Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in Missouri (2026)

Quick answer: Medical and Health Services Managers in Missouri earn a median $104,370 per year, below the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 10,800 of them. Licensing runs through your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.

Healthcare Administration Pay and Employment in Missouri at a Glance

MetricMissouriNationalSource
Median annual wage$104,370$123,860BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$64,620$73,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$82,490$94,700BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$135,780$166,100BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$186,430$224,340BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment10,800597,080BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.961.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state23.2%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Missouri Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Missouri median of $104,370 sits below the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.96 puts Missouri slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Missouri

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Kansas City$124,9903,950
Columbia$111,760530
St. Louis$106,2005,000
Cape Girardeau$104,010280
Springfield$99,470870
Joplin$98,620230
St. Joseph$98,080200
Jefferson City$94,900240

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Health administration demand follows the local hospital systems, clinic networks and long-term care operators that employ these managers.

Medical and Health Services Managers Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical and health services managers wages in Missouri vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis5,000$106,200$127,200$67,990$200,900
Kansas City3,950$124,990$133,120$74,570$206,050
Springfield870$99,470$115,760$60,570$178,450
Columbia530$111,760$122,800$68,680$179,740
Cape Girardeau280$104,010$124,730$65,270$223,160
Jefferson City240$94,900$106,130$61,710$160,790
Joplin230$98,620$110,130$62,340$164,190
St. Joseph200$98,080$111,720$66,010$167,380

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Missouri Metro Areas With Published Data

Cape Girardeau * Columbia * Jefferson City * Joplin * Kansas City * Springfield * St. Joseph * St. Louis

Licensing and Credentials in Missouri

Most health services management roles carry no individual license. The significant exception is long-term care: nursing home administrators are licensed by state boards, with examinations administered through NAB. On the academic side, CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs, and undergraduate programs are covered by institutional accreditation.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 106 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO 36.9 miles away BOC Score 75.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 75.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 971
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,651 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, MO 104.2 miles away BOC Score 64.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 650 Maryville University Drive Saint Louis, MO 63141-7299
  • (800) 627-9855
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 570
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $84,871 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO 96.5 miles away BOC Score 56.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 1168
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,058 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies

Fayette, MO 52.9 miles away BOC Score 54.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 36
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,668 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO 106.2 miles away BOC Score 50.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 49.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 23
  • Annual completions: 299
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,207 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

St Louis College of Health Careers-Fenton

Fenton, MO 105.3 miles away BOC Score 50.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 66.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 153
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $39,521 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Bryan University

Springfield, MO 99.5 miles away BOC Score 48.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 42
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $37,432 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, MO 106.5 miles away BOC Score 36.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 47.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 70
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,550 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

William Woods University

Fulton, MO 39.6 miles away BOC Score 33.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 23
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,367 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Columbia College

Columbia, MO 37.8 miles away BOC Score 32.6
Tuition $25,826 - $37,207
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 43.8%
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 333
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,679 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical and health services managers make in Missouri?

The median annual wage for medical and health services managers in Missouri is $104,370, below the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $82,490 at the 25th percentile to $135,780 at the 75th.

How many medical and health services managers work in Missouri?

Missouri holds about 10,800 medical and health services manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 597,080, and BLS projects about 62,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a medical and health services manager in Missouri?

Most health services management roles carry no individual license. The significant exception is long-term care: nursing home administrators are licensed by state boards, with examinations administered through NAB. On the academic side, CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs, and undergraduate programs are covered by institutional accreditation. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a healthcare administration degree online while working in Missouri?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.

What is the highest-paying area of Missouri for medical and health services managers?

Among Missouri metro areas with published data, Kansas City reports the highest median at $124,990 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Missouri a good state for medical and health services managers?

On pay, the state median of $104,370 sits below the national $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.96 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.