MHA FAQs

A professional graduate degree that equips you with the leadership, financial, operational, and policy skills needed to manage hospitals, health‑tech firms, insurance companies, and public‑health agencies. The curriculum blends health‑care science with business fundamentals.

Health administration is one of the most rewarding and challenging career opportunities available today. It is rewarding because, although health administrators do not personally prevent or cure illness, they play a key role in establishing an environment in which healthcare services can be delivered professionally and with care. In addition, the health care industry continues to expand, offering a wide variety of career paths. The MHA degree can take you anywhere healthcare is being delivered, paid for, researched, or policy is made.

If you have strong interpersonal communication and analytical skills and are committed to making a positive difference in your community, you already have some of the qualities necessary to be a good health administrator. In the program, you learn to manage and lead health-related organizations effectively, efficiently, and compassionately. If that interests you, then health administration may be the career for you.

The healthcare field offers a wide variety of job opportunities. Positions are available in health delivery settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care centers, physician practices, mental health facilities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, home care agencies, and other health organizations, including managed care companies, accountable care organizations, insurance companies, consulting firms, regulatory agencies, and professional associations.

No, but previous management and leadership experience strengthen your application.

No. Our students come from business-related programs (economics, finance, management, marketing) and science-related programs (biological science, clinical disciplines), as well as from areas such as art history, English, political science, religion, and sociology.

The MHA program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply.  These are not the only benchmarks we use to evaluate students. Emphasis is also placed on performance in relevant undergraduate courses, statement of purpose, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular and work experience.

Applicants must demonstrate quantitative readiness for graduate study in health administration.  To demonstrate this, there are two options. The first option is to earn a B or better in three (9 credits total) quantitative-based courses (at least 60% quantitative). Examples include certain courses from the HA minor, as well as Statistics, Mathematics, Accounting, and Finance.  The second option is to have a GRE score with a minimum quantitative score of 150 and a total score of 300.

The program covers the US healthcare system, management, healthcare finance, healthcare policy, health economics, strategic management, operations, quality improvement, health informatics, health law and ethics, data analytics, and public health.

The Residential MHA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

The program includes a Professional Development Seminar (HSA6105), which offers guest speakers, opportunities to engage with professional organizations, and alumni networking. A unique aspect of Seminar is that both 2nd-year and 1st-year MHA students are integrated into a single class. Additionally, the program participates in multiple case competitions.

The Residential MHA program is a cohort model that takes 21 months to complete.

A Hybrid Weekend MHA program is designed for working professionals that combines online learning with scheduled in‑person weekend sessions. This format allows students to advance their healthcare management careers while maintaining full‑time employment.

The program is ideal for healthcare professionals, including administrators, managers, clinicians, public health professionals, and related leaders—who seek career advancement without pausing their professional responsibilities.

Weekend sessions are typically held 15 times during the 21-month program, and meet on selected Fridays and Saturdays. *Total number of in-person dates is subject to change.*

In‑person weekends focus on applied learning, case studies, leadership development, group work, and networking with faculty and peers.

Yes. The majority of coursework is completed online, with weekend sessions serving as high‑impact, interactive learning experiences.

Yes. Students typically progress through the program as a cohort, fostering strong professional relationships and peer learning.