MHA Programs in Minnesota
Healthcare administration today has changed from the profession it was in past decades due to many different forces. The patient population is different: a larger group of the elderly; a sicker group with chronic illnesses and complications arising from multiple diagnoses and medications; a vaster and more ethnically diverse group now eligible with universal health insurance; and finally, more knowledgeable clients navigating through information on the internet.
The entire healthcare industry has been impacted by advances in medical knowledge and treatment modalities, technological breakthroughs and powerful new drugs. At the same time, the industry faced a slow economy, spiraling costs, changes in legislation and national regulations, and shortages of nurses and other medical practitioners.
These changes signal the need for a new breed of healthcare administrator—an innovator and decision-maker who can factor in these divergent forces and design and implement new solutions—whose actions can lead to more effective delivery systems and ultimately to a healthier population.
If you are ready to further your education and take a leading role in the delivery of healthcare in the U.S., take some time to review the MHA programs listed on this page, and request additional information from the Minnesota Healthcare Admin schools you are interested in.
Healthcare Administration Programs in Minnesota
Nurses and other healthcare workers who have witnessed and worked in healthcare settings are particularly well suited to be trained in modern graduate programs for healthcare administration. Those with bachelor’s degrees in science or other fields, persons who are successful in thinking out of the box, are also suited for this kind of training.
Minnesota is an excellent state for receiving healthcare administration training. The graduate schools offering MHA degrees have remained at the forefront of staying abreast of the demands facing the healthcare industry. They have designed curricula and training approaches addressing healthcare administration directly or through public health, business management and/or health information programs.
The usual admissions requirements for a Master’s in Healthcare Administration program in MN include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a 3.0 grade point average. The programs are looking for potential leaders and innovators and will try to gauge this capacity from personal essays and letters of recommendations, as well as a personal interview.
Master’s in Health Administration Curriculum
Two types of programs accommodate students coming with different backgrounds. On-campus programs are for students new to the healthcare field and entail full-time enrollment requiring up to 60 credits of courses. Cohort programs are designed for working professionals and feature experiential leadership courses on-campus as well as online content courses for a total of 36-42 credits. There are also programs for professionals who may want to update their credentials and complete the entire program online.
The courses covered in most graduate healthcare administration programs will include four general areas:
- Leadership—innovation, strategic thinking, interpersonal skills
- Business—finance, economics, marketing, management
- Health information systems
- Healthcare industry–medical research and delivery, pharmaceuticals, public health, insurance, legal aspects
Scholarships for Graduate Studies in Healthcare Administration
All universities maintain lists of scholarships and financial aid available to their students according to need, background and field of study. Among the national scholarships available in healthcare administration are those specifically for minority students such as the Alfred Dent Scholarships and the Corris Boyd Scholarship. For residents of Minnesota and other midwest states, the MGMA scholarship from the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE) is available for both undergraduate and graduate students in healthcare administration.
Healthcare administration opportunities in Minnesota
The national average annual salary for medical and health services managers in Minnesota is $111,360. This occupation is also predicted to grow by 17 percent between 2018 and 2028.
The changes stated above in today’s healthcare scene have added to the complexity of traditional healthcare administration positions and have also added new types of jobs in the healthcare industry. New positions for Master’s prepared healthcare leaders are cropping up for healthcare consultants, health information specialists, IT solutions architects, clinical analysts, compliance directors and other specializations showing a need for administrators knowledgeable about new challenges in healthcare today.
Certainly, healthcare administration training will enable a successful graduate to find a niche in this complex field to activate far-reaching decisions that will make a difference in tomorrow’s healthcare scene. Contact those schools you are interested in to learn more about how you can get started in this ever-expanding field of healthcare management.
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Medical and Health Services Managers.
Job growth projections sourced from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) database. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expressly refers users to this source for state-specific job market data. Salary figures and job market projections reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2021.
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