Top 20 Online Healthcare Law Degree Programs - Healthcare Management Degree Guide

Healthcare law is a specialized area of law focused on how the law impacts patients and health care providers. Since 1965, when Medicare and Medicaid were introduced, health care reform has evolved to make sure the most vulnerable people have access to quality health care. Health laws like HIPPA and the ACA have evolved to focus on patient privacy and access to affordable care. Each of these laws influences business decisions and health law experts are needed to understand the impacts and keep up with changing regulations.

While a healthcare law degree does not qualify graduates to sit for the bar exam, it is a beneficial degree for individuals in insurance, health care administration, social work, or health education. Students earning a healthcare law degree online can continue working while earning their degree, applying their knowledge and adding value to their workplace immediately. Most programs are open to students with a bachelor’s degree in any area, allowing students to transition careers or advance their career.

We created this list of the top 20 online healthcare law degree programs in the United States to help showcase the best programs. We considered institutions holding regional accreditation and offering an online master’s in:

health law
healthcare law
healthcare compliance
health law and policy

We determined the best programs have courses taught by expert level faculty and a curriculum that exposes students to a variety of legal and ethical issues in healthcare. We created a ranking system using information provided by College Navigator including student to faculty ratio and average graduate tuition rates. Since we are focused on online programs, we awarded extra points to programs that don’t require campus visits. Below are our top 20 online master’s in healthcare law.

Ranking is as follows:
Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1 or less= 5 Points
16:1 to 20:1= 3 Points
Greater than 20:1= 1 Point

Average Graduate Tuition

Less than $10,000 per year= 5 Points
$10,000 to $15,000 per year= 4 Points
$15,001 to $20,000 per year= 3 Points
$20,001 to $25,000 per year= 2 Points
Greater than $25,000 per year= 1 Point

Are there any required campus visits?

No= 3 Points

20. Regent University – Virginia Beach, Virginia

M.A. in Law – Healthcare Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $14,929/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 42:1
Campus Visits? Yes
Score:5
Regent University has a top master’s in health law online focused on how governing law and corporate compliance affect the health care industry. The curriculum is presented from a Christian worldview and includes coursework in:

healthcare policy and ethics
regulatory compliance law
corporate health law
legislation and regulation

The majority of the program is presented online but students do need to come to campus for face-to-face components.

19. Emory University – Atlanta, Georgia

Juris Master (JM) Program-Health Care Law, Policy, and Regulation

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $41,800/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 9:1
Campus Visits? Yes
Score:6
The 30 credit hour online juris master focused on health care law at Emory Law can be completed in just 18 months. The online program is comprised of 10, seven-week asynchronous courses. Students come to campus for three, three-day residencies. Required courses cover:

the American legal system
contract law
analysis, research, and communication for non-lawyers

Students move through the program in lock-step, with limited flexibility in course selection.

18. American University – Washington, DC

Online Master of Legal Studies-Health Care Compliance

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $30,744/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 11:1
Campus Visits? Yes
Score: 6
American University Washington College of Law features a top online master’s in legal studies focused on health care compliance. Healthcare professionals will learn to navigate the complex laws and regulations in their field and understand how those laws affect care. Courses cover areas such as:

business law and ethics
health care law and compliance
information privacy and data security law.

17. Loyola University – Chicago, Illinois

Online Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $18,594/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 14:1
Campus Visits? Yes
Score:8
The health law top master’s program from Loyola University is for health care professionals who want greater understanding of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern health care. Students can choose a concentration in compliance to meet their professional goals. The program takes just six semesters to complete. Courses cover:

health law and policy
legal research
health care business and finance
regulation and policy.

16. University of Southern California – Los Angeles, California

USC Online Master of Studies in Law-Health Care Compliance

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $44,712/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 9:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 9
The University of Southern California features an online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) with a concentration in Health Care Compliance. This 100% online health law program is designed for experienced and entry-level non-lawyer professionals who want to understand complex health law. There is no GRE or LSAT required for admission. Courses cover areas like:

health care compliance
health care law and policy
patient privacy law
business and finance

Most students can complete the program in just 16 months of study without taking time away from work.

