A high GRE score used to be a prerequisite for grad school, but now you can earn a Master of Health Administration (MHA) despite your previous academic experience. Many online schools overlook the GRE requirement associated with these degree programs, so you can embark on a new career as a medical and health services manager, senior hospital administrator, healthcare insurance compliance officer, or related job role.
Investing in one of these online degrees could bring additional benefits. You can study for a no-GRE MHA day or night, maintain a full-time job, and won’t have to pay for expensive campus accommodation.
Learn more about online master’s in health administration programs with no GRE required below.
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What Is an Online Master’s in Health Administration?
An online MHA is a graduate-level program that takes place over the online. You could earn your online master’s in health administration in as little as two years and start a new career in an administrative role at a hospital, clinic, care organization, public health agency, or similar organization. Depending on the school, it doesn’t matter if you have a low GRE score or no score at all.
Instead of taking classes at a conventional college, which typically involves travel and accommodation expenses, you can earn your MHA online via webinars, live streams, discussion groups, live debates, video tutorials, and email. You will still get the same academic support as a regular college degree and interact with lecturers, tutors, and faculty staff through a learning management system (LMS).
You can juggle any existing work, family, or travel commitments with your MHA education when learning online. Many online schools let you study for your degree at a time that suits you, providing an alternative to conventional college schedules.
An online MHA teaches the skills required for managing the non-clinical functions in a healthcare environment. These skills include:
- Medical billing
- Payroll
- Staff management
- Patient outreach
- Healthcare marketing
- Leadership
- Data governance principles as per HIPAA
When you graduate from an online program, you could land a job as a:
- Medical and health services manager
- Healthcare office manager
- Senior hospital administrator
- Healthcare insurance compliance officer
- Medical billing manager
A typical day in one of these roles might involve recruiting and onboarding healthcare staff, liaising with different healthcare departments, managing long-term patient care facilities, and mediating contracts with healthcare service providers. Health administration is a rewarding job field where you can improve patient and healthcare staff outcomes daily.
The number of online MHA programs that require no GRE score is overwhelming, with various schools offering a broad range of learning opportunities. These programs, however, come with different learning requirements and admissions criteria. When choosing between online MHAs, research programs that offer the most worthwhile employment opportunities. Ideally, you will enroll in a course that teaches the skills required for an exciting new career in medical and health services and offers increased earning potential when you graduate. Many online schools have connections with local healthcare providers and other organizations that might offer you a job if you complete a program to the required standard. Other schools may not have these connections but offer exceptional standards of teaching.
There used to be a ‘snobbery’ associated with online MHA degree programs, where some employers would favor job candidates who graduated from physical colleges. However, these attitudes have changed over the last few years. Now online degrees hold as much prestige as those from conventional classroom-based colleges. Most employers don’t care whether you got your MHA online or from a physical institution. Instead, your career success depends on your final grade, the skills you learned during your MHA, and how you apply these skills to your new career in medical and health services or a related field.
Some of the most successful people in the medical and health services industries studied for qualifications online and have high-paying salaries. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic has removed much of the stigma once associated with online education. The majority of students at physical colleges have learned from home at one point or another. The completion of a good online degree is just as impressive as a traditional college degree.
You can learn more about a school that offers an online MHA program by reading its prospectus and website pages. If you are interested in a specific program, contact the school and talk to academic staff about program content and the potential learning and career opportunities available to you.
You can apply for an MHA directly with the school. There is no limit on the number of programs you can apply for. Each school will review your application and determine whether to offer you a place. Each school has specific criteria so follow these requirements carefully to avoid delays with your application. Typically, you will provide the following when applying for an MHA:
- Evidence of previous academic experience. Even if you have a low GRE score or no GRE score at all, program directors are looking for evidence of previous academic success at a school or college. You might need to include an academic transcript from a previous institution with your application. Your transcript includes grades from any courses you have completed in the past.
- Evidence of internship(s) or work experience. The school might ask you to send evidence of any completed internship or work experience opportunities, especially if those opportunities apply to medical and health services. You can also include a reference from a previous internship director or work counselor.
- Personal statement. Most schools require a personal statement that explains why you want to study a particular program and how it will develop your career. Your statement might include your long-term career objectives.
You might also need to attend an interview with a tutor or program director.
How Much Does an Online Master’s in Health Administration Cost?
Costs for a Master of Health Administration fluctuate depending on the school. An MHA at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, for example, costs $29,795.00. (This cost includes tuition, program fees, and books and associated school expenses, but not travel and accommodation.) An MHA at Cornell University, however, costs $78,932 in tuition fees alone.
Studying for an MHA online could be less expensive than the prices quoted above because you won’t have to pay for travel or room and board. Online programs may also be more flexible than traditional college-based degrees. You can control the cost of your program by studying in a lower-cost area of a city or by living with family members.
You can also reduce the cost associated with your no-GRE MHA by applying for a grant or scholarship. There are various financial aid opportunities available to those wanting to enter the world of medical and health services and other related fields. Many scholarships support those from low incomes and can help cover or reduce the costs associated with tuition and other program expenses. You can find scholarships online or by contacting an online school directly.
Find the right Master’s in Health Administration program for you
Average Salary for a Master’s in Health Administration
The mean annual wage for medical and health services managers — those who coordinate these services in hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, or similar organizations — is $118,800, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $57.12.
The median annual salary for an MHA graduate is around $78,000, according to PayScale. (Data correct as of July 21, 2021.)
