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Health Services Manager Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a health services manager. Health services managers usually study nursing, business, or health care administration. 54% of health services managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,461 real health services manager resumes to see exactly what health services manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for health services managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online health services manager courses to help get the education required to be a health services manager.

There are certain health services manager certifications that you should consider. These health services manager certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified Case Manager (ACM).

What education do you need to become a health services manager?

What degree do you need to be a health services manager?

The most common degree for health services managers is bachelor's degree, with 54% of health services managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 20% and master's degree degree at 16%.
  • Bachelor's, 54%
  • Master's, 20%
  • Associate, 16%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a health services manager?

You should major in nursing to become a health services manager. 28% of health services managers major in nursing. Other common majors for a health services manager include business and health care administration.

Most common colleges for health services managers

Health services managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. Here are the most common colleges for health services managers in the US based on their resumes.
Health Services Manager Common CollegePercentages
University of Phoenix21.50%
Pennsylvania State University6.00%
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point5.50%
New York University5.00%
Walden University5.00%

Best majors for health services managers

RankMajorPercentages
1Nursing28.0%
2Business17.0%
3Health Care Administration8.8%
4Psychology8.5%
5Social Work5.1%

Best colleges for health services managers

The best colleges for health services managers are Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University.

A health services manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for health services managers. 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 health services managers.

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 Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

6. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

7. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

9. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-State Tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

20 best online courses for health services managers

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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...

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5. 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...

6. 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...

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

9. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities

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A strong argument can be made that the health care field is one of the most information-intensive sectors in the U.S. economy and avoidance of the rapid advances in information technology is no longer an option. Consequently, the study of health care information technology and systems has become central to health care delivery effectiveness. This course covers the modern application of information technology that is critical to supporting the vision and operational knowledge of the health care...

10. 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...

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13. 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...

14. Comparative Health Systems

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This course uses comparative analysis of health care systems to gain a better understanding of health care systems in several high-income, middle-income and low-income countries. One focus of analysis in this course will therefore be to develop a better knowledge of these health care systems. A second focus will be to use to this analysis to gain a better understanding of the health care system in the United States. This analysis is relevant for those who are directly interested in the United...

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17. Health Data 101

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18. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

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Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...

19. Mental Health First Aid Skills -

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20. Occupational Health & Safety Training

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Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

Top 10 most affordable universities for health services managers

The most affordable schools for health services managers are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for health services managers 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 health services managers.

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. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

4. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,749

Cost of Attendance

14,823

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,410

Cost of Attendance

20,456

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

9. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

10. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for health services managers

The hardest universities for health services managers to get into are Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University.

Some great schools for health services managers 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 health services managers 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

3. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,512

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

6. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,456

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for health services managers

The easiest schools for health services managers to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a health services manager 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 health services managers.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

100%

SAT Average

1,072

2. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

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. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

7. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

93%

SAT Average

1,026

8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,069

9. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,065

10. University of Baltimore

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

78%

SAT Average

1,020

Average health services manager salary by education level

Health services managers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $120,423 annually. With a Master's degree, health services managers earn a median annual income of $101,967 compared to $89,642 for health services managers with an Bachelor's degree.
Health Services Manager education levelHealth Services Manager salary
Master's Degree$101,967
Bachelor's Degree$89,642
Doctorate Degree$120,423
Some College/ Associate Degree$80,816

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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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