MSN Health Care Leadership & Administration

Ways to Study

Distance-Based

Apply Now for MSN Health Care Leadership & Administration

Health Care Leadership and Administration

The Health Care Leadership and Administration program is designed to establish an academic foundation that blends business with person-centered care—to advance health for all in a way that is purpose-driven, inclusive, and that positively impacts health care delivery and outcomes.

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Our top-ranked online HCLA program provides students with a strong foundation in systems thinking, organizational theory, human resource management, health care policy and advocacy, and leadership development. With both full-time and part-time options, the program offers flexible online courses that blend asynchronous and synchronous learning experiences.

Ranked among the best in the nation, the HCLA program is designed to be flexible and convenient to complete, as students will be able to maintain current employment while enrolled. We offer tailored clinical experiences, with clinical placements in administration, leadership, quality improvement, human resource management, and integrative residency courses convenient to you, for a total of 420 clinical hours. Students will have the opportunity to complete a range of quality improvement and leadership-focused projects that are excellent resume-builders.

Carolina Nursing has a robust group of experienced, industry-leading faculty and preceptors who are focused on your success!

Affordability Meets Excellence

A Carolina Nursing education delivers unmatched value. For two decades, U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Carolina as one of the best values among public universities. Our nursing programs continue to earn top national rankings, reflecting our commitment to excellence and affordability. Learn more by visiting our Scholarships and Financial Aid page.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Best Nursing Master’s Programs 2026

Overall: Tied for 12th
Family Nurse Practitioner: 9th
Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 4th (2025)
Online Master’s Program in Nursing Administration and Leadership: 3rd

More Rankings

Health Care Systems (Prior to Fall 2020) + –

Prior to Fall 2020: The Health Care System curriculum prepares students to become advanced nursing leaders in the following areas:

Administration: Prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in the management, organization, and delivery of systems of care, with emphasis on human and financial resource management.
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL): Prepares students to provide and manage care for individuals and groups of patients, with emphasis on understanding patients’ clinical progression, care transitions and processes, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and patient safety. Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Examination.
Education: Prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in teaching and nursing education to fill roles in patient education, staff development, or academic settings. Upon completion of the program, education graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as a Certified Nurse Educator.
Informatics: Prepares students with in-depth knowledge and skills in information management and processing principles to support data, information, and knowledge needs in the practice of nursing.
Outcomes Management: Prepares students with advanced skills in managing patient and systems outcomes, emphasizing quality and performance improvement, outcomes measurement, and introducing practice innovations.