Verified September 2026

MS in Healthcare Administration Programs

What Are the Best Online MS in Healthcare Administration Programs, and How Does the MS Differ From an MHA?

An MS in healthcare administration online is the most affordable and flexible way into a health administration master's: of the 94 MS and related programs on this site, 67 run online and the median estimated tuition is $23,400. The lowest estimates start at $9,120 at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (Oklahoma resident rate), and 9 programs are covered by CAHME accreditation, including American Public University System's online MSHA. Choose the MS when cost, speed or a specialty such as analytics or long-term care matters most, and a Master of Health Administration when you want the most CAHME options and a built-in residency.

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94programs
88schools
9CAHME accredited
$23,400median estimated tuition
36median credits
A student in a blue sweatshirt takes notes from a textbook beside an open laptop at a library table lined with bookshelves
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What an MS in Healthcare Administration Is

An MS in healthcare administration is a Master of Science that trains you to manage health organizations: budgets, operations, quality, people and policy. The name shifts from school to school. You’ll see MS in Healthcare Administration, MS in Health Care Management, MS in Health Services Administration, MS in Health Systems Management, and Master of Arts versions at schools such as Waldorf University and the University of Arizona Global Campus. This page groups all of them: 94 programs at 88 schools in 35 states.

The median program is 36 credits. The short end is 30 credits at schools like Peirce College, Salve Regina University and Marshall University. The long end is Rush University’s Residential Track at 58 credits, which includes a minimum 440-hour healthcare management internship.

Most of these programs are built for people who already work. 67 of the 94 run online, 17 are hybrid, and 18 are on campus (some programs offer more than one format).

MS vs MHA: Which Degree Fits You

On paper, an MS and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) cover the same ground. Some schools even use the names interchangeably: Mount St. Mary’s University calls its Master of Science in Health Administration an MHA. The real differences show up in the numbers.

Measure MS in healthcare administration All health administration master’s on this site
Programs 94 452
Covered by CAHME accreditation 9 143
Offered online 67 294
List a residency, internship, practicum or capstone 30 155
Median credits 36 39
Median estimated tuition $23,400 $27,000
Lowest estimated tuition $9,120 $8,460

The MS is shorter and less expensive at the middle of the range: a median of 36 credits against 39, and $23,400 in estimated tuition against $27,000. It’s also less likely to carry CAHME accreditation. Only 9 of 94 MS programs are covered, while 143 of the 452 programs on the site are. CAHME is the accreditor for graduate healthcare management education and judges programs against competency-based criteria for healthcare leaders.

When the MS Is the Better Choice

Pick the MS when you already work in health care and want the credential at the lowest cost, when you need a program that runs fully online on your schedule, or when you want a specialty such as data analytics, quality improvement or long-term care. Pick an MHA when you’re early in your career and want a CAHME program with a residency that places you inside a hospital. Still torn? The degree chooser weighs your answers, and the MBA in healthcare management page covers the business-school route.

The Online MS Numbers That Matter

Estimated tuition (published per-credit rate times credits, before fees) runs from $9,120 to $91,270 across the 60 programs where it can be worked out. Per-credit rates run from $285 to $2,060, with a median of $640.

The most affordable online options are public universities charging resident rates. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences charges Oklahoma residents $285 per credit hour online and nonresidents $421, plus a $25 per credit hour web course fee. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center charges Texas residents $288.29 per credit hour and nonresidents $716.29. The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith charges $394 per credit hour to in-state and border-state students.

The top of the range belongs to programs for senior leaders. Dartmouth’s Master of Health Care Delivery Science lists $91,270 in tuition plus $9,900 in residential fees, and it’s designed for clinical and executive leaders with 10+ years of experience.

15 Most Affordable Online MS in Healthcare Administration Programs

How this list is ranked: lowest estimated tuition first. Estimated tuition is the school's published per-credit rate times the credits it states, before fees, or the school's own published program total, for programs that publish those figures (one program per school). Rates were read on each school's site in September 2026.

