2024 Region-by-Region Analysis: 30 Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited Master’s Degrees in Healthcare Administration
As someone who is in the market for a Master of Healthcare Administration, it’s more than likely you already have some background in the healthcare industry. So we don’t have to tell you how important healthcare management jobs are, or how adrenaline-filled or satisfying they can be… whether you have been working to deliver scarce PPE orders to front-line clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, or even holding the frontline on the clinic floor yourself, you’ve already seen enough to be the one telling the world about it.
But you only have time for one thing right now, and that’s getting the degree you need to get into a position where can have more influence, act more decisively and do more to help. So telling your stories about life in a hospital in 2020 is something that’s just going to have to wait – maybe till retirement.
Since you’re here looking for an MHA program, it’s safe to say you’re also looking for more responsibility, more options, more opportunities to help people in your community deal with major health issues and come out on the other side whole and happy again.
More stories that will have to wait to be told.
In a job this demanding, there’s certainly nothing wrong with wanting to be compensated better, too; and with an MHA in your back pocket the kind of position that can deliver on that can be yours if you work hard enough to get it. But that two years of grad school doesn’t come cheap, especially if you’re set on a topflight program with the kind of reputation you’d like to be associated with.
But you wouldn’t be in the healthcare administration game in the first place if you weren’t thinking hard about cost savings and value with every decision you make. And that’s no less true when you’re getting ready to commit your hard earned dollars and the next couple years of your life to earning a master’s.
CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs Offer a Lot for the Money at Any Price
In healthcare administration, there’s no time for vague statements about what has value and what doesn’t. It’s a world where it’s all brass tacks all the time, and where the stakes only go up from there as quality care and patient outcomes become part of the conversation.
The same holds true of quality metrics for MHA programs – it’s either accredited or it isn’t. And we’re not talking about general accreditation from a Department of Education (DoE)-recognized regional accreditor either. In any honest assessment of quality, that type of institution-level accreditation is a given. What we’re talking about is specialty, healthcare administration-specific graduate-level programmatic accreditation through CAHME, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. This is a field where you should expect education providers to be held to the same level of accountability as healthcare providers themselves, and that’s effectively what CAHME does.
That’s not to say that you can’t find a respectable program that hasn’t received the CAHME stamp of approval, but what we can say is that when you do select a CAHME-accredited MHA, you know exactly what you will be getting.
That’s because CAHME has dedicated itself solely to putting in the hard work of validating dozens of quality metrics for programs that teach healthcare administration at the master’s level, looking at curriculum, instructors, facilities, research contributions, community connections for field placements, and more. They have established high standards for MHA and other health administration master’s programs, and they put in the hours to make sure each program meets or exceeds those standards.
They go through every policy-related, procedural, and administrative document that the school produces, and send out evaluators to conduct on-site visits to make first-person assessments of the facilities, labs, and libraries available to students. It’s all part of a multi-year process designed to establish that each program that makes the cut for CAHME accreditation offers a quality education and student experience that includes:
- Comprehensive financial and administrative support services
- The highest assessment and admission standards for grad students
- Student-inclusive decision-making processes
- Competency-oriented curriculum design
- Real-world, experiential learning opportunities
How do you know CAHME is capable of assuring all this? Well it has also been recognized by DoE as a specialty accreditor for these programs, as well as by CHEA, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, a national advocate and independent arbiter of academic quality through high accreditation standards.
You don’t get much more established than that.
Affordability Is Relative In MHA Degree Programs
Every program we even considered for our list holds that CAHME-accreditation, and you can be sure that every single one that made the final cut is the least expensive among those top quality programs.
Our tuition assessment process is very straightforward: looking at every CAHME-accredited MHA degree available in the U.S., we find the average total program cost for each region (Northeast, Midwest, Pacific, Rocky Mountain, South/Southeast), and simply identify the programs that come in with a price tag lower than the average for the region in which it is located. That’s it. Every school on this list is CAHME-accredited, and every one offers a tuition rate lower than the regional average.
- Northeast regional average cost of an MHA program: $63,454
- Midwest regional average cost of an MHA program: $37,282
- Pacific regional average cost of an MHA program: $82,321
- Rocky Mountain regional average cost of an MHA program: $31,338
- South/Southeast regional average cost of an MHA program: $44,150
Still, you’re probably feeling a little bit of sticker shock when you look at these rates. After all, some come in close to the annual salaries typically seen in the field. It’s a big investment, but it’s also a very valuable education you get in return.
When the stakes are this high, there’s nothing worse than that feeling of uncertainty that comes from the sense that you might be paying too much. That feeling can be paralyzing enough to delay your decision; putting it off till you actually have the time to do a thorough comparison rather than taking the action you need to move forward.
But 2020 is not a year for indecision, it’s the year for putting one foot in front of the other and making meaningful progress. So we’ve made it our business to save you a little time and hassle by putting together this simple region-by-region tuition analysis of accredited MHA programs.
