Online CAHME (Masters in Health Administration) Accredited Degree Programs

CAHME accreditation proves Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) graduates have the capabilities to succeed in a high-paying healthcare administration role. Graduating from an MHA program with CAHME accreditation could land you a rewarding job in a hospital, medical facility, public health agency, or similar organization. During your studies, you will expand your knowledge of healthcare management, human resources, public relations, and regulatory procedures. Use this guide to learn more about CAHME-accredited online MHA programs and associated career opportunities. 

What Is CAHME?

The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is a not-for-profit organization that accredits graduate programs in healthcare management. The U.S. Department of Education and Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) recognize this organization as the leading accreditation agency for healthcare management-related graduate programs. 

MHA degrees with CAHME accreditation prove to employers that graduates have the required skills for a healthcare administration role. Job applicants with these accredited degrees have learned a broad range of skills that pertain to business management, administration, and performance in healthcare systems. Graduates from CAHME-approved degree programs often apply for job roles like:

• Chief nursing officer
• Healthcare manager
• Healthcare admissions coordinator 
• Clinical director
• Healthcare billing director

Founded in 1968, CAHME sets the standards for healthcare management worldwide. The commission has endorsed 129 programs and provides accredited schools with various learning resources to further the careers of its students. 

CAHME defines its standards based on four criteria:

1. Employee investment
2. Quality improvement
3. Shaping the future
4. Corporate partnerships

CAHME Accreditation

CAHME-accredited degrees provide students with the highest standards of healthcare management education. Both students and employers value these programs.

The commission only accredits institutions that subscribe to its core values of integrity, excellence, fairness, recognition, and transparency. 

The Accreditation Process

Any school that offers an MHA degree can apply to CAHME for accreditation. The commission will visit that institution to review its teaching processes, course content, and education quality. 

To qualify for CAHME accreditation, schools must:

• Offer a master’s degree in healthcare management (like an MHA).
• Not discriminate students because of their gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, or disability. 
• Maintain the highest standards of educational quality.
• Have policies in place for research, scholarships, service, academic standards, and faculty development.

Even after a school has achieved CAHME endorsement, it must adhere to the commission’s high standards or lose its accreditation.

What is an Online CAHME-Accredited MHA Program?

CAHME-accredited online MHA programs let you study for a master’s degree in healthcare administration over the internet. There’s no need to travel to a physical college or live on campus. You can balance work or family commitments with your online studies. 

Unlike at a physical college, students on these programs enroll in classes and access course materials via a learning management system (LMS). All communication with tutors and faculty happens online. Students might take part in:

• Webinars
• Video tutorials
• Online workshops
• Live streams
• Live chat
• Discussion boards

Online CAHME-approved degrees benefit students who want to:

• Save money on travel and accommodation.
• Access the world’s best tutors without moving to a new location.
• Study an MHA from any location in the world.
• Increase earning potential and land a new job in a high-paying healthcare administration role. 

Online Curriculum

CAHME-endorsed programs must adhere to the commission’s quality standards or face losing accreditation. However, schools are free to create their own curricula. That means course content on MHA programs differs depending on the learning provider. Here are some topics you might learn on one of these programs:

• Healthcare leadership
• Healthcare management
• Healthcare policy
• Population health
• Operations management
• Healthcare marketing
• Healthcare billing/insurance

More specialized programs might include topics like international healthcare standards and health information privacy (HIPAA). 

Depending on the school, you might complete a dissertation about a topic of your choice during your master’s degree. You might also take examinations after each course or a final exam at the end of your program. Your school will provide you with a Grade Point Average (GPA), which you can show to employers when you graduate. 

Some schools have links with local hospitals, medical facilities, and other healthcare organizations. You might undertake an internship at one of these organizations and learn new healthcare administration skills for your future career. This work experience can also help you develop soft skills that employers find valuable such as communication, organization, time management, and teamwork. 

CAHME-Accredited MHA Program Requirements

You typically need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a healthcare administration role to enroll in a CAHME-endorsed MHA program.

Applying for a place on one of these degree programs is straightforward. You submit the required documents to the program director at your chosen school and, if your application is successful, take part in an interview. Required documents might include:

• Academic transcripts that show your previous educational achievements. 
• Evidence of work experience or internships in healthcare-related roles.
• References from previous tutors, faculty, employers, or internship coordinators.
• A personal statement that outlines why you want to study for an MHA at a particular school. 

Online CAHME-Accredited MHA Program Costs

The cost of studying for a CAHME-approved MHA degree depends on the school. However, you could save money by enrolling in an online program because you won’t have to pay to travel to a physical location or live on campus. You can also apply for a scholarship or grant to reduce the cost of your education. 

An online CAHME-approved Master of Health Administration at Purdue University costs $30,000 for those living in Indiana and $34,000 for out-of-state residents. These costs don’t include textbook fees. 

