Are there Online MHA Programs that Waive or Do Not Require the GRE?

Because of the huge applicant pool, master of healthcare administration (MHA) applicants often look to tests like the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) to distinguish themselves. The GRE is a standardized test established in 1939 and owned and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). It is a standard requirement for graduate school applications. It aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills by testing algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and vocabulary knowledge.

The cost of taking the GRE, however, goes beyond simple fees. According to ETS research, test-takers can prepare for one to three months studying for the GRE. What’s more, extensive test preparation courses can cost several thousand dollars. The financial burden and intense time commitment mean that test-takers with additional work and family obligations may lack access to equal resources and a level playing field.

As a result, some have criticized the GRE, noting its inability to predict a student’s future success and its disadvantage for women, minorities, and the economically disadvantaged. Two academics, Casey Miller and Keivan Stassun published an article in the journal Nature, explaining that “women score 80 points lower on average in the physical sciences than do men, and African Americans score 200 points below white people. In simple terms, the GRE is a better indicator of sex and skin color than of ability and ultimate success.”

Fortunately, not every master of healthcare administration (MHA) program asks applicants to submit a GRE score. Check out various online MHA programs that either forgo the GRE requirement entirely or offer waivers for applicants who meet specific criteria.

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida’s College of Community Innovation and Education offers a unique online executive master of health administration (EMHA) program where students can deepen their skills and knowledge of vital issues that shape organizations and healthcare practitioners. The program prepares students to advance their organization in quality and risk management, policy, healthcare informatics, and more.

Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA from an accredited bachelor’s degree program and a minimum of three years of professional healthcare experience. Application requirements include official transcripts from each university or college attended, a current resume, a one or two-page essay indicating how this EMHA program will enhance their career goals, and three letters of recommendation.

This fully web-based program consists of 11 courses (44 credits) in subjects such as healthcare organizational behavior and human resource management; healthcare statistics and research; healthcare ethics and law; financial accounting for healthcare managers; leadership for healthcare executives; healthcare quality and risk management; and epidemiology and health planning, among other topics.

• Location: Orlando, FL
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $772.69 per credit

The George Washington University

George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health offers an online master of health administration program focusing on developing healthcare leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to manage health-related organizations and programs. As graduates, students will come away with a comprehensive understanding of ethics, business administration, law, financial management, and human relations.

While all courses are delivered online, students must attend two immersions on GW’s Washington, D.C., campus, one immersion at an off-campus health organization, and one immersion held virtually.

From day one, the student experience focuses on building a global network, as the program is intended for professionals working in the field. The curriculum utilizes immersive experiences, small class sizes, and cutting-edge digital learning experiences to prepare graduates for leadership roles in collaborative environments.

Admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree, a statement of purpose, a current resume, a brief interview, and two letters of recommendation. This program is designed for experienced professionals, so work experience is required. Applicants will need two years of full-time work in the health sector or three years in a different industry. All students must be currently employed in the health sector. GRE scores are not required for admission.

Made up of 50 credits, the curriculum includes courses such as healthcare management and strategy; medical informatics and decision management; healthcare financial management; community engagement; economics and quantitative methods; quality and performance improvement; and healthcare law and policy.

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $1,800 per credit

Regis College

Regis College’s online MHA is another example of a non-GRE program. It is a fully online program focusing on the ethical, political, and policy considerations leaders and managers face in the health sector—social justice is woven into every course. The curriculum prepares students to tackle the obstacles and opportunities of governance, technological and medical advances, human resources management, and public relations and communications.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution, a current resume, official academic transcripts, a personal statement, and one letter of recommendation.

Comprising 36 credits, classes cover topics like health ethics and law; concepts in health administration; healthcare quality management; economics of health care; health policy, politics, and perspectives; sociological, political, and economic perspectives in gerontology; and strategic management of healthcare organizations.

• Location: Weston, MA
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $825 per credit

Maryville University

Maryville University offers an online master of health administration program that can be completed entirely online, requiring no campus visits. In addition to a general online MHA program, Maryville offers concentrations in health informatics and analytics; healthcare leadership; population health management; and senior services. The curriculum is fully accredited and is designed to align with the ten key knowledge areas of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative 3.0 GPA, an understanding of basic statistics, and a personal statement. GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission.

As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as the healthcare industry and its impact on healthcare management; healthcare operations; healthcare human resources and organizational behavior; healthcare quality and performance improvement; healthcare law, ethics, and risk management; healthcare financial management; and population health management.

Completing this program can qualify graduates for leadership positions across various healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and more. They can take up roles such as administrative service managers, healthcare consultants, hospital directors, nurse managers, nursing home directors, political scientists, and healthcare recruiters, among many other such roles.

• Location: St. Louis, MO
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $714 per credit

George Mason University

George Mason University offers an online master of health administration (MHA) in health systems management program that prepares students for leadership roles in healthcare organizations. Students in this program develop contemporary business, strategic, decision-making, and analytic skills needed for successfully navigating the evolving healthcare industry in the post-pandemic era.

This online program also includes a field-based capstone practicum which must be completed in the final semester of study. Also, students must choose healthcare quality or executive as one of their concentrations. The program comprises 45 credits and includes courses such as statistics in health services management; leadership and organizational behavior; quality measurement and evaluation; health economics; management of health information systems; and legal issues in health administration.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0, official transcripts, a current resume, a statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation.