We all know things will eventually get easier when the vaccine makes its rounds, but even the many-months-long process that lies ahead as we distribute it to billions of people around the world will present challenges the likes of which the industry has never seen. Free time is scarce for administrators right now, so we wanted to make it just a little bit easier for you to quickly determine how the tuition rates for similar programs stack up in your area.
For the Foreseeable Future, Even Many Residential MHA Programs Are Likely to Be Offered Remotely
Healthcare administration, perhaps more than any other field, understands the value and security of remote study at this particular moment in history.
Even before COVID-19 struck, you could find more and more MHA programs available primarily in online formats… the pandemic only accelerated the trend.
But some people just don’t learn as quickly or as well from staring at a screen all day. You might want the real experience that comes from listening to an instructor in a classroom, the kind of personal interaction and feedback that’s hard to replicate even with the most high-res laptop camera and speakers. You might enjoy getting together in study groups in the student union with your classmates, or having the convenience of the school library just a building away. Maybe seeing a new concept sketched out on a real whiteboard and being able to lean over to a classmate to check your understanding helps concepts click for you.
It’s an interesting fact that right now, it isn’t 100 percent clear in all cases whether all the residential programs we evaluated are in fact meeting on-campus for all the regularly scheduled classes and projects. But it’s safe to say that in all cases, at least to some extent, in-person classes are being substituted for online synchronous Zoom classes or other asynchronous remote delivery solutions.
You may not have set out initially with a plan to study online, but in all likelihood to some extent or another you will be going that route, even if your first choice is listed as a traditional on-campus residential program.
To eliminate some of the confusion that arises from trying to separate residential programs that began pushing courses out online in response to COVID from actual built-from-the-ground-up online MHA degrees at a time when they are all being offered remotely to some extent, we made an executive decision of our own: every CAHME-accredited healthcare administration master’s, both online and campus-based, is included in our analysis. We still hold true to the school’s own description of the program and label them accordingly as either on-campus or online, but as schools scramble to comply with state orders, and schools themselves roll out stay-at-home policies, some of that is subject to change, almost daily. But the ability to adapt fast to just that kind of change is exactly the skill you need to make it as a healthcare administrator today.
Whether you set out to find a fully online program or a traditional residential one, location is still a factor. It could be the difference between paying in-state tuition rates or an inflated non-residential rate, and could affect how and where any field placement experiences might take place. Whether you’re going all-in on an on-campus program or not, there are generally some benefits to keeping it as local as possible.
Few people dive into master’s degrees in healthcare administration until they have already invested a lot of time developing some kind of career in the field. It’s not always easy to just pick up and walk away from that, even if it’s to try to build a better one. This often makes online programs the natural choice anyway, whether in the midst of a pandemic or not.
A Healthcare Administration Education That Goes Beyond the Bottom Dollar
Finding an affordable program in healthcare administration may be your top priority, but it’s probably not the only one.
Healthcare is a huge industry on the provider side alone, but when you include insurance, pharmaceutical developers and device manufacturers; that businesses grows to something almost unimaginably big, representing the largest single sector of the American economy and accounting for some 18 percent of the U.S. GDP. So there’s no generic career path—you can have a dramatically different experience working as, say, a health plan administrator at an insurance company than you would running a regional trauma center.
So you not only need an affordable program, but one that has the right kind of concentrations and electives to build your specific skillsets to fit the setting or practice area you plan to manage.
Of course, we know you’re going to do your own research to drill down into the specifics of the programs you’re interested in so you can make a fully informed decision. But we’ve given you a great snapshot for each of the choices right here, which should be enough to at least start narrowing down the options:
- Other relevant degree options available
- Whether you can attend full or part-time, or take advantage of hybrid options for the occasional online class
- Information about alumni networks you can tap into for references and mentors
- Relationships with regional health systems for field placements
- International study options to broaden your healthcare horizons
- Superlative graduation and post-graduation employment rates
- Prestigious industry rankings on lists like those compiled by U.S. News & World Report
We also note when the programs are the only ones that are available in a particular state or region so you get some idea what the field of options is like in your area. And if a program offers dual-degree tracks, we’ve listed those out so you can see what your options are if you want to spread your wings beyond the specific focus of an MHA into other related specialties like law or public health.
Regional Guide to the Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs of 2024
Whatever your specific career goals happen to be, if you’re looking for the best quality MHA program at the very best price, you’ll find it somewhere on this list.
