Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Online MHA

The Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) online master of health administration (MHA) equips students for leadership roles in today’s changing healthcare field. It offers career connections and growth through a fast-paced setup that includes a faculty-supervised individual research project. Students learn key areas like effective operations, healthcare systems, policy, human resources, strategic leadership, legal and ethical basics, health promotion, information management, epidemiology, economics, and financial topics specific to healthcare.

The program runs through the School of Health Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Courses use accelerated eight-week formats for quicker completion, with special projects, case studies, presentations, and journal reviews built in. Delivery occurs through synchronous and asynchronous online methods, addressing real issues such as organizational behavior, health policy and law, supply chain management for controlled substances, financing, and leadership challenges across various settings.

This MHA is designed for those with undergraduate backgrounds in allied health, healthcare management, business, or related fields, allowing them to complete it in as little as 24 months. Graduates prepare to work effectively in administrative positions across hospitals, long-term care groups, physician practices, insurance agencies, pharmaceutical firms, health programs, government bodies, and research organizations. Coursework stresses practical skills for these roles.

There is also an MHA/MHI concurrent track option. This path lets students earn both a master of health administration and a master of health informatics by adding 21 credits to the MHA. It targets hospital managers, health information technicians, coding specialists, nurses, physicians, patient providers, and those interested in managing long-term care, physician practices, government health agencies, or policy making, with continuous enrollment for flexible progress.

Southern Illinois University is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois, and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

What to Expect from the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Online MHA

Admission Requirements: To apply to the Southern Illinois University Carbondale online MHA program, applicants must have a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale from their undergraduate program. Students with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.7 may start as non-declared graduate students and take up to nine credits of MHA courses. After completing those nine credits, they must have a 3.0 GPA to be admitted to the MHA program; otherwise, they cannot take any more MHA courses.

All international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting scores from an approved English Language Competency Test with their application. No waivers or exemptions apply to this requirement, and students must include a copy of their test scorecard. Due to the program’s accelerated pace, late starts are not allowed or approved by the academic program.

Study Plan: The Southern Illinois University Carbondale online MHA program requires 36 credits of core courses for completion. Students with undergraduate degrees in allied health, healthcare management, business, or similar fields can finish in as little as 24 months through accelerated eight-week course formats. No clinical hours are required for the program.

The plan suits fast-paced study with full-time focus to meet the timeline, though part-time options fit working schedules. An MHA/MHI concurrent track adds an additional 21 credits to both degrees.

The program wraps with a faculty-supervised individual research project, along with special assignments such as cases, presentations, and journal reviews. Courses use synchronous and asynchronous online delivery for balance.

Curriculum: The Southern Illinois University Carbondale online MHA program comprises 36 credits of core courses covering key topics in healthcare administration. It prepares students for roles in healthcare organizations through accelerated eight-week formats delivered synchronously or asynchronously.

Core courses cover effective healthcare operations; fundamentals of health care systems; healthcare policy; human resources in health care; strategic leadership in healthcare; legal & ethical fundamentals in healthcare; theories of health promotion and evaluation; individual research in healthcare; managing health information; current events seminar in healthcare; managerial epidemiology and evidence based management; healthcare economics; financial issues in healthcare; research in healthcare administration; independent study; and continuing enrollment.

Special projects, case readings, presentations, and journal article reviews make up a large part of the learning. Topics include organizational behavior, health policy and law, supply chain and inventory management of controlled substances, healthcare financing with charge masters and relative value units, and other leadership issues. The program ends with a faculty-supervised individual research project.

An optional MHA/MHI concurrent track adds 21 credits to earn both a master of health administration and master of health informatics. This path fits those seeking combined skills in administration and informatics.

Online Experience: The Southern Illinois University Carbondale online MHA program uses accelerated eight-week courses delivered via synchronous and asynchronous formats. This setup allows students to move quickly while handling case studies, presentations, journal reviews, and a research project under faculty guidance. It supports completion in 24 months for qualified backgrounds.

On-Site Requirements: The Southern Illinois University Carbondale online MHA program is designed to be completed entirely online, with no mandatory on-campus or in-person attendance required. All coursework, assignments, and the individual research project take place through online platforms.

Paying for the Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Online MHA

Southern Illinois University’s online MHA program tuition costs are listed in the tables below. Interested students should contact the admissions department for cost clarifications and updates.

Financial aid is available to students who qualify. Options may include federal student aid, private loans, scholarships, or employer tuition assistance. The first step in applying for financial aid is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to contact the university’s Office of Financial Aid for personalized support and guidance.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Online Master of Health Administration

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - 1 Summer, 2 Fall, 2 Spring
Credits Needed to Graduate 36
Time to Complete? Complete in as little as 24 months
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation CAHME
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GRE or GMAT Required? No GRE required
Work Experience Required? No work experience required
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 36
Average Cost Per Credit $469.50
Estimated Program Tuition * $16,884.00

Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please check here for any tuition updates.

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).