MGH Online MHA & Healthcare Administration Graduate Certificate

• Health Administration Graduate Certificate
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 112 schools in our MHAOnline.com database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

By Bernd Geels Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore

Updated January 8, 2025

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Every summer, the MHAOnline.com team updates school profiles like this one to provide a current, up to date list of schools offering online MHA programs for the upcoming academic year.

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Sponsor

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 112 schools in our MHAOnline.com database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

When people think of a respected and established provider of healthcare both in Massachusetts and all of New England they are very likely to think of Massachusetts General Hospital. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is the third-oldest general hospital in the entire United States and is also the first teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. MGH admitted its first patient over 200 years ago, on September 1, 1821.

Today, over two centuries later, MGH has a respected national and international reputation. In its 2024-2025 edition of “Best Hospitals,” U.S. News & World Report indicated that MGH was once again ranked in its annual Honor Roll. MGH has consistently been ranked among the top hospitals on the Honor Roll since the recognition began in 1990.

The MGH Institute of Health Professions (IHP) is a private university dedicated to the health sciences. MGH founded the IHP in 1977. IHP is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). IHP offers only healthcare degrees and is the only degree-granting affiliate of Mass General Brigham (MGB), the largest healthcare system in New England. IHP is noteworthy for being the fastest-growing research enterprise in the MGB system. IHP offers two programs for healthcare professionals seeking to advance their education. These are a master’s degree in health administration (MHA) and a post-bachelor’s health administration certificate.

The MHA curriculum is designed to achieve several key learning outcomes aligned with several key focus areas. Key focus areas include analytical skills and knowledge, management functions and skills for healthcare leaders, leadership and professionalism, health systems and the community, innovative solutions to today’s complex healthcare challenges, and the topic of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The post-bachelor’s degree health administration certificate program is online for working professionals. This 12-credit program can be completed in one semester.

MGH IHP is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Admission Requirements: Eligible applicants must submit transcripts that demonstrate they have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or equivalent. Applicants must also submit transcripts from each college and/or university they attended regardless of whether they ultimately earned a degree from that institution. Official transcripts are required of all accepted and enrolled students prior to matriculation. Applicants must also submit a personal statement and a recommendation letter from an individual who is able to provide an informed perspective on the applicant’s academic ability, character, integrity and capacity for graduate professional study. Applicants are not required to take a GRE or GMAT exam.

State Restrictions: MGH IHP is dedicated to sustaining a welcoming and inclusive campus. As such MGH IHP welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply to its educational programs. International applicants who have earned a degree from a non-US institution are required to submit a course-by-course credential evaluation. Such an evaluation is done to ensure that international applicants have equivalent educational training and are thus prepared to embark upon their program.

The language of instruction for MGH programs is English. A high level of written and spoken English proficiency is thus required. Applicants who have not completed either an undergraduate or graduate program in which English was the language of instruction must demonstrate English language proficiency in order to be admitted.

Applicants may take the TOEFL or IELTS tests to demonstrate their proficiency. There are exceptions to this language proficiency requirement: Applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean are not required to demonstrate proficiency. In addition, applicants who are candidates for graduation from an accredited program in the United States or at an English-speaking school in one of the aforementioned countries are also not required to submit test scores.

Study Plan: Students can complete the 36-credit MHA program within 12 to 24 months. Full- and part-time study options are available. Admission is offered in the spring, summer, and autumn. The certificate program comprises 12 credits and can be completed within one semester.

MHA Curriculum: The MHA degree program curriculum consists of content focused on multiple topics. Courses include healthcare administration and human resource management; financial management in healthcare; strategic planning and marketing in healthcare; health policy; healthcare ethics and law; organizational behavior and management theory; quality improvement in healthcare; population health management; JEDI in the healthcare environment; interprofessional leadership development; and six credits of an integrated practicum course. The practicum is completed near the end of the program. Applicants should review the online program for a detailed description of course content.

Certificate Program Curriculum: The certificate program comprises four courses totaling 12 credits. The program may be completed within one semester in just 15 weeks of full-time study. Courses focus on financial management, strategic planning, health policy, and human resource management. Students who later decide to pursue the MHA degree at MGH IHP can transfer the entirety of their certificate program credits into this program.

Online Experience: MGH’s MHA and certificate programs use an online learning delivery model. Online learning models are designed to accommodate working professionals’ particular needs, whose professional and personal commitments often make it difficult to attend a traditional on-campus program.

On-Site Requirements: The MHA degree and certificate programs are fully online. Students are not required to complete any courses on campus. Students can nonetheless benefit from in-person contact with student colleagues and faculty during their studies.

The MGH online MHA degree and certificate program tuition figures are listed in the tables below. Prospective students should closely review tuition information and contact MGH for additional support. The MGH IHP website features several resources, including tuition calculators, a listing of other fees and charges students may incur, and an overview of the cost of attendance for its degree programs. Some students are eligible to receive tuition benefits. For example, employees of Mass General Brigham, including its members and affiliates, are eligible to receive special tuition benefits.

Students may also qualify for financial aid to finance their education. To apply for financial aid to attend MGH IHP programs, applicants may submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must generally meet several requirements to be considered eligible for federal aid. The MGH IHP website includes financial aid information directed explicitly to international students and US military personnel. Students may also be able to finance their education through other means, including grants, scholarships, private loans, and more.

Bernd Geels

Writer

Bernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].