Dual Degrees
MHA/MBA Dual Degree Programs
What Is an MHA MBA Dual Degree, and Which Schools Offer One?
An MHA MBA dual degree lets you earn a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration together, sharing credits so it takes less time than two separate degrees. This site lists 133 dual degrees with a health administration master's at 79 schools, and 37 of them pair a health administration master's with an MBA, including online options at Samford, Pfeiffer, Mary Baldwin and the University of Phoenix. Expect roughly 51 to 72 credits and 20 months to three years, against a median of 39 credits for a single master's, so choose the dual degree only when you need both the health system training and the business credential.
What an MHA MBA Dual Degree Is
An MHA MBA dual degree is two master’s degrees earned in one plan of study: a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from the health or public health school, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the business school. Some courses count toward both, so you finish faster and with fewer credits than you would by taking the two degrees one after the other.
The credit savings are real but not huge. UNC Chapel Hill spells it out: the two degrees add up to 123 credit hours on their own, 27 credits can be double-counted, and the dual degree needs a minimum of 96. You still graduate with two diplomas.
Schools use a lot of labels for the same idea: dual degree, joint degree, concurrent degree, coordinated degree. The health side isn’t always called an MHA either. You’ll see MHSA at Michigan, Xavier and Detroit Mercy, MSHA at UAB, MHM at the University of Arizona, and an MS in Health Care Management at Johns Hopkins.
How Many Schools Offer an MHA MBA Dual Degree
This site lists 133 dual degrees that include a health administration master’s, at 79 schools. 51 of those dual degrees include an MBA, at 46 schools. Set aside the MBA pairings with other degrees (MPH, MSN, MD, PharmD, MPA and others), and 37 programs pair an MBA with a health administration master’s.
Of those 37, 27 are at schools with a CAHME-accredited program. CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs against competency-based criteria for healthcare leaders. It’s the main quality signal on the MHA side. Two of those schools, AdventHealth University and Duquesne University, are among the six on CAHME probation as of September 2026.
The MBA side is weaker on CAHME. Across the 126 standalone MBA in healthcare management programs on this site, only 8 are covered by CAHME. That’s the core argument for the dual degree: you get a CAHME-style MHA and a business school MBA, instead of choosing one.
MHA MBA Dual Degree Programs Compared
These are the programs where the school publishes a credit count, a length or a format for the combined degree.
| School | Dual degree | Credits | Length | Format | CAHME-accredited program at school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | MHA/MBA | 58 | Online | Yes | |
| Wilmington University | MHA + MBA, Healthcare Administration Focus | 51 | No | ||
| Texas Woman’s University | MHA and MBA | 57 | Yes | ||
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | MHA/MBA | 60 | 24 months | Hybrid | No |
| Pfeiffer University | MHA/MBA | 60 | 30 to 36 months | Online | No |
| Eastern Mennonite University | MBA and Healthcare Management | 61 semester hours | No | ||
| Duquesne University | MHA/MBA | 66 to 69 | As little as three years | Yes (on probation) | |
| University of Scranton | MBA/MHA | 65 to 72 | Online or campus | Yes | |
| UNC Chapel Hill | MHA/MBA | 96 minimum | 3 years | Residential | Yes |
| Mary Baldwin University | MHA/MBA | 20 months full time | Online | No | |
| Samford University | MHA/MBA | Three years | Online | No | |
| University of Pittsburgh | MHA/MBA | Three years | Yes |
A blank cell means the school’s listing gives no figure for that column.
Credit counts vary more than the degree names suggest. Wilmington’s 51 credits is not much more than a single MHA at many schools, while UNC’s 96-credit minimum reflects two full residential programs.
Online MHA MBA Dual Degrees
If you’re working, the online options are the shortlist. Samford University, Pfeiffer University, Mary Baldwin University and the University of Phoenix all list online MHA/MBA programs. The University of Arizona offers an online MHM/MBA through its Eller College of Management, and the University of Scranton offers its MBA/MHA online or on campus.
