Are there Online CAHME-Accredited MPA and MPH Programs?

The quick answer is yes, there is one hybrid CAHME-accredited MPH and several programs (MPHs and MPAs) with opportunities for some online coursework.

The Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) seeks to secure accountability and quality in healthcare management programs. The field of healthcare management originated in 1934, and the University of Chicago birthed the first program to meet the needs of modern hospital care and patient-focused needs.

These days, master of public administration (MPA) and master of health administration (MHA) degrees are available in online or hybrid educational experiences. Students can complete a degree in as little as 12 months, but some require up to 18 to 24 months. The primary benefit of earning an online or hybrid-based degree is that working professionals can maintain employment, and students need not relocate for one or two years of schooling. In addition, aspiring healthcare administrators have access to several online, hybrid, or in-person accredited programs conferring MPA and MPH degrees and graduate certificate programs.

CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education) is a non-profit organization that accredits graduate-level healthcare management programs at colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Founded in 1968, CAHME evaluates these programs based on their ability to develop knowledge and skills for entry-level and advanced positions in the healthcare industry. It accredits both online and traditional programs that can be completed in 12 to 24 months.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS 2022) anticipated a 28 percent increase in job opportunities for medical and health services managers between 2021 and 2031. This growth is much faster than average for other employment positions (5 percent) and is slated to add 136,200 new jobs in the same period. The rise in healthcare professionals can be credited to the expansion of government health services such as the Affordable Healthcare Act, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a large population of aging Americans.

To continue further reading below, candidates of MPH and MPA programs will find specific online and hybrid programs outlined in detail regarding highlights of each institution’s programs, curriculum, and admissions requirements.

Every MPA and MPH program is distinct, but common threads are common. Online and hybrid programs feature content courses and practicum placements for virtual and in-person residencies. The coursework requirements include elective and core classes that allow students to pursue specific interests within the healthcare field. Specialization options include public administration, long-term care programs, and healthcare informatics.

The differences between online and hybrid programs are related to content delivery methods. Hybrid programs bring students together in person, weekly, or bi-monthly, depending upon the requirement of the university. By comparison, online programs also incorporate the communication mentioned above and practice techniques with occasional virtual residencies to connect students and faculty with specified goals.

In both types of programs, these face-to-face connections meet the needs for socializing time and check-ins regarding curriculum, questions, and program outcomes.

The online MPA and MPH degree and certificate programs featured here include location, accreditation, tuition, and program details for aspiring students. In addition, universities across the country offer MPA and MPH degree programs in conjunction with a healthcare organization that aligns with their specialized programs. Pairing educational institutions with top-of-the-field healthcare facilities allows students to work hands-on within the field and graduate in approximately 12 to 24 months.

Stony Brook Medicine – Hybrid MPH in health policy and management

Stony Brook Medicine’s hybrid master’s in public health (MPH) program offers a concentration in health policy and management, which CAHME accredits. This program trains candidates to infuse skills, foundational knowledge, and universal values into a program for public health and management work. The exemplary faculty members work in the public health field and set the program apart from other university programs.

The faculty are fully committed to program excellence and being mentors who involve students in their research work, leading the way in sleep health, racial disparities in access to healthcare, and resilience and adaptation to environments. In addition, the organization’s community engagement covers a vast array of topics, from community health and libraries, sleep and children, the NYS center for clean water technology, and the World Trade Center (WTC) research group, to name a few impactful components of the school.

The 54-credit MPH program features specific competency areas of public health, including generalist, epidemiology and biostatistics, community health, and health policy and management.

Applications for the MPH program are due in June, with a fall-only admit term. Admissions to this program are highly selective, and requirements include an online application and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Other requirements include official transcripts, three letters of reference that can refer to the applicant’s work in public health, and a personal essay based on the topic of public health and its meaning on a broader spectrum. GRE scores are not required but are considered when presented as a part of an admissions application.

