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Administrative director, behavioral health services education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an administrative director, behavioral health services. Administrative directors, behavioral health services usually study nursing, psychology, or social work. 40% of administrative directors, behavioral health services hold a master's degree, and 40% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 412 real administrative director, behavioral health services resumes to see exactly what administrative director, behavioral health services education sections show.

The most common colleges for administrative directors, behavioral health services are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online administrative director, behavioral health services courses to help get the education required to be an administrative director, behavioral health services.

There are certain administrative director, behavioral health services certifications that you should consider. These administrative director, behavioral health services certifications include Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (RN-BC).

What education do you need to become an administrative director, behavioral health services?

What degree do you need to be an administrative director, behavioral health services?

The most common degree for administrative directors, behavioral health services is master's degree, with 40% of administrative directors, behavioral health services earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 40% and bachelor's degree degree at 10%.
  • Master's, 40%
  • Bachelor's, 40%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Doctorate, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an administrative director, behavioral health services?

You should major in nursing to become an administrative director, behavioral health services. 22% of administrative directors, behavioral health services major in nursing. Other common majors for an administrative director, behavioral health services include psychology and social work.

Most common colleges for administrative directors, behavioral health services

Administrative directors, behavioral health services often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for administrative directors, behavioral health services in the US based on their resumes.
Administrative director, behavioral health services common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix10.00%
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor7.14%
New York University5.71%
Ohio State University5.71%
Pennsylvania State University5.71%

Best majors for administrative directors, behavioral health services

RankMajorPercentages
1Nursing21.6%
2Psychology19.0%
3Social Work14.5%
4Business7.7%
5Clinical Psychology6.8%

Best colleges for administrative directors, behavioral health services

The best colleges for administrative directors, behavioral health services are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Stanford University.

An administrative director, behavioral health services with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for administrative directors, behavioral health services. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become administrative directors, behavioral health services.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

5. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

6. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

9. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

20 best online courses for administrative directors, behavioral health services

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1. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

2. Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action

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Humans often fail to make rational decisions that affect their health. This course seeks to heighten understanding of the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors, with an ultimate goal of learning how to utilize these factors in improving public health efforts. Through a set of experiential learning exercises, students will learn to apply the science of health behavior change in their own lives. The course is appropriate for students interested in health...

3. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs

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Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...

4. Cat Behavior Rectification & Cat Health Care: 2 courses in 1

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1. Common Cat Behavior Issues and training methods to rectify them 2. Tips for better healthcare of your cat...

5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

6. The Business of Health Care

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This Specialization was designed to help you keep pace with the rapidly changing world of health and health care. Through partnership with Wharton and Penn Medicine, you’ll learn from experts in business acumen, health care management, and health care policy to develop the skills you’ll need to successfully navigate the quickly evolving landscape of this fast-growing field.* By the end of this specialization, you will have a strong foundational understanding of the American health care system,...

7. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)

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Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...

8. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate

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Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...

9. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...

10. Global Health Policy

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In this course, learners will become familiar with principles and theories of global health problems, and major challenges and controversies in improving global population health as well as practical applications of quantitative methods to analyze and interpret issues and challenges for policy. Topics will include health and foreign policy, health governance, acute disease surveillance, non-communicable diseases, burden of disease, universal health coverage, health systems strengthening, health...

11. Managing mental health issues in the workplace

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4.1
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Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...

12. Abnormal Behavior & Clinical Psychology (Certificate)

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4.4
(383)

Guiding students into the field of mental health services for either personal and/or professional development...

13. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

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This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

14. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners

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In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...

15. Mental Health and Wellness Professional (MHW) Diploma Course

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Discover a flexible and comprehensive way of understanding mental health as a Certified Mental Health Professional (MHP)...

16. Mental Health First Aid Skills -

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4.4
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This course is designed to provide the tools and knowledge for learners to help and support those experiencing MH issues...

17. Health Informatics

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This Specialization is intended for health professionals, administrators, health IT staff, vendors, startups, and patients who need or want to participate in the health IT/informatics process. Throughout the five courses of this Specialization, you will learn about the social and technical context of health informatics problems, how to successfully implement health informatics interventions, how to design a health informatics solution for decision support, and how to answer a health informatics...

18. Health Systems Development: Introduction to Health Systems

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This specialization is intended for people interested in health systems and how they function. Participants will learn about the global health systems landscape and the challenges and opportunities to achieve better health outcomes. This specialisation is divided into three courses which are offered as massive online open access courses (Courses 1-3), and a fourth course which is offered as part of the Online MPH degree (capstone). The Health Systems Development specialisation is geared toward...

19. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course

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4.7
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...

20. Workplace Mental Health: A Manager's Ultimate Guide

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4.6
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How to manage mental health in the workplace to boost productivity and be the best boss!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for administrative directors, behavioral health services

The most affordable schools for administrative directors, behavioral health services are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for administrative directors, behavioral health services are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for administrative directors, behavioral health services.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for administrative directors, behavioral health services

The hardest universities for administrative directors, behavioral health services to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for administrative directors, behavioral health services are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for administrative directors, behavioral health services based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for administrative directors, behavioral health services

The easiest schools for administrative directors, behavioral health services to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, d'youville college, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an administrative director, behavioral health services without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for administrative directors, behavioral health services.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

7. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

8. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average administrative director, behavioral health services salary by education level

According to our data, administrative directors, behavioral health services with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $128,557 annually. Administrative directors, behavioral health services with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $108,766.
Administrative director, behavioral health services education levelAdministrative director, behavioral health services salary
Master's Degree$108,766
Bachelor's Degree$95,559
Doctorate Degree$128,557
Some College/ Associate Degree$86,107

Administrative director, behavioral health services education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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