NCCU Online Bachelor of Science in Health Administration

Transform Health Care With an Equity-Focused Degree

$361 per credit hour*
*$433 for out-of-state students;
tuition subject to change

Only HBCU-hosted health administration program in the UNC System

Capstone project tailored to your work experience and goals

Take the Lead in Health Care to Support Your Community

Health care systems support accessible care in every community. To do that, they need culturally responsive leaders who can shape policies and practices to serve populations in need. As the only historically Black university in the University of North Carolina (UNC) system that offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Administration, North Carolina Central University is uniquely positioned to advance community-centered approaches in health care.

The BS in Health Administration at NCCU Online prepares you to become a leader in health care administration who can improve patient outcomes in your community. The program emphasizes key competencies in management, analysis, finance, technology, policy, and communication — all of which are relevant to leadership positions within health care organizations.

It’s time to prioritize community-focused leadership in health care. Finish your health administration degree online at NCCU, and become the administrator your community needs.

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About the NCCU Online: BS in Health Administration Flight Path Program
The online BS in Health Administration Flight Path Program is a flexible and accessible program designed for working adults who seek to complete their degrees. By addressing both managerial and clinical topics, the health administration degree online equips you with the leadership skills and relevant health care knowledge to transform your workplace and your community at large.
Upon graduating from the BS in Health Administration program, you’ll be prepared with:

  • A comprehensive understanding of roles and responsibilities in the health care system

  • Strategies to apply community-centered frameworks to leadership challenges in human resources, symbolic leadership, and law

  • Administrative skills to lead community-based health organizations and NGOs

Flight Path Programs

Flight Path Programs are designed specifically for returning, adult learners who are balancing work, family, and life responsibilities. These fully online programs offer the flexibility and convenience needed to fit education into a busy schedule, with multiple start dates throughout the year, so you can begin when the time is right for you. Courses are offered in a condensed format, allowing you to focus on fewer classes at a time — making it easier to stay on track, complete your program, and move confidently toward your academic and professional goals.

Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration Worth It?

Earning your health care administration degree online is a worthwhile investment in your professional future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health care employment is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations — meaning demand for skilled administrators is on the rise.

The salary potential for these roles is promising. The BLS reports that medical and health services managers had a median annual wage of $117,960 in 2024, with the top 10% of earners making over $200,000. While many of the higher-paying positions require a master’s degree and experience, earning a bachelor’s degree in health administration can serve as a stepping stone toward these roles.

For those who later pursue a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or a master’s in a related field, a bachelor’s degree in health care administration provides essential foundational knowledge and can shorten the path to advancement.

In addition to strong job prospects and salary potential, individuals who earn a health administration degree have versatility in the types of positions they can pursue. Graduates can choose to work in any of a number of areas within the health care system and also can pivot into a specialized area such as health informatics, compliance, or human resources (HR).

Overall, if you’re interested in the organizational and business side of health care and seek a degree that leads to stable, in-demand, and often well-compensated roles, a bachelor’s degree in health care administration is a smart and practical choice.

Potential Careers With an Online BS in Health Administration

The NCCU Online: BS in Health Administration Flight Path Program prepares you for careers in health care management and administration, including health services management, health information management, and health policy roles.

Not only do these roles provide clear avenues to community impact, employment in many of them is growing fast. The BLS projects a 29% increase in jobs for medical and health services managers from 2023 to 2033 — much faster than average.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), medical customer representatives, and health administration personnel are a great fit for this degree — though anyone with an interest in healthcare leadership would benefit from the program.

Take a look at some potential careers you can reach by earning your health administration degree:*

Health Care Consultant

Median Annual Salary: $90,481

Long-Term Care Administrator

Median Annual Salary: $88,300

Clinical Manager

Median Annual Salary: $77,686

Health Care Manager

Median Annual Salary: $77,525

Patient Care Manager

Median Annual Salary: $76,025

Curriculum & Courses

The online BS in Health Administration Flight Path Program consists of 120 total credit hours, including 40 hours of general education courses, 45 hours of core health education courses, and 27 hours of non-departmental cognate courses and electives.

Keep in mind that you’re required to transfer in with at least 24 credit hours and any additional transfer credits may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate.

HAD 3000 Intro to Health Systems (3) This introductory course provides an overview of the United States health systems. The focal points will revolve around the organization, financing, and delivery of healthcare in America. Learn how medical providers are paid and the emerging issues facing physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions. Areas to be covered include: an overview of the healthcare system, healthcare in the US, the impact of politics on healthcare, healthcare trends and consequences, history, and global issues.

HAD 3100 Healthcare Ethics (3) This course provides a fundamental and historical perspective of ethics and diversity in healthcare settings. Students will learn the concepts of business ethics and diversity and apply these concepts to the healthcare industry. Areas covered in this course are basic ethical concepts, principles, and theories; ethical issues that arise in the delivery of health care; ethical considerations in public policies dealing with health care; emerging issues in the health care industry; theoretical approaches to cultural diversity; health disparities; the role of race and ethnicity in health care settings; and the influence of belief systems on health decision-making.

