The Cheapest Online Healthcare Administration Degree Programs of 2027

Appalachian State University offers an online Master of Health Administration for working professionals who do not want to relocate. The program has a core in general health administration and two areas of focus: Health Care Leadership, which covers leadership and health care operations management, and Health Informatics, which covers data analytics and data management in health care. The school reports accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Courses are asynchronous with no set meeting times, though some classes may hold occasional synchronous sessions. Students taking two to three courses per semester, year-round, can finish in two years, or go slower to fit their schedule. A one-day on-campus MHA event is held on a Saturday each fall, and students are encouraged to attend.

The Program Score of 79.2 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. App State graduates 75% of its students and admits 90% of applicants, so entry is accessible for most qualified applicants. The program suits mid-career clinicians, managers and administrators in hospitals, long-term care, urgent care or mental health organizations who want a CAHME-accredited degree they can complete online. Applicants choosing between the two focus areas should decide whether their goals lean toward running operations or toward working with health data.

The Master of Healthcare Administration at the University of North Carolina Wilmington prepares early to mid-level professionals to plan, direct and manage healthcare services. The program is fully online and delivered in an online accelerated format, admitting students six times per academic year. Courses are seven weeks long and delivered asynchronously through the learning management system. The competency-focused curriculum is 48 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 15 months by students who meet all preferred admission requirements. The program also runs a Healthcare Leadership Forum Series. UNCW reports that the MHA is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), after an initial approval for a three-year period, and that it belongs to the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and the American College of Healthcare Executives Higher Education Network.

UNCW graduates 71% of its students and admits 64% of applicants. The program has a Program Score of 90 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals in the region who want an accelerated, asynchronous schedule, with frequent start dates making it easier to begin without waiting for a single fall intake. Students who want a faster route should note that the 15-month pace applies to those who meet all preferred admission requirements.

Florida International University's Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) is a 48-credit healthcare leadership degree that the school reports is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). It runs in two formats with the same curriculum: an 18-month hybrid option that is half online and half in person, with eight-week courses, and a fully online 24-month option with 16-week courses. Students build expertise in people and organizational leadership, financial and resource management, strategy and operations, policy, law and quality improvement, and Lean Six Sigma methods. In the final semester they either explore a healthcare challenge or complete an administrative internship. The GRE is not required, and applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours.

FIU graduates 74% of its students and admits 55% of applicants. The program's Program Score is 89.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The two formats suit working professionals, with the hybrid track for those who can attend in person and the online track for those who cannot. The page lists basic accounting, data analysis, economics and finance as helpful prerequisites.

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith offers a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration, delivered fully online for working professionals. The page lists 34 credit hours and says students can finish in as little as two years. The curriculum draws on healthcare policy, finance and operations, and stated learning outcomes include leadership, communication, professionalism and ethics, and knowledge of healthcare systems. Career paths named on the page include healthcare administrator, health services manager, clinical director, medical practice manager and hospital operations manager.

Federal data shows a 38% graduation rate at UAFS and an 80% admit rate. The Program Score of 69.9 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The graduation rate is lower than many peers, which is common at schools serving many working and part-time students, so applicants should plan their workload carefully. The program fits clinicians and administrators already working in hospitals, clinics or practices who want a management credential without relocating or leaving their jobs. The page also cites Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 29% job growth for health services managers through 2032.

Montana State University Billings offers a Master of Health Administration designed for working professionals and delivered online. The program is a sequence of concentrated courses that are generally eight weeks long, followed by a capstone project. The curriculum totals a minimum of 51 credits and covers health informatics, healthcare finance and reimbursement, health law and ethics, managerial epidemiology, healthcare human resources, quality techniques and rural and frontier healthcare management. Each semester, students attend a professional seminar on the Billings campus to build leadership skills and meet mentors. An internship is required for students without a strong background in healthcare management or administration. The school states that the degree is typically completed in 20 to 24 months.

Admission requires a graduate-level GPA of at least 3.00, a resume, a letter of application, three recommendations and a phone interview. Federal data shows a 30% graduation rate at Montana State Billings, and the university is open admission. The program earns a Program Score of 63.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The format suits working healthcare staff and career changers who want an online route with a required capstone, with the internship applying to those new to the field. Applicants should plan for the on-campus seminar each semester.

Louisiana State University-Shreveport (LSUS) delivers its Master of Health Administration (MHA) entirely online. The program consists of 10 graduate courses, and students can pursue it full time or part time. The page gives an estimated length of 12 months for full-time students. Coursework prepares graduates to manage human, financial, physical and information resources in healthcare, with topics including budgeting, price analysis, market communications, organizational behavior, data analytics and strategic planning. The school reports AACSB accreditation for its business programs.