Graduates can take up roles such as hospital administrators, medical records and health information managers, population healthcare coordinators, healthcare policy consultants, medical and health services managers, and administrative services and facilities managers.

• Location: Fairfax, VA
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 30 months
• Estimated Tuition: $895 per credit

Ohio University

Ohio University’s online master of health administration program provides students with the strategic insight and confidence to lead healthcare organizations into the future. In addition to a foundation in healthcare administration, students can add a specialization in one of five focus areas: business analytics, healthcare leadership, aging studies, quality improvement, or project management.

For admission to the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, one letter of recommendation, a personal statement, a current resume, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. Professional work experience in the US healthcare system is preferred. GRE scores are not required for admission.

This 36-credit program includes courses such as health law; human resource management in healthcare; leadership of health organizations; health policy; strategic planning and marketing in health services; evaluation and quality improvement in healthcare; and ethical issues in healthcare.

Upon completing the program, graduates can take up roles such as hospital administrators, healthcare administrators, health information managers, operations managers, medical services managers, health services managers, and healthcare executives.

• Location: Athens, OH
• Accreditation: Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: Ohio resident ($658 per credit); non-Ohio resident ($677 per credit)

Queens University of Charlotte

Queens University of Charlotte’s online MHA program adheres to the ACHE core competencies. The online program prepares students to apply business principles to healthcare settings. This combination of healthcare and business enables students to manage, structure, and lead successful healthcare ventures.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited US college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants with lesser GPAs must have five years of healthcare work experience. Other admission requirements include official transcripts from each institution attended, two years of full-time healthcare work experience, a current resume, a career statement, and two letters of reference. GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission.

Consisting of 36 credits, the program includes courses such as health services organization and delivery; organizational behavior in healthcare organizations; financial management; management and human resources of healthcare organizations; quality improvement for healthcare organizations; managerial epidemiology research & statistics; and clinical issues in health services management.

• Location: Charlotte, NC
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $811 per credit

University of Scranton

Based on the ACHE Healthcare Leadership Alliance competency model, the University of Scranton’s online MHA program provides graduates with expertise in business, leadership, communication management, relationship management, and the healthcare environment.

The program is made up of 47 credits. Students may add an MHA specialization in global health or health informatics. These specializations incorporate six more credits into the curriculum for a total of 53 credits and incorporate 150 hours of fieldwork. The core curriculum includes courses such as healthcare law; human resources management; healthcare economics and policy; leadership in healthcare organizations; administrative issues; healthcare operations and quality; healthcare ethics; and healthcare IT management.

The major admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0, official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, a current resume, three years of work experience, and three letters of recommendation. GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission.

• Location: Scranton, PA
• Accreditation: Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 30 months
• Estimated Tuition: $920 per credit

University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati’s College of Allied Health Sciences offers an online master of health administration program preparing students to become the next generation of executive healthcare leaders by combining competency-based coursework with real-world experience in an innovative learning environment.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree program from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work, two letters of recommendation, a current resume, a personal statement, two years of work experience, and TOEFL scores for international students.

This 40-credit program includes courses such as global health systems; healthcare finance; healthcare marketplace; evidence-based decision making for managers; total quality management; health policy & regulation; legal & ethical issues; emerging issues in health systems management; and health systems management.

At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities such as hospital administrators, health policy advocates, clinical leads, pharmaceutical administrators, and operations managers.

• Location: Cincinnati, OH
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion:
• Estimated Tuition: Resident ($754 per credit); non-resident ($769 per credit)

University of New Haven

University of New Haven’s online MHA program helps students develop business planning, statistical analysis, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and more skills. Graduates are prepared for various leadership roles, such as healthcare operations managers, administrative services managers, health insurance operations directors, healthcare program coordinators, and medical practice managers.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or recognized institution in another country with a minimum GPA of 3.0, official transcripts for all previously attended institutions, a statement of purpose, two recommendation letters, and a current resume. GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission.

The program comprises 36 credits including coursework in management of healthcare organizations; management information systems in healthcare; financial management of healthcare organizations; law and public health; healthcare ethics; statistics for healthcare managers; healthcare leadership; and strategy and innovation in healthcare organizations.

• Location: West Haven, CT
• Accreditation: Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME); New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: $750 per credit

While the GRE may be gaining ground over the GMAT and other standardized tests, more and more online MHA programs are switching away from the GRE as a requirement to reduce obstacles to what is a growing and lucrative career path.

Work experience and strong academic backgrounds are replacing test scores as a measure of passion and competence. Furthermore, some schools that maintain a GRE requirement may be convinced to waive it due to work experience or competitive undergraduate transcripts. Conversely, schools may overlook a less-than-ideal undergraduate GPA in favor of a strong GRE score. Ultimately, deciding whether or not to take the GRE requires the personal evaluation of one’s past performance and future goals.

There is a wealth of information online, but it is always best to contact an admissions counselor at the schools students are considering. Admissions requirements can change every year, and sometimes they change faster than a school’s website does. Putting a human face to the admissions process can further individualize the experience, liberating it from an obtuse checklist of rigid requirements and turning it into something more equitable and holistic.

In the past, a poor GRE score could severely limit one’s options. But today, there is an online MHA program that’s right for anyone, whether they decide to take the GRE or not.

Matt Zbrog

Writer

Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about emerging issues in healthcare administration and public health, with a particular focus on progressive policies that empower communities and reduce health disparities. His work centers around detailed interviews with researchers, professors, and practitioners, as well as with subject matter experts from professional associations such as the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) and the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHCA).