The Best MHA Programs for 2027: Master's in Healthcare Administration

The University of Michigan's Master of Health Services Administration is a two-year, 60-credit-hour residential degree offered through the health management and policy department at the School of Public Health. It focuses on the organization, financing, marketing and management of health care systems, and prepares graduates for leadership in health systems, hospitals, clinics, insurance and consulting. Year one starts with a two-semester Health Services Systems sequence. Other coursework includes healthcare financial accounting, economics of healthcare, organizational theory and management, legal aspects of healthcare, and quantitative methods. All master's students complete a 10 to 12 week summer internship between the first and second years, and the final semester ends with an Integrated Learning Experience in which student teams take on a real client consulting engagement. Applicants need a bachelor's degree, and no specific undergraduate major is required.

The program has a Program Score of 95.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 93% graduation rate and a 16% admit rate, so admission is highly selective. The degree fits students aiming for management and policy roles in health care who want a structured internship and a team-based capstone, and who are ready for a full-time residential format.

Columbia University in the City of New York's Master of Health Administration (MHA) is run by the Department of Health Policy and Management, and it comes in three formats: full-time, part-time and executive. The cohort-based curriculum covers organizational leadership and management, health policy development and implementation, and public health and health systems administration. Courses use healthcare examples and case studies, and students build skills in finance, strategy, leadership and analytics. The program uses a competency model with 17 standardized competencies across all three formats, and the page states that the MHA is accredited by CAHME, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Fieldwork and professional interaction in and around New York City supplement coursework.

Columbia graduates 96% of its students and admits 4% of applicants. The program's Program Score is 95.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The three formats make it a fit both for early-career students who want a full-time degree and for working healthcare professionals who need a part-time or executive schedule, with employers in hospitals, consulting, insurance and pharmaceutical companies named on the page.

The University of Southern California Price School offers a Master of Health Administration that blends healthcare management and policy. The curriculum covers policy, finance, operations and information technology. Every student completes a 1,000-hour residency working under a senior-level manager, and the page describes alumni who held residencies at Keck and Optum. Optional pieces include a dual degree with gerontology and certificates in ambulatory care and long term care. The school reports that the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Management Education, and an online executive MHA is listed separately. Applicants must meet a statistics prerequisite.

USC reports a 92% graduation rate and admits about 10% of applicants, so this is a selective school. The program's Program Score is 95.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The school's own 2024 employment data show 97% of MHA students employed, in a Ph.D. program or in other continued education within one year, with 49% of graduates in the private sector and 39% in nonprofits. The program fits students who want hands-on hospital or health system experience built into the degree and who are comfortable with a competitive admissions process. USC also lists scholarship deadlines for fall entry that start in December.

Harvard University's Master in Health Care Management, offered through the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, is designed exclusively for mid-career physicians and dentists who hold leadership roles in health care organizations. The two-year, low-residency program lets participants keep working full-time. It requires three weeks on the Boston campus each summer plus five four-day weekends per year, about 35 campus days annually, and an average of 10 to 15 off-campus hours a week on worksite projects and homework. Teaching combines lectures with Harvard Business School-style case discussions. Required courses cover organizational behavior, marketing, financial management, accounting and control systems, competitive strategy, operations, provider payment systems, and a field project in quality improvement. The school designates the activity for a maximum of 99.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Harvard reports a 98% graduation rate and an admit rate of 4%. The program's Program Score is 95 out of 100, the basis of its ranking here. Because eligibility is limited to practicing physicians and dentists, it fits clinicians moving into executive roles, not general business applicants.

The Sloan Master of Health Administration at Cornell University is housed in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and prepares graduates to manage in hospitals, long-term care organizations, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies, with an emphasis on quality, access, efficiency and innovation. It comes in three forms. The residential MHA is a 64-credit-hour management curriculum for early careerists on the Ithaca campus. A combined five-year BS/MHA is open to current Cornell undergraduates in specified majors. The Executive MHA is a 36.5-credit-hour curriculum offered virtually for experienced health care professionals. The curriculum covers management and leadership, health care systems, health policy, finance, accounting and marketing.