The top-paying industries for medical and health services managers are:
- Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing: $205,470 (mean annual wage)
- Scientific research and development services: $167,910
- Insurance carriers: $161,030
- Navigational, measuring, electro-medical, and control instruments manufacturing: $158,670
- Computer systems design and related services: $157,480
The top-paying states for medical and health services managers are:
- District of Columbia: $157,590 (mean annual wage)
- New York: $156,140
- Hawaii: $139,650
- California: $138,030
- Massachusetts: $136,930
The top-paying metropolitan areas for medical and health services managers are:
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $174,010 (mean annual wage)
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $171,430
- Madera, CA: $168,090
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $156,160
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $156,050
Ultimately, what you earn with your MHA depends on the specific job you want to pursue, the type of organization that offers that job, and the location of that organization. Your salary will also depend on specific job responsibilities, your employment history, previous education, and particular job skills considered desirable by the employer.
What Is the Job Outlook for Master’s in Health Administration (MHA) Holders?
The outlook is extremely positive for those with a Master of Health Administration. There will be a 17.6% increase in employment opportunities for medical and health services managers from 2018 to 2028, according to predictions from Projections Central/Department of Labor. This increase is significantly higher than the average for all occupations during the same period (around 5%).
Courses in an Online Master’s in Health Administration
An MHA includes courses about the practice, implementation, and management of health administration services in hospitals, clinics, care centers, and similar organizations. Here are some popular classes associated with these programs:
- Introduction to health administration
- Healthcare data and ethics (HIPAA)
- Healthcare financial management
- Healthcare law
- The relationship between health administration and patient outcomes
You might learn administrative processes like payroll, medical billing, and healthcare insurance management. You will also develop transferrable soft skills for a career in health administration that prove valuable when managing a team and liaising with different healthcare departments, pharmacies, and healthcare service providers. These skills include leadership, initiative, teamwork, organization, calendar management, and communication.
An MHA usually involves essays, writing assessments, and other types of coursework. A school might require you to submit these projects after the completion of each course, at the end of the program, or both. The frequency and type of coursework you will complete on your MHA depends on the school and specific degree. However, most students in MHA programs undertake a dissertation project that requires independent research about a specific topic. A dissertation can take many weeks or months to complete.
Many students will also complete an examination after each class or sit a test at the end of their MHA program. Online schools often require you to submit coursework and take exams through an LMS. There are other ways to get college credit, such as the completion of presentations and group projects. You might also receive credit if you take part in an internship or other work-related opportunity, both of which provide you with skills that you can apply to your future career in medical and health services.
At the end of your no-GRE MHA, the school will convert any marks you receive for completed coursework and exams into a GPA (Grade Point Average), which demonstrates your academic success to future employers. Both online and in-person MHA programs often share the same grading system. The typical grades for an MHA are:
- Fail
- Pass
- Merit/credit
- Distinction
The following grading boundaries apply to these programs:
- 50% for a pass
- 60% for a merit/credit
- 70% for a distinction
Many students wonder about the “best school for an online MHA” degree, but it’s difficult to determine the most successful learning providers and programs. Traditionally, many people considered Ivy League schools (a group of 12 colleges in the United States) as the barometer of educational success. However, online education has afforded students with so many more opportunities, and you’ll find some of the most prestigious MHA programs at smaller, lesser-known schools.
FAQs About an Master of Health Administration
The following are a few frequently asked questions regarding a master’s in public administration degree.
Core Takeaways
- You can earn a Master of Health Administration online or in a physical classroom.
- Whatever option you choose, it will take you about two years full-time to earn your master’s degree.
- Different MHA fields include healthcare law, healthcare technology, operations management, and financial management
Benefits of earning an online master’s in health administration include:
- No GRE required at many online schools.
- No need to travel to college.
- You can study day or night.
- You can maintain a full-time job.
- MHA costs depend on the educational institution.
- An MHA at Cornell University, for example, costs $78,932 in tuition fees.
- Studying for an MHA online could work out cheaper than a regular degree because you won’t have to travel or pay for room and board.
- You can apply for a scholarship to reduce the costs of an MHA.
| University Name | Program’s Name | GRE Required? |
| AdventHealth University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| American InterContinental University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Appalachian State University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Waivers Available if Applicant has Above a 3.0 Bachelor GPA |
| Boston College | Master of Healtcare Administration | Not Required |
| Capella University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Claremont Lincoln University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Duquesne University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| East Tennessee State University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Applicants with Below a 3.2 GPA are Encouraged to Submit a GRE |
| Excelsior College | Master of Science – Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Florida Atlantic University | Executive Master of Healthcare Administration | Waived Until Fall 2022 |
| Franklin University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| George Mason University | Master of Healthcare Administration – Health Systems Management | Not Required |
| George Washington University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Maryville University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Mercy College of Ohio | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| New York University | Master of Healthcare Administration | GRE Only Required if Applicant has not Completed a College-Level Quantitative Course |
| Ohio University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Penn State University | Master of Healthcare Administration – Health Policy and Administration | Not Required |
| Point Park University | Master of Science – Healthcare Administration and Management | Not Required |
| Queens University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Rasmussen College | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Regis College | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Roberts Wesleyan College | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Saint Joseph’s College of Maine | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Samford University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Required for Applicants with Below a 3.0 GPA |
| Seton Hall University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Stevenson University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Stony Brook University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Suffolk University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Texas Woman’s University | Master of Business Administration – Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| The George Washington University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| The University of Scranton | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of Arizona | Master of Science – Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of Central Florida | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of Cincinnati | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of Louisville | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of Missouri | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of New Haven | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| University of Scranton | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Utica College | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Walden University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Western Governors University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |
| Winston-Salem State University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Not Required |