  1. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences: Master of Science in Health Care AdministrationMaster of Science in Health Care Administration

    $9,120estimated tuition

    Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (Tulsa, OK, public) offers this online and on campus MS in 32 credits. At $285 per credit, estimated tuition is $9,120 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. Required experience: thesis or creative component project; optional internship for credit.

    School's tuition wording: $285 per credit hour Oklahoma resident online tuition; $421 per credit hour non-resident online tuition (beginning Fall 2026), plus $25 per credit hour web course fee and $2.50 per credit hour graduate master's fee (2026-27)

    Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences MS credits, tests and tuition · Total cost of Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences's MS with loans

  2. Peirce College: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHCA)Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHCA)

    $9,900estimated tuition

    Peirce College (Philadelphia, PA, private nonprofit) offers this online and hybrid MS in 30 credits (less than 18 months). At $330 per credit, estimated tuition is $9,900 before fees.

    School's tuition wording: $330 per credit limited-time rate for new students ($9,900 for the degree)

    Admission rules for Peirce College's MS · Can 2026 federal loans cover Peirce College? · Compare Peirce College's other programs

  3. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA, Online)Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA, Online)

    $10,378estimated tuition

    Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (Lubbock, TX, public) offers this online MS in 36 credits (2 years; accelerated 8-week courses). At $288 per credit, estimated tuition is $10,378 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. No GRE or GMAT required. Required experience: healthcare Administration Capstone (HPHA 5314).

    School's tuition wording: $288.29 per credit hour Texas resident tuition ($716.29 nonresident), plus fees; School of Health Professions MSHA estimate (2026-27)

    How the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center MS is structured · Monthly payment on a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center MS

  4. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHCA)Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHCA)

    $13,396estimated tuition

    University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (Fort Smith, AR, public) offers this online MS in 34 credits (five semesters including summers (as little as two years)). At $394 per credit, estimated tuition is $13,396 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents.

    School's tuition wording: $394 per credit hour in-state and border states; $633 out-of-state (plus $51.50 per credit mandatory fees and a $30 per credit MHCA program fee) (2026-27)

    University of Arkansas-Fort Smith MS format and requirements · University of Arkansas-Fort Smith MS cost with fees and living costs

  5. Athens State University: Master of Science in Strategic Healthcare Management and AdministrationMaster of Science in Strategic Healthcare Management and Administration

    $14,040estimated tuition

    Athens State University (Athens, AL, public) offers this online MS in 36 credits (about 1.5 years). At $390 per credit, estimated tuition is $14,040 before fees. Required experience: healthcare Management and Administration Capstone Experience.

    School's tuition wording: $390 per credit hour (graduate distance), plus fees (2026-27)

    What the Athens State University MS asks of applicants · Loan gap at Athens State University under 2026 limits

  6. William Carey University: Master of Science in Healthcare AdministrationMaster of Science in Healthcare Administration

    $14,850estimated tuition

    William Carey University (Hattiesburg, MS, private nonprofit) offers this online MS in 30 credits (three or six semesters (one-year or two-year plan), including summer terms). At $495 per credit, estimated tuition is $14,850 before fees. Required experience: healthcare Administrative Practicum and Capstone (HAE 6260) with face-to-face practicum in a healthcare agency in the student's state of residence; capstone project required.

    School's tuition wording: $495 per credit hour (master's rate) (2026-27)

    William Carey University MS credits, tests and tuition · Total cost of William Carey University's MS with loans

  7. College of Staten Island CUNY: Master of Science in Healthcare ManagementMaster of Science in Healthcare Management

    $15,510estimated tuition

    College of Staten Island CUNY (Staten Island, NY, public) offers this online and hybrid MS in 33 credits. At $470 per credit, estimated tuition is $15,510 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. Admission tests: GMAT or GRE required; waiver available to CSI or AACSB-school graduates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher.

    School's tuition wording: $470 per credit NY resident part-time; $5,545 per semester NY resident full-time; $855 per credit non-resident

    Admission rules for College of Staten Island CUNY's MS · Can 2026 federal loans cover College of Staten Island CUNY?