Northeast Region – Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs
Midwest Region – Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs
Pacific Region – Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs
Rocky Mountain Region – Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs
South/Southeast Region – Most Affordable CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs
Northeast Regional Average Cost of a CAHME-Accredited MHA Program: $63,454
School of Health and Medical Sciences
South Orange, NJ
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus, online)
Program cost: $57,330
$6,124 less than the regional average
- The only CAHME-accredited MHA program in New Jersey
- Close proximity to New York City and New Jersey’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology corridor offers outstanding opportunities to connect with industry leaders
- Exciting opportunities to get involved through the Seton Center for Community and Population Health
With more than 23 years of academic excellence as its foundation, Seton Hall University’s MHA is where future healthcare leaders and innovators head for a top-quality, affordable graduate-level education covering the administrative side of the increasingly complex and ever-changing healthcare industry. Offered both online and in-person and in a full- or part-time format for the best in flexibility and convenience, Seton Hall’s MHA has earned a reputation for creating an exceptional student-centered learning experience that includes small class sizes and plenty of experiential learning opportunities for students attending on-campus, as well as “learning teams” that ensure the best in peer collaboration for online students.
Graduate School of Public Health
Pittsburgh, PA
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $57,080
$6,374 less than the regional average
- Also offers the MHA-MBA joint degree
- Named among the top graduate healthcare administration programs in the nation and the top-ranked MHA program in Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report
- Superb record of student success includes a 96% graduation rate and 95% placement rate (within 90 days of graduation)
With Pittsburgh’s world-renowned healthcare industry serving as the program’s backdrop, the University of Pittsburgh’s MHA offers everything you’d expect from a top MHA program. A dynamic, well-rounded course of graduate study is enhanced through the school’s residency program – your opportunity to make invaluable industry connections and add valuable experiences to your CV. An outstanding selection of residencies are offered through the department’s facilitated matching process, which includes visits from local healthcare executives who present students with opportunities for either a summer residency or an extended residency. It’s little wonder that Pitt boasts a truly impressive record of student success that includes a 96% graduation rate and a 95% placement rate (within 90 days of graduation). And did we mention this program also boasts a tuition rate that comes in thousands below the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs?
Mailman School of Public Health
New York, NY
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $40,953
$22,501 less than regional average
- Ranked fourth among the nation’s public health schools
- Also offered as a dual degree in partnership with eight Columbia University schools (total of 10 degree combinations)
- Outstanding record of graduate success includes a 97% employment rate
Offered as either a full- or part-time program, Columbia University’s specialized MHA builds upon the university’s long-standing reputation as one of the top public health schools in the nation – all at a cost that ranks it among the most affordable CAHME-accredited option in the Northeast. Since 1922 when it was first founded under the name, DeLamar Institute of Public Health, the Mailman School of Public Health has positioned itself as a leader in graduate-level public health and health administration programs. Today, it boasts an alumni network of more than 16,000 and a 97% employment rate among graduates. Earn your MHA here and you’ll be among the lucky few who have the opportunity to experience the challenges of executive leadership and strategic decision-making in a controlled environment through the Thomas P. Ference Health Systems Simulation, a valuable and unforgettable part of your culminating experience.
Sawyer Business School
Boston, MA
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus, online)
Program cost: $36,000
$27,454 less than regional average
- The only CAHME-accredited MHA program in New England
- University ranked among the Best National Universities, 1st Tier, by U.S. News & World Report in 2018
- Sawyer named among the Best Business Schools in the nation in 2019 by the Princeton Review
Suffolk University’s MHA is a lesson in academic excellence and affordability, housed within one of the top public health schools in the nation (it’s the only CAHME-accredited MHA program in New England) and priced more than $27,000 below the average cost of CAHME-accredited MHA programs in the Northeast. This flexible course of graduate study is offered in a full-time, part-time, and online format and can be completed in as little as 16 months, or stretched out over 28 months. As a Sawyer Business School student, you’ll have all the resources of the thriving Boston metro area within reach, from the financial district to the city’s major health centers. And if you have a global mindset, you can take your studies to the university’s campus in Madrid, where you’ll work alongside some of Spain’s top business professionals and healthcare leaders. Global travel seminars, international internships, and other study abroad experiences are all at your fingertips as a Suffolk student.
College of Professional Studies
Scranton, PA
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $50,180
$13,274 less than regional average
- University ranked among the top ten master’s universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report
- Also offered as a dual MBA/MHA
- Outstanding record of student success includes a 99% employment rate and 100% job placement rate as of 2019
The University of Scranton’s MHA offers everything you’ve been looking for, including an affordable tuition rate and a proven track record of student success. The stats don’t lie—as of 2019, the MHA program boasts a 99% employment rate, 100% job placement rate, and a 97% completion rate. Built on a legacy of academic excellence as one of just 28 Jesuit colleges/universities in the nation, the University of Scranton offers its students a truly comprehensive, graduate-level education that includes an opportunity to complete a 1,000-hour fieldwork experience and an impressive selection of international study opportunities. Since 1995, the College of Professional Studies has secured partnerships in East Africa, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe.
