What is an MHA Degree?

A master of health administration (MHA) can set a graduate apart from the healthcare employee pack, making one eligible for higher-paying jobs with more responsibilities. Potential roles for those with MHAs include health administrator, health service manager, healthcare manager, and even chief executive officer. These professionals are responsible for all aspects of the healthcare industry, including managing facilities, services, budgets, programs, partnerships, and staff.

Those looking to advance their careers in healthcare can benefit from an MHA, especially if they plan to take on an executive or operations role. Even those with experience in clinical roles can transition to one with leadership capabilities.

With an MHA, students learn essential skills, such as efficiently collecting, maintaining, and analyzing data. As a result, they can become highly-trained health informatics specialists, clinical analysts, or clinical informatics managers to lower costs, improve patient outcomes, and boost communication.

MHA programs also teach students how to make a positive difference in healthcare organizations and patient outcomes. They learn how to approach healthcare administration from patient-centered, policy, and business perspectives and how to make lasting changes in high-quality healthcare for patients.

Active health administration professionals teach many programs, supplying students with insider knowledge and perspective. As a result, students can prepare for executive-level decision-making by exploring complex moral and ethical issues. In addition, because they learn the skills necessary to lead healthcare organizations in patient-centered care, they can help manage costs at the same time.

Since healthcare is a heavily regulated field with many practical and professional challenges, an MHA is ideal for healthcare professionals seeking advancement into leadership and executive positions.

When on a path toward healthcare management, three great degrees will often come into a healthcare professional’s radar: the master of health administration (MHA), the master of business administration (MBA), and the master of public health (MPH). Although each can lead to some of the same positions in healthcare leadership, there are distinctive differences.

Future managers consider an MBA in healthcare programs as management degrees with a healthcare focus. An MBA is viewed as a generalist degree, with programs designed to broadly apply to different industries and professional contexts. MBA candidates can also specialize in specific fields, sectors, or concentrations, adding about two or three elective courses to the core curriculum.

Future healthcare leaders can think of a master of public health (MPH) degree as a healthcare research degree with a sprinkling of management. Because the MPH focuses on population health, MPH students study epidemiology, environmental health, public health biology, health policy and ethics, statistics, medical ethics, global health, and disease prevention. In addition, leadership coursework, if included, often focuses on the capacity to manage scientific research and influence public policy.

An MHA is a leadership degree tailored to meet the healthcare industry’s needs, opportunities, and administrative challenges. Courses cover topics like finance, accounting, policy, law, management, and marketing. Like an MBA, an MHA program uses real-life examples, case studies, projects, presentations, and more. In addition, the MHA degree focuses on models related to the impact of healthcare.

They can choose from an on-campus or online program or a mixture of hybrid or blended programs. Some curricula are accelerated or full-time, while others are part-time. In addition, specialization options are available in population management, senior services, data management, and more.

One of the biggest perks of obtaining an MHA is the potential for a higher salary. The median annual pay for medical and health services managers was $117,960, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2025) data.

According to the BLS (2025), opportunities for medical and health services managers are expected to grow 23 percent nationally between 2024 and 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations (3 percent). This growth is partly attributed to the aging population, leading to an increased demand for healthcare services.

Without a doubt, an MHA can help professionals advance in their careers. However, even with decades of experience in the healthcare field, it can be difficult to progress further in the industry without a master’s degree.

An MHA can help graduates achieve more responsibility on the job as well, putting them in line for positions that could dictate the future of a healthcare organization. The decisions MHA graduates make in these positions can affect the careers of hundreds of people and the lives of thousands of patients. Because healthcare is such a profound and competitive business, it takes a confident and decisive individual to run a healthcare organization.

From accelerated and executive to full- and part-time, there are many avenues students can pursue when considering which MHA program is best for them.

Full-time programs can be completed in as little as one year, while part-time programs—ideal for working professionals—can be completed in two or three years and often up to five or six. Accelerated programs are just what their name implies: a fast track to graduation. Topics cover the same curriculum but at a quicker pace, usually within 12 to 18 months.

An executive MHA is a highly competitive environment where students learn to be visionaries in their field, even when faced with a fast and profound change in the following areas: technological advancements, economics, ethical situations, finance, policy, and management. These programs generally require applicants to have several years of leadership experience within healthcare.

