Master of Health Administration Program Rankings

By getting a master of health administration (MHA), you’ll be more qualified for higher-paying jobs with higher levels of responsibility. Getting your education at a quality school is important, as the more demanding the program, the better prepared you’ll be for your career. With an MHA, you’ll be under a lot of pressure, with highly intense day-to-day tasks, so it’s in your best interest to be as prepared for your career as possible.

So how can you tell whether or not a program will prepare you for your career in health management? Here are some of the top characteristics the top-ranked programs have:

Hands-On Learning

You might think of administration work as a lot of paperwork, and while that’s true, you also need to be able to foster really good relationships with other employees, as well as patients. Hands-on learning is important, because you need to learn skills such as conflict resolution and leadership, which can’t necessarily be learned just through reading a book on the topic. Role-playing is important, and many MHA programs have a practitioner-teacher learning model, which means that you’ll apply theory to real-world challenges at a working health care facility.

Financial Courses

Finance is an important part of administration, so all MHA programs include courses on this topic, but the best programs will cover this topic increasingly thoroughly. Although many health care organizations have a CFO (chief financial officer), treasurer, or other finance-related administrative position, every administrator is responsible for finances, especially if you advance to be a CEO. Today, money is more important than ever, and if you don’t know how to effectively manage money from all angles, you could find yourself quickly out of a job.

Professors with Experience

In many schools, the MHA program is new, and the professors that teach the courses are pulled from other programs. While an accounting professor certainly can teach a financial course and a business professor certainly can teach a human resources management course, professors that have experience in health care are going to know the specific challenges you’ll face working at a hospital or other medical-related organization. The top-ranked MHA programs have professors who have been health administrators in the past.

Job Hunting Help

Your degree doesn’t mean much if you’re jobless in the years after graduation. While it might seem easy to find a job in the health care field, the truth is that administrative positions are highly competitive. The best programs will have student services that help with job placement and resume preparation, as well as great networking opportunities with local businesspeople and alumni and other ways to boost your job-hunting skills.

MHA programs are still relatively new for most colleges, so make sure that your program of choice is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), which is the only accrediting organization for these programs that is recognized by the United States Department of Education. Make sure that accreditation is for the MHA program, not just for the entire school. Accreditation will ensure that the program you choose is not only top-ranked, but also effective for preparing you for a career in the fast-paced world of health management and administration.

Top Master of Health Administration Degree Programs

To become a health administrator or manager, a master's degree is usually required. Some of the most popular types of health degrees include the Master of Health Administration (MHA), the Master of Public Health (MPH), and the MBA in healthcare management. Below is a carefully compiled list of accredited institutions offering such programs to help you meet your career goals.

Obtain your Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. Students of this accredited degree program learn to critically examine and evaluate issues, and incorporate the latest theories and contemporary practice applications through their studies. Phoenix also offers MHA specializations in gerontology, health education, and health informatics. Click Here
The MBA in healthcare management degree program offered by American InterContinental University is geared toward preparing students for upper managerial positions in hospitals, health insurance providers, consulting firms, care facilities, and more. With AIU's flexible scheduling, students are able to earn this degree in a little as 12 months. Click Here
Kaplan graduates who specialize in a master's degree in Health Care Management can pursue positions in doctors' offices, medical and surgical hospitals, home health care, and outpatient centers. You will receive rigorous online training, including assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects all designed to help you develop the proficiencies you need to find solutions in real-life healthcare situations. Kaplan also offers an MBA in healthcare management as well as a Master of Science in health education. Click Here
The MA in Healthcare Administration degree program from Grand Canyon University is an advanced graduate degree that prepares students for careers as hospital administrators or other types of healthcare managers. Grand Canyon University is a nondenominational Christian university based in Arizona. Click Here
The MS in business administration with a specialization in healthcare from Virginia College is designed for those already working in the healthcare field who desire to advance their career. Focusing on the business side of healthcare, this degree from Virginia College is useful in hundreds of job types throughout hospital and clinic settings. Click Here
Walden's Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program is a graduate-level online track that emphasizes cutting edge technology and techniques. Numerous health careers should be available to graduates of this program, including jobs available in healthcare supplies, health insurance, health policy, and much more. Walden also offers two other similar degrees: the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in health policy. Click Here
The MS in Health Care Administration degree program offered by Capella is taught entirely online, making it possible for students of the program to continue their work in the healthcare field as they earn credits toward their master's degrees. Topics covered by this program include healthcare policy, finance, law, quality improvement, and more. Capella also offers a Master of Public Health degree, with an option to specialize in health management, as well as an MS in gerontology. Click Here
Ashford University has several programs available for health administration, two being an MBA and MA while the last program is a bachelor's degree. These programs are designed for students who want to advance their careers with in the healthcare system and thoroughly explore biostatistics, finance, and strategic planning. Ashford has become a major providers of online education, with programs spanning multiple industries and education levels. Click Here

Find a Health Administration School Near You