What Are the Best Online MHA Programs?

Managing hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, dental offices, and other facilities that deal with patients requires high-level skills and expertise. With the global healthcare industry growing at a 5.4 percent annual rate, it’s no wonder that those who manage these services—healthcare administrators—are in high demand.

Healthcare administrators don’t treat patients. Rather, they manage the business of healthcare so that the medical professionals—doctors, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and others—can deliver much-needed care.

If you want to advance in the high-paying, high-responsibility profession, you should consider earning a graduate degree. Many jobs require it, and more will as healthcare and healthcare administration grow more complex in the coming years. The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) is the degree many healthcare administrators choose. It offers broad-ranging training applicable to a variety of healthcare settings. You might call the MHA the MBA of the health world (others already do). Having one means you can compete for some of the best-paying jobs in healthcare.

The challenge is in earning the degree. If you’re a busy working professional, taking two years off to earn a master’s degree is probably not an option. That’s why you might consider online MHA programs, which accommodate part-time study for full-time professionals.

In this guide to the best online MHA programs, we’ll cover:

• What kinds of students choose MHA programs?
• MHA versus MPH
• Benefits of an online master of healthcare administration degree
• Courses offered in an online MHA program
• MHA concentration options
• What you can do with a Master of Healthcare Administration degree
• Best online MHA degree programs

What kinds of students choose MHA programs?

Most part-time and full-time students in online and on-campus Master of Healthcare Administration programs have bachelor’s degrees in a related discipline, such as:

• Biology
• Business administration
• Chemistry
• Health services administration
• Nursing
• Physics

It’s not unusual for programs to require applicants to have three to five years of relevant work experience. Don’t worry if your professional background isn’t in healthcare management, though; there are also online MHA programs that don’t require professional experience. George Mason University offers one, for example, as does Southern New Hampshire University.

MHA versus MPH

If you’re looking into Master of Health Administration programs, your search results have probably included some Master of Public Health (MPH) (and maybe Master of Health Policy) degree programs. These degrees are designed for professionals who want to improve health outcomes and quality of care on a large scale, but beyond that, MHA and MPH programs are quite different.

In an online MHA program, you’ll train to become a leader in the healthcare industry. You’ll take classes in business administration (presented in a healthcare context) while also learning about health sciences and related concepts like patient-centered care and long-term care. When you graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to run a healthcare organization.

An MPH program, on the other hand, will prepare you for a career in public health policy. Your coursework will touch on business topics, but you’ll learn a lot more about biostatistics, epidemiology, public health research, disease prevention, and public policy. When you graduate, you’ll be qualified to design, assess, administer, and oversee public health education programs.

Benefits of an online master of healthcare administration degree

There are a lot of good reasons to get a master’s degree online, but most students cite flexibility as the chief benefit of online study. Most MHA programs—on-campus and online—are designed for working professionals who demand flexibility. Even so, online MHA programs tend to be even more flexible in terms of class scheduling and assignment due dates. They may also be shorter, as is the one-year online program at Plymouth State University.

Don’t assume that an online MHA will be easier to complete than an on-campus program, though. Many online master’s degree programs use the same curriculum, the same professors, and the same standards to assess student progress as on-campus programs at the same school. Additionally, distance learning can be a solitary endeavor, with little contact with faculty or fellow students. To succeed in an online MHA program, you must be self-directed and motivated enough to tackle your homework after a long day at work.

Courses offered in an online MHA program

Every online MHA program has its own curriculum, but you’ll probably see some or all of the following topics covered in the programs listed below.

• Healthcare management
• Nursing management
• Financial management in healthcare
• Human resources management in healthcare
• Analytics for healthcare management
• Essentials of public health
• Health policy
• Performance improvement in healthcare
• Legal aspects of healthcare
• Healthcare ethics
• Medicare and Medicaid policy
• Health insurance and managed care

MHA concentration options

Few online Master of Healthcare Administration programs offer concentrations or specialization options. This is a significant difference between online and on-campus MHA programs. A few programs do, however. The online MHA programs we’ve profiled here that don’t offer concentrations will serve you well if you’re unsure which healthcare field interests you. But if you have particular career aspirations (e.g., working in public health or in a hospital network), look for programs that offer specializations related to your goals. You might, for instance, want to specialize in:

• Health policy
• Health systems management
• Nursing home management
• Health education
• Health informatics
• Data management and healthcare analytics
• Healthcare operations
• International management
• Population health
• Project management
• Organizational leadership
• Change management

What you can do with a Master of Healthcare Administration degree

MHA graduates should qualify for many leadership roles and career paths in healthcare. After earning a Master of Healthcare Administration online, professionals step into management positions in facilities where sick, injured, and elderly people go for care, such as:

• Doctors’ offices
• Nursing homes
• Home healthcare organizations
• Dental offices
• Hospitals

Other MHA graduates work in:

• Medical and diagnostic labs
• Insurance companies
• Healthcare equipment companies
• Government agencies

Others still work as consultants, moving between facilities.

