Masters in Health Administration Programs
(found programs from 294 schools)

We’ve compiled the most complete directory on the Web of Masters in Health Administration programs. It contains all the nationally accredited programs, from 294 schools across the country. Scroll down to see the listings.

If your goal is a senior management position in the fast-growing field of health management, then you need to complete your master's degree. This specialized professional degree prepares you for an exciting career in this dynamic, fast-changing field.

Learn more about earning your Master's in Healthcare Admin below.

The Importance of Accreditation

Below, HealthAdministrationDegrees.com speaks with John Lloyd, the President of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, about the importance of choosing an accredited healthcare administration program.

School Profile

Below, HealthAdministrationDegrees.com speaks with Dr. Dolores Clement, Director of Graduate Programs for the Department of Health Administration, about the master's in health administration programs available at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Types of Health Administration Master's Degrees

A health administration master's degree is often called an MHA, which is short for Master of Health Administration or Master of Healthcare Administration. Some universities offer a similar degree called the Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA), which has a strong business focus. A related degree, the Master of Public Health, is more centered on public policy issues than on management and administration of private companies. All of these degrees are more focused on the healthcare industry than an MBA with a healthcare concentration is.

Areas of Specialization with a Health Administration Master's Degree

Different universities offer specific areas of specialization. Where you want to focus your studies will play a major part in which institution you ultimately choose. Some common areas include operations management, care quality management, marketing and communication, gerontology, outpatient services, information technology and informatics, policy development and finance. When you are evaluating programs, be sure to consider those that are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The U.S. Department of Education recognizes this organization as the sole authority on the quality of Master of Health Administration programs. If you earn your degree from an institution without this accreditation, you may risk your credentials not being recognized or valued.

Admission Requirements for Master's in Healthcare Administration Degrees

In order to be accepted into a master's program in healthcare admin, you will need to provide the following to the schools you apply to:

• A bachelor's degree
• A good score on the GRE or GMAT if your undergraduate GPA is less than a 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
• A resume or CV
• Letters of recommendation
• Some schools require you to have had 1-3 years of work experience before applying to a master's program
• If you are from a non-English speaking country, you will need to take the TOEFL or IELTS to demonstrate your proficiency with the English language since your courses will be taught in English
• A statement of purpose describing why you want to earn you master’s degree and what your professional goals are

Course Requirements for a Health Administration Master's Degree

Typical programs require a certain number of core courses. The course names will vary, but topics generally include leadership, economics for policy and planning, statistics, accounting, financial management, health information systems, medical law, organizational theory, strategic management, marketing, human behavior, quality of care concepts, research operations and trends and issues in the health care industry. Beyond the core courses, your curriculum may focus on your area of specialization. In addition to coursework, you will be engaged in interactive team-building programs that develop leadership and strategic-thinking skills. You may also have to write a master's dissertation that includes original research about a topic related to your specialization.

Job Prospects with a Health Administration Master's Degree

When you graduate, you can pursue employment with a variety of organizations in both the public and private sectors. Medical practices, hospital health systems and clinics are traditional areas of employment. Jobs in regulatory agencies and with health management and insurance companies are growing sectors, with the BLS noting that healthcare management positions are growing much faster than average in today's economy.

Emergency services management is a fast-growing field with demand for specialists in managing pandemics, bioterrorism, epidemics and food and water safety, as much as managing acute disasters. Healthcare consulting companies are a relatively new sector of the industry and may offer high salaries to qualified candidates, particularly if you have some real-world experience. Companies, governments and healthcare providers are looking for people with skills in areas as diverse as insurance contract negotiation, physician recruiting, human resource management, cost containment, technology management, policy analysis, organization development and management and managing care quality and delivery. With your master's degree, you'll be able to dive into your specific area of specialization and pursue senior leadership roles.

Top Jobs for Healthcare Administrators with a Master's Degree

The top job titles for those with a master’s in healthcare administration include:

• Clinical director
• Director of Clinical Pharmacy Consulting, Remote
• Director of Healthcare Administration
• Manager Medical Care Management
• Director, Nursing
• Clinical Nutrition Manager
• Medical Director
• Chief Medical Officer
• Director of Clinical Programs
• Chief Executive Officer

Salaries for Healthcare Administrators

According to the BLS, the median salary for medical and health services managers is $98,350 per year. Job growth in the field is expected to increase by 20% from 2016-2026, which is much higher than the national average for other careers.

You are most likely to be paid the highest if you work in hospitals, for government agencies, at outpatient care facilities, physician's offices, and nursing and residential care facilities.

Paying for Your HAD Master's Degree

Schooling can be quite pricey, so if you're worried about how to pay for your degree, take a look at some of these scholarship options:

• The Corris Boyd Scholars Program: Offered to students of color who have at least a 3.0 GPA.
• The Foster G. McGraw Graduate Student Scholarship: Offered to students in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.
• The Tylenol Scholarship: Offered to students who have at least one year left in their healthcare graduate program.

There are many other scholarship and financial aid opportunities available, so be sure to fully research your options if you’re worried about how to pay for your degree.

When you're ready to take the next step and get in contact with schools, click any of the school links on this page or use the quick search box to find programs near you!

Show me all the Masters in Health Administration programs in:

In addition to the campus based programs, there are numerous online programs available for many of the common Health Administration degree types (Associate, Bachelors, Masters) and specialties. Please feel free to use the links on the left-hand side of this page to explore some of the online degree programs available. Thanks for visiting!