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Master of Health Administration
Master's

Master of Health Administration overview

Health care needs skilled clinicians — and it needs leaders who can build the systems that support them. The Master of Health Administration (MHA) at Central Michigan University prepares professionals to do exactly that. You'll develop expertise across policy, planning, leadership and finance, grounded in the realities of an industry that continues to evolve.

Our fully online format is designed for working professionals, whether you're establishing your career or advancing an established one. Graduates step into roles where sound decisions extend well beyond the office — shaping the quality of care that patients and communities receive.

AT A GLANCE

Degree Type
Master of Health Administration (M.H.A)
Format
Online
Credit Hours
39 Credit Hours
Go To Why This Program Program HighlightsAccelerated Program Careers & Outcomes

A Curriculum Built for Health Care

This is a health care degree, not a general management degree with a health care label. Every course is built around the challenges you'll actually face — staffing, compliance, quality outcomes and the decisions that connect them. Our advisory board of practicing executives helps shape the curriculum and opens doors to internships, fellowships and mentorship, so what you learn reflects what the field currently values. The curriculum follows nationally recognized competencies and develops the analytical judgment that keeps hospitals, clinics and health systems performing at their best. You'll work closely with dedicated faculty who are invested in your growth as a professional and a leader.

You'll cover:

  • Operations and strategy: Allocate resources, lead teams and set priorities with confidence

  • Policy and regulation: Understand how law, risk and ethics shape real decisions

  • Data and business intelligence: Apply informatics, epidemiology and statistics to build reporting that answers real operational questions

  • Predictive methods and AI governance: Anticipate demand, risk and utilization — and lead the responsible adoption of AI in clinical and administrative settings

  • Health systems: Compare structures and opportunities at the local, national and international level

The program capstone course culminates in a regional and/or national healthcare case competition course, where you'll analyze a real management challenge, build a financial pro forma and defend your recommendations before a panel of practicing healthcare executives — the same skills you'll use in the hospital or other healthcare organization. Students pursuing a research-focused path may complete a thesis instead.

Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) through 2026 and is currently on probationary status.

Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education logo

Courses What Will Transfer DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Master of Health Administration highlights

  • Fully online: Built for working professionals, with asynchronous classes and live learning options.
  • Flexible capstone: Internship, applied project or field experience—based on your background.
  • Global lens: Courses include international systems and policy.
  • High success rates: 95% student retention and 90% on-time graduation.
  • Career-ready outcomes: 80% of graduates work in health care within months of finishing.
  • Dedicated faculty and advisory board: Committed to program quality and preparing you to lead in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
  • Accredited by CAHME: The leading accreditor in health care management education.

    Accelerated master's in health administration

    Earn your undergraduate and graduate degrees faster with an online accelerated master’s in health administration. You'll save time and money when you count up to 15 credits toward both degrees.

    By double-counting all 15 credits, domestic students save up to $4,155 and international students save up to $1,560.

      • Minimum GPA at time of application: 3.0 GPA of at least 15 credits at CMU.
      • Requirements to maintain eligibility: average of 3.0 and no E's in double-counted courses.

      You must have a minimum of 60 undergraduate credit hours completed before starting coursework in the accelerated master's in health administration. To take full advantage of the program, make sure you apply for admission before taking any of the double-counted courses listed below.

      • Up to 15 credits of the following courses can be double-counted:
        • MHA 601, MHA 603, HSL 611, HSL 631, HSL 651
      • You'll select your double-counted courses with an advisor. Then, you'll count them towards both your undergraduate degree and your graduate degree – either for your major or as electives.

      The MHA requires 39 credits. You may double-count 15 credits before finishing your bachelor's degree, leaving 24 credits remaining to complete your master's degree. If you don't complete all 15 double-counted credits before you finish your bachelor's degree, you'll need to take more than 24 credits to reach the 39 credits required for the MHA.

      MHA careers and outcomes

      Graduates take on roles that shape systems, guide strategy and lead teams—across hospitals, nonprofits, consulting firms and public health agencies. This program is built for professionals stepping into positions where decisions carry real weight.

      Career Projected Salary
      Health Care Administrator $117,960
      Health Care Analyst $67,310
      Supply Chain Director $102,010
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      What to know before earning your MHA

      Before you apply, understand what this degree really offers—and what it takes to succeed. We cover what most applicants want to know: what kind of roles it leads to, how long it takes and how our program is built. If you're still weighing your options, this helps make things clearer.

      explore more about our MHA

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