The best accelerated online healthcare administration masters degree programs prepare current and aspiring healthcare professionals for challenging yet rewarding leadership roles in healthcare organizations in less than 24 months! Many graduate healthcare administration programs also allow students to transfer credits and take on more courses to earn the degree in 12 months.
Students in accelerated online MHA programs develop the ability to design, develop, implement, evaluate, and manage healthcare systems across diverse organizations. Academic rigor combined with effective real-world applications is emphasized in these programs because of the challenges that come with healthcare services management.
What’s the best healthcare administration degree? There’s no right or wrong answer, as it will depend on your unique life circumstances. Your current work, personal, and professional goals, and finances are among the crucial considerations.
To jumpstart your career advancement, you should consider earning a master’s degree in healthcare administration!
There are four levels of healthcare administration degrees in academia, each with pros and cons.
Also offered are master of business administration (MBA) programs with a healthcare administration or healthcare management program. These degree programs emphasize business-relevant competency that can be applied in the medical industry, such as hospitals, clinics and nursing facilities.
The beauty of accelerated graduate-level healthcare administration degree programs lies in their diversity. No two online programs are alike! You must do your research and compare these master’s degree programs to determine their suitability in your case—and it starts by getting a general idea of their basic features.
Every online accelerated healthcare administration program has its own specific curriculum and courses, including prerequisites, course sequence and learning outcomes.
Here are the common courses in master in healthcare administration degree programs.
The number of credit hours required differs by online MHA programs, too, and can depend on the program of study and your academic background. Foundational courses can increase the required credits, as is the case of choosing a concentration.
In addition to the online courses, which include required, core, and elective courses, other degree requirements are also possible. Things like a capstone project, an internship, or practicum demonstrates a student’s knowledge and understanding of health administration concepts. These are usually conducted in a healthcare setting or through an on-campus residency.
Online master’s in healthcare administration programs use learning management systems (LMS) to deliver the course materials, conduct live online classes, and allow students and professors to interact, among other online learning activities. The common LMS used are Moodle, Canvas and Blackboard, although many schools also have their in-house LMS.
Most online programs use a combination of synchronous sessions, asynchronous learning, and online collaborations that maximize the students’ learning opportunities.
Every healthcare administration program has its admission criteria, too, but interested individuals are well-advised to comply with the following:
Key Point: As long as the program is accredited, online MHA programs have the same quality as their on-campus master of healthcare administration counterparts, and are equally respected by employers.
However, an accelerated healthcare management program has an increased level of academic rigor because of the shortened time to graduation. This is a very important factor that potential students should consider.
The demand for competent healthcare administrators with excellent leadership skills is among the reasons for their continued popularity. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 28% employment growth in medical and health services manager jobs from 2021 to 2031.
Professionals with master’s in healthcare administration degrees are sought-after in leadership positions. These are a few examples of positions that graduates of online MHA programs may be qualified for (Amounts are average annual salaries):
These healthcare professionals oversee the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations and facilities, including coordination of medical and health services, human resources management, and compliance with laws.
Their main duties include planning, coordinating, and managing the quality healthcare services being carried out, and implementing improvements.
These are the highest C-suite positions in healthcare organizations and facilities and, thus, are responsible for their overall strategic direction and management.
These healthcare professionals are adept at analyzing healthcare policies, practices, and legislation that impact the organizations they are connected with. Among their workplaces are government agencies, think tanks, and private corporations.
With their extensive knowledge of health services administration principles and practices, these professionals work with individuals and groups in advocating for reforms and initiatives in healthcare.
Key Point: These are just a few of the possible career paths that graduates of the fastest healthcare management programs may be qualified for. There are numerous other job opportunities.
With the high projected employment growth and higher than average salary, the health administration field is a solid choice.
There are many reasons for popularity of online accelerated master’s in healthcare administration degree programs, including:
While accelerated master’s in healthcare administration programs allow students to earn the graduate degree in less than 24 months, there are even more ways of shortening your time-to-degree, including:
Of course, being a full-time student while maintaining part-time or full-time work is challenging, but the rewards are great!
In order to do so, you must stay focused and organized, adopt effective time management habits, and communicate your plans with your professors and academic advisors. You should also plan for the capstone project or master’s thesis requirement that your chosen healthcare administration degree program requires for graduation.