• Location: Stony Brook, NY
• Duration: 18 to 24 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH); Program for Public Health (PPH)
• Tuition: $641 per credit (residents); $1,132.83 per credit (non-residents)

University of Michigan – MPH in health management and policy

The students and faculty of the University of Michigan work towards pursuing positive healthcare systems for access and equity. The five programs offered focus on the human side of healthcare and building policy that serves the community. The MPH program helps students prepare for careers in planning, advocacy, and public health policy throughout the twelve-week internship for connection and hands-on engagement.

The 60-credit hour MPH program amplifies cultural beliefs and practices, socioeconomic conditions, environmental exposures, and behavioral risk factors directly affecting population health. Students receive training in the areas of health policy and health management. What makes the curriculum study process unique is that students complete coursework based on their areas of concentration. Five concentration competencies outlined on the university’s website make up the individualization of studies.

The five concentration competencies include microeconomic theory, strategies for the long-term success of an organization, legal reasoning, professional network, cost-benefit, and cost-effectiveness analysis. The core curriculum consists of six courses, two of which include principles of epidemiology for public health and leadership skills for interprofessional practice.

The Department of Public Health holds webinars and information sessions online in October. The admissions process includes but is not limited to the following list: an online SOPHAS application, official transcripts, a SOPHAS statement of purpose and objectives, reflective essay, quantitative experiences information, resume, letters of recommendation, and language assessment for non-English speaking prospective students.

• Location: Ann Arbor, MI
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH); the Department of Health Management and Policy offers CAHME-accredited programs
• Tuition: $2,066 per credit (residents); $3,183 per credit (non-residents)

Columbia University – MHA program

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health offers a whole and part-time MPH program.

The core courses include foundations of public health, with three modules: ethics of public health, history of public health, and human rights. Additionally, students learn research methods and applications, the determinants of health, public health interventions, global and developmental perspectives, and health systems.

The admissions process begins with selecting a specific program of study, followed by a department of interest. Next, candidates must choose a particular certificate of interest, verify deadlines outlined by the university, and tailor all application components. Verifying financial aid and completing a SOPHAS application online must be submitted by December 1st. Application components include letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, a personal statement of purpose, resumes, transcripts, and other details for international student applications. However, January 15th is the deadline for master-level programs.

• Location: New York, NY
• Duration: 24 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Tuition: $49,785 total

OHSU-Portland State University School of Public Health – MPH in health management and policy

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Portland State University School of Public Health offers an MPH in health management and policy, which gears to help shape the policy and future of healthcare. The program excels because of its collective commitment to research, practice, community engagement, faculty, equity commitment, diverse community partnerships, relationship-based community, and high-profile healthcare reform contributions.

The 62-credit program covers creating collaborative communities, population health, national long-term care policy, social policy and public health, and Oregon health policy. Students can accomplish a handful of foundational competencies upon completion of the program. These competencies include effective verbal, written, and communication skills; ethical, social, and cultural competency; engagement with and integration of knowledge of professions; self-reflective thinking; application of theory, policy, and qualitative and quantitative methods; and demonstration of leadership skills.

The admissions deadlines are December 1st, February 1st, and March 15th annually. The application through SOPHAS, official transcripts from all schools attended, and letters of recommendation.

• Location: Portland, OR
• Duration: 22 to 24 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Tuition: $459 per credit (residents); $699 per credit (non-residents)

San Diego State University – MPH in epidemiology

San Diego State University offers a residential MPH program in epidemiology for students seeking advanced public health knowledge. The program focuses on life-saving research projects, discovering the root cause of disease and injury in specific groups of people, and approaching the growth of building healthier communities across the globe by starting within the community surrounding the university. Throughout the two-year program, students will experience hands-on public health through fieldwork, complete virtual course loads, and impact the community in which they reside.

