Published May 2018
The online MHA degree is one of the more popular choices for distance learners seeking a graduate program in the health care field. An MHA is becoming an increasingly valuable credential in the world of healthcare – much like the MBA is often seen as necessary for business professionals who want to break into leadership roles. 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. We were less interested in judging the size of a particular program and 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
Georgetown University offers the Executive Master's in Health Systems Administration program at the School of Nursing and Health Studies. It's 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
-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 program designed for working professionals. It's a cohort-based CAHME accredited online master's in health administration. It's delivered through a mix of nine on-campus intensives and 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 master's program for students with or without healthcare experience. This cohort program can be completed in about two years of study. Students come together at Seton Hall three times during the program for intensive residency experiences. These 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
Des Moines University offers a rigorous online master's in health care administration program. It provides students with a variety of skills including:
-financial management
-health information management
-leadership
-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. About 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 program at the University of Minnesota is a 25 month program. It's through a blend of online coursework and on-campus intensive experiences. The program utilizes a cohort format with 30-35 students. This allows students to develop relationships with peers from a variety of areas including:
-long-term care settings
-acute care settings
-integrated health systems
-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. This allows students to continue working full-time while earning their degree. Students interested 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
Texas Woman's University offers a e 24 month online master's in healthcare administration program. It 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. This means students receive 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. It prepares graduates to navigate the complexities of health care administration. Students will develop an understanding of:
-financing and reimbursement of health systems
-legal issues
-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 working professionals need. 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) program 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. It's 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
-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