On any given day, a healthcare administrator might deal with:

• Personnel management
• Financial matters
• Regulatory and legal compliance
• Equipment and technology needs
• Public relations

The quick answer to the question “What can I do with a master’s degree in healthcare administration?” is a lot. You could become a:

• Hospital administrator
• Nursing home administrator
• Clinical manager
• Operations manager
• Health information manager
• Home healthcare administrator
• Healthcare consultant
• Practice manager
• Risk management director
• Health services manager
• Business development director
• Patient safety director
• Healthcare executive
• Hospital CEO

Best online MHA degree programs

For each of the online master’s programs in healthcare administration listed below, we’ve included the most relevant information to consider when choosing from among the available options: degree type, program format, tuition, graduation requirements, core courses, electives, features, and concentrations.

Keep in mind, however, that “best” is highly subjective when it comes to most master’s degree programs. The best online Master of Healthcare Administration will always be the one that aligns with your professional goals, requires a commitment you can handle, and is affordable.

California State University – East Bay

• Degree: Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MS-HCA)
• Format: 100 percent online
• Tuition: $16,286
• Graduation requirements: 34 credit hours over four semesters (two courses per semester)
• Core courses: Evolution of the U.S. Health Care System, Health Disparities and Policy; Health Care Management, Leadership and Strategic Planning; Health Care Quality Improvement Tools and Methodologies; Health Care Technology and Informatics; Health Care Financial Management and Third-Party Reimbursement; Health Care Legal, Diversity and Ethical Issues; Health Care Program Development and Grant Writing; plus a capstone project course
• Elective courses: None listed
• __Concentration options: None listed
• Features: “Best in the West” college selection by the Princeton Review; Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges; program aligns with the desired competencies developed by the Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA)

Central Michigan University

• Degree: Master of Health Administration
• Format: 100 percent online using CMU’s Blackboard platform
• Tuition: $637 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 51 credit hours
• Core courses: Human Resource Management; Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior; Financial Analysis, Planning and Control; Strategic Planning for the Administrator; Healthcare Administration and Ethical Compliance; Healthcare Operations and Structures; Healthcare Law, Compliance and Risk Management; Health Economics and Policy Implication; Fundamentals of Healthcare Finance; Healthcare Planning & Marketing; Statistics for Health Professionals; Managerial Epidemiology; Health Informatics and Quality Improvement; Quantitative Decision-Making for Health Administration; International Health Systems, Policy and Administration
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Two start dates, in fall and spring; students can choose from among field experience, an applied research project, or an internship; students can apply without submitting GRE, GMAT, or MAT scores

Colorado State University – Global Campus

• Degree: Master of Health Administration
• Format: 100 percent online
• Tuition: $500 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 36 credits over one to two years
• Core courses: Fundamentals of Research and Writing; The U.S. Healthcare System; Organizational Behavior and Human Resources in Healthcare; Health Law and Ethics; Quality and Performance Improvement in Healthcare; Operations Management in Healthcare Organizations; Healthcare Finance; Healthcare Information Systems; Organizational Management: Strategy and Execution; plus a healthcare management internship
• Elective courses: Business Strategy in the Global Economy; International Trade; Global Financial Management; International Business; Decision Theory in a Global Marketplace; Managing Dynamic Environments; Dynamics of Power in Organizations; Examination of Modern Leadership; Principles of Population Health; Healthcare Change Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship; Health Informatics & Population Health Analytics; Population Health Program Assessment, Implementation, and Evaluation; Project Management; Contracts, Procurement, and Risk Management; Project Metrics, Monitoring, and Control; Project Management Office (PMO)
• Concentration options: International Management; Population Health; Project Management; Organizational Leadership and Change Management
• Features: Online students are eligible for financial aid and scholarships; Colorado State University partners with more than 2,200+ employers to offer tuition discounts; no set class times; monthly class start dates; the tuition at enrollment is the tuition students pay throughout their time at the school

Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medical Center

• Degree: Master of Health Care Administration
• Format: 100 percent online
• Tuition: $665 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 48 total credit hours in 20 courses over two years (though the average time to completion is three years or more)
• Core courses: Health Care Human Relations Management; Professional Development Seminar; U.S. Health Care & Public Health System; Health Care Financial Management; Organizational Behavior & Leader Theory; Legal and Ethics; Basic Statistics; Organizational Development; Health Information Management; Population Health and Managerial Epidemiology; Strategy Formulation and Implementation; Health Care Economics and Policy; Strategic Marketing and Communications; plus a long-term care internship
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: No GMAT or GRE required; accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; students participate in seminars that connect them with other members of the healthcare industry; graduation rate has risen from 70 percent to 77 percent over the past five years; graduates have a 96 percent employment rate; earning this degree can fulfill the board criteria to sit for the Nursing Home Administrator licensure exam in Iowa

George Washington University

• Degree: Master of Health Administration
• Format: Online plus three in-person immersions on the George Washington University campus and one off-campus immersion at a health organization located domestically or abroad
• Tuition: $1,710 per credit hour (estimated $88,250 total for program)
• __Graduation requirements: 50 credits over two to four years
• Core courses: Health Care Management and Strategy; Medical Informatics and Decision Management; Health Care Financial Management; Community and Public Health; Health Economics and Quantitative Methods; Quality and Performance Improvement; Law and Policy; Systems Thinking and Learning; Pathways to Public Health; Health Systems Analysis; plus a capstone project
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Ranked #12 on U.S. News and World Report‘s 2019 list of best graduate schools in health care management; small class sizes; coursework is always accessible; virtual office hours and round tables; students receive a free global WeWork membership; four program start dates each year

Ohio University (Main Campus)

• Degree: Master of Health Administration
• Format: 100 percent online
• Tuition: $25,338 ($654 per credit) for Ohio residents; $26,022 ($673 per credit) for non-residents
• Graduation requirements: 36 credit hours over two years (six semesters)
• Core courses: Introduction to the U.S. Health Care Delivery System; Information Systems for Health Services; Leadership of Health Organizations; Research and Quantitative Methods for Health Services; Health Policy; Evaluation and Quality Improvement in Health Care; Health Care Finance; Health Law; Epidemiology in Health Administration; Human Resource Management in Health Care; Strategic Planning and Marketing in Health Services; Ethical Issues in Health Care
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: No GRE or GMAT scores required to apply; three start dates per year; financial aid is available; online students are welcome to visit the Ohio University campus to take advantage of student services and related programs; online students are eligible for financial aid

Seton Hall University

• Degree: Master of Healthcare Administration
• Format: Online plus three five-day, in-person residencies
• Tuition: $1,310 per credit plus $500 per semester online fee
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: 21st Century Healthcare Systems; Research Methods and Statistical Analysis for Healthcare; Professionalism and Leadership; Healthcare Management; Financial and Managerial Accounting and Costing in Healthcare; Health Finance; Healthcare Data Analytics; Health Policy; Health Economics; Population Health Management; Emergency Management for Health Professionals; Legal and Human Resources Issues in Healthcare; Strategic Planning and Marketing in Healthcare Organization; Quality and Risk Management; Ethics in Healthcare
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: The only program in New Jersey accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; 96 percent of graduates get job offers within three months of graduating; the program was designed in collaboration with healthcare administrators and academic experts

Stony Brook University

• Degree: Master of Health Administration
• Format: Hybrid, with over 50 percent of the curriculum is delivered through an online format; six courses delivered on-site at Stony Brook Medicine Health Sciences Tower
• Tuition: $582 per credit hour for New York residents; $963 per credit hour for non-residents
• Graduation requirements: 51 credit hours over two years (for full-time students)
• Core courses: Human Resources Management in the Health Sector; Health Finance and Accounting; Health Law and Compliance; Health Strategic Planning and Management; Health Leadership and Change; Health Quality and Information Systems Management; Long-Term Care in the Health Sector; Health Management Professionalism and Ethics; Physician Practice Management; Fundamentals of Health Management; Contemporary Issues in Public Health; Biostatistics; Health Systems Performance; Epidemiology for Public Health; Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health; Health Economics
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Essential areas of study are supplemented and enhanced by courses in population health; the program is designed to offer flexibility for working professionals; courses are led by subject experts who are active practitioners in their fields; the program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is seeking national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; hybrid MHA students are eligible for financial aid and scholarships

Texas Woman’s University

• Degree: Master of Healthcare Administration
• Format: 100 percent online or hybrid, depending on concentration
• Tuition: $276.30 per credit hour for residents; $698.30 per credit hour for non-residents
• Graduation requirements: 45-51 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Foundations of Health Services; Research Methods for Managerial Decision Making; Financial Accounting in Health Care Administration; Health Law and Ethics; Health Policy Analysis; Strategic Planning in Healthcare; Human Resources Management in Health Care Administration; Operations Analysis in Healthcare Administration; Health Information Management; Population Health Management; Performance Measurement and Quality in Health Care Administration; Management Accounting for Health Care Organizations; Health Care Finance; Economics of Health Care; plus a professional portfolio and capstone project
• Elective courses: None listed, but students take six semester credit hours of electives approved by a faculty advisor
• Concentration options: Business Analytics; Global Health
• Features: Nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; 92 percent of enrollees complete the program; 96 percent job placement rate for program graduates; small class sizes; study abroad elective opportunities available; internships can be used to fulfill elective hours; students have access to a unique resume reviewing and job opening database that helps graduates find jobs faster