Midwest Regional Average Cost of a CAHME-Accredited MHA Program: $37,282
College of Health and Human Services
Chicago, IL
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus, hybrid)
Program cost: $26,784
$10,498 less than regional average
- Outstanding record of student achievement includes a 92.8% employment rate
- Flexible program offered in a hybrid or on-campus format and delivered on a part- or full-time basis
With a program cost that’s more than $10,000 less than the Midwest average among CAHME-accredited MHA programs, Governors State University provides a quality graduate education with affordability in mind. But the MHA isn’t just an exceptional value among schools in the Midwest, it’s also a national leader in terms of academic excellence. As of the 2019-2020 academic year, the university’s famed MHA boasts a 100% retention rate and a 92.8% employment rate (within six months of graduation). Flexibility and convenience are front and center here, thanks to the option of completing the MHA on-campus, in a hybrid format, or on a full- or part-time basis. Choose GSU for your MHA and you’ll have a front row seat to the amazing opportunities in healthcare administration awaiting you in the Chicagoland area.
School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration
Grand Rapids, MI
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(hybrid)
- Hospital Administration
- Long Term Care Administration
- Health Finance
- Self-Directed Concentration
Program cost: $36,234
$1,048 less than regional average
- Only CAHME-accredited MHA program in Michigan
- Excellent record of graduate success includes a 92% employment rate (within 6 months of graduation)
- Flexible, hybrid program design
Grand Valley State University’s MHA is priced to impress, earning it the distinction of being one of the most affordable CAHME-accredited MHA programs in the Midwest. It’s also the only CAHME-accredited program in Michigan. But the perks of this MHA don’t end there. Choose from part- or full-time delivery… as well as evening, weekend, and online classes…and enjoy plenty of opportunities for collaboration and individual attention with a low, 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio. As an MHA student here, you’ll customize your program to suit your professional and personal goals by choosing from one of three concentrations, or even custom-building your own concentration.
Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
Indianapolis, IN
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $29,185
$8,097 less than regional average
- Also offered as a joint degree: MHA-MPH, JD-MHA, MBA-MHA
- Only CAHME-accredited MHA program in Indiana
- Excellent record of student success includes a 100% employment rate as of 2018
Indiana University’s tuition gives it the enviable distinction of being one of the most affordable programs in the Midwest, while its MHA comes with a history of academic excellence that’s hard to beat. It’s the only CAHME-accredited program in Indiana, and its record of student excellence includes a 100% employment rate as of 2018. It’s no wonder U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the nation’s best in 2020. Other perks of being an IUPUI MHA student include your option of full- or part-time study…life-changing opportunities to study abroad in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and South America…and superb opportunities for practical learning experiences locally in some of Indiana’s top healthcare systems.
College of Public Health
Columbus, OH
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $29,664
$7,618 less than regional average
- Outstanding record of student success includes a 90-95% employment rate within three months of graduation
- Excellent opportunities to engage and learn in MHA case competitions
At nearly $8,000 less than the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs, The Ohio State University’s MHA offers the affordability you’re looking for with zero compromises. For more than 45 years, OSU has earned a reputation for being a leader in research and healthcare leadership, and its MHA continues this legacy of excellence. The MHA at OSU is part of a comprehensive student experience that includes opportunities to connect with your peers through the Association of Future Healthcare Executives (AFHE) and gain invaluable, hands-on experience through participation in the MHS Case Competition team. The MHA is a truly dynamic course of study that’s produced outstanding success rates among graduates. In fact, between 90-95% of all graduates go on to secure themselves a position in healthcare organizations within three months of graduation.
College of Public Health
Iowa City, IA
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $17,546
$19,736 less than regional average
- Also offered as a JD-MHA combined degree
- Outstanding record of graduate success includes a 95.8% employment rate as of 2018
- Excellent experiential learning opportunities include annual case competitions and on-site visits to healthcare organizations throughout the Midwest
The MHA is well within your reach, thanks to the University of Iowa’s affordable tuition rate, which delivers a top-quality CAHME-accredited health administration curriculum at nearly $20,000 less than other comparable programs in the Midwest. Fully customizable, the MHA here comes with your choice of relevant electives covering all the modern administrative concerns, including health informatics, cost effectiveness and decision analysis, nonprofit organizational effectiveness, hospital organization and management, and health policy analysis. The experiential learning opportunities built into the program take you through annual, on-site visits to healthcare organizations throughout the Midwest to ensure you’re prepared to hit the ground running the day you graduate. Each year, MHA students also have the opportunity to flex their newly acquired skills by participating in case competitions with other leading universities. It’s no wonder that the MHA boasts a 95.8% employment rate within three months of graduation.
