Fisher’s School of Business Launches Innovative Healthcare Administration Degree to Meet Growing Industry Demand

Beginning in fall 2026, St. John Fisher University’s School of Business will launch a new major in healthcare administration designed to prepare students for leadership roles in one of the world’s most complex and rapidly evolving industries.

Students in the program will develop their business acumen and leadership skills while gaining a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape. Students will also explore healthcare policies, study the socioeconomic factors impacting health, and learn how to analyze data to improve business operations that ultimately improve patient care.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare administration is growing nearly ten times faster than other sectors, with a 2025 IntuitionLabs report ranking it among the most in-demand career paths nationwide.  Expanding into healthcare administration is a natural progression for Fisher, building on its distinguished legacy in the health sciences, the robust regional partnerships fostered by the Wegmans School of Nursing and Wegmans School of Pharmacy, and the proven excellence of its School of Business.

“This new program is an extension of Fisher’s commitment to excellence in both health sciences and business education,” said Dr. Daniel Connolly, dean of the School of Business.  “By leveraging the University’s strong regional partnerships, deep community ties, and the proven success of our graduates, we’re creating pathways for students to enter a high-growth industry with the skills, knowledge, and values to lead effectively. It’s another way Fisher is responding to workforce needs and preparing students to make an immediate impact.

“At Fisher, we pride ourselves on preparing graduates who are Day 1 Ready—equipped to lead, innovate, and make a difference from the moment they enter the workforce,” Connolly added. “This program will produce professionals who not only understand the complexities of healthcare systems but also bring the ethical leadership and strategic thinking needed to improve patient outcomes and drive organizational success.”

Interdisciplinary in nature, the program will immerse students in traditional business courses including accounting, finance, technology, business analytics, and operations management, while also introducing them to topics in healthcare law, the economics of healthcare, public health, health policy, social determinants of health, insurance and third-party billing, and gerontology, among others. Courses will prepare students for various business roles in healthcare operations by blending practical insights from the business world with the latest technologies, regulations, and research from the healthcare industry.

Fisher’s program is being offered in partnership with RIZE, a higher education platform through the Lower Cost Model Consortium, a collection of small colleges sharing a high-quality, centralized curriculum of career focused programs. An innovative course-sharing model, three of the required courses in Fisher’s program will be taught by adjunct faculty who are leading experts from industry and academia. Delivered in a virtual classroom with students from other institutions, these courses will be accessible in an asynchronous format.

Graduates of the program will be well prepared for careers in healthcare management, health services administration, and hospital operations. This program also aims to prepare students for entry into graduate and professional programs in health policy, healthcare leadership, and business administration.

To learn more about the program, call the Office of Admissions at (585) 385-8064 or visit the healthcare administration program website.