The program is aimed at working professionals preparing for middle and upper management in healthcare institutions. The page says faculty have both academic and real-world experience, and that online tutoring, advisement and mentoring are available. Students can join campus groups such as the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Sigma Iota Epsilon. Federal data show a 38% graduation rate for the school and a 51% admit rate, so applicants should expect a selective review. The program earns a Program Score of 77.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits professionals who need to keep working while they earn a graduate credential and who want a defined, short course sequence.

State University of New York at Oswego offers a Master of Business Administration with a healthcare administration focus, delivered 100% online. The school reports AACSB accreditation. The degree is 36 graduate credit hours of core requirements, directed electives, and elective study, built on a 12-credit foundation of management concepts. It blends business strategy, analytics, and management principles with healthcare applications, and uses applied projects, case studies, and consulting assignments. Students can start in fall, spring, or summer, admission is rolling, and the estimated completion time is two years. Stated learning outcomes include integrating financial, analytical, and leadership skills to improve healthcare systems and leading interdisciplinary teams. Career paths listed include healthcare administrator, clinical operations manager, hospital or practice director, and public health administrator.

Oswego reports a 60% graduation rate and an 81% admit rate. The program earns a Program Score of 77.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The school also states that its online MBA has been the top-ranked public online MBA offering in New York by U.S. News and World Report for nine straight years. The program fits working clinicians, operations staff, and analysts who want a business credential for management roles in hospitals, practices, and public health organizations without leaving their jobs.

Charter Oak State College offers an online M.S. in Healthcare Administration of 30 credits, with no room for electives. Core courses cover legal and ethical issues, advanced healthcare finance, leadership and strategic planning, epidemiology and population health informatics, health informatics, policy and regulatory strategy, performance improvement and quality management, and applied statistics, finishing with a master's capstone. The curriculum is built around five domains and 26 competencies. Charter Oak says courses are 100% online, offers five start dates, and does not require the GRE or other entrance exams. Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better, though those between 2.7 and 3.0 may apply, plus a resume and a career-goals essay.

Charter Oak reports a 67% graduation rate and is an open admission school. The program earns a Program Score of 79.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The fixed, all-online curriculum fits working healthcare professionals who want a leadership credential without entrance exams, and who are ready to maintain a B- in every graduate course and a 3.0 overall GPA to graduate.

The University of Southern Indiana (USI) offers a Master of Health Administration through the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions. The program is 100% online and totals 36 credit hours: 27 core credits and 9 concentration credits. Concentrations named on the page are Aging Services, Health Informatics, Leadership, and Healthcare Quality and Safety. Courses are three credits each and run seven weeks. Students can take two courses per bi-term to finish in one year, or one course per bi-term over two years. The page lists six term starts a year and rolling admission, and it targets people with a bachelor's degree who want leadership roles in health care. Stated outcomes include applying management principles to health care delivery, ethical leadership, and contributing to outcomes research.

The program has a Program Score of 68.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 48% graduation rate and a 96% admit rate for USI, a public university with about 9,488 students. The graduation figure covers the whole institution, so it is a reference point rather than a program result. The short terms, choice of pace and frequent start dates fit working professionals who want to begin without waiting for a single fall intake.

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offers a Master of Health Administration (MHA) requiring 36 credit hours of core courses plus a faculty-supervised individual research project. Coursework covers organizational behavior, health policy and law, supply chain and inventory management, healthcare financing and human resources. The page says the program is currently accepting applications only for the online format, which students with an allied health, healthcare management or business background could finish in as little as 24 months. An in-person option is described, and a concurrent track lets students earn the MHA and a Master of Health Informatics together by completing 21 additional credit hours. Admission asks for a 2.7 undergraduate GPA, with a provisional route for students between 2.5 and 2.7. Continuous enrollment lets students start when it suits their schedule.

The program has a Program Score of 73.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 62% graduation rate and an 87% admit rate for SIU Carbondale, a public university with about 11,790 students. The online format and continuous enrollment suit working clinicians and managers, and the concurrent informatics track appeals to those who want a data-focused add-on.

The University of North Alabama offers a Master of Health Administration delivered 100% online for working professionals, with multiple start dates and no GMAT required. The page lists coursework in leadership and organizational behavior, healthcare finance and quality improvement, analytics and health informatics, healthcare law and policy, and strategic planning, marketing and human resources. Named courses include Healthcare Finance, Healthcare Analytics, Health Policy, Politics, and Analysis, and Healthcare Law. A capstone course has students apply what they have learned to real problems. The school also notes a generous credit transfer policy and says students learn from the same faculty who teach on campus.

UNA reports a 55% graduation rate and an 87% admission rate. Its Program Score is 70.3 out of 100, the basis for this program's ranking. The page cites Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing much faster than average growth for medical and health services managers. The program fits clinicians moving into administration and professionals changing into healthcare leadership who need an online schedule and a path without entrance testing.