Cornell graduates 95% of its students and admits 9% of applicants. The program's Program Score is 95 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The options make it a fit for a recent graduate who wants a two-year residential degree in Ithaca, a Cornell undergraduate planning a five-year path, or an experienced clinician or manager who needs a virtual format. Applicants should confirm current requirements and deadlines with the program before applying.

The University of Washington's Master of Health Administration is offered through the School of Public Health and trains future health care leaders. It is designed for early-career professionals and aims to build the leadership skills needed to launch a career in health administration. The school says graduates take positions in hospitals, managed care organizations, clinics, public and community health agencies, consulting firms, government and legislative settings, and long-term care organizations, in both urban and rural areas. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree, come from a range of backgrounds, and are most competitive with some work experience, preferably in health care or health services. Application dates are published on the program's own website.

Federal data show an 85% graduation rate at the University of Washington and an admit rate of 39%, so admission is selective. The program earns a Program Score of 94.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits people early in a health care career who want a management credential that opens doors in hospitals, public health agencies or consulting, and who bring at least some experience working in a health care setting to their application.

Boston University's route into healthcare administration here is the Healthcare Management functional certificate within its Master of Public Health, housed in the School of Public Health. The page notes the certificate carries CAHME accreditation, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Students complete the MPH with a 28-unit certificate, and the page describes it as practice-based. Learning outcomes cover health care system analysis, health policy analysis, improvement and implementation, leadership and professionalism. Graduates are expected to analyze how healthcare is organized, financed and delivered, apply project management and quality improvement tools, and lead teams. Required courses include Data to Dashboards, which builds Excel skills for health program decisions, and Health Care Management.

Boston University graduates 89% of its students and admits 11% of applicants. This program's Program Score is 94.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want public health training together with management and operations skills for hospitals, health systems and similar organizations, and who value a certificate backed by the program accreditor named on the page.

Yale University's MPH in Health Care Management is offered through the School of Public Health and draws on courses at the Yale School of Management. Students take management classes such as Accounting, Negotiations, Competitive Strategy and Managing Marketing alongside foundational courses in health policy, finance and management. Areas of expertise listed include organizational behavior and leadership, business economics and finance, quality improvement, operations, and hospital and integrated delivery system administration. The degree requires 20 course units, and two-year students complete an Applied Practice Experience that an internship can fulfill. A Colloquium in Healthcare Leadership brings healthcare leaders to campus, and students help lead an annual healthcare conference.

Yale graduates 96% of its students and admits just 4% of applicants, so admission is highly competitive. The program earns a Program Score of 94.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students aiming at healthcare consulting, hospital administration, global health or nonprofit work who want a small cohort with direct access to dedicated faculty, and who are prepared for a selective application process through SOPHAS.

The University of Georgia offers a Master of Health Administration in the Department of Health Policy and Management within the College of Public Health. The page states that the program has full four-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. It is a 54-credit-hour, two-year cohort program that includes a summer internship and a capstone project. Courses cover the U.S. healthcare delivery system, health informatics, health economics, finance for health administration, public health law and ethics, quality improvement and ambulatory care leadership, alongside four professional development seminars. The program lists internships at children's hospitals, rural hospitals and large health systems, fellowships at places such as Kaiser Permanente and Mount Sinai, and employers such as Wellstar and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Federal data show a 90% graduation rate and a 38% admit rate at the University of Georgia, so admission is selective. The program holds a Program Score of 93.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits early-career students aiming for management roles in hospitals, health systems and consulting who want the cohort structure and public health grounding.

The Master of Health Administration at Dartmouth College is a hybrid degree for working professionals preparing for advanced careers in health management. Students choose the standard 24-month track or an accelerated track that finishes in 12 months. The program draws on both the Tuck School of Business and the Geisel School of Medicine and is led by the Associate Dean for Health Care Management Education. The page reports that Dartmouth was approved for CAHME accreditation on May 19, 2026, for a term of four years. It cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 28% growth in demand for the field through 2031, and offers admissions calls and webinars for prospective students.

Federal data show a 96% graduation rate and a 5% admit rate for the college. The program has a Program Score of 93.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits mid-career clinicians, administrators and other health care professionals who want to move into management without leaving their jobs, and who can compete for a highly selective admission.