University of Central Florida

• Degree: Master of Health Administration
• Format: Online (though not all elective options or program prerequisites are offered online)
• Tuition: $369.65 per credit hour for Florida residents; $1,194.05 per credit hour for non-residents
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours
• Core courses: Health Care Decision Sciences and Knowledge Management; Health Care Organization and Management; Health Care Services Management; Health Economics and Policy; Health Care Human Resources; Health Care Quality Management; Issues and Trends in the Health Professions; Scientific Inquiry in the Health Profession; Epidemiology; Health Planning and Policy; Health Planning and Policy; Case Studies in Health Law; plus a capstone course
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: Health Services Administration and Executive Health Services Administration
• Features: UCF also offers an Executive MHA online for applicants with at least three years professional experience; cohorts of no more than 30 students; students earning this degree exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees; no thesis is required to graduate

University of Maryland – Global Campus

• Degree: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
• Format: Online and hybrid
• Tuition: $480 per credit hour for Maryland residents; $659 per credit hour for non-residents
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours within five years
• Core courses: Intercultural Communication and Leadership; Statistics for Managerial Decision Making; Introduction to Health Care Administration; Information Technology for Health Care Administration; The U.S. Health Care System; The Business of Healthcare; Public Health Administration; Long-Term Care Administration; Financial Management for Health Care Organizations; Strategic Financial Management in Healthcare; Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration; Health Care Institutional Organization and Management; Strategic Issues in Healthcare Leadership; plus a capstone project
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Program focuses on financial and statistical analytical skills; program prepares students to take the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives certification exam; the program will accept up to six transfer credits

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Degree: Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
• Format: Online plus three multi-day residencies
• Tuition: Approximately $1,151 per credit hour for North Carolina residents; approximately $2,302 per credit hour for non-residents; plus approximately $979 in fees per semester
• Graduation requirements: 49 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Reimbursement; The Healthcare Context: Macro Level; Healthcare Statistics; Financial and Managerial Accounting; Leadership and Workforce Management; Economics of Healthcare; Public Health Concepts; Strategic Planning and Marketing; Advanced Financial Management of Healthcare; Advanced Analytics; H I and Quality Tools; Health Law; capstone project
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: Health Policy and Management
• Features: The program is ranked #3 for health care management programs by US News and World Report; accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; students have the opportunity to pursue a graduate global health certificate; 40 to 50 students per cohort

University of Scranton

• Degree: Master of Healthcare Administration
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $940 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 44 credit hours plus three-hour internship; 53 credit hours with specialization (maximum of six years)
• Core courses: Health Care Organization and Administration; Health Care Statistics and Research Methods; Health Services and Systems; Healthcare Law; Human Resources Management; Healthcare Economics and Policy; Leadership in Health Administration; Administrative Issues; Healthcare Planning and Marketing; Healthcare Financial Management; Healthcare Operations and Quality; Healthcare IT Management; Healthcare Ethics; Internship in Healthcare
• Elective courses: Hospital Administration; Medical Practice Administration; Long Term Care Administration; Global Health Management; Grant Writing and Management
• Concentration options: Health Informatics; Global Health
• Features: Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; mix of synchronous and asynchronous delivery; students specializing in Global Health take two 10-day travel courses; six start dates each year; students can apply without submitting GRE, GMAT, or MAT scores; program is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

University of Southern California

• Degree: Executive Master of Health Administration
• Format: Online with two five-day residency sessions held at the USC main campus
• Tuition: $1,928 per credit hour plus $1,950 for residency sessions
• Graduation requirements: 36 credit hours over six semesters
• Core courses: Leading People and Health Care Organizations; Health Care Economics, Financing and Reimbursement; Health Information Systems; Operations Management Accountability; Managing and Improving Health; Quality of Care Concepts; Managing the Organization’s Financial Health; Information Technology and Patient Engagement; Development and Monitoring of Quality and Patient Safety and Outcomes; Operational Efficiency Processes in Health Care Organizations; Strategic Management; Managing Risk; Frontline Issues in Health Services Administration and Policy
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Three start dates each year; financial aid is available (including VA Yellow Ribbon benefits); the program utilizes a blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction

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