HAD 4520 Healthcare Risk Management (3)

HAD 3200 Healthcare Law & Legal Aspects (3)
This course will discuss the legal underpinnings for healthcare settings and regulatory healthcare information. Examines legal responsibilities and liabilities as they relate to consumers and providers of health services. Areas covered include current legislation and its impact on the health care industry, such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

HAD 3300 Health Informatics (3)
This course offers an introduction to Health Information Systems (HIS) and the role that it plays in the delivery of health information to health care organizations. Students will learn the various methodologies and approaches to the delivery of health information in health care settings. Students will learn about electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence (AI), decision support systems, telehealth, and internet-based applications.

HAD 4000 Healthcare Economics & Finance (3)
This course will strengthen the knowledge base in economics and finance to inform decision making and analyze health care systems. This course will use finance and economics theoretical underpinnings to develop health care policies. The course will also examine financial regulations, health care market structures, and competition, as well as their impact on health care organizations.

HAD 3410 Quality Management in Healthcare (3)
This course will examine quality in public and private healthcare settings. Students will learn the various tools, processes, and principles necessary for implementing total quality in various industries. Students will learn the different approaches to continuous improvement in the study of current quality philosophies, tools, and techniques.

HAD 3310 Health Information Technology (3)
This course is designed for students to gain hands-on experience in health care settings as it relates to information technology. Students will gain knowledge of how to collect, store, and analyze health information data to improve health outcomes.

HAD 3320 Health Data Management (3)
This course is designed for students to manage health information in a digital form. Students will also learn about theoretical concepts to manage large sets of health care data. Students will learn how to interpret and present data using the appropriate statistical tools for health care decision-making.

HEDU 4660 Public Health Policy (3)
This course will address a major health issue in the U.S. (e.g., tobacco, obesity, HIV/AIDS) from a public health and public policy perspective. Students will consider policy assessment, policy analysis, and policy advocacy as tools for examining and addressing the issue. Students will engage in experiential learning activities such as assessing or analyzing health policies, planning or conducting a policy advocacy campaign, or implementing or evaluating a recently adopted health policy.

HEDU 4300 Research Methods & Evaluation (3)
This is an introduction to basic research methods and methods of evaluating health promotion programs. Students will examine, compare, and contrast qualitative and quantitative approaches to field research and data collection strategies. The course will prepare students to develop and deliver oral and poster presentations.

HEDU 4120 Organization and Administration of School and Community Health Programs (3)
Principles of organization and administration of health programs in the school and the community at large are covered. Of particular concern in the course are the administrative and coordinating functions expected of a health educator in a school or community health agency.

HAD 4100 Healthcare Seminar (3)
This course will integrate classroom and experiential learning. This course will be a culminating experience interweaving theoretical tenets with life lesson learning. Students will apply disciplinary concepts within their area of interest as it relates to health care administration.

HAD or HEDU transfer or substitution course – needs advisor approval (3)

HAD or HEDU transfer or substitution course – needs advisor approval (3)

BIOL 1300 Molecules and Cell Function (4)
An introduction to modern fundamental principles necessary for major training in the biological sciences. This course covers the basic physical and chemical properties of the major classes of biological molecules and their interactions, as well as their relationship to the organization and the function of living cells. The course can’t be used as an elective to satisfy requirements for a degree in biology.

CIS 1100 Business Computer Applications (2)
This course develops the student’s skills in desktop computing through the use of software to solve problems within an organization. The student will develop skills in basic internet use, word processing, and spreadsheet and presentation software in a supervised, structured laboratory environment. The focus of the course is primarily on spreadsheet applications, but students will also have the opportunity to develop other application skills.

PSY 2100 General Psychology (3)
An introduction to psychological terms, facts, and principles designed to aid the student in understanding individual behavior. Behavior is analyzed and interpreted through activities and discussions of such topics as motivation, emotion, perception, learning, and intelligence.

ECON 2100 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
The course will provide an introduction of the principles of microeconomics and the development of an understanding of the roles of prices in the product and resources markets. Microeconomics focuses on the choices made by decision-makers, such as households and business firms, and how these affect particular markets.

BLAW 3100 Legal Environment of Business (3)
An introduction to the American legal and judicial systems with an emphasis on the study of law as it relates to legal rights and social forces, government, business, and society.

ACCT 2400 Principles of Accounting (3)
This introductory course covers the accounting cycle for a proprietorship. Balance sheet items are covered in detail. The theory of accrual basis accounting and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) are detailed. The preparation of financial statements is explained.

MGT 3000 Organization and Management (3)
This foundation course provides an overview and analysis of fundamental managerial functions and processes, organizational structure, and management theory that influence effective decision making, strategy implementation, and leadership of human and organizational resources.