In general, MHA programs range from 36 to 64 credits and provide instruction in:

• Ethics of healthcare
• Healthcare law
• Health policy
• Research methods for the health professions
• Epidemiology and community health
• Managed healthcare
• Healthcare informatics
• Risk management
• Healthcare quality management
• Health services research
• Financial management of healthcare organizations
• Healthcare organization
• Accounting for healthcare organizations
• Capstone course and field experiences

Additionally, some MHA programs offer concentrations, including specialized coursework in:

• Data management
• Entrepreneurship
• Health systems management
• Healthcare strategies
• Human resources
• Informatics
• Health policy and administration
• Nursing home administration (senior services)
• Population management

With the growing number of MHA programs available, students have various options regarding how their education is delivered.

Students who thrive in a traditional classroom setting can choose on-campus programs. Busy professionals who need more schedule flexibility cannot stop working for a school, or for those who can’t relocate for an MHA program. Students seeking the flexibility of an online program with the networking opportunities of an on-campus program may find themselves at home in a hybrid program.

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati offers a 100 percent online executive master of health administration designed to train busy working professionals to become the next generation of executive healthcare leaders. This 40-credit program is delivered asynchronously, can be completed as a part-time program, and does not require GMAT or GRE scores for entrance.

Applicants to the program must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. At least two years of work experience in a health care setting is preferred. Applicantion materials include unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and any graduate (if applicable) coursework, two professional or academic references to provide letters of recommendation, a current resume, a personal statement, and an application fee.

This CAHME-accredited program includes courses such as health systems management; global health systems; health care finance; health care marketplace; health quality; health informatics, information systems, and technology; health policy; and a health systems management capstone, among others.

• Location: Cincinnati, OH
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

American College of Education

American College of Education offers an online MHA program preparing graduates for advanced leadership roles in the healthcare field, providing real-world experience in strategy development and management. In addition to including topics such as technology, communication, management, leadership, professionalism, and critical thinking, the program’s curriculum includes a planned supervised practicum to facilitate application of theoretical concepts and provide real-world experience.

For admission to the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 2.5, and official transcripts from an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate competence in the English language.

This 36-credit program includes courses such as health policy evaluation and development; advanced quality management for healthcare administrators; project management for healthcare administrators; financial analysis and assessment in healthcare administration; human resources in healthcare organizations; marketing for healthcare professionals; epidemiology and public health for healthcare administrators; and legal and ethical decision making in healthcare administration.

• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 18 months

Rasmussen University

Students at Rasmussen University’s fully online MHA program will develop advanced knowledge and skills in the healthcare industry. They will learn firsthand about process improvement and quality management, including trends and market forces that impact quality patient care. The program’s curriculum aligns with the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) Health Leadership Competency Model.

This 48-credit program includes courses such as professional growth and leadership; healthcare strategic planning and marketing; healthcare quality management; healthcare operations management; healthcare information systems and technology; healthcare leadership and human resources; healthcare financial management and economics; and healthcare policy, ethics, and laws.

Graduates will be able to take up careers such as hospital administrators, clinical directors, health services managers, and practice managers.

• Location: Bloomington, MN
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 18 months

Purdue Global

Purdue Global’s master of health care administration (MHCA) program focuses on preparing graduates for advancement into administration, leadership, and general management roles in various health care settings. The program’s curriculum will teach students to apply health care theory and principles to real-world scenarios. The program culminates in the successful completion of a capstone project that allows students to apply what they’ve learned to a challenging real-world problem or issue.

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in this graduate program. Applicants will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of their bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Comprising 52 credits, the program includes courses such as organizational development for health care; leadership and management in health care; health care financial management; health care law and ethics; human resources for health care managers; data analytics for health care managers; health care operations and quality assessment; health policy; health information applications and systems; and leading health care transformation with strategy integration.

• Location: West Lafayette, IN
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 18 months

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Fielding School of Public Health offers an online MHA program that features a combination of asynchronous activities, such as lecture readings and videos, and weekly, one-hour live sessions with faculty and peers. The program also requires two on-campus immersions (on UCLA’s campus and around Los Angeles) and a capstone project providing hands-on experience and networking opportunities. For the capstone, students are immersed in a high-stakes, data-driven hospital management simulation.

Designed to be completed in two years (each year consisting of four 10-week terms), this 66-credit program has both full-time and part-time options. Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, and three years of professional work experience in any industry. GRE scores are not required for admission.

The curriculum includes courses such as healthcare organization & financing; fundamentals of public health; management & organizational behavior in health systems; microeconomic theory in the health sector; statistics for health management decision-making; healthcare operations management; healthcare information systems & technology; healthcare financial accounting; and data analytics & visualization, among others.

• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

Governors State University

Governors State University offers an online master of health administration (MHA) program delivered in a flexible hybrid format, blending on-campus and online learning for convenience. Students through this program will learn to manage regulatory procedures, legal issues, financial concerns, technology, human resources, policy-making, and public relations in medical settings.

For admission, applicants must have an undergraduate degree with an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. All entering students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the areas of statistics, economics, accounting, and computer literacy. Students are required to take deficiency courses if a deficiency exists. Official transcripts of undergraduate degrees are required.

This 54-credit program includes courses such as introduction to healthcare organizations; community health and managerial epidemiology; economics of health administration; health care policy; health care informatics; health care financial management; organizational theories in health administration; program evaluation and analysis; and quantitative decision-making for health administration, among others.

• Location: University Park, IL
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 30 months

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (USC) offers a hybrid online/on-campus executive master of health administration for seasoned clinical professionals with a minimum of five years of experience at the mid-to senior-level who wish to lead within the global healthcare industry.

The course content of USC’s 36-credit program is delivered online, and coursework includes leading people and healthcare organizations; managing the organization’s financial health; operations management accountability; and quality care concepts. In addition, the on-campus part of USC’s program includes two five-day on-campus residencies where students will discuss the future of the healthcare industry, life in the C-suite, current and future trends, and the evolution of healthcare leadership.

• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

University of Minnesota

Since 1964, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health has offered a top-ranking full-time master of healthcare administration (MHA) that fully integrates business acumen with the complexity of healthcare delivery needs. The Commission accredits this full-time, 60-credit, 21-month program on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). It is delivered in a cohort model and requires students to complete a hands-on summer residency with a healthcare organization.

Coursework in the program includes managerial accounting for health services; innovation of healthcare services; population health; statistics for health management decision making; management of healthcare organizations; health and health systems; principles of problem solving in health services organizations; health economics; health finance; healthcare strategy; health care human resource management; and legal and ethical considerations in health services organizations.

• Location: Minneapolis, MN
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 21 months

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management offers a campus-based master of health administration program. Graduates of this program gain hands-on experience and develop technical, management, and analytical skills required to lead in hospitals and health systems, the health insurance industry, and consulting firms.

This CAHME-accredited program’s accelerated curriculum includes 12 months of full-time academic coursework followed by a full-time, 11-month compensated administrative residency in one of many Hopkins-affiliate or partner institutions across the country.

Made up of 88 credits, the program includes courses such as foundational principles of public health; biologic, genetic and infectious bases of human disease; the social determinants of health; statistical reasoning in public health; applied methods for optimizing performance in health care organizations; fundamentals of financial accounting; pathways in health administration; quantitative tools for managers; fundamentals of budgeting and financial management; health economics; and negotiation in health care settings, among others.

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

University of New Haven

The CAHME-accredited MHA program at the University of New Haven provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthcare organizations. By providing students with an in-depth understanding of healthcare, this MHA program will equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify challenges in the healthcare system and to effectively address and respond to these issues.

Applicants to the program must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution of higher learning. Most students who matriculate to this MHA Program have undergraduate GPAs of 3.3 or higher and an average of two or more years of work experience.

Consisting of 36 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to the US healthcare system; management of healthcare organizations; financial management of healthcare organizations; law and public health; healthcare ethics; statistics for healthcare managers; communication in healthcare; healthcare leadership; and strategy and innovation in healthcare.

Notably, in addition to this cam-based MHA program, the University of New Haven also has an online MHA option.

• Location: West Haven, CT
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months