Digital Health Graduate Programs

Career Advice & Resources
Written By Halle Tecco

I love school. I have both an MPH and an MBA, and I now teach two digital health courses: one at Columbia Business School and another at Harvard Medical School. So if you’re the kind of person who gets giddy about syllabi and class discussions, I see you.

In this article, I wrote about the MPH vs. MBA for digital health, and I believe both degrees can be incredible launchpads for the next stage of your career. But those aren’t the only paths. There’s a growing number of options for master’s degrees, PhDs, and certificate programs specifically in digital health for people who want to go deeper into the tech, data, and systems transforming healthcare.

Below, I’ll break down your options — from full-blown master’s programs to flexible certificates, and a few PhD routes for the research-minded. I’ll also touch on related programs in health informatics, which has long been digital health’s nerdy older sibling.


Master’s degrees in digital health

Let’s start here — the master’s programs built specifically for digital health.

These are usually one- or two-year programs that cover everything from digital transformation and health tech to data analytics and implementation. You’ll find them popping up all over the world, from UK to Australia to completely online.

Some are heavy on strategy and innovation. Others dig deep into the tech and systems side. A few are online and flexible, while others require you to relocate and study full-time. They’re expensive — Penn’s program is $74,500 all-in. But many offer scholarships and financial aid.

In the US:

Abroad:


If you’re trying to choose, ask yourself:

  • Do I want to stay employed while studying, or take time off?

  • Am I more excited by innovation and strategy (think Penn or ASU) or technology and design (think Oxford or Strathclyde)?

  • Do I care about a U.S. brand name, or do I want a more global perspective?

There’s no wrong answer. Just the right fit.


MBA programs with digital health or healthcare innovation tracks

If you’re more business-minded or aiming for a leadership role in digital health, I highly recommend an MBA where a growing number of programs now offer healthcare, health innovation, or digital health specializations.

Here are a few standout MBAs that include digital health or healthcare innovation tracks:

Note that Harvard Business School (my alma mater), Stanford Graduate School of Business, and other top schools are missing from this list. That’s because those schools do not offer “official” tracks or concentrations. However, they are still excellent places to get an MBA and offer multiple courses and clubs for those interested in digital health.

Of course, there’s always the MBA/MPH route, offered by most large universities.

PhDs in digital health and health technology

PhDs are a different game. They’re a big commitment (often 3–5 years full-time or up to 8 years part-time) and focus on original research.

If you’re the kind of person who wants to create new knowledge and not just apply it, this could be your lane. And it’s exciting to see more programs explicitly using “digital health,” “AI in medicine,” or “health technologies” in their titles.

These programs train the researchers, inventors, and future professors of digital health. If you’re more interested in leadership or product roles, a PhD may be overkill. But if you’re driven by curiosity and love working at the edge of technology and medicine, or want to teach someday, it can be a good fit.

Health informatics degrees (the OG digital health programs)

Before “digital health” became a buzzword, there was health informatics. These programs have existed for decades and focus on data systems, EHRs, interoperability, and analytics — the backbone of digital transformation.

Many universities still house their digital health education under informatics, so if you’re searching for programs, don’t overlook these:

If your goal is to get deep into the plumbing of digital health — how data flows, how systems talk to each other — informatics programs are a great fit.

But if you’re more drawn to startups, product, or policy? You might prefer one of the newer “digital health” or “innovation” master’s.

Certificate programs in digital health

Now for the bite-sized option.

Certificates are a great way to learn digital health concepts without applying to grad school or quitting your job. They’re part-time, usually online (unless otherwise indicated below), and open enrollment (no GREs, no recommendations, no stress).

They’re perfect for clinicians, startup operators, or health system professionals who want to understand AI, innovation, or digital transformation. And if your employer offers tuition reimbursement, great! Otherwise, I’ve listed 2026 tuition.

Final thoughts

The digital health industry is maturing, and the people in it are leveling up too.

Maybe you want to deepen your technical chops. Maybe you’re looking for the business edge. Or maybe you just miss being in a classroom with people who geek out about the same stuff you do. Whatever the reason, there’s a path that fits.

Digital health needs people who can connect the dots — between medicine and technology, mission and margin, innovation and implementation.

No degree will make you an expert. But the right one can make you dangerous… in the best way possible.

I wish you all the best!

Halle Tecco
Halle Tecco has dedicated her career to making healthcare massively better. She is the founder of Rock Health and has backed and advised dozens of healthcare companies. She teaches future healthcare leaders at Columbia Business School and Harvard Medical School, and serves on the boards of Collective Health and Cofertility. Tecco’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg. She was named as one of Goldman Sach’s Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs and listed on Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business 2023. She has spoken at the Aspen Ideas Festival, CES, TechCrunch Disrupt, and was a SXSW Keynote speaker. Tecco holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPH from Johns Hopkins University.
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