  8. Charter Oak State College: Master of Science in Healthcare AdministrationMaster of Science in Healthcare Administration

    $15,870estimated tuition

    Charter Oak State College (New Britain, CT, public) offers this online MS in 30 credits. At $529 per credit, estimated tuition is $15,870 before fees. Required experience: HCA 695 Health Administration Masters Capstone (business plan presentation and final project).

    School's tuition wording: $529 per credit (graduate tuition), plus student services and technology fees (2026-27)

    How the Charter Oak State College MS is structured · Monthly payment on a Charter Oak State College MS

  9. University of the Potomac: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA)Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA)

    $16,200estimated tuition

    University of the Potomac (FALLS CHURCH, VA, private for-profit) offers this online, on campus and hybrid MS in 36 credits (typically 2 years; accelerated option). At $450 per credit, estimated tuition is $16,200 before fees. Required experience: capstone Project in Healthcare Systems (HLTH 690).

    School's tuition wording: $450 per credit (domestic master's degree)

    University of the Potomac MS format and requirements · University of the Potomac MS cost with fees and living costs · University of the Potomac school profile and CAHME status

  10. Salve Regina University: Master of Science in Healthcare AdministrationMaster of Science in Healthcare Administration

    $16,260estimated tuition

    Salve Regina University (Newport, RI, private nonprofit) offers this online MS in 30 credits (average 18-24 months). At $542 per credit, estimated tuition is $16,260 before fees. Required experience: capstone course HCA-547 Application of Healthcare Management Theory; 120-hour internship required for combined bachelor's/master's students and students without healthcare experience.

    School's tuition wording: $542 per credit (M.S. in healthcare administration) (2026-27)

    What the Salve Regina University MS asks of applicants · Loan gap at Salve Regina University under 2026 limits

  11. Texas State University: Master of Long-Term Care Administration (MLTCA)Master of Long-Term Care Administration (MLTCA)

    $16,566estimated tuition

    Texas State University (San Marcos, TX, public) offers this online master's in 33 credits. At $502 per credit, estimated tuition is $16,566 before fees. Required experience: administrator-in-Training (AIT) internship (LTCA 5681 taken twice, 12 credit hours).

    School's tuition wording: $502 per credit hour; $1,506 per course; $16,566 per program

    Texas State University master's credits, tests and tuition · Total cost of Texas State University's master's with loans · Compare Texas State University's other programs

  12. Waldorf University: Master of Arts in Health Care ManagementMaster of Arts in Health Care Management

    $16,920estimated tuition

    Waldorf University (Forest City, IA, private for-profit) offers this online MA in 36 credits. At $470 per credit, estimated tuition is $16,920 before fees.

    School's tuition wording: $470 per credit hour (graduate online rate), plus a $60 per-course resource fee (2026-27)

    Admission rules for Waldorf University's MA · Can 2026 federal loans cover Waldorf University? · Waldorf University school profile and CAHME status

  13. American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med: Master of Integrative Healthcare Leadership (MIHL)Master of Integrative Healthcare Leadership (MIHL)

    $17,280estimated tuition

    American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med (Houston, TX, private for-profit) offers this online master's in 36 credits (4 semesters, or 3 semesters accelerated). At $480 per credit, estimated tuition is $17,280 before fees. Required experience: integrative Wellness Capstone Project.

    School's tuition wording: $480 per didactic or clinic credit hour; estimated tuition and fees for the entire education $18830 with fees

    How the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med master's is structured · Monthly payment on a American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med master's · All 2 programs at American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med

  14. Marshall University: Master of Science in Health Care AdministrationMaster of Science in Health Care Administration

    $17,580estimated tuition

    Marshall University (Huntington, WV, public) offers this online MS in 30 credits (two years at three courses per semester; some students finish in 18 months or less). At $586 per credit, estimated tuition is $17,580 before fees. No GRE or GMAT required. Required experience: field Research in Health Care Management course.

