Online MHA Programs Ranked by Affordability (2026)

feature-img

MHA Search

×

For the latest academic year, we have 170 schools in our MHAOnline.com database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

Student loan debt in the United States continues to reach high levels, with recent reports showing a total balance of $1.81 trillion (EducationData 2025). Around 92 percent of this debt is attributed to federal student loans, affecting over 42 million students. The average federal student loan debt balance is over $39,000. This huge amount of debt is a big concern for students, families, and experts, ultimately creating a need for more affordable master’s degrees.

In addition, professionals will want to seek out degrees where growth opportunities exist, the job market is expanding, and salaries are attractive. Enter online master of healthcare administration (MHA) programs. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS 2025) data, medical and health services managers earn a median annual salary of $117,960 per year ($56.71 per hour). Median annual wages were highest in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing ($222,350) and chemical manufacturing ($221,260).

 
Jobs for the medical and health managers market are exploding and are expected to increase 23 percent nationally between 2024 and 2034, with the addition of 142,900 positions (BLS 2025). Healthcare administrators typically have at least a bachelor’s degree, but master’s degrees are becoming increasingly common for these positions. As such, in this article, we cover online MHA programs ranked by affordability for the 2025-2026 academic year.

These rankings are based on tuition data MHAOnline.com collected in mid-2025 from over 700 online MHA programs and related graduate degrees. Tuition information is as current as possible, taken from the 2025-2026 school year numbers, as published by each school. The tuition number listed for each school represents the total estimated tuition for its entire program, and not the cost per semester or year.

Featured Affordable Online MHA Programs
Texas State University Master of Long-Term Care Administration (incl. TX LTCA Certification)Visit Program Website
Auburn University of Montgomery Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)Visit Program Website
Purdue Global Online Master's - Health Care AdministrationVisit Program Website
Southern New Hampshire University Online MS in Healthcare AdministrationVisit Program Website
Rasmussen University MHA - Master of Healthcare AdministrationVisit Program Website
Arizona State University Health Care Administration and Policy (MS)Visit Program Website
×

For the latest academic year, we have 170 schools in our MHAOnline.com database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
×

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN Southern New Hampshire University Online MS - Construction Management

Most Affordable Online MHA Programs (2026)

Check out the 50 most affordable online MHA programs by total program tuition, based on tuition rates for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Rank School – Program Cost-per-credit / Total Cost Accreditation Duration View Full Profile
1 American College of Education – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $235 / $8,460 HLC 18 months or more View Full Profile
2 Peirce at Lackawanna College – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $330 / $9,900 MSCHE Between 18 months and six years View Full Profile
3 Rasmussen University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $229 / $10,992 HLC 18 months or more View Full Profile
4 Union Commonwealth University – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $370 / $11,100 SACSCOC 18 months or more View Full Profile
5 Louisiana State University – Shreveport – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $421 / $12,630 AACSB 12 months or more View Full Profile
6 Columbia Southern University – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $359 / $12,924 SACSCOC 18 months or more View Full Profile
7 University of Arkansas – Grantham – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $365 / $13,140 DEAC 24 months or more View Full Profile
8 Southeastern Oklahoma State University – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $425 / $14,025 HLC 12 months or more View Full Profile
9 Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $488 / $15,631 HLC 24 months or more View Full Profile
10 University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Executive MHA $510 / $15,810 CAHME, CEPH 18 months or more View Full Profile
11 Waldorf University – MA in Healthcare Management $445 / $16,020 HLC 30 months View Full Profile
12 Texas State University – Master of Long-Term Care Administration (incl. TX LTCA Certification) $499 / $16,467 SACSCOC 10 months View Full Profile
13 William Woods University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $550 / $16,500 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
14 American Public University System – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $455 / $16,835 CAHME 24 months View Full Profile
15 Southern Illinois University Carbondale – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $469.50 / $16,902 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
16 Bowling Green State University – Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) $458.71 / $16,972.27 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
17 Auburn University of Montgomery – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $531 / $17,523 AACSB 24 months View Full Profile
18 University of Management and Technology – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $390 / $17,550 DEAC 24 months View Full Profile
19 Midwestern State University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $533.82 / $17,616.06 SACSCOC 12 to 36 months View Full Profile
20 Champlain College – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $595 / $17,850 NECHE 10 months View Full Profile
21 Northern Kentucky University – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $568 / $19,312 SACSCOC 12 months View Full Profile
22 Methodist University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $545 / $19,620 SACSCOC 18 months View Full Profile
23 Texas State University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) – Executive Track $499 / $19,960 CAHME 12 months View Full Profile
24 University of Saint Francis – Master of Healthcare Administration $565 / $20,340 HLC One year or more View Full Profile
25 Grand Canyon University – MS in Community Mental Health Administration $600 / $20,400 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
26 Trident University International – MS in Health Administration (MSHA) $567 / $20,412 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
27 University of Mississippi Medical Center – Master of Health Systems Administration $579 / $20,844 SACSCOC 24 months View Full Profile
28 Friends University – Master of Health Care Leadership $636 / $20,988 HLC 12 months View Full Profile
29 Belhaven University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $625 / $22,140 IACBE 24 months View Full Profile
30 Governors State University – Master of Health Administration (MHA) Hybrid $413 / $22,302 CAHME 30 months View Full Profile
31 University of Arkansas – Fort Smith – MS in Healthcare Administration (MHCA) $684.50 / $23,273 HLC 24 months or less View Full Profile
32 Southern New Hampshire University – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $659 / $23,724 NECHE 15 months or more View Full Profile
33 Colorado State University-Global Campus – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $675 / $24,300 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
34 Bellevue University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $680 / $24,480 HLC 18 months or more View Full Profile
35 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $682.43 / $24,567.48 SACSCOC 24 months View Full Profile
36 Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota – MA in Healthcare Administration $745 / $24,585 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
37 Ohio University – Master of Health Administration (MHA) $690 / $24,840 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
38 Utica University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $690 / $24,840 ACBSP 24 months View Full Profile
39 Park University – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $695 / $25,020 ACBSP 12 months View Full Profile
40 Purdue Global – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $485 / $25,220 CAHME 18 to 24 months View Full Profile
41 MGH Institute of Health Professions – Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) $710 / $25,560 NECHE 12 to 24 months View Full Profile
42 Excelsior University – MS in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) $715 / $25,740 MSCHE 24 to 36 months View Full Profile
43 University of Southern Mississippi – MPH in Health Policy and Administration $578.12 / $26,015.40 CEPH 15 months View Full Profile
44 Concordia University – Irvine – Online Master of Healthcare Administration $665 / $26,600 HLC 24 months View Full Profile
45 University of Arizona Global Campus – Online MA in Health Care Administration $740 / $26,640 WSCUC 18 months View Full Profile
46 Sacred Heart University – Online Master of Health Administration (MHA) $765 / $26,825 NECHE 24 months View Full Profile
47 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse – Online Master of Science in Healthcare Administration $725 / $26,825 HLC 24 months or more View Full Profile
48 University of Wisconsin-Platteville – Master of Science in Healthcare Administration $725 / $26,825 HLC 24 months or more View Full Profile
49 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Master of Science in Healthcare Administration $725 / $26,825 HLC 24 months or more View Full Profile
50 Walden University – MHA – Master of Healthcare Administration $535 / $28,355 HLC 18 months or more View Full Profile

