Top 15 Online Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Master's Programs 2020

By HMDG Staff
April 2020

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety is a relatively new area of study focused on transitioning healthcare delivery toward high quality and high value care. Healthcare quality and patient safety professionals study and work to prevent adverse events, ineffective treatments, ineffective and outdated processes, and reduce inconsistencies in care. Earning an online master’s in healthcare quality and patient safety can provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to be effective leaders in this area. These online programs provide the flexibility healthcare workers need to balance their education with home and work obligations.

We created this ranking of the top online master’s in healthcare quality and patient safety based on information we received from College Navigator. We looked at accredited institutions offering these types of programs in an online format, with limited residency requirements to accommodate working professionals. Schools considered for our ranking offered a mostly online curriculum taught by expert level faculty. They provide students with hands-on training using case studies and real world examples to help students immediately apply new information to their workplace. We then applied our ranking criteria to determine the top 15 master’s online in healthcare quality and patient safety.

Ranking Methodology – Online Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Master’s Programs

The goal of this ranking list is to highlight the top online Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Master’s Programs. The ranking system is based upon a combination of important factors, including

cost of attendance for graduate students
student to faculty ratio

Specializations, awards and achievements earned by the school or department have also been noted.

The system controlling how points are awarded is as follows:
Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1 or less= 5 Points
11:1 to 15:1= 3 Points
Greater than 15:1= 1 Point

Average Graduate Tuition

Less than $8,000 per year= 5 Points
$8,000 to $15,000 per year= 3 Points
Greater than $15,000 per year= 1 Points

Additional Accreditations

Program Specific Accreditation= 2 Points

15. Georgetown University – Washington, DC

Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety & Leadership

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $51,336/year
Points: 4
Georgetown University features a top executive online master’s in clinical quality, safety and leadership that can be completed in just 16 months. This 32 credit hour program has both full and part-time program options. Required courses include:

Creating and Leading Sustainable Change
Patient Safety Science, Risk and Mitigation
Effective Leadership in Healthcare Organizations

Courses are provided in an asynchronous format with one four-day intensive residency requirement. New students are admitted during the fall and spring semesters.

14. Drexel University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

MS in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $35,181/year
Points: 4
Drexel University features a top online master’s in healthcare quality, safety, and risk management designed for healthcare practitioners who want to improve healthcare outcomes across a variety of settings. Faculty are current practitioners working in areas like law, risk management, and patient safety. The interdisciplinary program structure fosters collaborative learning that carries over into the workplace. Students come on campus for a short experience in a state-of-the-art simulation lab that allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to real, high stakes activities. Students who complete their degree in three years benefit from a tuition lock, making the overall cost predictable throughout the program.

13. Southern New Hampshire University – Manchester, New Hampshire

Online Master’s Degree MSN in Patient Safety & Quality

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 24:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $18,810/year
Accreditation: CCNE
Points: 4
The top master’s in patient safety and quality from Southern New Hampshire University is a specialized MSN program comprised of 13 courses. This CCNE accredited program is both affordable and convenient. Students can access their coursework online, 24/7. Courses include:

Regulatory Compliance, Accreditation and Promoting a Patient Safety Culture
Measurement, Analysis, & Models for Performance Improvement
Systems Leadership and Collaborative Practice

Students can take courses in just 20 months. Faculty have relevant, real-world experience and are dedicated to the success of their students. There is no GMAT or GRE required for admission.

12. Franklin University – Columbus, Ohio

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)-Healthcare Quality Management

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $16,080/year
Points: 4
Franklin University features a transfer-friendly master’s in healthcare administration program focused on healthcare quality management. The program is delivered in a 100% online format and there are no on-campus residency requirements. The contemporary curriculum allows students to stay on top of current trends and topics. Healthcare quality management students complete an integrative field experience that enables them to identify and address a real world problem in the healthcare field. Students will also be trained in Lean Six Sigma.

11. University of Illinois Chicago – Chicago, Illinois

Online Master of Science in Patient Safety Leadership

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $13,276/year in-state and $23,850/year out-of-state
Points: 4
The top master’s in patient safety leadership from the University of Illinois Chicago is a comprehensive program nine-course program. Students benefit from a combination of online and on-campus learning. A three-day residency in Chicago allows students to collaborate and build their capstone project. Courses include:

Organizational Leadership/Health Systems
Communication and Collaboration
Error Science, Risk and Disclosure

Graduates will know how to implement processes for improvement within their organization that include:

information systems applications
risk reduction strategies
patient safety.

10. University of Alabama at Birmingham – Birmingham, Alabama

Master’s of Science in Healthcare Quality and Safety Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $8,100/year in-state and $19,188/year out-of-state
Points: 4
The University of Alabama at Birmingham features an online top healthcare quality and safety master’s program with applied instruction that can be used immediately in the workplace. Every course is available online so students can continue working while earning their degree. Courses cover areas like:

Six Sigma
leadership skills
patient safety

While their are no pre-selected concentration areas, students can work with their advisor to choose courses that align with their career goals.