Mary Baldwin lists 20 months full time. Pfeiffer is the most explicit about load: 60 credit hours over 30 to 36 months. The University of Phoenix lists 58 credits and is at a school with a CAHME-accredited program. UHCL isn’t fully online, but its hybrid schedule of eight-week sessions at Texas Medical Center is built for working students in Houston.
How a Dual Degree Differs From an MHA Alone
The trade is time and money for a second credential.
| Single health administration master’s | MHA MBA dual degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Credits | Median of 39 across 452 programs | 51 to 72 at most schools that publish a count, 96 minimum at UNC |
| Diplomas | One | Two |
| CAHME | 143 of 452 programs covered | Depends on the MHA side. 27 of 37 are at schools with a CAHME program |
The median estimated tuition for a single program on this site is $27,000. Every extra credit in a dual degree adds to that at the school’s per-credit rate, so price the combined credit total, not the MHA alone, in the cost calculator.
An MHA gives you health system operations, quality, policy and often a residency. An MBA gives you deeper finance, strategy and a credential recognized outside health care. The dual degree gives you both, at the cost of roughly another year.
Every Dual Degree by State
133 dual degrees that pair a health administration master's with another graduate degree, at 79 schools. Names are the schools' own.
From each school's own pages, September 2026. The CAHME mark shows the school is on CAHME's list; check which of its programs the accreditation covers on the school's profile.
When the Dual Degree Is Worth It
It’s worth it if you’re aiming at the senior finance, strategy or operations roles in a hospital system and want both sets of training on your resume, or if you want to keep a door open to consulting, insurers or health-tech companies without giving up the MHA’s health system focus. It also fits clinicians who want to move into executive roles and can afford a longer program.
It’s harder to justify if you need one credential quickly or you’re paying out of pocket. In that case, one degree with the right concentration usually gets you most of the way. An MBA in healthcare management gives you the business degree with a health focus, and a finance-heavy MHA gives you the reverse. The MHA vs MBA comparison and the degree chooser can help you decide which single degree fits before you commit to two.
Other Dual Degrees With a Health Administration Master’s
The MBA is the most common pairing, but not the only one. Across the 133 dual degrees:
- Law. 16 pair a health administration degree with a JD, including Saint Louis University, Ohio State, the University of Iowa, the University of Kentucky and VCU with the University of Richmond School of Law. Georgia State offers a triple MBA/MHA/JD.
- Public health. 8 pair a health administration master’s with an MPH, including UAB, the University of Georgia, IU Indianapolis, Des Moines University (78 semester hours combined), Saginaw Valley State and the University of Utah.
- Medicine and clinical doctorates. Ohio State (MHA/MD), the University of Kansas (MD/MHSA and DPT/MHSA), Idaho State (MHA + DO), Des Moines University (MHA with DO, DPM, DPT or OTD) and UNT Health Science Center (DO/MHA and PA/MHA).
- Nursing and pharmacy. Webster University and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine offer MSN/MHA, Purdue University Global offers MSN/Master of Health Care Administration, and Samford and California Northstate offer PharmD/MHA.
- Data and information. UNC Charlotte pairs the MHA with an MS in Health Informatics and Analytics, UNC Chapel Hill with an MS in Information Science, and the University of Utah with MS degrees in Finance or Information Systems.
- Bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways. Georgetown’s 4+1 MHSA, Cornell’s five-year BS/MHA and Penn State’s integrated BS/MHA let undergraduates start the master’s early.
The full table of every dual degree is on this page, with links to each school.
How Admission Works
Admission is where dual degrees get complicated, because two schools inside one university are involved. UNC Chapel Hill sends MHA applicants to the main MHA page and tells them to check MBA deadlines separately, since they may vary. CU Denver is simpler: if both degrees are through its Business School, you submit one application.
Test policy can differ between the two sides. UHCL’s MHA/MBA is test optional. If you’re applying to both schools separately, check each side’s GMAT or GRE rule on its own. The MHA requirements guide covers what the health side usually expects, and the no-GRE MHA list shows where the test is waived.