Career Opportunities

An MHA with CAHME accreditation could lead to various high-paying job roles in healthcare administration. The mean annual wage for a medical and health services manager — one of the most popular jobs for MHA grads — 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 top-paying states for medical and health services managers are:

1. District of Columbia: $157,590 (mean annual wage)
2. New York: $156,140
3. Hawaii: $139,650
4. California: $138,030
5. Massachusetts: $136,930

The top-paying metropolitan areas for medical and health services managers are:

1. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $174,010 (mean annual wage)
2. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $171,430
3. Madera, CA: $168,090
4. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $156,160
5. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $156,050
6. Corvallis, OR: $155,030
7. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $153,590
8. Binghamton, NY: $153,490
9. Salinas, CA: $153,100
10. Danbury, CT: $151,670

The mean annual wage for a general and operations manager — another popular job for graduates from MHA programs — is $125,740, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $60.45.

The top-paying states for general and operations managers are:

1. New Jersey: $172,790 (mean annual wage)
2. Connecticut: $161,460
3. New York: $159,050
4. District of Columbia: $159,000
5. Delaware: $155,860

The top-paying metropolitan areas for general and operations managers are:

1. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $183,170 (mean annual wage)
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $175,990
3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $172,370
4. Trenton, NJ: $169,450
5. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $162,320
6. Boulder, CO: $158,870
7. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT: $157,130
8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $155,750
9. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO: $155,430
10. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: $155,110

What Are the Benefits of an Online CAHME-Accredited MHA Program?

Here are some benefits of enrolling in CAHME-accredited online MHA programs:

Flexibility

MHA degrees with CAHME endorsement let you balance work and family commitments with your online education. You can study from anywhere in the world and earn your degree over the internet. 

Attract Future Employers

Employers value MHA programs with CAHME accreditation because these degrees prove graduates have the right healthcare administration skills. CAHME has accredited programs since the 1960s and has become the leading healthcare management accreditation agency.

Increased Earning Potential

Graduating from a program endorsed by CAHME could increase your earning potential and help you land a desirable job at a hospital, medical facility, public health agency, or similar organization. 