    School's tuition wording: $586 per credit hour for online graduate College of Business courses ($548 university tuition plus $38 college fee) (2026-27)

    Marshall University MS format and requirements · Marshall University MS cost with fees and living costs

  15. Indiana Wesleyan University-National &Amp; Global: MS in Management, Healthcare Administration SpecializationMS in Management, Healthcare Administration Specialization

    $17,700estimated tuition

    Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global (Marion, IN, private nonprofit) offers this online MS in 30 credits. At $590 per credit, estimated tuition is $17,700 before fees.

    School's tuition wording: $590 per credit hour

    What the Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global MS asks of applicants · Loan gap at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global under 2026 limits · Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global school profile and CAHME status

All 94 MS in Healthcare Administration Programs

Filter by format, accreditation, admission tests and state; tick up to three programs to compare them side by side.

94 programs

Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed September 2026. Estimated tuition is the published per-credit rate times the stated credits, before fees, or the school's published program total; "resident rate" means the school charges nonresidents more. CAHME status comes from CAHME's accredited-program list.

Online MS in Healthcare Administration Programs Compared

These programs show the spread in price, length and structure. Every one is available online or in a hybrid format.

Program Format Credits Length Estimated tuition CAHME
Peirce College MSHCA Online or hybrid 30 Less than 18 months $9,900 No
William Carey University MSHA Online 30 One-year or two-year plan $14,850 No
Athens State University MS in Strategic Healthcare Management and Administration Online 36 About 1.5 years $14,040 No
University of Maryland Global Campus MSHA Online or hybrid 42 A little over two years $23,310 (in-state) No
CSULB MSHCA, accelerated Hybrid 45 2 years, cohort $24,750 Yes
Indiana University Bloomington online MSHM Online 36 About 1 year full time $27,138 (Indiana resident) Yes
Johns Hopkins MS in Health Care Management (part-time) Online 30 2 to 3 years $61,800 No

A few things stand out. American Public University System’s online MSHA is covered by CAHME and charges $470 per credit hour for 40 credits ($18,800 estimated), or $250 per credit hour with its Preferred Military Rate. Indiana University’s online program is covered by CAHME and can be finished in about a year full time. Johns Hopkins charges $2,060 per credit, the highest per-credit rate in the MS group, and awarded 269 master’s degrees in health administration fields in 2022-23.

CAHME-Accredited MS Programs

Nine MS programs in the set are covered by CAHME accreditation, spread across seven schools:

  • California State University-Long Beach runs a traditional MSHCA (45 credits, with an internship and a required project) and an accelerated hybrid cohort for people with at least three years of U.S. health care industry experience.
  • Rush University offers a Residential Track for applicants with less than five years of health care experience and an Executive Track for those with five years, both at $1,322 per credit.
  • The University of Texas at Dallas offers an MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management with concentrations in Healthcare Management Data Analytics and Healthcare AI Innovations and Technology.
  • UT Arlington runs a 45-credit campus MS with a graduate internship in the degree plan.
  • Indiana University Bloomington and American Public University System run the two online options.
  • Fordham University runs a one-year hybrid MSHA. Fordham is one of six schools on probation with CAHME as of September 2026.

You can confirm any school’s current status with the CAHME checker or browse the full CAHME-accredited list.

Specialties You Can Study

The MS is where specialization is easiest. Concentrations offered across the 94 programs include Health Informatics, Data Science in Health Care, Quality and Patient Safety, Population Health, Health Care Supply Chain Management, Long-Term Care Administration, Healthcare Law and Compliance and Memory Care.

A few programs go further than a label. Liberty University’s online MSHA offers 12 concentrations, from Accounting to Supply Chain Management and Logistics, at $600 per credit hour. The University of St. Francis offers Data Science in Health Care, Population Health and Quality Improvement in Health Care. Texas State University’s Master of Long-Term Care Administration is built for nursing home leadership, with an Administrator-in-Training internship taken twice for 12 credit hours and a published program price of $16,566. If that’s your goal, read the nursing home administrator license guide too, since every state requires a license.