FIN 3200 Principles of Finance (3)
This course is designed to give business and non-business students an understanding of the fundamentals of corporate finance. The course introduces students to the time value of money and its application to securities valuation. Other topics covered include the risk-return relationship, basic capital budgeting, firm debt and dividend policies, financial ratios, international corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

MGT 4510 Human Resource Management (3)
This course provides an in-depth understanding of the principles and practices of effective human resource management. The topics covered include human resource planning, recruitment and selection, training and development, career planning, job analysis and evaluation, performance appraisal, employee compensation and benefits, labor-management relations, discipline and grievance handling, and equal employment opportunity.

HAD 4101 Healthcare Seminar II (3)

HAD 3601 Honors Independent Study (5)

Tuition and Financial Aid

$361 per credit hour*
*$433 for out-of-state students;
tuition subject to change

No additional fees

Financial assistance and payment plans available

In NCCU Online: Flight Path Programs, we strive to provide high-quality education that’s financially accessible. At just $361 per credit hour with no additional fees for in-state students and $433 per credit hour for out-of-state students, our online BS in Health Administration delivers dependable value for your education and prepares you to maximize your earning potential. Grants and scholarships are also available to those who qualify.

Learn More

Innovative Online Programs

Immersive online courses engage distance learners by leveraging best-in-class technology and instructional techniques.

Welcoming & Supportive

Our students have access to various forms of support, from academic advising to virtual conferences focused on a range of perspectives.

Student-Centric Education

We maintain a student-faculty ratio of 16-to-1 and an average class size of 22 to keep you at the center of your learning.

Top-Ranked Education

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked NCCU 15th among Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 15th among Top Public Universities in the South.

Accredited Academics

NCCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Industry-Experienced Faculty

Our faculty members are active in their disciplines through conferences, professional organizations, and contract work — and they bring that industry knowledge back to the classes they teach.

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AUPHA Member Program

The BS in Health Administration at NCCU Online is affiliated with the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), a global membership organization of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals, and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and health care delivery through excellence in health care management and policy education.

Meet Our Faculty

Marquita Lyons-Smith
DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE

Health Administration Program Director
College of Health and Sciences
marquita.lyons-smith@nccu.edu

Dr. Marquita Lyons-Smith is a dedicated and accomplished health care professional with a certification as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC). With extensive expertise in pediatric care, nursing education, and leadership, she is committed to improving health outcomes and advancing the nursing field. Dr. Lyons-Smith has a strong background in clinical practice, providing compassionate, evidence-based care to pediatric patients and their families. Her work is grounded in a patient-centered approach prioritizing holistic health and wellness.

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Dr. Angela Johnson
PhD, MPPA

Adjunct Professor, NCCU College of Health Sciences
ajohn620@ad.nccu.edu

Dr. Johnson has served as an adjunct professor for over six years, specializing in health care administration. She has spent most of her career dedicated to addressing health and health care disparities in underserved communities. She has been instrumental in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations across the nation to develop, implement, and evaluate programs and services. Dr. Johnson’s goal as a faculty member is to combine her knowledge and experience to build students’ capacity to make a measurable impact in their respective health care careers.

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The Eagle Promise

NCCU believes in the success of its students — so much so that it promises to empower every student to earn their degree on time and graduate career ready, with countless leadership and networking opportunities along the way.

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What You Need For Admission

NCCU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and doesn’t discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or ability. Please review the admission details for the online BS in Health Administration, a flight path program:

  • Completed application for admission.

  • Official transcripts of all college coursework sent from the institution(s) with a minimum 2.0 GPA and eligibility to return to the last or current institution.

  • At least 24 transferable credit hours from the last or current institution attended.

  • List of academic courses in progress (if applicable).

  • Must not be on academic probation at a previous or current institution; must not have been suspended or expelled from a previous or current institution.

Please note the following:

  • NCCU will not accept a transfer course with a grade lower than a “C.” Accepted courses are recorded on a student’s transcript; grades and grade points are not calculated.

  • NCCU does not accept transfer credit from challenge examinations or for coursework graded pass/fail.

  • The maximum number of transferable credits is 90 semester hours from a four-year college, and 64 semester hours from a two-year college, with a total maximum of 90 credit hours (combined two-year and four-year credits).

  • To qualify for in-state tuition rates, North Carolina residents must first confirm their in-state status by completing an application through the Residency Determination Service (RDS). To learn more about how to apply for NC residency, please refer to the NC Residency Tuition information page .

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Frequently Asked Questions

For most programs, 120 total credit hours are required to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits you earn at NCCU.

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply.

Yes. North Carolina Central University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Learn more about accreditation .

In NCCU Online: Flight Path Programs, you can get a high-quality education $361 per credit hour with no additional fees for in-state students and $433 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Please note that tuition is subject to change. Learn more about financial aid opportunities .

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About NCCU

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) prepares students to succeed in the global marketplace. NCCU’s flagship programs in the sciences, education, law, business, nursing, and the arts prepare students for professions ranging from clinical research to information science. Founded in 1910, NCCU remains committed to increased access to higher education..

*General labor market and salary data are sourced from Payscale. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment. NCCU does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions.

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