15. Wake Forest University – Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Online Master of Studies in Law, Health Law & Policy Track

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $38,650/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 11:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 9
The 30 credit hour online master’s in health law and policy at Wake Forest University is designed for professionals in administrative, regulatory, and managerial roles. Courses cover:

healthcare compliance
paying for healthcare
telemedicine
cybersecurity

Students can complete the program in as few as 21 months, or up to four years.

14. Drexel University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Online Master of Legal Studies-Health Care Compliance

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $34,155/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 11:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 9
The top online master’s in health law at Drexel University is committed to providing students with a strong understanding of the law, without earning a law degree! Students learn about laws that govern the healthcare industry including HIPPA and the ACA and what their organizations need to do to stay compliant. Both part-time and full-time options are available, allowing students to learn on their own schedule.

13. Nova Southeastern University – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Online Master of Science in Health Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $19,131/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 17:1
Campus Visits? No
Score:9
If you’re looking for an online master’s in health law with the flexibility to accommodate both work and responsibilities, Nova Southern University may be a great fit! Part-time students can complete the program in just two years. They do not need to submit GRE or LSAT scores to be considered for admission. Students can study on their own schedule and course content is easily applied immediately to the workplace. Courses cover areas like:

alternative dispute resolution
cyber and information crimes
cyber law and modern mass communications policy
effective advocacy skills.

12. Florida State University – Tallahassee, Florida

Juris Master in Health Care Regulation

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $9,684/yr in-state and $24,116/year out-of-state
Faculty to Student Ratio: 22:1
Campus Visits? No
Score:9
The College of Law at Florida State University has a juris master in health care regulation designed for working professionals. This top online master’s in health care law can be completed on a part-time basis and without coming to campus. The curriculum was designed by healthcare lawyers and industry professionals. It features relevant, sophisticated course content. Courses cover areas like:

governance
risk management
e-health and telemedicine
health care fraud and abuse.

11. Arizona State University – Scottsdale, Arizona

Master of Legal Studies-Corporate and Health Care Compliance

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $6,264/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 23:1
Campus Visits? No
Score:9
Arizona State University features a top online health law master’s degree focused on corporate and health care compliance. Students can complete the program in just one year. Courses cover relevant subject areas such as:

the regulatory environment
interpretation of regulations
creating and implementing compliance processes and programs

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. There are no LSAT or GRE exams required for admission.

10. Hofstra University – Hempstead, New York

Online Master of Laws in Health Law and Policy

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $24,192/year
Faculty to Student Ratio: 13:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 10
The flexible online master’s in health law and policy at Hofstra University is a convenient program with three start dates. Students can complete their coursework entirely online with no campus visits. They can graduate in just 18 months. Courses cover areas such as:

the Affordable Care Act
biotechnology
public health
disability and discrimination
Medicare/Medicaid

There are no LSAT, GMAT, or GRE requirements for admission.

9. Seton Hall University – Newark, New Jersey

Online Master of Science in Jurisprudence (MSJ) with a concentration in Health & Hospital Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $22,662/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 14:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 10
The online master’s in health and hospital law at Seton Hall University is a specialized degree program designed for working professionals Students complete eight-week courses in sequential order that cover areas such as:

children’s health and the law
cybersecurity and privacy
compliance issues for healthcare providers
clinical research and the law

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and professional work experience.

8. Widener University – Chester, Pennsylvania

Online Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $22,300/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 13:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 10
The Delaware Law School at Widener University features an online master’s in health law providing students with graduate level training in areas like:

legal analysis
regulatory compliance
ethics

Students can choose to complete a concentration in regulatory analysis and compliance and be eligible to take the Compliance Certification Board (CCB) exam to become a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP) or Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC). This 30 credit hour program includes courses in areas such as:

healthcare compliance rules and standards
health law and policy
auditing and monitoring
healthcare quality and liability.

