit. Most degrees require 54 to 62 credits, totaling about $14,500 to $85,000.

Comparing costs and understanding your financing options can help you find a program that fits your budget. For example, distance learners attending accredited institutions qualify for federal student aid programs, including federal loans that offer lower interest rates and more repayment options. You can file the FAFSA to learn about your federal aid options.

Other financing options include grants, scholarships and assistantships. You can also cover some or all of your costs with savings.

Is it worth it to get a Ph.D. in healthcare administration?

Earning a Ph.D. in healthcare administration can prepare you for academic, research and leadership roles. For example, most college professors hold a Ph.D. When comparing doctoral programs in healthcare administration, you can also look at D.H.A. and D.B.A. programs.

How long is a Ph.D. in healthcare administration?

A Ph.D. in healthcare administration typically requires four to six years, including coursework and a dissertation. D.H.A. programs generally take less time; many full-time programs require three years.

What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a D.H.A.?

Both a Ph.D. and a D.H.A. are doctoral-level programs in healthcare management. However, a Ph.D. typically emphasizes research and theory, including a research-based doctoral dissertation. D.H.A. programs focus on applied knowledge and skills and may require a real-world project rather than a dissertation.

Is there a Ph.D. in healthcare management?

Yes, you can earn a Ph.D. in healthcare management. Many universities offer doctoral-level healthcare management and administration programs, including options to earn a Ph.D., D.H.A. or D.B.A. with a concentration in healthcare management.

Genevieve Carlton holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and earned tenure at the University of Louisville. Drawing on over 15 years of experience in higher education, Genevieve provides practical, research-based advice on college degrees, career training and other higher education topics.

The PhD Program in Health Policy seeks to train students for research and teaching careers in health policy. The interdisciplinary and interfaculty nature of the program results from the philosophy that most graduates will carry out much of their research as part of inter- or multidisciplinary research teams rather than as isolated scholars. For this reason, the program trains students to leave with specialized skills in one discipline, but also with the ability to understand the conceptual frameworks and jargon contributed by researchers from other disciplines. Even the minority who will work independently will need to understand the perspectives of readers outside their chosen disciplines, in order to communicate effectively. To implement this philosophy, students must meet the requirements of both their chosen concentration and fulfill coursework in other concentrations.

The general trajectory of doctoral students in the program is coursework for the first two years, with a general exam in health policy and a concentration exam at the end of the second year, followed by development of a dissertation prospectus and approximately three years of dissertation research and writing. 

• From the Directors
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• Harvard Project on Climate Agreements
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• Annual Robert Glauber Lecture
• Working Papers and Reports
• Funding & Prizes
• Other Opportunities

Healthcare Policy Program Faculty

In this section.

• Affiliated Faculty

Faculty Affiliates

Brian Alexander MD, MPH

CEO, Foundation Medicine Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

Marcella Alsan MD, PhD

Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

Katherine Baicker PhD

Dean, Emmett Dedmon Professor University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

Sheila Burke MPA

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

Amitabh Chandra PhD

Ethel Zimmerman Wiener Professor of Public Policy, Director of Health Policy Research, Harvard Kennedy School Henry and Allison McCance Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Michael Chernew PhD

Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy and Director of the Healthcare Markets and Regulation (HMR) Lab Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School

I. Glenn Cohen JD

James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law and Deputy Dean, Harvard Law School

David M. Cutler PhD

Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics, Harvard University

Leemore S. Dafny PhD

Bruce V. Rauner Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Douglas W. Elmendorf PhD

Dean; Don K. Price Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

Timothy G. Ferris MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School Senior Vice President for Population Health Management, Mass General Brigham

Jeffrey Flier MD

Higginson Professor of Physiology and Medicine, Former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (2007- 2016), Harvard Medical School Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor

Austin B. Frakt PhD

Research Professor, Boston University School of Public Health Visiting Associate Professor, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

Alan Garber MD, PhD

Provost, Harvard University

Todd R. Golub, MD

Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the Cancer Program, Broad Institute Charles A. Dana Investigator in Human Cancer Genetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Robert Huckman PhD

Albert J. Weatherhead III Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Anupam Jena MD, PhD

Ruth L. Newhouse Associate Professor of Health Care Policy, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School; Associate Professor of Medicine and Assistant Physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital

Ashish Jha MD, MPH

Dean, Brown University School of Public Health

Aaron Kesselheim MD, JD, PhD

Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Faculty Member, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Marjorie Oettinger PhD

Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Lisa Rosenbaum MD

Cardiologist, Mass General Brigham National Correspondent, New England Journal of Medicine

Mark Shepard PhD

Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research

Ariel Dora Stern PhD

Associate Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Lawrence H. Summers PhD

Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University

Doctor of Public Health

Learn to translate knowledge into powerful results as the leader of a public health organization.

