Florida International University Healthcare MBA: Online or In-Person
Florida International University (FIU) offers an online or in-person Healthcare MBA (HCMBA) that is designed to be completed in 18 months with a cohort of peers. The online Healthcare MBA offers fully online courses, while the in-person program offers a combination of in-person and online components in a hybrid format. The fall cohort studies at FIU Downtown on Brickell. Please note that the in-person program offers only a fall start date.
Courses for the online Healthcare MBA are synchronous, following the in-person cohorts on Saturdays at their respective campuses. The cohort format fosters team-building, group sharing, and a sense of community.
Three residencies are included with the HCMBA programs. In-person students complete the residencies on campus, while online students complete a combination of in-person and synchronous online or self-paced online components. These residencies cover topics such as accounting, healthcare economics, visual analytics with Tableau, professional development, leadership, and team-building, as well as Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt training. Attendance at virtual or in-person residencies for both programs is required.
Start dates land in the fall and spring only and admission is competitive. Courses last eight weeks each and students take two courses at a time, also working on the master’s project in some semesters.
HCMBA students have the opportunity to study abroad and gain knowledge in global health through foreign site visits and the accompanying curriculum. Those who choose to study abroad can earn an advanced certificate in global healthcare administration. Other certifications earned throughout the program include:
- Visual Analytics with Tableau
- CMS Healthcare Regulatory Compliance Certification
- Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Yellow and Green Belt certifications
- Advanced Certificate in Global Healthcare
Additionally, Healthcare MBA students get a paid membership to the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), as well as professional development with the use of Business Career Management. Note that physicians who are pursuing the HCMBA may apply for American Medical Association PRA Category 1 Credit as a Medically Related Advanced Degree.
Healthcare MBA graduates may go on to positions with private and governmental healthcare organizations, insurance firms, medical device and drug companies, and research institutions.
The FIU Healthcare MBA is accredited by both the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It is one of the only programs to hold both CAHME and AACSB accreditation.
Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida, and is regionally accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
What to Expect from the Florida International University Healthcare MBA
Admission Requirements: Applicants to the HCMBA program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Note that applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA who have strong work experience may be considered for admission. At least two years of professional work experience is required. GRE or GMAT scores are not required.
Application materials include an online application, a personal statement, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. International students must submit English language proficiency test scores.
Study Plan: Courses for the HCMBA follow an eight-week schedule and start dates land in the fall and spring only. The online and in-person Healthcare MBA programs are cohort-based and take 18 months to complete. Students take two courses per eight-week session and work on their master’s project in certain semesters.
Three residencies are included in the programs. Normally, in-person students attend all three residencies in person at their respective campuses, but these can be conducted online synchronously due to Covid-19. The online program residencies are delivered in an on-campus/online format. Students interested in the online HCMBA program should inquire with the FIU College of Business for details concerning dates and in-person requirements.
As part of the Healthcare MBA program, students may participate in the South Florida Healthcare Executive Forum (SFHEF) Annual Case Competition. The competition fosters interpersonal communication, teamwork, negotiation, and the application of learning to create action plans. Skill sets include problem analysis, diagnosis, and solution creation, along with presentation skills.
Healthcare MBA Curriculum: The online MBA comprises 42 credits. Courses include the legal environment of business; financial reporting and analysis; organizational behavior; management of healthcare organizations in the 21st century; corporate finance; accounting for managers; healthcare fraud and abuse law and regulation; marketing management; organization information systems; operations management; managerial decision-making and health economics; management of healthcare finance and reimbursement; strategic management; Lean Six Sigma; and masters project in management.
In-Person Healthcare MBA Experience: The in-person HCMBA meets on Saturdays in a hybrid format, with a mixture of in-person and online learning components. The January cohort meets in Miramar while the August cohort meets at FIU Downtown on Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami. The three residencies are held on campus.
Online Healthcare MBA Experience: The online HCMBA through Florida International University takes place synchronously on Saturdays with the in-person cohort. Synchronous courses provide opportunities for group work collaboration, relationship building, and peer learning. FIU utilizes the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Student services include admissions counseling and academic advising, success coaches, faculty office hours, technical support, financial aid services, career services, and online tutoring.
On-Site Requirements: There are three campus residencies included with the in-person Healthcare MBA. These same residencies are delivered in a mixture of campus and online components for the online HCMBA program. Students should inquire with the FIU College of Business for more information as to dates and in-person requirements.
Paying for the FIU Healthcare MBA
The online HCMBA tuition is listed in the tables below, and includes fees for professional development seminars, on-campus and online residencies, and membership costs for the professional healthcare association. The non-resident, in-person HCMBA program tuition numbers are also listed below. Note that in-person tuition is slightly lower for Florida residents than it is for non-resident and international students.
In-person tuition includes parking fees, university fees, costs for seminars and residencies, professional healthcare association membership, and fees for networking events. Interested parties should contact the FIU College of Business or FIU One-Stop for current tuition and fees information.
FIU offers up to $10,000 to eligible graduate students in scholarships. Additionally, students may apply for federal unsubsidized graduate student loans through the FAFSA. Other funding options may include private loans, employer tuition reimbursement programs, and community and organizational scholarships and grants.
Florida International University Healthcare MBA (Online)
- Study with a cohort of like-minded peers in this 18-month program in either Miramar or at the FIU Downtown campus in a hybrid format or fully online
- Earn Business Analytics IBMs Watson Certification, Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green belt certifications, and CMS Healthcare Regulatory Compliance Certification
- Participate in three campus residencies to focusing on topics such as communication, writing, analytics, Lean Six Sigma, and business career management
| Degree Level | Master's Degree |
| Program Start Dates | Fall, Spring |
| Credits Needed to Graduate | 42 |
| Time to Complete? | Graduate in 18 months. |
| 100% Online? | No, three residencies are included some of which may be in-person |
| Program Accreditation | CAHME/AACSB |
| Level of Education Required? | Bachelor's Degree |
| GPA Required? | 3.0 or Greater |
| GRE or GMAT Required? | No GMAT/GRE required |
| Work Experience Required? | Two years professional work experience required |
| Credit Hours | 42 |
| Average Cost Per Credit | $1426.00 |
| Estimated Program Tuition * | $59,892 |
| Degree Level | Master's Degree |
| Program Start Dates | Fall, Spring |
| Credits Needed to Graduate | 42 |
| Time to Complete? | Graduate in 18 months. |
| 100% Online? | No, this is an in-person/hybrid program |
| Program Accreditation | CAHME/AACSB |
| Level of Education Required? | Bachelor's Degree |
| GPA Required? | 3.0 or Greater |
| GRE or GMAT Required? | No GMAT/GRE required |
| Work Experience Required? | Two years professional work experience required |
| Credit Hours | 42 |
| Average Cost Per Credit | $1285.71 |
| Estimated Program Tuition * | $54,000 |
* Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the out- of- state, part-time student rate. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Total cost of tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please see the school website for the most up-to-date tuition costs.
