[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An online master of healthcare administration (MHA) program can give you the tools you need to take the next step in your career and become a leader in your healthcare organization. At their core, MHA programs teach you how to apply business skills while supporting patient care and improving the quality of healthcare organizations.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When pursuing an MHA degree, you can consider specializations like healthcare finance or medical records management. Upon graduation, you could pursue a career as a healthcare administrator, hospital operations manager, consultant, or nursing home administrator.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Read on to discover the best healthcare administration programs and learn about average MHA costs, associated careers, and classes you can expect to take.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]10 Best Online MHA Programs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How We Chose These Schools”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]At TheBestSchools, we use trusted data from the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate schools without bias. Our ranking methodology helps prospective students from various backgrounds find the best fit. We consider key factors like academic quality, online offerings, and affordability, so every type of student can find the best fit for them.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This list has been updated for 2025. Learn more about how our formula works on [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/ranking-methodology/”]our ranking methodology page[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Get a Master’s in Healthcare Administration Online?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Whether you’re a working professional or a full-time student seeking your first job, attending an online MHA program can give you flexibility as you study. Find some benefits of earning an [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/healthcare-administration-degree/”]MHA degree[/hen-ui-link] and pursuing it specifically online below:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [/hen-ui-grid] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Does an Online MHA Degree Cost?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/TrendGenerator/app/answer/13/207″ target=”_blank”]National Center for Education Statistics[/hen-ui-link] (NCES), the average tuition was $11,827 for graduate students at public universities and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/TrendGenerator/app/answer/13/208″ target=”_blank”]$20,515 at private universities[/hen-ui-link] during the 2023-2024 academic year.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This means that the total average tuition cost for a two-year master’s program ranges from around $24,000 to $41,000, depending on the kind of school you attend. Your total costs can vary further based on several factors, including your enrollment and residency status.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For example, online master’s in health-related programs cost about $5,000 less in tuition, on average, than their traditional, on-campus counterparts, according to the NCES Postsecondary Student Aid Study.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Median Annual Tuition for Master’s in Health Programs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Keep in mind that you may have to travel to campus or a local facility to complete your MHA program’s residency or clinical requirements. Check program requirements and be sure to budget for lodging and travel costs if needed.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Master’s in Healthcare Administration Classes[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Master’s in healthcare administration programs cover specialized topics like healthcare service administration, healthcare information systems, and healthcare finance. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your leadership, financial, and business skills through this program.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While your MHA courses may vary, especially if you choose a specialization, foundational courses are similar across programs. Common classes include:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Healthcare Finance: This class helps students develop strong financial analysis and planning skills including cost-to-profit analysis and time-value analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting standards.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Healthcare Services Administration: In this introductory course, you’ll explore healthcare structure, organization, performance and delivery systems to problem-solve related issues.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Healthcare Information Management: In this core course, you’ll learn to use healthcare information systems to store and analyze healthcare data. You’ll have the chance to gain skills in healthcare information management (HIM) systems evaluation and management.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Healthcare Administrator[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If your goal is to work as a healthcare administrator, an MHA degree can help get you there. The following steps outline how to become a healthcare administrator:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Step 1: Earn a [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/bachelors/best-online-bachelors-healthcare-administration/”]bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration[/hen-ui-link], nursing, business, or a related field.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Step 2: Gain experience by working in various medical settings. Some MHA programs may require up to three years of work experience.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Step 3: Choose an MHA program based on the total cost, specializations offered, program format, schedule, and other considerations.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Step 4: Complete your master’s degree program, which could take 1-2 years of full-time study and up to four years of part-time study.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Step 5: Earn industry certifications, such as the [hen-ui-link href=”https://aaham.org/page/Certification” target=”_blank”]American Association of Healthcare Administration Management[/hen-ui-link] (AAHAM), [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.hfma.org/certified-healthcare-financial-professional/” target=”_blank”]Certified Healthcare Financial Professional[/hen-ui-link] (CHFP), or [hen-ui-link href=”https://achca.memberclicks.net/certification” target=”_blank”]nursing home administrator[/hen-ui-link] credentials.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Healthcare Administration Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Your healthcare administration salary will vary depending on your role, employer, geographic location, and experience. According to Payscale, professionals with an MHA earned an [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Health_Administration_(MHA)/Salary?loggedIn/” target=”_blank”]average of $84,000 annually[/hen-ui-link] as of October 2024.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In addition to working as a healthcare administrator, you can also work as a healthcare operations manager, hospital chief financial officer, director of patient safety, or healthcare consultant.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-table-caption]Healthcare Administration Salary and Career Outlook[/hen-ui-table-caption] [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Job[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Annual Median Wage (2024)[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Projected Growth (2023-2033)[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Medical and health services manager[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Job”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm” target=”_blank”]$117,960[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Wage (2024)”]29%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Administrative services and facilities manager[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Job”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm” target=”_blank”]$106,880[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Wage (2024)”]6%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Management analyst[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Job”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm” target=”_blank”]$101,190[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Wage (2024)”]11%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Human resources manager[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Job”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm” target=”_blank”]$140,030[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Annual Median Wage (2024)”]6%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body] [/hen-ui-table] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions About Master’s in Healthcare Administration Programs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How much do healthcare administration majors make?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Medical and health service managers earned a median annual salary of $117,960 in May 2024, according to the BLS. However, in some areas of the country, you can make substantially more than that. These professionals earned an average of $177,230 in New York and similarly high salaries in Massachusetts, Delaware, and D.C. in May 2024.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What can you do with an MHA degree?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With an MHA, you’ll be equipped to step into leadership roles in a variety of healthcare institutions. You could become a health information manager, [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/nursing/”]nursing home[/hen-ui-link] administrator, hospital administrator, Informatics manager, or CEO.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]With certain specializations, you could also work as a healthcare consultant, long-term care administrator, healthcare financial analyst, or healthcare operations analyst.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What are some master’s in healthcare administration specializations?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Popular MHA specializations include health policy analysis, health information technology, financial management, hospital human resources, healthcare operations, health policy, [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/masters/best-online-masters-healthcare-informatics/”]healthcare informatics[/hen-ui-link], and quality care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Earning a specialized MHA can help you advance in specific fields faster or build specific skill sets to succeed.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Can you get into healthcare administration with no experience?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You could get an entry-level healthcare administration position with a bachelor’s degree and no experience. You can get into some master’s in healthcare administration programs without field experience, while other programs require up to three years or more of experience.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is healthcare administration a good career?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Healthcare administration is a career with significant growth potential and higher-than-average salaries. According to Payscale, professionals with a bachelor’s in healthcare management earned an [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_(BS_%2F_BSc)%2C_Health_Care_Management/Salary” target=”_blank”]average of $65,000[/hen-ui-link] in 2024, while those with an MHA earned an average of $84,000.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ultimately, whether healthcare administration is a good career choice for you depends on your interests and professional career goals.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Discover More College Resources” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”338,1230,23976″][/hen-ui-article-row]