Who Accredits MHA Programs?

Selecting the right master’s program in health administration can be tricky. The first step for prospective MHA students is to ensure that their desired institution and course of study are appropriately recognized by an accreditation body, such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Although there exists a U.S. Department of Education database detailing post-secondary accredited institutions and programs, it should not be considered authoritative; confirmation from CHEA or CAHME should always occur before MHA enrollment decisions are made.

An institution of higher education will be recognized by one regional institutional accrediting organization and, depending on academic offerings may have one or several programmatically accredited programs in specialty areas, such as healthcare administration, nursing, allied healthcare careers, health informatics, business, social work, pharmacy, and journalism.

For example, the University of Scranton holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which is recognized by CHEA. In addition, it has multiple professionally accredited programs by some of the following MHA-relevant organizations and disciplines:

• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long-Term Care Administrators (NAB)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Accrediting agencies are essential in providing assurance that educational and professional institutions meet the highest standards. Such transparency is invaluable for prospective students, who can examine a program’s accreditation status to ensure it meets their expectations before enrolling.

Read on to explore accreditation agencies and processes specific to master’s of health administration (MHA) and other related programs.

There are two types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation ensures that an institution of higher education provides high-quality education. Accredited institutions have met specific academic and professional standards of reputable third-party organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). A non-profit higher education organization based in the United States, CHEA was founded in 1996 to advocate for academic quality through accreditation. CHEA recognizes these six organizations responsible for the accreditation of roughly 3,000 of the nation’s colleges and universities:

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Programmatic accreditation ensures that programs within a specific department prepare students for specific careers and meet high-quality, state-level, or national licensure standards. For example, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is the preferred programmatic accrediting agency for master’s of healthcare administration (MHA) programs. In addition, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) accreditation is the gold standard for healthcare MBA programs.

Students must properly research the accreditation of the MHA programs they are considering. Failure to select programs and schools approved by the appropriate entities can negatively impact a student’s chances of securing financial aid; applying to other academic programs; or qualifying for professional certification. They may also have trouble transferring credits between schools.

Read on for an in-depth description of MHA program accrediting organizations and a list of accredited online MHA and other related healthcare administration programs.

Several organizations throughout the country accredit MHA and other healthcare management programs. Therefore, students should be diligent when researching their MHA program of choice and its associated accreditation agency.

Here are the reputable accreditation entities for MHA and healthcare MBA programs with details about their history; which types of schools or programs they accredit; how they perform evaluations; and a featured MHA program for each organization.

CAHME is the most reputable accreditation agency for MHA degrees and the only organization that grants MHA program-specific accreditation. It is considered the highest standard by students and employers. CAHME-accredited programs offer high-quality curricula, distinguished faculty in education and research, and a top-notch network of professional colleagues and alumni.

CAHME’s mission is to set measurable criteria for outstanding healthcare management education; support, assist, and advise programs to meet or exceed requirements and improve continuously; accredit graduate programs that meet or exceed the criteria; and make the information readily available.

The University of Scranton provides one example of a CAHME-accredited online MHA program. It was one of the first online MHA programs accredited by this agency. To receive this distinction, the University of Scranton demonstrated how it maintains relevancy in its course curriculum and adjusts to the ever-changing nature of healthcare. This 47- to 52-credit program helps students develop communication, critical thinking, leadership, and ethics skills. Two specializations are available in health informatics; population health management; post-acute care; and global health.

The program’s curriculum includes courses such as healthcare financial management; human resources management; healthcare economics and policy; administrative issues; healthcare planning and marketing; health services and systems; healthcare operations and quality; healthcare law and ethics; and leadership and organizational behavior.

• Location: Scranton, PA
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
• Expected Time to Completion: 2.5 years

CAHIIM accredits health informatics and information management programs, two fields closely allied with health administration. To qualify, a university must have institutional accreditation from a CHEA-recognized entity, provisions for Title IV eligibility, and must meet other standards of excellence in the evaluation process. Graduates of CAHIIM-accredited programs may be eligible to sit for the AHIMA certification exams, which cover various skills related to informatics, data management, and electronic health records.

The University of Illinois at Chicago offers an online master of science in health informatics (MSHI) accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). The MSHI program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to become leaders in health informatics. Students learn how to use data, technology, and analytics to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of care.

The 38-credit program also focuses on developing leadership skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. With this degree, graduates can pursue various career paths in the healthcare industry, including clinical informatics specialists, health information managers, or healthcare IT consultants.

Concentration options are available in health data science; consumer and mobile health; and leadership. The curriculum includes courses such as healthcare data; information sources in biomedical & health information sciences; ethics & legal issues in health informatics; healthcare information systems; management of healthcare communication systems; health information systems analysis & design; and social and organizational issues in health informatics.