The 51-unit program includes 15 core courses, six prescribed electives, 21 epidemiology courses, six electives, and three branches of capstone experience work. Core courses include but are not limited to biostatistics, environmental determinants of human health, and epidemiology. The epidemiology course load has epidemiology of infectious diseases, SAS for biostatistics I, advanced statistical methods in public health, and field practice. The prescribed elective courses are titled control of contagious diseases and border and global public health surveillance. Summing up the course work is the capstone experience with a capstone project and manuscript option.

The admissions process for San Diego State University includes a SOPHAS application completed online. This application consists of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, completion of a statistics course before application, a GPA of two-point eight five overall or higher, and current employment within a public health-related position. Within the SOPHAS application are other components required by the university, including official transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, an SDSU application form, and official test scores for language proficiency, dependent upon the applicant.

• Location: San Diego, CA
• Duration: 20 to 24 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Tuition: $30,804 total

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – MPH and PhD in healthcare management

The faculty and expertise of the George McMillan Fleming Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston set it apart from other universities providing education in the area of healthcare management. Fourteen faculty members comprise the education department who supported and provided mentorship to the one hundred percent of graduates who stated that the degree prepared them for work in their chosen field.

The program offers part-time and full-time hybrid MPH and PhD programs to help carve a focus on prevention for health and intervention through community-based programming. The program provides working professionals with a degree to complete their higher education desires in healthcare. The program’s core values include interdependence, transformation, discovery, and diversity.

The coursework includes 45 units with a specialized focus on population health. The program’s primary focus is practical experience in healthcare management. Real-world cases, internships, research, and fellowships make up the foundation of the work completed in the MPH at the University of Texas.

Before graduation, students complete a practicum through the Fleming Center that comprises 180 hours of hands-on experience in a community-based location. Similar to an internship, the training provides essential public health experience for future leaders of public health administration and policy building.

The application deadline for this program is in April. Some application requirements include a bachelor’s degree, a statement of purpose, and objectives.

• Location: Houston, TX
• Duration: Three years
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Tuition: $287 per credit

Boston University School of Public Health – MPH

The Boston University School of Public Health Offers an on-campus master of public health program.

Guest speakers, professional development, and field-based networking provide students with the essentials for future leadership. The Boston University MPH student will have covered all five essential healthcare management areas upon graduation, which cover the following: health policy analysis, leadership, professionalism, improvement and implementation, and healthcare system analysis.

The coursework incorporates the foundations of healthcare management work. Some courses include but are not limited to operations management in healthcare, managerial accounting for healthcare leaders, healthcare delivery systems, issues and innovations, strategic management of healthcare organizations, and administrative skills for problem-solving. The practicum component includes choices for candidates.

The admissions process starts with an application through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), a two-week verification process. The SOPHAS includes a fee, transcripts, and a personal essay submitted. The admissions committee will send a follow-up email to candidates if the application is selected for the third tier.

• Location: Boston, MA
• Duration: 16 to 24 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Tuition: $91,584 for the 16-month accelerated program; $91,584 total for the two-year combination full program

New York University – MPA in health policy management

New York University offers an MPA in health policy management that prepares students for future leadership roles in healthcare organizations. The program is currently seeking diverse and early career-based students seeking leadership roles within the field. The faculty of the program at NYU comprises practitioners and scholars within the area who focus on a core competency of coursework and practice experience.

Some of the core courses listed include the following but are not limited to statistical methods, introduction to public policy, and management and leadership. Some required courses include, but are not limited to, continuous quality improvement, health economics: principles, and financial management for healthcare organizations I and II. There are 18 elective courses, including leading service delivery, equitable community engagement, and multi-sector partnerships: a comparative perspective. The 45-credit program consists of 15 core credits, 16.5 specialization requirements, and 13.5 credits of seven required courses.

The admissions process for NYU includes an online application, two essays, a resume, letters of recommendation, transcripts, international credential evaluation where applicable, GRE or quantitative skills evaluation, English language standardized testing where appropriate, application fee, and financial aid information. Specific details, drop-down boxes, and links are available on the website under admissions information for each program candidates select.

• Location: New York, NY
• Duration: 24 to 28 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Tuition: $2,020 per credit