New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service offers an online Master of Health Administration. The page describes it as CAHME-accredited, part-time and designed for working professionals, with no GRE or GMAT required. Students meet professors and peers in weekly live online sessions. The second term includes an intensive in-person immersion in New York City, where students work through case studies and assignments. A culminating team project uses a healthcare system simulation to tackle real-world problems with the skills built during the program. The curriculum emphasizes health equity and the social, economic and political factors behind health outcomes, and the school says faculty come from senior management roles at healthcare systems, organizations and agencies.

NYU is a private nonprofit university in New York City. About 88% of students graduate, and the school admits 9% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 93.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working healthcare professionals who want a management degree without leaving their jobs, can commit to live weekly sessions, and can travel to New York once for the immersion.

The Boston College Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) is an online, asynchronous program that students can take full time or part time. It runs 12 courses for 36 credits in a seven-week format: ten core courses plus two electives. Core topics include health systems and population health, health policy and practice, and transformational health leadership. Two optional concentrations, each four courses, cover Artificial Intelligence and Human Flourishing in Health, and Sports and Restorative Health Leadership. The program ends in an Applied Capstone Project in which students consult for a live healthcare client and present to executives, leaving a portfolio-ready project. The page says it was designed with industry healthcare professionals and uses competency-based education.

Federal data show a 91% graduation rate and a 16% admit rate, so admission is highly selective. The program earned a Program Score of 92.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals who want an ethics-centered healthcare management degree they can complete online, with rolling applications and a chance to specialize.

The Ohio State University offers the Master of Health Administration through its College of Public Health, in several formats. The residential MHA is full-time and in person, with clinical rotations and career development resources. The executive MHA is delivered 100% online for working healthcare leaders. Dual degrees combine the MHA with a Master of Public Administration, a Master of Business Administration, a Doctor of Medicine or a Juris Doctor. The page states the program is accredited by CAHME and has more than 55 years of history, a national alumni society and engagement in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.

Federal data show an 88% graduation rate and a 61% admit rate for the university as a whole. The program has a Program Score of 92.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits early- to mid-career professionals aiming to lead hospitals or healthcare organizations, whether they can study full time on campus or need the online executive format, and those who want to pair management training with law, medicine, business or public administration.

The George Washington University offers its Master of Health Administration through the Milken Institute School of Public Health. The page describes a 45-credit program that can generally be completed in 2 years as a full-time student, with flexible pathways to finishing. Coursework covers business and medical informatics, health care systems, management theory, finance, quality, law and policy. Students complete an experiential learning course, HSML 6271, that requires a residency of at least 280 hours at a variety of sites. The only prerequisite is an undergraduate introductory statistics course with a grade of B or better, which can be finished before the first semester rather than before applying. The school reports that the residential MHA is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Federal data show an 84% graduation rate and a 47% admit rate at George Washington University. The program has a Program Score of 92.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students aiming for leadership, research or consulting roles in health care who want to train in Washington, DC, close to national health policy. The low barrier of a single statistics prerequisite makes it reachable for applicants from varied undergraduate backgrounds.

Purdue University offers an online Master of Health Administration through its Department of Public Health. The page lists a 100% online format, a length of six semesters or two years, and a weekly commitment of 15 to 20 hours. Classes run eight weeks, while the capstone and seminar courses run 16 weeks. No GRE is required, and stackable graduate certificates are available. The curriculum covers healthcare leadership, operations, quality improvement, finance and the regulatory framework of U.S. health systems. It is intended for early- and mid-career professionals, including nurses, clinical staff, health IT staff, insurance managers and health service managers. The page states that the program holds candidate status toward accreditation, which is not accredited status and does not guarantee it.

Purdue has a Program Score of 92.1 out of 100, which is the basis of this ranking. The university graduates 83% of its students and admits 50% of applicants. The format fits healthcare workers who want to move into management without leaving their jobs, and students who value a practice-oriented curriculum with an industry-focused capstone.