Find an Affordable Online MHA Program

With the rising education costs, graduate programs may seem too expensive of a proposition. These MHA programs ranked by affordability can open up some options you might have yet to consider.

These online programs in healthcare administration can be convenient, affordable, and completed in just one to two years. With the growing need for healthcare professionals with master ’s-level education, these programs can provide a career pathway without the heavy burden of more expensive tuition costs.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani
Writer

Farheen Gani has written many how-to career, online program, and scholarship guides related to master of healthcare administration degrees since 2018. Some guides she has written include online healthcare management programs, master's in regulatory science programs, and health administration scholarships. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).

Related Programs

Related FAQs

Related Posts

  • 3 July 2025

    Tuition Reimbursement: What MHA Applicants and Students Need to Know

    The educational and career backgrounds of MHA students provide them with a unique set of marketable skills that may help them pay for their degree. Moreover, in an era when student loan financing has become increasingly unpopular, these skills can help MHA students rely less on student loans than students in other types of graduate and professional programs.

  • 16 January 2024

    What’s an MHA Case Competition? Tips & Strategies

    Case competitions deliver outstanding opportunities for healthcare administration students to showcase their skills and knowledge—so much so that students might feel surprised when they first learn about all the value these events offer.

  • 26 March 2026

    A Guide to Successful Cancer Registry Virtual Management

    Cancer registries are central to a successful organization's cancer program. From quality metrics tracking to regulatory agencies at the highest level, cancer registries perform essential reporting functions and provide crucial data to drive program decisions. As working remotely becomes more of the norm, organizations must be flexible to the needs of cancer registry professionals to work in a virtual environment.

  • 20 March 2026

    Patient Experience Week 2026: A Healthcare Administrator’s Advocacy Guide

    The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care is one of the most structurally significant changes to the US healthcare system in recent history. Under the value-based model, payment and reimbursement are directly linked to the quality of the care provided, and the patient’s experience of that care. But how does one measure patient experience, and how can healthcare administrators ensure that patient experiences are positive?

  • 12 March 2026

    Healthcare HR Week 2026: An Expert’s Advocacy Guide

    There is no doubt about it: it’s been a year of trouble and strife for human resources departments across the world. In some areas, the pandemic has forced job cuts, while in others, it has caused a scramble for fast recruiting, posing challenges for HR departments spanning nearly all industries.