The Best Master’s in Healthcare Administration Programs of 2024

Healthcare administrators are in high demand, with a whopping 28% annual job growth projected for 2022-2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — far higher than the 3% national average.

Earning a master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) can prepare you to be a sought-after professional in this rewarding field.

Nurses in particular can bring valuable clinical experience to administrative roles, be it on a nursing team or organizationwide. Find the right program for your goals with our ranking of the nation’s best MHA programs.

An MHA degree can set the foundation for a broad range of administrative and management careers in one of the nation’s largest job sectors. Earning an MHA typically takes 1-3 years. Full-time, part-time, and accelerated tracks are available, and you can earn your degree online, on campus, or in a hybrid format. Many schools design programs for working adults, including MHA programs for registered nurses (RN).

As an MHA student, you’ll explore healthcare financial management, data analytics, and quality improvement strategies, among other topics. Electives can include healthcare marketing, project management, and policy. Many programs incorporate real-world experience through an internship or capstone project.

In short, the right MHA program will make you a stronger leader, a more effective problem-solver, and a better decision-maker.

Many RNs already meet the admission requirements for an MHA degree program. Often, a bachelor’s degree plus healthcare experience is enough to gain admission. You can also strengthen your application by explaining how your background in nursing has prepared you for graduate school.

While specific eligibility requirements and admission materials vary, many include the following requirements:

Choosing an accredited MHA program can shape your education and career. That’s because accredited programs meet high standards of academic quality.

Independent accrediting agencies evaluate programs based on curriculum materials, faculty qualifications, and graduate outcomes. In the case of MHA programs, the accrediting agency is the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Alternatively, however, some programs may hold accreditation through a business accrediting agency or institutional accrediting agency.

Accreditation pays off. According to CAHME, graduates from CAHME-accredited programs earn about $10,000 more in their first year than graduates from non-accredited programs.