• Location: Chicago, IL
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

The ACBSP focuses on business programs specifically. Since 1988, it has been accrediting quality business programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree levels at more than 1,000 schools worldwide. ACBSP focuses on exceptional teaching, learning outcomes, and continuous curriculum improvement according to the evolving business world.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is one example of a school with an online ACBSP-accredited MBA in healthcare management program, where students can gain a competitive advantage in the healthcare field and master industry-specific knowledge within the master of business administration in healthcare management. Like an MHA, an MBA in healthcare management program can prepare students to take on leadership roles in hospitals, clinics, or medical offices.

This ten-course program helps graduates excel at managing the day-to-day intricacies of major organizations such as healthcare systems and develop the skills to fix programs, undertake strategic planning, and think critically.

The curriculum includes courses such as healthcare informatics, topics in health administration, social and organizational issues in healthcare, organizational strategy in a global environment, measuring success in an organization, and strategic opportunity management.

• Location: Manchester, NH
• Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• Expected Time to Completion: One year

AACSB International brings educators, students, and businesses together to create a new generation of exceptional leaders. Since 1916, AACSB International has ensured quality, business education, intelligence, and professional development. Just like ACBSP, AACSB International focuses on business-oriented healthcare programs. AACSB is considered the gold standard in MBA program accreditation.

The University of Delaware online MBA program in healthcare management is accredited by AACSB. This 38-credit program can give students the targeted industry knowledge and analytical tools to lead their organization to far-reaching growth and success. Notably, it was ranked in the nation’s top 30 percent of online MBAs by the U.S. News and World Report.

Applicants to the program must have a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. They must provide an unofficial transcript, a resume, and two Letters of recommendation. A minimum of two years of work experience is preferred while GMAT or GRE scores are optional.

The curriculum includes courses such as E-service management in healthcare; patient experience and engagement; leadership and innovation in population health; financial reporting and analysis; economic analysis for business policy; operations management and management science; marketing management; and financial management.

• Location: Newark, DE
• Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International)
• Expected Time to Completion: 12 months

The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) is an organization that works to advance academic quality in business programs through evidence-based accreditation. It encourages institutions to build and improve upon their educational offerings and assesses them based on outcomes. The IACBE has accredited MBA programs, colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions worldwide with healthcare management MBA programs.

The University of St. Mary offers an online MBA program that provides students with the marketable skills they need to accelerate their careers in as little as 12 months. Students can tailor their degree to fit their career goals with eight available concentrations: accounting, business analytics, finance, general management, healthcare management, international business, compliance, and data analytics. The flexible program allows students to take courses at their own pace while still providing the same quality education as the campus-based MBA program.

This 33-credit program includes courses in healthcare informatics and technologies, leadership and business operations in healthcare, legal and ethical issues in healthcare, organizational management, marketing management, managerial economics, managerial accounting, and global management.

• Location: Leavenworth, KS
• Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
• Expected Time to Completion: One year

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is one of the main accreditation entities for nursing programs, including those in nursing administration. The CCNE is an officially recognized national accreditation agency by the U.S. Department of Education. It provides accreditation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, ensuring they meet specific quality standards. The CCNE process helps ensure that students receive a quality education and are prepared for future careers in nursing.

The University of Alabama offers a top-notch online master of science in nursing (MSN) program with a concentration in nurse executive (formerly nursing administration). This program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful nurse administrators or executives.

This 33- to 39-credit program includes courses such as roles and leadership in nursing administration, healthcare systems and quality and safety, advanced financing and strategic planning in healthcare, foundations of implementation science and evidence-based practice, informatics for advanced practice nursing, population health in advanced practice nursing, and health policy and politics: implications in healthcare. Students also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through practicum courses and internships.

• Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which accredits schools of public health and public health programs offered in institutions of higher education. CEPH works to ensure that the public health workforce is well-prepared to tackle the global challenges of today’s society through its rigorous evaluation process of school performance and curriculum standards. CEPH also seeks to promote quality improvements in population health through research, training, education, and advocacy initiatives.

The School of Public Health at Texas A&M University offers an online master of public health (MPH) program with a concentration in epidemiology that provides students with the opportunity to serve in high-impact areas from medical research to medical emergency management and much more.

Applicants to the program must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university, be a United States citizen or U.S. permanent resident, and have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

This 45-credit program includes courses in health policy and management, epidemiology, biostatistics, health behavior, data management and computing, categorical data analysis, and epidemiological methods.

• Location: College Station, TX
• Accreditation: Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

No matter what graduate healthcare program you choose, the bottom line is: accreditation matters.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review institutional and programmatic accreditation standards and guidelines and the current and projected accreditation status of the schools and programs they are interested in before applying or enrolling.

Learn more about the differences between MHA, MBA, and MPH programs to find an accredited healthcare administration or policy graduate program.