School of Medicine
Columbia, MO
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $25,800
$11,482 less than regional average
- Dual degree options also offered: MHA-MS, MHA-MBA, MHA-MS, MHA-MPA, MHA-JD
- Outstanding record of graduate achievement includes a four-year (2017-2020) employment rate of 97% (three months after graduation)
The University of Missouri-Columbia’s MHA is everything you’re looking for in a quality MHA program – and more. It’s nationally ranked, perfectly designed to prepare graduates to meet the challenges of a constantly evolving healthcare industry, and priced among the most affordable CAHME-accredited MHA programs in the Midwest. A robust curriculum that includes study in quantitative analysis, health economics, financial management, health policy, and more is enhanced by an administrative internship, which builds upon your classroom learning and provides you with invaluable opportunities to learn within a top healthcare organization. As a result, MHA graduate stats are as impressive as you’d expect from a program of this caliber: since 2017, the program boasts an average employment rate of 97% within three months of graduation.
Hudson College of Public Health
Oklahoma City, OK
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $20,192
$17,090 less than regional average
- Also offered as a dual degree: JD-MHA
- Only CAHME-accredited program in Oklahoma
- Longstanding public health partnerships with state, national, and international health agencies ensure outstanding MHA experiential learning opportunities
At more than $17,000 less than CAHME-accredited programs in the region, the University of Oklahoma is the Midwest’s answer to an affordable MHA program. But the perks of the OU MHA don’t end there. Choose the University of Oklahoma for your MHA and you’ll enjoy small class sizes (ranging from just 6-12 students) that ensure an unmatched level of collaboration and communication among students and instructors, along with a robust curriculum that’s focused on the core areas of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Health Administration and Policy, Health Promotion Sciences, and Occupational and Environmental Health. The Hudson College of Public Health’s active research efforts have allowed it to develop strong partnerships with state, national, and international health agencies, while the Oklahoma Public Health Training Center has a longstanding reputation for being a reliable hub for education and training for the public health workforce.
School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration
Milwaukee, WI
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus, online)
Program cost: $34,222
$3,060 less than regional average
- Outstanding record of student success includes a 96% employment rate
- Superb professional connections through an extensive alumni network of more than 9,700
- Flexible program design can be completed online or on-campus
A 96% employment rate after graduation…a program cost that’s more than $3,000 below the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs… and flexible course delivery options that allow you to complete the curriculum on-campus or entirely online – these are just a few of the perks of choosing the MHA through the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Whether you choose the full-time or part-time option, you’ll benefit from all this program has to offer, which includes a highly esteemed faculty and a 45-year history of academic excellence in research and health sciences education.
Pacific Regional Average Cost of a CAHME-Accredited MHA Program: $82,321
School of Public Health
Seattle, WA
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $63,824
$18,497 less than regional average
- Also offers an Executive MHA
- Dual/combined programs include: MBA/MHA, MHA-MPA, MHA-MD
- Outstanding job placement rate of 100% and 94% employment rate (within three months of graduation) as of 2018
- MHA consistently ranked among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
The MHA offered at the University of Washington Seattle campus is an affordable—and highly effective—path to preparing for a career in healthcare leadership. Designed for early career professionals, this legacy program is where future healthcare leaders and innovators from throughout the northwest come for the best education money can buy. UW alumni are found in influential positions all over the world and the Seattle campus is widely recognized as a leader in health administration training, consistently landing the MHA a spot among the nation’s top-ranked graduate programs. Taught by the university’s esteemed faculty and supplemented with invaluable insight from leading industry professionals, the MHA program here offers a unique level of access to thought leaders in the field. A dedicated professional development specialist will work alongside you throughout your academic journey, providing guidance and support to ensure you reach your career goals, while a Seattle-area healthcare administrative professional will be there to provide one-on-one mentorship and guidance.
Rocky Mountain Regional Average Cost of a CAHME-Accredited MHA Program: $31,338
School of Public Health
Las Vegas, NV
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(hybrid)
Program cost: $12,859
$18,479 less than regional average
- Only CAHME-accredited MHA program in Nevada
- Customizable program includes three track options: thesis track, professional paper track, or capstone track
- Flexible program design includes both on-campus and online courses
You won’t find a better value than the MHA at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, which is priced nearly $19,000 below the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs. As the only graduate healthcare administration program in the Nevada Public University System, the MHA here has earned a reputation as a robust course of study that encompasses the critical competencies necessary for success in healthcare leadership and includes ample research and practical training opportunities. In addition to a wide selection of on-campus and online courses, you’ll also be able to customize the MHA to suit your professional goals by choosing a thesis track, a professional paper track, or a capstone track. Round out your educational experience by participating in one of the many centers within the School of Public Health, including the Nevada Institute for Children’s Research and Policy, the Center for Health Information and Analysis, the American Indian Research and Education Center, and the California-Nevada Public Health Training Center.
Dumke College of Health Professions
Ogden, UT
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(hybrid)
Program cost: $29,140
$2,198 less than regional average
- Also offered as a joint MHA/MBA degree
- Flexible program design includes eight-week courses delivered in online, hybrid, and on-campus formats
Weber State University’s MHA is an affordable path to some of the top positions in healthcare administration. Covering topics such as healthcare ethics and law, management and leadership, and finance and accounting, the MHA is comprehensive and complete, providing you with everything you need to succeed in the ever-changing healthcare industry. This course of study is designed with flexibility in mind, as it features eight-week courses delivered in hybrid, on-campus, and online formats at the Farmington Station campus. You’ll learn from highly qualified WSU professors and working healthcare executives in a dynamic academic environment that prepares you for advanced roles in healthcare. It doesn’t get any better than that!
South/Southeast Regional Average Cost of a CAHME-Accredited MHA Program: $33,474
Waters College of Health Professions
Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville, GA
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(hybrid)
Program cost: $19,225
$14,249 less than regional average
- Outstanding record of student success includes a 100% employment rate among 2017-18 graduates
- Dynamic experiential learning opportunities include team-building activities and project-based assignments
At nearly $15,000 less than the average cost of CAHME-accredited MHA programs in the South, Georgia Southern University’s MHA blends affordability with unparalleled quality to provide one of the best values you’ll find anywhere in the country. Georgia Southern offers an exceptional student experience that comes complete with small class sizes – usually no more than 15 students per instructor. This allows for valuable team-building activities, immersive project-based assignments with real-world applications, and a comprehensive capstone project that rounds out your education and prepares you to be an effective leader in any healthcare organization. Choose the MHA through Georgia Southern and you’ll be part of a legacy of student success that includes a 100% employment rate among graduates.
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
Little Rock, AR
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $26,399
$7,075 less than regional average
- Only CAHME-accredited MHA program in Arkansas
- Program features a superb blend of curriculum and experiential learning
- Full- and part-time study available
The University of Arkansas for Medical Science’s MHA program is backed by more than 30 years of academic excellence and a tuition rate that falls well below the regional average among CAHME-accredited MHA programs. The curriculum of the MHA is comprehensive and well-rounded and optimally structured to build upon previous semesters. Blended with plenty of experiential learning in the area’s leading healthcare organizations and supplemented with invaluable insight from industry leaders, the healthcare leadership preparation you’ll get here is second to none. Flexible learning is also front and center here, with your choice of full- or part-time study and a blend of on-campus evening and online courses to suit your busy schedule.
College of Public Health
Lexington, KY
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $27,341
$6,133 less than regional average
- Also offers the MHA/JD (offered with the College of Law)
- Outstanding record of graduate success includes a 95% average placement rate between 2016-2019
- Intimate cohort learning environment ensures superb collaboration and communication with your peers and professors
The University of Kentucky’s MHA is where the next generation of healthcare leaders and innovators turn for a top-notch education that’s designed with affordability in mind. Whether full-time or part-time study is right for you, the University of Kentucky’s MHA has the graduate course of study that’s designed with your busy schedule in mind. As an MHA student here, you’ll benefit from an intimate cohort learning environment that’s limited to just 25 students. The College of Public Health’s outstanding academic-practitioner partnerships throughout the region ensure you have access to the best field placements and mentorship opportunities available, while at the same time you’re able to tap into the mind trust of a highly esteemed and diverse faculty that draws from experience in research, teaching, and healthcare leadership.
School of Public Health
Memphis, TN
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $23,880
$9,594 less than regional average
- Only CAHME-accredited MHA program in Tennessee
- Outstanding, personalized learning environment features a low, student-to-faculty ratio of just 6:1
- MHA ranked among the top graduate healthcare management degrees in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
At nearly $10,000 less than the regional average among CAHME-accredited MHA programs, the University of Memphis’ MHA stands out as an exceptional value. And as the only MHA program in Tennessee to earn CAHME-accreditation, this graduate course of study is just as impressive as you’d imagine. With more than 25 years of academic excellence as its foundation, the MHA program here has been consistently ranked among the top-performing programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is focused on a personalized learning experience that includes a student-to-faculty ratio of just 6:1. Evening classes and your choice of part- or full-time study bring an unmatched level of flexibility to this dynamic graduate program, which boasts a 100% job placement rate within the first three months of graduation for the past three years running.
College of Health and Human Services
Charlotte, NC
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $21,878
$11,596 less than regional average
- Ranked among the top MHA programs in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report
- Flexible program pace options include two, three, and four-year plans of study
- Outstanding experiential learning opportunities round out the program’s comprehensive curriculum
The UNC-Charlotte MHA provides a unique blend of value and flexibility with a total tuition cost that’s nearly $12,000 less than the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs, while allowing you the freedom to choose your own pace by selecting a two, three, or four-year plan of study. Consistently ranked among the top MHA programs in the nation, UNC has a reputation that speaks for itself. And with exciting experiential learning opportunities designed to enhance the curriculum and ensure a well-rounded program that prepares you for success beyond graduation, those high marks on top ranking lists have a lot to back them up. And best of all, the experience-based learning comes with opportunities to engage with your professors and peers while working with community partners to raise awareness of the most pressing public health concerns in North Carolina.
College of Community Innovation and Education
Orlando, FL
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)– Health Services Administration
(on-campus, hybrid)
Program cost: $18,852
$14,622 less than regional average
- Flexible program design includes your choice of on-campus or hybrid study and evening classes to accommodate your busy work schedule
- Outstanding practical learning experiences enhance classroom learning for a truly well-rounded course of study
The University of Central Florida’s MHA in Heath Services Administration offers the affordable tuition you’ve been searching for and the top-level academic experience you demand. Emphasizing leadership, strategic and financial planning, and contemporary issues in healthcare, UCF’s MHA comes with the option to attend full- or part-time, and allows you the freedom to attend class the traditional way on-campus, or opt for a hybrid design with the option of evening classes to better accommodate your work life. Courses here are supplemented with plenty of experiential learning in the form of service-learning projects and practical internships with community partners, while every aspect of your academic experience is directed by skilled and highly experienced instructors who come to the classroom with expertise in the areas of global health, health policy, healthcare leadership, community engagement, health informatics, and much more.
College of Public Health & Health Professions
Gainesville, FL
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $25,480
$7,994 less than regional average
- Intimate cohort model ensures each student gets individual attention
- Summer internship supplements classroom learning with valuable practical training
Affordable tuition rates, a personalized course of study, and the kind of real-world practical experiences that ensure you’ll be prepared to step into your role as a healthcare administrator with confidence are foundational to the University of Florida MHA. The two-year, lock-step cohort model means you’ll be working with the same small group of serious health administration graduate students for the duration of the program, and all the while receiving the individualized teaching and guidance you should expect from a graduate program, along with plenty of opportunities to work closely with faculty and peers, participating in discussions and collaborating on group projects. With experiential learning central to the UF MHA, the summer internship brings it all together to provide an immersive experience that provides you with a meaningful introduction to how healthcare administration professionals effect real change in the real world.
College of Public Health
Tampa, FL
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $23,459
$10,015 less than regional average
- Exciting study abroad opportunities in countries like Panama, Belize, Uganda, Malaysia, Ecuador, and more
- Home to 12 centers and institutes focused on contemporary issues in public health provide outstanding opportunities for research and scholarship
From organizational models and management principles to health care financial management and economics, the University of South Florida’s MHA comes jam-packed with everything you need to become a successful health facility administrator. And with a total program cost that’s priced more than $10,000 below the regional average for CAHME-accredited master’s programs, it’s also the affordable route to earning the MHA you’ve been searching for. Offering a uniquely global perspective on healthcare leadership, USF’s international ties give you a chance to study abroad in countries such as Panama, Belize, Uganda, Malaysia, Ecuador, and more, while the university’s 12 centers and institutes provide invaluable opportunities for scholarship and research concerning the most pressing global and domestic public health issues.
School of Allied Health Sciences
Tallahassee, FL
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(hybrid)
Program cost: $25,642
$7,832 less than the regional average
- FAMU consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities and top public historically black colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report
- Flexible hybrid course design includes evening-only on-campus classes supplemented with online study
The MHA at Florida A&M University is a program built for serious health administration students who need a program that doesn’t interfere with work, and one that provides the kind of value anybody in the budget-minded health administration field would appreciate. With a total tuition cost that falls nearly $8,000 below the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs and a convenient hybrid design that delivers courses online while only putting you in the classroom on-campus in the evenings, Florida A&M knows exactly what working graduate students need, and delivers exactly that. An intimate, cohort model that puts you with the same group of fellow students for the duration of the program and a lockstep curriculum ensures a consistent but dynamic learning environment where collaboration is paramount. This well-rounded course of study culminates with an administrative residency – your opportunity for a fully immersive real-world learning experience.
Brooks College of Health
Jacksonville FL
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $26,650
$6,824 less than the regional average
- Outstanding record of student achievement includes a 100% completion rate and employment rate since 2018
- Prime Jacksonville setting offers exciting opportunities to learn from top industry executives in some of the nation’s largest hospitals
The University of North Florida’s MHA program is where aspiring health administrators gather to gain advanced skills and knowledge in the areas of healthcare financial management and economics, quality and performance improvement, health policy and policy analysis, and more. It’s all designed to help graduate students become successful innovators and leaders in healthcare delivery. And with a program cost that’s nearly $7,000 less than the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs, it’s also a program that provides an exceptional value. From its home in Jacksonville, you’ll enjoy prime opportunities to connect with and learn from industry leaders in some of the nation’s largest healthcare systems, such as the Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, HCA Memorial, St. Vincent’s Hospital, and much more. Other perks of this program include study abroad opportunities, the option of full- or part-time scheduling, and plenty of opportunities to participate in the important work taking place in the Brooks College of Health Center for Aging Research, the Center for Nutrition and Food Security, and the Health Administration Leadership Institute.