9. Northwestern University – Evanston, Illinois

Online Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 6:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $56,067/year
Points: 6
The Center for Education in Health Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine features a top healthcare quality and patient safety online master’s program. This two year, part-time program is designed for both clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals. Courses include:

The Business of Quality and Safety Improvement
Fundamental Methods for Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Introduction to U.S. Health System

Students who are enrolled in a medical program can earn a combined MD/MS degree if they plan to become quality and safety clinical leaders.

8. The George Washington University – Washington, DC

MSHS in Healthcare Quality Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $31,770/year
Accreditation: CAHME
Points: 6
The CAHME accredited online master’s in healthcare quality from The George Washington University is one of four founding programs of this type certified by the CAHME. All courses are available online and there are no on-campus residency requirements. The program was created in partnership with the National Committee for Quality Assuran e.Students can feel confident their skills are both cutting edge and in-demand by employers. Most courses have a lower student to faculty ratio than on-campus courses, allowing students to interact and receive personalized attention. Online students benefit from a dedicated advisor throughout the program and round-the-clock tech support.

7. Thomas Jefferson University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Healthcare Quality and Safety Master’s Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $21,420/year
Accreditation: CAHME
Points: 6
The top healthcare quality and safety online master’s program from the Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University is a flexible program designed for healthcare professionals. Students can complete their degree in one to two years of study and coursework is available entirely online. Accelerated seven-week semesters meet the needs of working professionals and there are no synchronous learning requirements. Courses cover areas like:

Advanced Applications of HQS in Clinical Settings
Applied Leadership Strategies for Effective Change
Change Management

Students can also choose from three different program tracks including:

Domestic Track
International Track
Management Track

6. Maryville University – Saint Louis, Missouri

Online Master’s Degree in Health Administration-Population Management

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $14,346/year
Points: 6
The top online master’s in health administration from Maryville University features a concentration in population management. This unique concentration in the healthcare quality and patient safety realm focuses on using analytical data to support ways to provide quality care to a community or group of individuals. Courses cover information in:

Population Health Management
Healthcare Financial Management
Managerial Epidemiology

Community Health

Students can earn at their own pace and do not have to adhere to a set program schedule. Collaborative interaction takes place through:

emails
message boards
chats with professional faculty and students

Online students have access to personal and technical support whenever they need it.

5. Western Governors University – Salt Lake City, Utah

Online Master of Health Leadership-Healthcare Quality

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 41:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,500/year
Points: 6
The top online master’s in health leadership from Western Governors University is an executive health leadership program. Most graduates earn their degree in 12 months. Students can move quickly through the material they already know and move on to new information as soon as they are ready. Courses cover areas like:

Healthcare Quality
Healthcare Systems
Leadership and Management Specialty

Tuition is charged per term instead of per credit so students with knowledge of existing concepts and practices can move quickly through the program and not pay for what they already know.

4. Sam Houston State University – Huntsville, Texas

Health Care Quality and Safety, Master of Science

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 21:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $5,765/year in-state and $13,361/year out-of-state
Points: 6
The top online master’s in health care quality and safety from Sam Houston State University is an executive degree program designed for working healthcare professionals. This 16 month cohort program accepts new students every fall. All courses are offered online and cover topics like:

Quality and Safety Public Reporting Systems
Leading Change in Health Care Organizations
Advanced Concepts in Health Care Quality

Admission into the program is competitive. Those with healthcare experience (clinical or non-clinical) are preferred.

3. Mary Baldwin University – Staunton, Virginia

Online Master of Healthcare Administration in Quality and Systems Safety

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $13,000/year
Points: 8
Mary Baldwin University offers a top online master’s in health administration in quality and systems safety. Courses are taught by experience faculty who bring their real-world experience to the classroom. This 39 credit hour program includes courses in:

Environment of Care and Disaster Management
Patient and Family Engagement and Activation
Epidemiology, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Promotion

Graduates are prepared for a variety of healthcare leadership roles.

2. Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, Maryland

Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $55,350/year
Accreditation: CEPH
Points: 8
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health features a top online master’s in patient safety and healthcare quality offered in a part-time format. This fully online interdisciplinary program is offered through collaboration with the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. Courses include:

Measurement and Evaluation in Quality & Safety
Infection Prevention in Healthcare Settings
Statistical Concepts in Public Health

Courses are taught by some of the world’s leading authorities on patient safety.

1. MidAmerica Nazarene University – Olathe, Kansas

Online Master of Science in Nursing Healthcare Quality Management Track

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $13,797/year
Accreditation: CCNE
Points: 10
Our top choice for an online master’s in healthcare quality management is offered through the MSN program at MidAmerican Nazarene University. This CCNE accredited program meets online or on-campus and can be completed in 26 months. Online courses are offered in seven-week modules and cover areas like:

Healthcare Informatics, Database Management, and Financial Reimbursement
Risk Management in Healthcare
Building a Culture of Patient Safety

Graduates are well prepared to:

evaluate quality systems
implement quality initiatives
maximize quality-based reimbursements for their organization

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