Are there 100 Percent Online MHA Programs?

Yes! There are fully online master of health administration (MHA) programs for healthcare professionals seeking to advance their careers or those wishing to enter the field in an administrative or leadership role.

These programs are available to individuals with no prior professional healthcare experience, those with two to four years of experience, and those with significant experience in the field. Many universities offer MHA programs due to the increased need for healthcare administration professionals as a result of the expanded availability of healthcare in the U.S. and the changing U.S. population.

Internet access allows for students of online MHA programs to complete coursework anywhere. Healthcare professionals, career-changers, and recent graduates can either continue to work while completing an MHA degree or opt to study full-time.

Online MHA programs use web-based tools that deliver curricular content and facilitate interaction between students and professors. This may take the form of discussion boards, chat rooms, and video-conferencing. Some programs offer all online coursework asynchronously so that students have the flexibility to access class material and complete assignments whenever their schedules allow. Other programs incorporate asynchronous learning with real-time, synchronous activities requiring students to be online at certain times of the day or week.

MHA programs vary in their requirements and exact formats; however, they have certain shared features. In addition to online coursework, many programs require a culminating capstone project that includes a practicum and issue-based research project. While some online programs also have campus immersions that require students to be on campus for several days at a time, 100 percent online programs may have “virtual residencies” so that students can have a similar experience from the convenience of their homes or other off-site location.

Most programs combine core classes with electives, allowing students to focus on a healthcare area of interest. Some even offer specialized tracks in different subjects, such as long-term care or health informatics, enabling students to tailor their studies to the administrative needs of the kinds of healthcare organizations they plan to serve.

George Mason University

GMU offers a fully online MHA in health systems management. Both the on-campus and online programs follow the same curriculum and are organized into the same five competencies: knowledge of healthcare systems and management, communication and interpersonal skills, critical thinking and problem solving, management and leadership, and professionalism and ethics.

Each online course lasts eight weeks and learning activities include lectures, moderated group discussions, presentations, reflective papers, projects and reports, problem-solving, and case studies. The culminating experience of the program is a capstone practicum that entails becoming part of a health system, such as a hospital, consulting firm, and healthcare agency, and proposing a resolution to a relevant organizational issue.

Admission to GMU’s online MHA is competitive. Qualified applicants are invited to a faculty interview either in person or using online video conferencing.

• Location: Fairfax, VA
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Tuition: $895 per credit
• Program length: Two years

Utica College

The online MHA in healthcare administration at Utica College prepares students for management and leadership roles in various healthcare settings. Features of the curriculum include interactive online learning forums, the applied study of real-world healthcare cases, related projects, and in-depth discussions. The program is 100 percent online, with a virtual residency and a final project.

Students cultivate specific skills in staff management, organizational development, administrative strategy development and implementation, healthcare accounting methods, and more. They also have the opportunity to specialize in acute care, service organizations, and long-term care. Each MHA core curriculum class incorporates three dimensions: management, leadership, and the continuum of care.

• Location: Utica, NY
• Accreditation: Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• Tuition: $690 per credit
• Program length: Dependent on prior educational background, required credits, and course load

Queens University of Charlotte

This online MHA program fosters expertise in business and healthcare to prepare graduates to structure, manage, and lead healthcare organizations. The program’s goals are to instill confidence in graduates’ abilities to assess and improve healthcare policies and lead strategic initiatives to improve healthcare practices and outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Designed for MBA-holders and physicians, the program has several core components: communication and relationship management, leadership, professionalism, healthcare knowledge and expertise, and business knowledge and expertise. The applied curriculum incorporates a hands-on approach with a focus on the immediate application of theoretical frameworks to relevant healthcare issues.

Please note that applicants to the Queens University online MHA program are required to have two years of healthcare experience.

• Location: Charlotte, NC
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $735 per credit
• Program length: Two years

Florida Atlantic University

The executive MHA program at Florida Atlantic University is a 15-month accelerated format for busy healthcare professionals. The online program is delivered 100 percent asynchronously to allow for maximum flexibility. Students may access courses anytime from anywhere with internet connectivity, and there are no residency requirements.

Executive MHA students progress through the program as a cohort, allowing for a set of shared experiences and networking opportunities. The 30-credit program is offered at the same tuition for both in- and out-of-state residents as well as international students. Applicants with four years of healthcare experience and a 3.0 GPA (in the last 60 credit-hours of their prior degree) may qualify for a GMAT/GRE score waiver.

• Location: Boca Raton, FL
• Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
• Tuition: $261.29 per credit
• Program length: Two years

George Washington University

GW offers an online MHA for experienced healthcare professionals seeking to oversee healthcare change around the globe. The program utilizes virtual tools, such as HD streaming video, live chat, and break-out rooms to make the online learning environment highly interactive, incorporating both synchronous and asynchronous activities in each class.

Housed in the Milken Institute School of Public Health, GW’s MHA program combines online learning with four in-person immersions. Immersions are held on the GW campus in Washington, DC (three) and at a notable healthcare facility in the US or abroad (one). Online MHA students gain access to over 450 workspaces around the world, equipped with wifi, printers, office supplies, coffee, and kitchen space.

Applicants must have either two years of full-time experience in healthcare or three years of full-time industry experience. However, those with less than the required professional experience may be eligible to take an online exam in order to qualify for admission.

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Tuition: $1,765 per credit
• Program length: Two years