For more information on the DrPH Program , please visit our website ( here ). 

The Harvard Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) will prepare you for high-level leadership to make a difference in the fields of public health and health care. This first-of-its-kind, multidisciplinary degree provides advanced education in public health along with mastery of skills in management, leadership, communications, and innovation thinking. This is accomplished within a highly collaborative, small-group learning environment. The DrPH Program is a three-year program (with an option to extend to a fourth year) and during this time, students will learn how to address complex problems of public health policy and use advanced analytical and managerial tools to lead organizational and societal change. You will learn the scholarship of translation, assembling scientific evidence and using it to achieve real results in the field. Also, you will gain hands-on experience working to achieve a specific public health objective under the guidance of Harvard’s world-renowned faculty.

The Harvard DrPH is planned as a 3-year academic program (with an option to extend to a fourth year).  The first two years of the Harvard DrPH involve full-time, on-campus study as part of a collaborative cohort of approximately 9 – 15 students. The academic training will cover the biological, social, and economic foundations of public health, as well as essential statistical, quantitative, and methodological skills you will need to address today’s complex public health challenges, which rarely fall within neat disciplinary boundaries. You will also shape an individualized course of study in your second year by selecting courses to deepen specific areas of expertise and build skills that you will apply during your third year capstone project.

The DrPH Doctoral Project is the culminating experience of the Harvard DrPH degree program, and the primary locus of the knowledge translation elements of the degree. The pedagogical intent behind the Doctoral Project’s design is to provide an opportunity for the DrPH degree candidate to practice and develop personal leadership skills while engaging in a project that contributes substantively to advances in public health or healthcare.  

The optional fourth year are for students who need more time to complete their Doctoral Project.

Your Future

As a Harvard DrPH graduate, you will be ready to lead. You will be equipped with experience gained through real-world case work and field work conducted at a variety of organizations. You will have the skills to possibly start new organizations or work from within to change existing ones. You will know how to translate public health research into effective policies, programs, and initiatives that dramatically improve individual and population health. You will be comfortable in a leadership role and confident in your public health expertise. And whether you choose to pursue a career in a nongovernmental organization, health ministry, government agency, health care provider, start-up, or more established private sector business, you will be prepared to make a difference.

If you aspire to a leadership position in public health—whether at a health ministry, government agency, consulting firm, health-related start-up, established corporation, nongovernmental organization, or international organization—the Harvard DrPH will equip you to meet your goals.

Our Community

As a DrPH student, you will work closely with Harvard’s renowned faculty through rigorous case discussions, simulations, and field experiences in a variety of major public health organizations. You will also collaborate with passionate, highly skilled classmates who bring diverse talents, backgrounds, and creative problem-solving skills to the classroom. The rich relationships you establish during this experience will become lasting sources of collaboration and support, along with the global network you will gain as a member of the Harvard alumni community.

Who Should Apply?

All candidates for admission to the Harvard DrPH should have, at a minimum:

• A master’s OR doctoral degree in the health sciences or in another related field or non-US equivalent.
• At least six years of full-time public health and/or public service experience in a relevant discipline .  Advanced degrees will not be considered in lieu of work experience as coursework will build directly on professional skills and experiences.
• Prior coursework in public health-related methods and in specific technical areas of public health is also beneficial.

Beyond the formal qualifications, we seek top applicants who demonstrate an appetite and vision to effect change, displaying the energy and creativity to have already moved along that path early in their careers. We also explicitly seek to admit students with interest and experience across a broad cross-section of public and private areas of public health and health care locally, nationally, and internationally.

All students admitted to the DrPH program, including international students, should complete the financial aid application process . For admitted students with financial need, 50% tuition scholarships are offered for the first two years of the program.