The Cheapest Healthcare Administration Degree Programs of 2027

The University of West Florida offers its Master of Healthcare Administration fully online, designed for early-to-mid career healthcare professionals. The program provides instruction in administration, finance, health economics, human resources, systems operation, quality improvement and organizational behavior. Courses run 8 to 16 weeks, and the page lists admission three times a year, cohort groups and a part-time option. Faculty are clinical, non-tenure-track instructors with healthcare experience. Learning outcomes include evaluating organizational growth, applying financial planning methods, analyzing how access, quality and accountability relate, and recommending quality improvements. The page notes that a background check is required before an internship placement and that the online degree may not be available in every state outside Florida.

UWF reports a 59% graduation rate and a 58% admit rate. The program has a Program Score of 82.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits clinicians and healthcare staff who want to move into management without leaving their jobs, and who value a cohort structure and flexible pacing. Applicants outside Florida should confirm state authorization before applying.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Master of Health Administration is a professional program in the management and operations of health care organizations. The page lists on-campus delivery, with Fall and Summer I admission. Students complete 51 credit hours: 42 core credit hours, a 3-credit approved internship, and 6 credit hours of electives. Core courses cover the U.S. healthcare system, decision analysis, healthcare accounting and finance, health economics, marketing, human resources, quality and outcomes management, health policy, health law and ethics, and strategic management. Electives reach into long-term care, aging, health insurance and information technology. Applicants from varied undergraduate backgrounds are accepted, and an Early Entry option exists for UNC Charlotte undergraduates in health administration.

The program earns a Program Score of 84.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 69% graduation rate and an 80% admit rate for the university. The internship, which requires a background check and drug screen, makes the program a fit for students who want supervised experience in health systems, hospitals or clinics, whether they are new to the field or already working in it.

The University of North Florida's Master of Health Administration prepares students to serve as administrators, managers and leaders in health services organizations. It is a 45-credit-minimum degree designed for people who want to work in management within a healthcare delivery setting. The page states that the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Each student earns a Lean Competency System Green Belt equivalent certification and receives training in Human Centered Design, sponsored by Guidewell/Florida Blue. Jacksonville employers such as Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health and HCA Memorial provide internship and employment options, and study abroad opportunities let students examine how health care is delivered and financed in other countries. Admission is for fall and summer terms only.

UNF graduates 69% of its students and admits 53% of applicants. This program earns a Program Score of 88 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. UNF undergraduates can also use the BHA-MHA Accelerated Pathway to count up to 12 graduate credit hours toward the bachelor's degree. The program fits students aiming for hospital or health system management who value accreditation and access to a large regional healthcare market.

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.

The University of Florida's Master of Health Administration prepares early-career health administrators for management and leadership roles, with a curriculum aimed at improving how health services are delivered. The program page says students take on organizational challenges from the first semester and are exposed to the full continuum of care through the integrated UF Health system, which it describes as one of the Southeast's leading academic health centers. Both full-time and part-time formats are offered, so students can fit the degree around other commitments. The page also points to student outcomes and alumni profiles, and notes that the program recently marked its 60th anniversary.

The University of Florida graduates 91% of its students and admits 24% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 96 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits people who are early in a healthcare management career and want a degree connected to a working academic health system, and who may need the part-time option to keep working while they study.

Georgia Southern University offers a Master of Health Administration through its Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. The program is delivered in a hybrid format at the Statesboro campus and at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, and it runs over five semesters. Coursework covers strategic planning, healthcare finance, policy and law, quality improvement, operations management, organizational behavior and health data visualization. An administrative internship supplies practical experience. The school says graduates work in hospitals, clinics, government agencies and consulting, and it lists employers such as Emory Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Student organizations through the college add professional involvement.

Georgia Southern reports a 55% graduation rate and an 88% admit rate for the institution, and it enrolls more than 27,000 students. The program has a Program Score of 71.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals and military-connected students who want a hybrid schedule, a defined five-semester timeline and a required internship, and who plan to move into operations, practice management or health system leadership.

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.

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.

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 Master of Health Administration at California State University-Northridge (CSUN) prepares students for management and leadership roles in hospitals, long-term care organizations, medical and dental group practices, health plans and public health agencies. The degree requires 44 to 45 units beyond the bachelor's degree, including 36 units of required courses such as healthcare finance, health economics and policy, managerial ethics and law, data analysis for decision making, strategic planning and quality improvement. Students complete supervised field training and at least six units of electives. The culminating experience is either a comprehensive examination or, with faculty permission, a graduate project. A B grade is required in each course and a 3.0 program GPA is needed to graduate. Applicants without a health administration background may be admitted conditionally and assigned prerequisite work, often in accounting or statistics.

Federal data shows a 57% graduation rate at CSUN and a 93% admit rate. The program earns a Program Score of 73.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits people already working in healthcare who want to move into management, and career changers from other majors who are willing to complete qualifying coursework first. The page notes that one year of paid healthcare work experience is preferred, though internships and volunteer experience are also considered.