Residencies, Capstones and Experience Rules

30 of the 94 MS programs list a residency, internship, practicum or capstone, and many of those are capstone courses rather than placements. Southern New Hampshire University, Charter Oak State College and University of Maryland Global Campus each end with a capstone course. Placements are rarer. William Carey University requires a face-to-face practicum in a healthcare agency in your home state. Salve Regina University requires a 120-hour internship only if you lack health care experience or are in its combined bachelor’s/master’s track. Barry University requires a 200-hour practicum, with an applied research project as a substitute for students with 5+ years of healthcare management experience.

Experience rules cut both ways. UCSF’s MS in Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership requires you to be employed in a healthcare organization and stay employed through the program. The University of St. Francis asks for two years of full-time health care employment. Madonna University asks for full-time work in three of the last five years, including a year supervising in health care.

What the Degree Leads to

Most graduates work as medical and health services managers, running a department, a clinic, a physician practice or a whole facility. BLS reports a median annual wage of $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 a bachelor’s degree is the usual entry point and that work experience sometimes substitutes for education, so the MS tends to pay off by moving you up rather than letting you in. See the careers guide for the roles.

How to Choose an Online MS in Healthcare Administration

  • Price it at your rate. Resident and nonresident rates differ sharply: Texas Tech’s $288.29 and $716.29 per credit hour are an example. Use the cost calculator to compare totals.
  • Add the fees. Oklahoma State adds a web course fee, and the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith adds $51.50 per credit in mandatory fees plus a $30 per credit program fee.
  • Decide how much CAHME matters. 9 of 94 programs qualify. If it’s a must, the MHA list gives you far more options.
  • Pick a placement if you’re new. A capstone won’t get you inside a hospital. An internship like CSULB’s or Rush’s will.
  • Check where you live. Many public programs are regional. Browse Texas and California, which have several of the MS programs above, or use the program matcher.
  • Compare the broader set. The master’s in healthcare management page and the online MHA programs list cover the neighboring options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an MS in Healthcare Administration the Same as an MHA?

Not by title, but the work is close. Several schools blur the line themselves: Mount St. Mary's University calls its Master of Science in Health Administration an MHA, and Touro University Worldwide and the University of the Potomac do the same with their MS programs. What differs more is CAHME coverage and field experience, which you can check program by program.

What Is the Most Affordable Online MS in Healthcare Administration?

By estimated tuition (published per-credit rate times credits, before fees), Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is lowest at $9,120 for 32 credits at the Oklahoma resident online rate of $285 per credit hour. Peirce College lists $9,900 for the degree at a limited-time rate of $330 per credit for new students.

Is There a CAHME-Accredited Online MS in Healthcare Administration?

Yes. American Public University System's online MSHA and Indiana University Bloomington's online MS in Healthcare Management are both covered by CAHME accreditation. APUS charges $470 per credit hour for 40 credits, and IU charges $753.83 per credit hour to Indiana residents.

Can You Get an MS in Healthcare Administration Without Health Care Experience?

Yes, at many schools. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences states that no prior health care experience is required, and Indiana University Bloomington opens its online MSHM to current undergraduates through mid-career professionals. Others screen hard: UCSF requires you to be employed in a healthcare organization throughout its MS-HAIL program.

Do MS in Healthcare Administration Programs Require the GRE?

Rarely. 26 of the 94 programs say no test is needed and 7 waive it on conditions. Rush University's Executive Track requires the GRE but waives it with five years of relevant health care experience.

Which MS Programs Lead to Nursing Home Administration?

Texas State University's Master of Long-Term Care Administration builds in an Administrator-in-Training internship worth 12 credit hours. You still need a state license: the Bureau of Labor Statistics says all states require licensure for nursing home administrators, with requirements that vary by state.

Related Program Lists

Sources

  1. Official program, tuition and admissions pages of each school listed, reviewed September 2026
  2. Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), accredited and certified programs
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2022-23 completions and institutional characteristics
  4. CAHME: accredited and certified programs
  5. CAHME: about the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
  6. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical and Health Services Managers

Every program on this site was checked against the school's own website. Accreditation comes only from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) list, and graduate counts from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS). Sponsored listings are labeled and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs