Who Accredits MHA Programs?

Selecting the right master’s program in health administration can be tricky. The first step for prospective MHA students is to ensure that their desired institution and course of study are appropriately recognized by an accreditation body, such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Although the U.S. Department of Education maintains a database detailing post-secondary accredited institutions and programs, it should not be considered authoritative; confirmation from CHEA or CAHME should always be obtained before making MHA enrollment decisions.

An institution of higher education will be recognized by one regional institutional accrediting organization and, depending on academic offerings, may have one or several programmatically accredited programs in specialty areas, such as healthcare administration, nursing, allied healthcare careers, health informatics, business, social work, pharmacy, and journalism.

For example, the University of Scranton holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which is recognized by CHEA. In addition, it has multiple professionally accredited programs by some of the following MHA-relevant organizations and disciplines:

• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Accrediting agencies play a crucial role in ensuring that educational and professional institutions meet the highest standards. Such transparency is invaluable for prospective students, who can examine a program’s accreditation status to ensure it meets their expectations before enrolling.

Read on to explore accreditation agencies and processes specific to master’s of health administration (MHA) and other related programs.

There are two types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation ensures that an institution of higher education provides high-quality education. Accredited institutions have met specific academic and professional standards of reputable third-party organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). A non-profit higher education organization based in the United States, CHEA was founded in 1996 to advocate for academic quality through accreditation. CHEA recognizes these four organizations responsible for the accreditation of roughly 3,000 of the nation’s colleges and universities:

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Programmatic accreditation ensures that programs within a specific department prepare students for specific careers and meet high-quality, state-level, or national licensure standards. For example, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is the preferred programmatic accrediting agency for master’s of healthcare administration (MHA) programs. In addition, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) accreditation is the gold standard for healthcare MBA programs.

Students must properly research the accreditation of the MHA programs they are considering. Failure to select programs and schools approved by the appropriate entities can negatively impact a student’s chances of securing financial aid; applying to other academic programs; or qualifying for professional certification. They may also have trouble transferring credits between schools.

Read on for an in-depth description of MHA program accrediting organizations and a list of accredited online MHA and other related healthcare administration programs.

Several organizations throughout the country accredit MHA and other healthcare management programs. Therefore, students should be diligent when researching their MHA program of choice and its associated accreditation agency.

Here are the reputable accreditation entities for MHA and healthcare MBA programs with details about their history; which types of schools or programs they accredit; how they perform evaluations; and a featured MHA program for each organization.

CAHME is the most reputable accreditation agency for MHA degrees and the only organization that grants MHA program-specific accreditation. It is considered the highest standard by students and employers. CAHME-accredited programs offer high-quality curricula, distinguished faculty in education and research, and a top-notch network of professional colleagues and alumni.

CAHME’s mission is to set measurable criteria for outstanding healthcare management education; support, assist, and advise programs to meet or exceed requirements and improve continuously; accredit graduate programs that meet or exceed the criteria; and make the information readily available.

The University of Scranton provides one example of a CAHME-accredited online MHA program. It was one of the first online MHA programs accredited by this agency. To receive this distinction, the University of Scranton demonstrated how it maintains relevancy in its course curriculum and adjusts to the ever-changing nature of healthcare.

This 41- to 52-credit program helps students develop communication, critical thinking, leadership, and ethics skills. Two specializations are available in health informatics and global health.

The program’s curriculum includes courses such as healthcare financial management; human resources management; healthcare economics and policy; administrative issues; healthcare planning and marketing; health services and systems; healthcare operations and quality; healthcare law and ethics; and leadership and organizational behavior.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a 3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA, official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, and a current resume. The program accepts applicants with or without professional work experience. Students accepted into the program with little to no work experience are required to take the ‘administrative residency’ course to gain practical experience. Admitted students with three or more years of work experience will complete the ‘internship in health administration’ course or the ‘directed study’ course as their applied professional experience.

• Location: Scranton, PA
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 2.5 years

CAHIIM accredits health informatics and information management programs, two fields closely allied with health administration. To qualify, a university must have institutional accreditation from a CHEA-recognized entity, provisions for Title IV eligibility, and must meet other standards of excellence in the evaluation process. Graduates of CAHIIM-accredited programs may be eligible to sit for the AHIMA certification exams, which cover various skills related to informatics, data management, and electronic health records.

The University of Illinois at Chicago offers an online master of science in health informatics (MSHI) accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). The MSHI program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to become leaders in health informatics. Students learn how to use data, technology, and analytics to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of care.

The 38-credit program also focuses on developing leadership skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. With this degree, graduates can pursue various career paths in the healthcare industry, including clinical informatics specialists, health information managers, or healthcare IT consultants.

Concentration options are available in health data science; consumer and mobile health; and leadership. The curriculum includes courses such as healthcare data; information sources in biomedical & health information sciences; ethics & legal issues in health informatics; management of healthcare communication systems; health information systems analysis & design; and social and organizational issues in health informatics.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
• Expected Time to Completion: 2.5 years

The ACBSP focuses on business programs specifically. Since 1988, it has been accrediting quality business programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree levels at more than 1,000 schools worldwide. ACBSP focuses on exceptional teaching, learning outcomes, and continuous curriculum improvement according to the evolving business world.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is one example of a school with an online ACBSP-accredited MBA in healthcare management program, where students can gain a competitive advantage in the healthcare field and master industry-specific knowledge within the master of business administration in healthcare management. Like an MHA, an MBA in healthcare management program can prepare students to take on leadership roles in hospitals, clinics, or medical offices.

This ten-course program helps graduates excel at managing the day-to-day intricacies of major organizations such as healthcare systems and develop the skills to fix programs, undertake strategic planning, and think critically.

The curriculum includes courses such as healthcare informatics; topics in health administration; social and organizational issues in healthcare; organizational strategy in a global environment; measuring success in an organization; and strategic opportunity management.

• Location: Manchester, NH
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Expected Time to Completion: One year

AACSB International brings educators, students, and businesses together to create a new generation of exceptional leaders. Since 1916, AACSB International has ensured quality, business education, intelligence, and professional development. Just like ACBSP, AACSB International focuses on business-oriented healthcare programs. AACSB is considered the gold standard in MBA program accreditation.

The University of Delaware online MBA program in healthcare management is accredited by AACSB. This 38-credit program can give students the targeted industry knowledge and analytical tools to lead their organization to far-reaching growth and success. Notably, it was ranked at #20 among the best online MBAs in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report (2025).

Applicants to the program must have a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. They must provide an unofficial transcript, a resume, and two Letters of recommendation. A minimum of two years of work experience is preferred, while GMAT or GRE scores are optional.

The curriculum includes courses such as E-service management in healthcare; patient experience and engagement; leadership and innovation in population health; financial reporting and analysis; economic analysis for business policy; operations management and management science; marketing management; and financial management.

• Location: Newark, DE
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
• Expected Time to Completion: One year

The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) is an organization that works to advance academic quality in business programs through evidence-based accreditation. It encourages institutions to build and improve upon their educational offerings and assesses them based on outcomes. The IACBE has accredited MBA programs, colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions worldwide with healthcare management MBA programs.

The University of Saint Mary offers an online MBA program that provides students with the marketable skills they need to accelerate their careers in as little as 12 months. Students can tailor their degree to fit their career goals with eight available concentrations: accounting, business analytics, AI, finance, general management, healthcare management, leadership, marketing, and supply chain and strategic management. The flexible program allows students to take courses at their own pace while still providing the same quality education as the campus-based MBA program.

This 33-credit program includes courses in healthcare informatics and technologies; leadership and business operations in healthcare; legal and ethical issues in healthcare; organizational management; marketing management; managerial economics; managerial accounting; and global management.

• Location: Leavenworth, KS
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
• Expected Time to Completion: One year

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is one of the main accreditation entities for nursing programs, including those in nursing administration. The CCNE is an officially recognized national accreditation agency by the U.S. Department of Education. It provides accreditation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, ensuring they meet specific quality standards. The CCNE process helps ensure that students receive a quality education and are prepared for future careers in nursing.

The University of Texas at Arlington offers an online master of science in nursing in nursing administration program. This program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful nurse administrators, program administrators, or executives. Preparing graduates for success in nursing management, this nursing administration program incorporates contemporary management theory and core competencies to help them become top candidates for competitive leadership roles in healthcare.

Applicants to the program must possess a BSN from a university that is regionally accredited, and the nursing program must be accredited by CCNE or ACEN. Moreover, they must have an unencumbered RN license, a minimum of two years of work experience, an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, completion of the undergraduate (basic) statistics course with a minimum grade of “C”, and official transcripts. Applicants who meet all the admission requirements listed above but have fewer than two years of clinical experience may be granted provisional admission.

Comprising 36 credits, the program includes courses such as nursing management in the healthcare environment; exploration of science and theories for nursing; roles and functions of the nurse administrator; financial management in nursing; management of nursing operations; nursing leadership and complex healthcare systems; principles of research in nursing; evidence-based practice; and nursing informatics.

• Location: Arlington, TX
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 1.5 to two years

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which accredits schools of public health and public health programs offered in institutions of higher education. CEPH works to ensure that the public health workforce is well-prepared to tackle the global challenges of today’s society through its rigorous evaluation process of school performance and curriculum standards. CEPH also seeks to promote quality improvements in population health through research, training, education, and advocacy initiatives.

The Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers an online master of public health program, preparing graduates to combat society’s most urgent public health challenges. Students in this program will start with core courses, in which they will establish an integrated foundation in public health. They will then build focused expertise through concentration courses and electives. Concentrations are available in applied epidemiology; nutrition, food systems, and health; and leadership in practice. In addition to the core, concentration, and elective courses, students will also complete the MPH practicum, a 200-hour mentored, evaluated work experience where they will apply their training in a real-world setting.

The program has three start dates per year and requires students to possess a bachelor’s degree for admission. GRE test scores and work experience are not required for admission.

Made up of 42 credits, the program includes courses such as systems approach to understanding public health issues; methods and measures for public health practice; data analysis for public health; public health solutions: systems, policy and advocacy; developing, implementing and evaluating public health solutions; data in public health; epidemiologic data analysis; nutritional epidemiology; and community engagement and leadership in health, among others.

• Location: Chapel Hill, NC
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Expected Time to Completion: 1.5 to three years

No matter what graduate healthcare program you choose, the bottom line is: accreditation matters.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review institutional and programmatic accreditation standards and guidelines, and the current and projected accreditation status of the schools and programs they are interested in before applying or enrolling.

Learn more about the differences between MHA, MBA, and MPH programs to find an accredited healthcare administration or policy graduate program.

Rachel Drummond, MEd

Writer

As a contributor on MHAOnline, Rachel Drummond has brought her expertise in education and mindfulness to the healthcare management field since 2019. She writes about integrating innovation into healthcare administration, emphasizing the importance of mental and physical well-being for effective leadership and decision-making in the fast-paced world of healthcare management.

Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.