Where Are the Best Master of Health Administration Programs in New York?

Even before coronavirus put healthcare in every New York City headline, the Empire State was a major healthcare industry center. Three of the nation’s top 20 hospitals are located there, according to US News and World Report‘s Honor Roll. The state—which, to many people’s surprise, extends over 600 miles from Manhattan—is home to 214 hospitals providing plentiful job opportunities for well-trained healthcare industry professionals.

Great doctors and nurses are not the only reason for good care. Without an efficient healthcare administration system, quality healthcare is not possible in the modern era. Healthcare administrators oversee facilities, monitor regulations, and lobby for policy reform. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in this field should grow by 32 percent between 2019 and 2029. New York employs the third-most healthcare professionals in the nation. They earn an average annual income of $150,000 (one of the country’s highest rates).

New York is home to several highly regarded master’s in healthcare administration programs, both in the city and outside it. If you are interested in a career in health administration, New York is the place to be.

In this article on Master health administration New York we cover:

• How do you get into a master’s in health administration program?
• What will you learn in a master’s in health administration program?
• What jobs can you get with a master’s in health administration?
• Where can you get a master’s in health administration in New York?

How do you get into a master’s in health administration program?

Most students in Master of Health Administration (MHA) programs already have healthcare experience. They also frequently hold bachelor’s degrees in a subject like biology, chemistry, business, public health or even finance. Without a relevant undergraduate education, it can be difficult to get into a top program.

Most programs look for students with two or more years of work experience. That said, online programs tend to be somewhat more lenient towards those at the start of their careers. Other admissions requirements typically include a personal statement, letters of recommendation, an official transcript, and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores.

What does a master’s in health administration teach?

MHA degree programs focus mainly on the administrative side of healthcare. MHA programs teach:

• Ethics
• Finance
• Health information systems
• Human resources management
• Law
• Organizational leadership
• Policy

The healthcare industry is a broad field conducive to specialization. Many MHA programs offer multiple concentrations in such areas as acute care, health informatics, and environmental health science. The concentration you choose will impact the trajectory of your academic and professional careers significantly. If you study medical supply chain, for example, you’ll be immersed in the intricacies of ordering and inventorying essential supplies and equipment. If you study financial management, your studies will focus on investment strategies, budgeting, and risk management.

Regardless of your study path, an MHA generally takes around two years for full-time students to complete. Part-time students may take up to five years to earn the degree.

The MHA is not the only master’s degree program that leads to a health management career. Some Master of Public Health (MPH) programs (such as the one at University of Arizona) offer an administration concentration that leads to healthcare admin roles. In general, however, MPH degrees focus on public health policy and implementation rather than on administration.

Those with a penchant for business may decide on a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a healthcare administration concentration. This degree is becoming more popular among medical practitioners. MBAs prepare students specifically for management roles—though you can also rise to a management position with an MHA.

Similarly, you can also earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) focusing on healthcare administration or management. These policy-focused degree programs emphasize the public sector and lead to jobs at nonprofits and government agencies.

What will you learn in a master’s in health administration program?

Those with a master’s in healthcare administration do not just work in hospitals. Graduates can qualify for medical health and services positions like overseeing medical information or managing nursing homes. They might work in the pharmaceutical or medical supply industries. Because the healthcare industry is vast, MHAs have many options.

Job titles held by MHAs include:

• Clinical director
• Clinical informatics manager
• Healthcare lobbyist
• Hospital administrator
• Hospital CEO
• Insurance director
• Nursing home administrator
• Regulatory affairs director, medical devices

The pinnacle of the profession is hospital CEO, a role that pays an average of $600,000 annually. Hospital administrators and healthcare consultants command around $100,000 per year.

Where can you get a master’s in health administration in New York?

Clarkson University

David D. Reh School of Business

Schenectady, NY

Clarkson—located northwest of Albany, about 2.5 hours north of New York City—offers a 48-credit MBA in Healthcare Management “designed to help students understand the complexities of the healthcare system and to manage health and health-related facilities more effectively.” Students can complete this degree in-person, online, or in hybrid format.

Clarkson’s program is accredited by both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), i.e., it is endorsed as both a business and healthcare degree. The Clarkson healthcare management MBA is one of only 28 programs in the nation to hold that distinction.

Columbia University

Mailman School of Public Health

New York, NY

US News and World Report ranks Columbia University number 15 on its list of best healthcare management programs. The school reports that 96 percent of full-time students held jobs just three months after graduating with a Master of Health Administration. The program leads to management and consulting roles at healthcare organizations, insurance companies, and government agencies.

Columbia offers the option to complete a full- or part-time executive MHA program specifically designed for working professionals looking to reach upper management. The executive program takes 24 months to complete. Classes meet monthly.

Cornell University

College of Human Ecology

Ithaca, NY

US News‘ ninth-ranked healthcare management program, Cornell boasts excellent professors, students, and alumni connections available to graduates throughout their careers. According to the program’s director, Sean Nicholson, the program “combines rigorous academics with practical learning opportunities to provide students with the skills and experiences required to improve the healthcare system through leadership and innovation.” The curriculum mixes coursework with hands-on training that includes field trips, leadership exercises, mentorship, an internship, and a capstone project.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Zicklin School of Business

New York, NY

Baruch offers a 30-month Executive MBA in Healthcare Management designed for those with at least five years of relevant experience. Classes are taught both by business and healthcare professionals, providing graduates with the skills to be healthcare leaders. Students pay $72,500 for their tuition, education, books, materials, meals, and a study abroad session.

Course titles include:

• Corporate Finance
• Healthcare Accounting and Finance
• Healthcare Economics
• Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration
• Strategy and Competitive Advantage

New York University

Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

New York, NY

NYU’s offers an online MHA designed to produce leaders in the healthcare industry. Aside from one “immersion experience” in New York City, the degree program is entirely online. The school “uses the latest technologies to effectively engage and connect you with students across the country in the healthcare field.” Students in the online master’s complete individual and group coursework over seven terms.

Courses include:

• Accounting for Healthcare Management
• Healthcare Information Technology: Public Policy and Management
• Managing Healthcare Organizations
• Operations Management for Healthcare Organizations

The school’s admissions requirements state a preference for applicants with at least one year of healthcare work experience (full-time). Even so, it’s possible to gain admission without experience—sometimes even before completing a bachelor’s degree—if you can demonstrate your commitment to the field.

St. Joseph’s College – New York

Brooklyn, NY

St. Joseph’s offers a two-year MBA in Health Care Management designed for optimal flexibility. Classes are on an every-other-week schedule—either weeknights or Saturdays. According to the website, “Each course has a self-directed managerial applications component that addresses an appropriate, student-identified issue/problem/task within an actual healthcare environment.” Students graduate not only with expertise in health policy and management but also tangible experience with decision-making in a healthcare setting.

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook Medicine

Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook offers an online MHA through its public health program. This degree combines education in population health, management, and administration to help graduates start an administration career or advance their current one.

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