School of Public Health
College Station, TX
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA), resident track
(on-campus)
Program cost: $20,043
$13,431 less than regional average
- A&M was chosen as one of the ten demonstration sites for the national Center for Healthcare Leadership during the development of the MHA Program’s Competency Model for graduate health administration education
- MHA program consistently ranked among the top graduate health administration programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
- Excellent record of student success: 100% completion rate among 2020 graduates
Ranked as one of the top graduate health administration programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Texas A&M’s MHA has long been a model for excellence in healthcare programs nationwide. In fact, it was chosen as one of the ten demonstration sites for the national Center for Healthcare Leadership during the development of the MHA Program’s Competency Model for graduate health administration education. As an MHA student here, you’ll study in the famed School of Public Health, which boasts a superb network of professional relationships with major healthcare systems and healthcare providers, both in Texas and across the nation. And you’ll get all that access and exposure while still paying one of the lowest tuition rates among all the CAHME-accredited MHA programs in Texas. It’s no wonder the class of 2020 enjoyed a 100% completion rate. Whether full- or part-time study is right for you, the MHA at Texas A&M comes with everything you need to succeed, including an outstanding selection of practicum sites and community outreach programs and exciting international experiences in Costa Rica, Germany, China, and more.
College of Health Professions
San Marcos, TX
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $20,900
$12,574 less than regional average
- Superb record of outstanding student outcomes– MHA boasts a 97% job placement rate among graduates within three months of graduation
- Renowned faculty includes nine board-certified Fellows by the American College of Healthcare Executives
- Consistently ranked among the Best Grad Schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
The Texas State University MHA is one of those graduate programs that has it all. Priced nearly $13,000 below the average tuition for CAHME-accredited MHA programs in the region, it’s a standout for offering an exceptional value, and has a record of academic excellence that places it among the top programs of its kind in the nation. For more than 30 years, the School of Health Administration within the College of Health Professions has earned a reputation for renowned faculty, which includes no less than nine board-certified Fellows credentialed through the American College of Healthcare Executives. Together, the faculty here bring extensive international experience, board certification in health information management, healthcare finance, and analytics, and even includes a Chartered Scientist of the Royal Statistical Society. It should come as little surprise that it has been consistently ranked among the Best Grad Schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
College of Business
Dallas/Houston, TX
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus, hybrid)
- Business Analytics
- Global Health
Program cost: $21,200
$12,274 less than regional average
- Also offered as an MBA-MHA dual degree option
- Choose a general MHA or custom tailor the program with a Business Analytics or Global Health emphasis
- Outstanding record of student success includes a 92% completion rate and a 96% job placement rate within three months of graduation
Priced nearly $13,000 below the average tuition for CAHME-accredited MHA programs statewide, the Texas Woman’s University MHA offers a unique value, which says a lot in a field like health administration where you’ll spend much of your career working hard to reduce costs and manage budgets. The flexible program was designed with the needs of working professionals in mind and includes a hybrid option and the freedom to take on-campus courses at both the Dallas and Houston campuses. It all comes together to deliver real results for the students that pass through the halls of TWU, boasting a program completion rate of 92% and a job placement rate of 96%. As an MHA student at TWU, you’ll also enjoy a supportive, highly engaged faculty, small class sizes for the best in personalized learning, and exciting study abroad and internship opportunities to take your academic experience to the next level. Choose between the general MHA program or customize it by choosing an emphasis in either Business Analytics or Global Health – the choice is yours!
UNTHSC School of Public Health
Fort Worth, TX
Website
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
(on-campus)
Program cost: $14,900
$18,574 less than regional average
- Collaborative, intimate cohort learning model features a student-to-faculty ratio of just 15:1
- Study at a graduate-only campus in the heart of Fort Worth
At nearly $19,000 less than the regional average for CAHME-accredited MHA programs, the University of North Texas Health Science Center MHA holds the unique distinction as the most affordable CAHME-accredited MHA program in the great state of Texas. But that’s only the beginning of what this program has to offer aspiring healthcare administrators and executives like you… As an MHA student here, you’ll enjoy studying at the school’s graduate-only campus situated in the heart of Fort Worth, where you’ll learn about the intricacies of effective organizational management within complex healthcare organizations alongside your peers. The intimate student-centered cohort model means you’ll move through the program with the same small group of dedicated and like-minded students for the duration of the program. It’s an exciting course of study that’s overseen by a dedicated MHA advisory council, which includes key stakeholders in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area whose job it is to ensure your academic experience gives you the exact skills and experiences the industry demands.