By HADP Staff
July 2018

The online MHA degree is one of the more popular choices for distance learners seeking a graduate program in the health care field. First and foremost, an MHA is becoming an increasingly valuable credential in the world of healthcare – much like the MBA is often seen as a necessary acquisition for business professionals who want to break into leadership roles. But online colleges and universities have also begun tailoring their online master in health administration programs to specifically benefit working adults. Gone are the days when going to school online meant sacrificing your work. Now, you can actually leverage your professional experience to gain entry to shorter programs and/or earn academic credit, all without quitting your day job.

Methodology

For this ranking, we used College Navigator to search for all the accredited, public and private non-profit colleges and universities in the United States that offer online health administration degrees for graduate students. To narrow our potential selection, we limited our search to only CAHME accredited programs with the majority of the program offered online. From that point, we vetted the remaining candidates according to three factors:
Student/Faculty ratio:

  • 11:1 or less- 3 points
  • 12:1 to 17:1- 2 points
  • 18:1 and above- 1 point

Average Graduate Tuition Rate:

  • Less than $13,000- 3 points
  • $13,000 to $20,000- 2 points
  • Greater than $20,000- 1 point

Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017:

  • More than 100- 3 points
  • 50 to 99- 2 point
  • Less than 50-1 point

The three data sets came from College Navigator. Note that we included all conferred degrees in health administration at the graduate level – not just students who earned their degree online – because we were less interested in judging the size of a particular program/how that might affect the students, and more interested in investigating the overall popularity of healthcare administration as a subject at a given school. Annual tuition calculations are specific to graduate programs for the 2016-17 school year. Where there are ties, the school with the lower in-state graduate tuition rate is favored.


10. Georgetown University-Washington, DC

Executive Master's in Health Systems Administration

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $47,880/yr
Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 15
Points: 5
The Executive Master's in Health Systems Administration from the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Georgetown University is a two-year program designed for future health systems leaders. This flexible program is delivered through a combination of three week-long campus intensives, one offsite intensive, and five 12-week online sessions that keep students engaged. Students benefit from an interdisciplinary curriculum with experiential learning, collaborative projects, and lively online discussion groups. Students can earn their degree in about 22 months and the flexibility of the program allows students to continue working full-time while earning their degree.

9. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan

Master of Health Services Administration Online

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $22,368/yr in-state and $45,156/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 74
Points: 5
The School of Public Health at the University of Michigan features an Executive Master of Health Services Administration designed for working professionals. This cohort-based CAHME accredited online master's in health administration is delivered through a mix of nine on-campus intensives, and a live virtual classroom experiences during the week. Students can earn their degree in about 20 months while continuing to work full-time.

8. Seton Hall University-South Orange, New Jersey

Online Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.)

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $21,816/yr
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 56
Points: 5
The School of Health and Medical Sciences at Seton Hall University offers an online CAHME accredited healthcare administration masters for students with or without healthcare experience. This online cohort program can be completed in about two years of study. Students come together at Seton Hall three times over the course of the program for intensive residency experiences that include lecture sessions, presentations, and networking opportunities.

7. Des Moines University-Des Moines, Iowa

Online Master of Health Care Administration

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $15,374/yr
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 27
Points: 5
The rigorous online master's in health care administration from Des Moines University provides students with a variety of skills including financial management, health information management, leadership, and health policy development. This 48 credit hour program includes 45 credits of coursework and a Field Based Learning Project. Most students can earn their degree in two years and 75% of students work full-time while earning their MHA online. Coursework is delivered through a blend of face-to-face intensives and online learning.

6. University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, Minnesota

Executive Master of Healthcare Administration

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $16,728/yr in-state and $25,884/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 76
Points: 6
The CAHME accredited MHA online from the University of Minnesota is a 25 month program delivered through a blend of online coursework and on-campus intensive experiences. The program utilizes a cohort format with 30-35 students, allowing students to develop relationships with peers from a variety of areas including long-term care settings, acute care settings, integrated health systems, and health care centers. New cohorts begin each January.

5. University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri

Executive MHA


Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $8,640/yr in-state and $23,659/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 53
Points: 6
The University of Missouri features an online accredited MHA degree program designed for health care professionals with at least three years in the field. Students come from a variety of backgrounds including physicians, nurses, human resource executives, and financial professionals. The innovative program is delivered through online coursework and monthly on-campus weekend sessions, which allows students to continue working full-time while earning their degree. Students with an interest in informatics can earn a dual degree with an executive Health Informatics MS degree.

4. Texas Woman's University-Denton, Texas

Online Master's in Health Administration

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $4,672/yr in-state and $12,142/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 85
Points: 6
The 24 month online master's in healthcare administration from Texas Woman's University includes a regular MHA program and an executive format for those with three or more years of management experience. The 45 credit hour program includes coursework and a professional portfolio and faculty presentation. The program holds CAHME accreditation and has adopted the National Center for Healthcare Leadership competency integration model, meaning students are receiving the highest quality healthcare leadership education.

3. Florida International University-Miami, Florida

Online MBA in Healthcare

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $8,912/yr in-state and $21,393/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 27:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 239
Points: 7
Florida International University features the only online MBA in healthcare to make our list. The Alvah H. Chapman Fr. Graduate School of Business MBA online in Healthcare is an 18 month program that prepares graduates to navigate the complexities of health care administration. Students will develop an understanding of financing and reimbursement of health systems, legal issues, and effective decision making. In addition to earning a highly coveted MBA in healthcare, students can also earn certification in Lean Six Sigma yellow and green belt.

2. University of Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama

Master of Science in Health Administration-Executive Format

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $7,866/yr in-state and $17,910/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 89
Points: 7
The University of Alabama's School of Health Professions features an executive format online MHA with the flexibility needed by working professionals. Students complete the majority of their coursework online, with supplemental on-campus intensives three times each year. Most students can earn their degree in two years. The program is available to students who have at least five years of health care experience. Students can also pursue a dual degree with an MS in Healthcare Quality and Safety or add a graduate certificate in HQS.

1. University of Central Florida-Orlando, Florida

Master of Science in Health Sciences-Executive Health Services Administration

Website
Average Graduate Tuition: $6,916/yr in-state and $25,759/year out-of-state
Student to Faculty Ratio: 30:1
Number of Awards Conferred 2016-2017: 488
Points: 7
The University of Central Florida features an online executive master of health administration (EMHA) for students with at least three years of health care management experience. This cohort model program is delivered entirely online with no on-campus residency experiences, making this ideal for working professionals. Cohorts are limited to 30 students allowing faculty to focus on their students and make networking possible. Graduates have gone on to work in positions such as business development director, chief nursing officer, executive director, and practice manager.
This concludes our ranking of the best online master of health administration degrees.

See also: 30 Most Affordable Master in Public Health Degree Programs

Sources:

College Navigator
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education