Best Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Online Programs of 2025

Can you see yourself as a leader of a healthcare organization? Maybe you already work in healthcare management and want to advance your career.

In an online master of healthcare administration (MHA) program, you’ll study both business management and healthcare policy.

“An MHA degree opens the door to leadership roles across healthcare organizations, combining business skills with a deep understanding of healthcare systems,” says Courtney Haun, Ph.D., director of Samson University’s healthcare administration undergraduate program.

Read on to see our picks for the best online MHA programs.

“When choosing an online MHA program, focus on the essentials: accreditation (or program progress towards accreditation), experienced faculty, strong student support, and chances to apply what you’re learning in real-world settings,” recommends Haun.

Before you enroll, keep the following key factors in mind: tuition cost, program length, application requirements, accreditation, and what careers you can pursue once you graduate.

The average tuition and fees for an online master’s degree in health — which includes MHA programs — is just over $11,000 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

In-person master’s in health programs tend to cost a bit more: over $19,000 per year.

Since most online MHA programs take 2-3 years to complete, you can expect to pay between $20,000 and $30,000 in total for your degree.

Fortunately, financial aid can help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. For online master’s in health students, the average net price is just under $10,000 a year. Financial aid includes student loans, grants, and scholarships.

You can also reduce the cost of tuition by transferring credits, earning credit for life and work experience, or completing prior learning assessments. If you have a job, check to see whether your employer offers tuition reimbursement and assistance.

Online healthcare administration programs typically take 2-3 years to complete and require a total of 36-54 credits, depending on the school.

If you hope to graduate sooner, consider enrolling in an accelerated online healthcare administration program. These can be completed in about a year.

For example, Northern Kentucky University offers a 12-month online MS in health administration program, while Louisiana State University offers a one-year online MHA program.

As you research online MHA programs, look for those with accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). CAHME is the primary accrediting agency for MHA programs, both online and on campus.

“CAHME accreditation is a strong indicator of program quality, ensuring that the curriculum meets rigorous standards aligned with the needs of the healthcare industry,” says Haun.

Some healthcare employers may require or strongly prefer you to have a master’s in healthcare administration from a CAHME-accredited program.

Use CAHME’s program directory to check whether an MHA program is accredited.

Once you earn your online master’s in healthcare administration, you’ll be eligible for roles like clinical director, healthcare manager, hospital administrator, healthcare consultant, and risk and compliance manager.

Licensure is not typically required for healthcare manager and administrator roles, though some positions, like nursing home administrator, require state licensure.

These healthcare administration roles can pay well — $75,000-$100,000, according to 2025 Payscale data.

Source: Payscale

An online MHA can be worth it if you want a high-level career in healthcare administration and want to become a leader in healthcare.

Just make sure it’s truly what you want to do. Our research found that 50% of on-campus and online healthcare and nursing students occasionally, frequently, or very frequently have doubts about choosing the right major.

Fortunately, many healthcare administration careers have excellent job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for medical and health services managers will grow 29% between 2023 and 2033 — much faster than the average growth rate for all jobs.

An MHA might also prove necessary for career growth.

“If you want to climb the ranks in healthcare, having an MHA degree is quickly becoming the expectation,” says Haun. “This degree is an investment in leadership and professional development.”

So take time to think about your goals, your budget, and what you hope to gain from an online MHA program before you apply.

After earning your online MHA, you may go on to get a doctor of health administration (DHA) or a doctor of public health (DrPH) degree. These programs are application-focused, preparing you for senior leadership healthcare positions.

With a DHA, you could work in consulting, for a government agency, or in academia as a researcher or professor. Many DHA graduates hold high-level titles like chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), and chief executive officer (CEO).

Alternatively, some MHA grads earn certifications to expand their skill sets. While these aren’t required, certifications can boost your resume.

You can earn relevant certifications from the Project Management Institute and the American Health Information Management Association.