CAHME Accredited Schools in the US

School	Degree	City	State	School/Program Name
AdventHealth University	MHA	FL	Florida	AdventHealth University
Army-Baylor University	MHA	TX	Texas	Army-Baylor University
Baylor University	MBA	TX	Texas	Baylor University
Boston University	MBA	MA	Northeast	Boston University
Boston University	MPH	MA	Northeast	Boston University
California State University at Long Beach	MSHCA	CA	Pacific	California State University at Long Beach
California State University at Long Beach	MSHCA	CA	Pacific	California State University at Long Beach
California State University Northridge	MSHA	CA	Pacific	California State University Northridge
Clarkson University Capital Regional Campus	MBA	NY	Northeast	Clarkson University Capital Regional Campus
Columbia University	MHA	NY	Northeast	Columbia University
Columbia University	MHA, MPH	NY	Northeast	Columbia University
Columbia University	MHA	NY	Northeast	Columbia University
Cornell University	MHA	NY	Northeast	Cornell University
Cornell University	MHA	NY	Northeast	Cornell University
Dalhousie University	MHA	NS	Canada	Dalhousie University
Des Moines University	MHA	IA	Midwest	Des Moines University
Drexel University	MSN	PA	Northeast	Drexel University
Ferris State University	MHA	MI	Midwest	Ferris State University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	MHA	FL	Florida	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida International University	MBA	FL	Florida	Florida International University
Florida International University	MBA	FL	Florida	Florida International University
George Mason University	MHA	VA	Southeast	George Mason University
George Mason University	MHA	VA	Southeast	George Mason University
George Washington University	MHA	DC	Southeast	George Washington University
George Washington University	MHA	DC	Southeast	George Washington University
George Washington University	MSHS	DC	Southeast	George Washington University
Georgetown University	MS	DC	Southeast	Georgetown University
Georgia Southern University	MHA	GA	South	Georgia Southern University
Georgia State University	MHA, MBA, MBA/MHA	GA	South	Georgia State University
Governors State University	MHA	IL	Midwest	Governors State University
Grand Valley State University	MHA	MI	Midwest	Grand Valley State University
Hofstra University	MHA	NY	Northeast	Hofstra University
Indiana University	MHA	IN	Midwest	Indiana University
Jacksonville University	MS	FL	Florida	Jacksonville University
Johns Hopkins University	MHA	MD	Southeast	Johns Hopkins University
Marymount University	MS	VA	Southeast	Marymount University
Medical University of South Carolina	MHA	SC	South	Medical University of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina	MHA	SC	South	Medical University of South Carolina
New York University	MPA	NY	Northeast	New York University
Ohio State University	MHA	OH	Midwest	Ohio State University
Pennsylvania State University	MHA	PA	Northeast	Pennsylvania State University
Portland State University	MPH	OR	Pacific	Portland State University
Portland State University	MPA:HA	OR	Pacific	Portland State University
Queen’s University	MS	ON	Canada	Queen’s University
Robert Morris University	MHSA	PA	Northeast	Robert Morris University
Rush University	MS-HSM	IL	Midwest	Rush University
Rutgers University	MHA	NJ	Northeast	Rutgers University
Saint Louis University	MHA, MBA/MHA, JD/MHA	MO	Midwest	Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University	MHA	MO	Midwest	Saint Louis University
San Diego State University	MPH	CA	Pacific	San Diego State University
Seton Hall University	MHA	NJ	Northeast	Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University	MHA	NJ	Northeast	Seton Hall University
Stony Brook University	MPH	NY	Northeast	Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University	MHA	NY	Northeast	Stony Brook University
Suffolk University	MHA	MA	Northeast	Suffolk University
Suffolk University	MHA	MA	Northeast	Suffolk University
Texas A&M University	MHA	TX	Texas	Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University	MHA	TX	Texas	Texas A&M University
Texas State University	MHA	TX	Texas	Texas State University
Texas Woman’s University	MHA, MHA/MBA	TX	Texas	Texas Woman’s University
Trinity University	MSHA	TX	Texas	Trinity University
Trinity University	MSHA	TX	Texas	Trinity University
Tulane University	MHA, MBA/MHA, JD/MPH	LA	South	Tulane University
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences	MHA	MD	Southeast	Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Universite de Montreal	MHA	ON	Canada	Universite de Montreal
University of Alabama at Birmingham	MSHA	AL	South	University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham	MSHA	AL	South	University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama at Birmingham	MS	AL	South	University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	MHA	AR	South	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Central Florida	MHA	FL	Florida	University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida	MHA	FL	Florida	University of Central Florida
University of Colorado Denver	MBA	CO	Rocky Mountains	University of Colorado Denver
University of Colorado Denver	MBA	CO	Rocky Mountains	University of Colorado Denver
University of Florida	MHA	FL	Florida	University of Florida
University of Illinois at Chicago	MHA	IL	Midwest	University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago	MHA	IL	Midwest	University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Iowa	MHA	IA	Midwest	University of Iowa
University of Iowa	MHA	IA	Midwest	University of Iowa
University of Kansas Medical Center	MSHA	KS	Midwest	University of Kansas Medical Center
University of Kentucky	MHA, MHA/JD	KY	South	University of Kentucky
University of Louisville	MSHA	KY	South	University of Louisville
University of Memphis	MHA	TN	South	University of Memphis
University of Memphis	MHA	TN	South	University of Memphis
University of Miami-Coral Gables	MBA	FL	Florida	University of Miami-Coral Gables
University of Michigan	MHSA	MI	Midwest	University of Michigan
University of Michigan	MPHM, MHSA	MI	Midwest	University of Michigan
University of Minnesota	MHA	MN	Midwest	University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota	MHA	MN	Midwest	University of Minnesota
University of Missouri-Columbia	MHA	MO	Midwest	University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-Columbia	MHA	MO	Midwest	University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Nevada – Las Vegas	EMHA	NV	Rocky Mountains	University of Nevada – Las Vegas
University of Nevada – Las Vegas	MHA	NV	Rocky Mountains	University of Nevada – Las Vegas
University of New Haven	MHA	CT	Northeast	University of New Haven
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	MHA	NC	South	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	MHA	NC	South	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	MHA	NC	South	University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Florida	MHA	FL	Florida	University of North Florida
University of North Texas Health Science Center	MHA	TX	Texas	University of North Texas Health Science Center
University of Oklahoma	MHA, MHA/JD	OK	Midwest	University of Oklahoma
University of Phoenix	MHA	AZ	Rocky Mountains	University of Phoenix
University of Pittsburgh	MHA, MBA/MHA, MHA/MBA	PA	Northeast	University of Pittsburgh
University of Puerto Rico	MHSA	PR	Puerto Rico	University of Puerto Rico
University of Scranton	MHA, MBA/MHA	PA	Northeast	University of Scranton
University of Scranton	MHA, MBA/MHA	PA	Northeast	University of Scranton
University of South Carolina	MHA	SC	South	University of South Carolina
University of South Florida	MHA	FL	Florida	University of South Florida
University of Southern California	MHA	CA	Pacific	University of Southern California
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston	MPH	TX	Texas	University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
University of the Incarnate Word	MHA	TX	Texas	University of the Incarnate Word
University of the Incarnate Word	MHA	TX	Texas	University of the Incarnate Word
University of Utah	MHA	UT	Rocky Mountains	University of Utah
University of Washington at Seattle	MHA	WA	Pacific	University of Washington at Seattle
University of Washington at Seattle	MHA	WA	Pacific	University of Washington at Seattle
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	MHA	WI	Midwest	University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	MHA	WI	Midwest	University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee	MHA	WI	Midwest	University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Virginia Commonwealth University	MHA	VA	Southeast	Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University	MSHA	VA	Southeast	Virginia Commonwealth University
Weber State University	MHA	UT	Rocky Mountains	Weber State University
Widener University	MBA	PA	Northeast	Widener University
Xavier University	MHSA	OH	Midwest	Xavier University

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