While an online master’s in healthcare administration degree can be more affordable, as stated above, it still requires money! The average cost of earning a master’s degree is $62,300, but it can range from $15,000 in public universities to $80,000+ in private institutions.
Graduate students are interested in reducing their tuition, because student debt is a huge concern today. Fortunately, there are many ways to find significant savings on tuition, including:
Be sure to work with admissions counselors and financial aid counselors in identifying your best financial aid options as early as your first day of admission.
In addition to regional accreditation, accelerated master’s in healthcare administration programs should also have programmatic accreditation from one of the following organizations:
In the case of accelerated master’s in healthcare administration programs, the time-to-degree ranges between 12 and 18 months. Note that the average time-to-completion for master’s degree programs is 2-3 years, depending on whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time.
Keep these general guidelines in mind when making your choice from the ten featured online programs here.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
90%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1385/30
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Tuition + fees: $8,998
Master of Healthcare Administration
At the core of UNC’s Master of Healthcare Administration program is the outstanding training of the next generation of healthcare leaders! Students develop their healthcare administration knowledge and skills, which are vital in addressing the multifaceted challenges of the healthcare industry through cutting-edge research.
Indeed, the research topics in health care administration that students have addressed are as diverse as their backgrounds. Previous research projects that have been covered include health disparities, access to healthcare services, quality and costs, global health, public health, and leadership. The program welcomes diversity among its students, contributing to enhanced learning experiences.
While the courses are delivered online, students must attend on-campus residencies in the CAHME-accredited program. These include a six-day residency in the fall term, a four-day residency in the spring, and four days in the summer. These on-campus residencies will strengthen students’ understanding of health services management and related topics.
Students in the online MHA program must also complete a capstone course.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 49 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: 2 years
Per Credit Tuition: $1,023.23 (Resident); $1,997.40 (Non-resident)
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
67%
Student body
23K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/23
Ohio University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees: $13,352
Master of Health Administration
Students in Ohio University’s Master of Health Administration program build their knowledge and skills in the leadership of healthcare organizations with a diverse perspective. Business acumen combines with an altruistic philosophy that enables students to implement human-centric approaches in delivering healthcare services.
Four concentrations in the healthcare administration online program allow students to broaden their knowledge and acquire specialist skills in healthcare management. These concentrations are in Business Analytics, Leadership, Project Management, and Quality Improvement—and each specialization also comes with a graduate certificate that will boost career advancement prospects.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 36 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: As few as 12 months
Per Credit Tuition: $658 (Resident); $677 (Non-resident)
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
79K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Liberty University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees: $24,870
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Students can look forward to a multitude of career prospects because of the comprehensive quality of the MS in Healthcare Administration program’s curriculum. Students learn business skills that enable them to lead for-profit and nonprofit organizations in the healthcare industry, including leadership positions in human resources, public health, and health informatics. The online MHA program also strongly emphasizes the professional ability to make data-driven strategic decisions.
This is a unique online MHA program because of the number of concentrations available in addition to the General Track. Note that choosing a concentration will result in more credit hours required for completion. The available concentrations are in:
All students learn contemporary principles and practices in health care administration, including crisis management, leadership skills, and organizational behavior.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 42-48 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: As few as 12 months with transfer credits
Per Credit Tuition: $565
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
51%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1055/23
East Tennessee State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
East Tennessee State University
Tuition + fees: $9,438
Master of Health Administration
The CEPH-accredited Master of Health Administration program is among the most successful in terms of job placement, with 100% of its graduates gainfully employed. Graduates also report being in management positions in the healthcare industry, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing facilities where their professional expertise is used.
Students in the online MHA program choose from two tracks:
Both tracks, however, require the completion of a capstone course where students demonstrate their health administration skills in solving real-world issues. Students in the health administration degree program must also demonstrate competency in finance, people and partnerships, policy and regulation, and quality.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 51-54 credits for Standard Track; 45-48 credits for Executive Track
Average Time-to-Degree: About 16 months (4 semesters)
Per Credit Tuition: $663
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Graduation
24%
Student body
7K
Park University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees: $13,500
Master of Healthcare Administration
The ACBSP-accredited Robert W. Plaster School of Business offers an outstanding Master of Healthcare Administration program for current and aspiring healthcare administration professionals. This program is perfect for students who already have relevant work experience but want to gain advanced knowledge and skills for leadership positions.
Students in the MHA program choose from 11 concentrations aside from the General Track, including:
Graduates with the health care administration graduate degree possess technical and transferable skills that make them effective leaders.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: at least 36 semester hours
Average Time-to-Degree: Less than two years
Per Credit Tuition: $695
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Student body
5K
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Tuition + fees: $11,852
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Healthcare professionals concerned about maintaining a good work-life balance while pursuing a graduate degree will find the MS in Healthcare Administration program an excellent choice! The coursework is completely online, and there are no in-person residency requirements, although online students are encouraged to use on-campus resources.
The MHA program emphasizes a management-based approach that allows students to apply their knowledge into the workplace immediately. In doing so, they enrich their learning experiences and bring back useful insights to share with their peers and professors.
The faculty members also emphasize an interdisciplinary philosophy where students bring their diverse perspectives into discussions. Many professors are healthcare executives ready to share their experiences with their students.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 36 credit hours
Average Time-to-Degree: Less than two years
Per Credit Tuition: $1,020 (Resident); $1,440 (Non-resident)
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
46%
Student body
9K
Saint Leo University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees: $27,050
Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Management Concentration
Saint Leo’s MBA in Healthcare Management program is considered one of the best because of the transformative learning experiences that students take from it. Students benefit from the robust liberal arts-centric education emphasizing business acumen that can be applied to healthcare settings.
The ACBSP-accredited program enables students to develop skills in problem-solving and decision-making using modern tools and technologies. Students also gain extensive knowledge of core functions in business administration, develop their business communication skills, and appreciate the legal and ethical issues in healthcare management. The MBA program also emphasizes public health and, thus, empowers students to make positive differences in population health in their communities and beyond.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 36 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: 2 years
Per Credit Tuition: $820
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
45%
Student body
94K
Grand Canyon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees: $17,800
Master of Science in Health Administration
The credentials and skills to become effective middle- and upper-level managers and healthcare administration professionals are what students in the MS in Health Administration program take from it. There is also a strong emphasis on innovation, where students are encouraged to promote organizational development in many areas, such as employee productivity and profitability.
Professionals with a health administration degree are also adept at using information in problem-solving and decision-making processes. Students gain the knowledge and skills through didactic courses and a 16-week practicum where hands-on learning experiences strengthen their competence and confidence as leaders.
The school allows up to 12 transfer credits.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 48 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: 2 years
Per Credit Tuition: $575
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
57%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/21
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Tuition + fees: $9,468
Master of Healthcare Administration
The CAHME-accredited Master of Healthcare Administration program welcomes professionals in the healthcare field looking for career advancement opportunities. The program of study borrows from several disciplines, including business administration and health informatics, that enable students to see healthcare administration in a new light. Students learn the best practices for improving the quality and delivery of healthcare services in diverse settings, from hospitals to public health outreach programs.
The MHA program features synchronous virtual meetings, but most coursework is completed asynchronously. There are no internship requirements, but students must complete culminating capstone courses.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 43 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: 12-18 months
Per Credit Tuition: $650
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Student body
1K
City University of Seattle’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees: $7,506
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
CityU’s MS in Healthcare Administration program empowers students to take their careers to managerial levels—and with extensive work experience, an excellent shot at C-suite positions. Graduates with online master’s degrees attest that their education and training were just as rigorous as their on-campus counterparts.
Students in the MHA program are adept at analyzing healthcare-relevant information and its applications in decision-making processes. While business acumen is at the heart of healthcare administration, students are also encouraged to look at the ethical impact of their decisions on their organizations, service beneficiaries, and stakeholders.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 39 credits
Average Time-to-Degree: Less than two years
Per Credit Tuition: $735
Featured Courses:
With your master’s degree in healthcare management, career advances are possible! During an online accelerated master’s in healthcare administration program, you will practice your leadership skills, gain more work experience, and perhaps ultimately pursue a doctorate and professional credentials.