7. Stetson University – DeLand, Florida

Master of Jurisprudence in Healthcare Compliance

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $17,369/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 13:1
Campus Visits? No
Score:11
Stetson University features an online master’s in healthcare compliance for healthcare professionals who want to expand their knowledge of healthcare laws and regulatory compliance issues. Students can earn their degree in just two years (four semesters). Students study in-demand areas such as:

risk management
regulatory science
healthcare compliance

There are no GRE requirements for students who have appropriate work experience.

6. Samford University – Birmingham, Alabama

Master of Science in Health Law and Policy

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $17,255/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 12:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 11
The flexible online master’s in health law and policy from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law is open to both non-lawyers and practicing lawyers who want an in-depth knowledge of health law. Students complete two classes each term, completing their degree in just 24 months. Courses are offered in areas such as:

healthcare insurance and finance
healthcare compliance
corporate ethics in healthcare
healthcare privacy and security

Applicants with at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA do not need to submit GRE or GMAT scores for consideration.

5. St. Mary’s University – San Antonio, Texas

Master of Jurisprudence in Health Care Compliance Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $16,830/yr
Faculty to Student Ratio: 12:1
Campus Visits? No
Score:11
The juris master’s in health care compliance law at St. Mary’s University is ideal for individuals working in the health care sectors that need an understanding of health law. Courses cover areas like:

health care law
HIPPA privacy and security
contracts
torts
business law and ethics

Applicants must submit proof of a four-year degree, a personal statement, resume, and two letters of recommendation. GRE, LSAT, or MCAT scores are not required.

4. West Virginia University – Morgantown, West Virginia

Online Master of Legal Studies-Healthcare

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $9,990/yr in-state and $25,776/year out-of-state
Faculty to Student Ratio: 20:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 11
West Virginia University has an online master of legal studies with a healthcare emphasis area. The program was designed for healthcare providers and includes courses in:

healthcare law
long-term care regulation
elder law

Students complete 10 courses in a convenient online format. To be considered for admission, students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and submit the results of any standardized graduate level test including the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT.

3. University of Oklahoma – Norman, Oklahoma

M.L.S. in Healthcare Law

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $5,683/yr in-state and $20,342/year out-of-state
Faculty to Student Ratio: 18:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 11
The top online master’s in healthcare law program at the University of Oklahoma is designed for non-lawyers who need a strong understanding of healthcare law and legal issues. There are no residency requirements and students can earn their degree in just 15 months. Each course has been reviewed by the Healthcare Advisory Board to make sure it is relevant and applicable to the healthcare industry. Courses cover areas such as:

the regulation of private health insurance and managed care
public health care programs
quality control
health information management

The cohort based model allows students to develop relationships with like minded peers.

2. University of Arizona – Tucson, Arizona

Master of Legal Studies (MLS)-Health Law and Policy

School Profile
Average Graduate Tuition: $11,716/yr in-state and $32,065/year out-of-state
Faculty to Student Ratio: 15:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 12
The James E. Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona offers a master of legal studies with a health law and policy concentration. This top online master’s in health law requires no on-campus residency and is open to both part-time and full-time students. The curriculum is comprised of 10 courses, with each course lasting 7.5 weeks. Courses cover areas such as:

health care information systems
legal and regulatory aspects for health care delivery
public health law and ethics
clinical research ethics.

1. University of California San Francisco – San Francisco, California

Masters of Science, Health Policy & Law

School Profile

Average Graduate Tuition: $11,442/yr in-state and $26,544/year out-of-state
Faculty to Student Ratio: 13:1
Campus Visits? No
Score: 12
Our top online master’s in health care law program is offered by the University of California San Francisco. This flexible program can be completed in just one to two years and both full and part-time options are available. This fully online program allows students to continue working while earning their degree. Courses cover areas such as:

provider-patient relationships
health policy
health economics
institutional regulation and compliance
organization and system change

There are no GRE requirements for admission and new students begin the program in the fall.

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