Best Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) Programs
Are you ready to discover your college program?
An online master of healthcare administration (MHA) program can give you the tools you need to take the next step in your career and become a leader in your healthcare organization. At their core, MHA programs teach you how to apply business skills while supporting patient care and improving the quality of healthcare organizations.
When pursuing a healthcare administration degree, you can consider specializations like healthcare finance or medical records management. Upon graduation, you could pursue a career as a healthcare administrator, hospital operations manager, consultant, or nursing home administrator.
Read on to discover the best online master of healthcare administration programs and learn about average MHA costs, associated careers, and classes you can expect to take.
Featured MHA Degrees Online
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online MHA Programs
New York University
New York, NY- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$53,770
- Out-of-state$53,770
- In-State$35,982
- Out-of-state$35,982
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate13%
- Students Enrolled58,226
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,446
- Out-of-state$60,446
- In-State$60,446
- Out-of-state$60,446
- Retention Rate96%
- Acceptance Rate13%
- Students Enrolled49,318
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$54,652
- Out-of-state$54,652
- In-State$38,732
- Out-of-state$38,732
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate7%
- Students Enrolled23,374
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,019
- Out-of-state$35,580
- In-State$10,552
- Out-of-state$28,844
- Retention Rate96%
- Acceptance Rate17%
- Students Enrolled31,949
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
Johns Hopkins University
- Baltimore, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$58,720
- Out-of-state$58,720
- In-State$58,720
- Out-of-state$58,720
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate7%
- Students Enrolled31,275
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment80%
- AccreditationYes
Georgetown University
- Washington, DC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$59,784
- Out-of-state$59,784
- In-State$54,672
- Out-of-state$56,592
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate12%
- Students Enrolled20,984
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationYes
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,530
- Out-of-state$60,530
- In-State$32,616
- Out-of-state$33,912
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate17%
- Students Enrolled14,734
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
Clarkson College
- Omaha, NE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$14,880
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$12,294
- Out-of-state$12,294
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled1,180
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment95%
- AccreditationYes
Colorado State University-Global Campus
- Aurora, CO
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$8,400
- Out-of-state$8,400
- In-State$9,000
- Out-of-state$9,000
- Retention Rate35%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled10,844
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,168
- Out-of-state$18,566
- In-State$911
- Out-of-state$2,003
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled55,687
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
Why Get a Master’s in Healthcare Administration Online?
Whether you’re a working professional or a full-time student seeking your first job, attending an online MHA program can give you flexibility as you study. Find some benefits of earning an MHA degree and pursuing it specifically online below:
Benefits Specific to Online MHAs
- Work at Your Own Pace: Many online programs run asynchronously, allowing you to complete your studies on your own time and earn the degree without leaving your career.
- Location: Online programs allow you to complete your studies from anywhere, meaning you can attend out-of-state schools without having to move or commute.
- Cost: Online MHA programs can be more affordable than in-person courses, as you can avoid campus housing, transportation, and university fees.
MHA Degree Benefits
- Career growth: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for medical and health service managers to grow by 29% from 2023-2033, much faster than average.
- Competitive salary: The BLS reports medical and health service managers earn six-figure salaries with a median annual salary of $110,680.
- Diverse applications: An MHA degree can allow you to work in large hospitals, private clinics, assisted living facilities, and many other medical settings.
How Much Does an MHA Degree Cost?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average tuition was $11,827 for graduate students at public universities and $20,515 at private universities during the 2023-2024 academic year.
This means that the total average tuition cost for a two-year master’s program ranges from around $24,000 to $41,000, depending on the kind of school you attend. Your total costs can vary further based on several factors, including your enrollment and residency status.
Average Tuition for Full-time Graduate Students Over Two Years
Public Institutions
$23,654
Private Institutions
$41,030
Keep in mind that you may have to travel to campus or a local facility to complete your MHA program’s residency or clinical requirements. Check program requirements and be sure to budget for lodging and travel costs if needed.
Master’s in Healthcare Administration Classes
Master’s in healthcare administration programs cover specialized topics like healthcare service administration, healthcare information systems, and healthcare finance. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your leadership, financial, and business skills through this program.
While your MHA courses may vary, especially if you choose a specialization, foundational courses are similar across programs. Common classes include:
- Healthcare Finance: This class helps students develop strong financial analysis and planning skills including cost-to-profit analysis and time-value analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting standards.
- Healthcare Services Administration: In this introductory course, you’ll explore healthcare structure, organization, performance and delivery systems to problem-solve related issues.
- Healthcare Information Management: In this core course, you’ll learn to use healthcare information systems to store and analyze healthcare data. You’ll have the chance to gain skills in healthcare information management (HIM) systems evaluation and management.
How to Become a Healthcare Administrator
If your goal is to work as a healthcare administrator, an MHA degree can help get you there. The following steps outline how to become a healthcare administrator:
Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, nursing, business, or a related field.
Step 2: Gain experience by working in various medical settings. Some MHA programs may require up to three years of work experience.
Step 3: Choose an MHA program based on the total cost, specializations offered, program format, schedule, and other considerations.
Step 4: Complete your master’s degree program, which could take 1-2 years of full-time study and up to four years of part-time study.
Step 5: Earn industry certifications, such as the American Association of Healthcare Administration Management (AAHAM), Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), or nursing home administrator credentials.
Healthcare Administration Salary and Career Outlook
Your healthcare administration salary will vary depending on your role, employer, geographic location, and experience. According to Payscale, professionals with an MHA earned an average of $83,000 annually as of July 2024.
In addition to working as a healthcare administrator, you can also work as a healthcare operations manager, hospital chief financial officer, director of patient safety, or healthcare consultant.
| Job | Annual Median Wage (2023) | Projected Growth (2023-2033) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and health services manager | $110,680 | 29% |
| Nursing home manager | $97,490 | 29% |
| Management Analyst | $99,410 | 11% |
| Human resources manager | $136,350 | 6% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Master’s in Healthcare Administration Programs
Medical and health service managers earned a median annual salary of $110,680 in May 2023, according to the BLS. However, in some areas of the country, you can make substantially more than that. These professionals earned an average of $179,160 in New York and similarly high salaries in Massachusetts, Delaware, and D.C. in May 2023.