Jobs and Pay After a Dual Degree
Both degrees point at the same core job: medical and health services manager. BLS puts the median annual wage at $123,860 in May 2025, with the lowest 10 percent under $73,390 and the top 10 percent above $224,340. BLS also notes that advancement to top executive positions may require a master’s degree. Treat the second degree as a way to compete for the executive end of that range, not a guaranteed raise. The careers guide covers the roles, and Is an MHA Worth It? weighs the cost against the outcomes.
How to Choose an MHA MBA Dual Degree
- Check CAHME on the MHA side. 27 of the 37 MHA/MBA pairings are at schools with a CAHME-accredited program. Confirm the exact program with the CAHME checker.
- Compare total credits, not the headline. 51 credits at Wilmington and a 96-credit minimum at UNC are different commitments.
- Match the format. Online options include Samford, Pfeiffer, Mary Baldwin, Phoenix, Arizona and Scranton. UNC is residential.
- Ask how many applications you file. One at CU Denver, separate deadlines at UNC.
- Look for the residency. For an early-career student, the placement is a big part of what the MHA side is worth, so make sure the dual plan keeps it.
- Browse by state. The program matcher and the CAHME-accredited MHA list help you find the MHA half first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does an MHA MBA Dual Degree Take?
Two to three years for most programs. The University of Houston-Clear Lake lists 24 months, Mary Baldwin University lists 20 months full time online, Pfeiffer University lists 30 to 36 months, and UNC Chapel Hill, the University of Pittsburgh and Samford University each list three years.
Can You Do an MHA MBA Dual Degree Online?
Yes. Samford University, Pfeiffer University, Mary Baldwin University and the University of Phoenix list online MHA/MBA programs, the University of Arizona offers an online MHM/MBA, and the University of Scranton offers its MBA/MHA online or on campus.
Is the UHCL MHA/MBA Worth a Look?
If you live near Houston, yes. The University of Houston-Clear Lake's joint MHA/MBA is 60 credit hours over 24 months, hybrid, with eight-week sessions at UHCL at Texas Medical Center, and it's test optional. Its College of Business holds AACSB accreditation. See the UHCL profile.
Does an MHA MBA Dual Degree Pay More Than an MHA?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports pay by job, not by degree. Medical and health services managers, the main job for both degrees, earned a median annual wage of $123,860 in May 2025, and BLS says advancement to top executive positions may require a master's degree. The second degree helps you compete for that executive end.
Do You Apply Separately to Each School?
It depends on the university. UNC Chapel Hill points MHA applicants to its own deadline and tells them to check MBA deadlines, which may differ. CU Denver says that if you apply for two degrees through its Business School, you submit one application.
What Is an MPH MHA Dual Degree?
It pairs a Master of Health Administration with a Master of Public Health. Eight programs on this site do it, including the University of Georgia, IU Indianapolis, Des Moines University (78 semester hours combined) and the University of Utah. Compare the two degrees on the MHA vs MPH page.
Keep Reading
- Healthcare Administration Degree LevelsAssociate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in healthcare administration and what each qualifies you for
- MHA vs MBAThe MHA and the healthcare MBA compared on curriculum, cost, accreditation, admissions and career paths
- MHA vs MPHThe Master of Health Administration and the Master of Public Health compared, and when a joint MHA/MPH makes sense
- Healthcare Administration CertificatesGraduate certificates in healthcare administration and management at schools with a verified master's program
- MHA Admission RequirementsWhat MHA programs require for admission, with counts from verified program pages
- Is an MHA Worth It?MHA costs from verified programs set against BLS pay for health services managers
Sources
- CAHME: accredited and certified programs
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health: MHA-MBA dual degree
- University of Houston-Clear Lake: Healthcare Administration and Business Administration MHA/MBA
- CU Denver Business School: Health Administration MBA
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical and Health Services Managers
- Official program pages of each school listed, reviewed September 2026