The Master of Science in Health Care Administration (Traditional) at California State University-Long Beach is designed for new undergraduates, beginning health care professionals and international students who want managerial careers in the industry. The school reports that the program is CAHME accredited. The curriculum has 14 required courses on the essential functions of management and the US health care system, plus one elective chosen to match a student's goals. The degree requires at least 45 units of graduate coursework. Classes run Monday through Thursday in fall, spring and summer, in different modalities, and students may attend part time or full time. The department has affiliations with regional and local health care facilities and companies that provide mentorship and field experience. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA or above, with some flexibility for strong candidates, and 9 units of financial accounting, microeconomics and statistics. The application deadline is April 1.

Federal data show a 69% graduation rate and a 46% admit rate at Cal State Long Beach. The program earns a Program Score of 92 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits early-career health care workers and recent graduates who want a structured, accredited path into health care management with built-in field experience.

The University of South Florida (USF) Master of Health Administration (MHA) prepares students for private and public sector leadership positions, with a clinical and community perspective. Coursework covers organizational models and management principles in health settings, health care financial management and economics, quality and performance improvement, health policy analysis, strategic planning and marketing, and health law and ethics. The program integrates a population health management approach and prepares graduates for roles in hospitals, physician group practices, ambulatory care centers, managed care plans and consulting practices. Its competency model spans five domains: management science and technology, strategy and leadership, public policies and community orientation, economics and financial management, and professionalism and communication skills. The school reports accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and membership in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration. Alumni serve as field experience preceptors.

USF reports a 77% graduation rate and a 43% admit rate. The MHA earned a Program Score of 91.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The program serves early to mid-career professionals seeking to enter or advance in health care, as well as recent graduates of regionally accredited undergraduate programs who have demonstrated leadership. It is a good match for applicants who want a CAHME-accredited route into health care management.

The University of Pittsburgh offers the Master of Health Administration (MHA) through its School of Public Health. The page describes a competency-based curriculum with professional development activities that prepares graduates for managerial roles in health care settings. It says the curriculum emphasizes knowledge, analytical skills and core values, and that graduates secure fellowships or full-time positions in hospitals, academic centers, long-term care facilities, health plans and consulting firms. The program states it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and takes part in the CAHME Mentorship Circle. The page reports a 100% graduation rate and a 98% placement rate for the 2021 to 2024 cohorts.

The university as a whole graduates 85% of its students and admits 58% of applicants. The Program Score of 91.7 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students aiming at health care management roles, including hospital administration, long-term care and health plans, who want an accredited, competency-based degree. The program-level graduation and placement figures come from the school and cover its own recent cohorts.

Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management offers a Master of Management in Health Care, designed for working clinicians and healthcare professionals who want to lead change. The program runs 12 months on a part-time hybrid schedule in Nashville. The school says the curriculum includes healthcare management courses and weekend immersions taught by leaders and policy makers, with an embedded strategy project in which students work with a capstone team on a significant organizational challenge. Because students return to their jobs between sessions, the school describes the benefit as immediate return on the skills they gain. Admissions is described as holistic, with employer endorsement as part of the process, and applicants can submit a resume, CV or LinkedIn profile for a pre-assessment and schedule a personal consultation.

Vanderbilt graduates 94% of its students and admits 6% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 91.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits practicing clinicians and healthcare managers who want to keep working while they earn a management degree, and who can clear a highly selective admissions process.

The University of Miami offers a Master of Health Administration through the Miami Herbert Business School. It is an 18-month, full-time, on-campus specialized master's with an August start. The school reports AACSB and CAHME accreditation and describes the curriculum as business fundamentals applied to health care, with first-hand experience of daily operations and chances to improve processes. Students can begin Champion Certification in Six Sigma, a process improvement method used in health care organizations. Career coaching is one-on-one, and the page lists alumni employers including Mayo Clinic, Medtronic and the University of Miami Health System. Graduates are prepared to lead health care systems, physician groups, insurance companies, medical device companies and facilities, or to work in consulting, the pharmaceutical industry and health policy.

The University of Miami graduates 84% of its students and admits 19% of applicants, so admission is selective. The program earns a Program Score of 91 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. It fits students who can study full time on campus, want a defined 18-month path and are aiming at administrative leadership in hospitals, insurers or health technology companies. Applicants should plan around the single August start.