6 Best MHA Programs in Georgia – 2024
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Are you a healthcare professional in the Peach State who wants to assume more leadership responsibilities? Then you should think seriously about enrolling in one of the MHA programs in Georgia. With a Master’s Degree in Health Administration, you’ll be qualified for employment as a clinic manager, a hospital director, or a healthcare facility administrator. Graduates of MHA programs in the Peach State make $129,900 a year on average, and many MHA programs are offered as online classes, which means you won’t have to relocate or renege on your current job or family responsibilities. Want to find out more? The descriptions of the 6 best MHA programs in Georgia for 2024 are a great place to start.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 6 BEST MHA PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 6 best campus-based and online MHA programs in Georgia.)
1. Georgia State University - Atlanta (Campus)
The faculty of this MHA program includes dedicated professionals with multiple years of experience in health services, health administration, managed care, and health IT. Moreover, the Robinson College of Business is a member of the Business School Alliance for Health Management. This alliance is an international consortium of twenty institutions and universities that are dedicated to advancing education and thought leadership in the healthcare sector. Other prominent members of this business school alliance include Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Yale, and UC Berkeley.
Program Details: This master of science in health administration program is perfect for applicants who wish to acquire skills in areas of healthcare administration and business, including data analytics and health information systems.
One of the best MHA programs in Georgia, this on-campus program provides students with essential knowledge and skills in health management, data analytics, leadership, finance, and health informatics.
As part of the program, you will delve into topics such as introduction to the health care system, health economics & financing, health policy & ethics, legal environment of health care, healthcare planning & financial management, health information systems, and strategic management in health care. Additionally, you will also be involved in extracurricular activities such as boot camps, professional workshops, recruiting fairs, and networking events.
This 45-credit program can be completed in 16 months. On successful completion of the program, graduates can take up roles such as pharmacy operations managers, donor data administrators, business analyst team leads, administrative residents, and transplant financial coordinator, among many other such roles.
Admission Requirements: To get accepted into the program, you must submit an online application along with a $50 application fee, official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, a personal statement, a current resume, and GMAT or GRE scores.
Applicants will also be required to include a video interview as part of their online application. The admissions committee might ask for a second skype or an in-person interview if the need arises. Applicants who already have an advanced master’s, doctorate, or specialist degree, or those with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.25 will be exempted from GMAT and GRE scores.
Lastly, international applicants who have received their undergraduate degrees from regionally accredited institutions where English is not the official language of academic instruction will be required to submit proof of English language proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS test scores.
Key Highlights
• The program facilitates FHE membership which is a student organization at Georgia State University. Through this membership, you will be allowed to interact with executives and other healthcare professionals. Additionally, you will visit industry sites where you will closely witness the functioning of healthcare organizations.• This MHA program offers several financing opportunities such as scholarships, graduate research assistantships, and federal and private educational loans.
2. Georgia Southern University - Statesboro (Campus)
Here, you will be taught by exceptional faculty members. These distinguished professors provide a supportive and welcoming environment and are committed to the success of the students. This CAHME accredited MHA program values diversity, integrity, community engagement, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Program Details: This Master of Health Administration program develops early-to-mid level professionals for advanced jobs in health administration services.
Consisting of 52 credit hours, this MHA in Georgia is designed to make students knowledgeable and skilled in the effective management of health service organizations. You will learn about the financial, organizational, managerial, and legal elements of health services. The curriculum includes courses such as Healthcare Economics, U.S. Healthcare Systems, Healthcare Financial Management, Health Politics & Policy, MHA Capstone Project, Legal Environment of HealthCare, and Organization Theory.
Upon graduating from the program, you will have a keen understanding of marketing, positioning, structuring, and governing health services organizations. You will also be adept at managing the finances of an organization. Post completion of this program you can take up varied roles in hospitals, medical centers, consulting firms, insurance industries, and long-term care facilities.
Admission Requirements: Interested applicants must apply to the College of Graduate Studies at Georgia Southern University through HAMPCAS. Applicants are required to present official copies of transcripts and present an up-to-date personal or professional resume. Additionally, at the time of application, you must have worked for at least three years. Also, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college is required.
Key Highlights
• As an MHA student at Georgia Southern University, you will have access to several scholarship opportunities, some exclusively meant for health administration.• This MHA school’s small-sized classes take in not more than 15 students. This not only creates a close-knit environment but also ensures you receive individualized attention.
3. Clayton State University - Morrow (Campus)
Program Details: One of the sought-after accredited MHA programs in Georgia, this MHA uses a fine blend of online and face-to-face classes, thereby providing students with the convenience of distance learning as well as the personalized attention of on-campus classes.
Whether you are an experienced healthcare professional or someone without any prior experience, here, you can complete your MHA degree based on your individual learning needs. The 45 credits coursework makes you proficient in key areas of healthcare administration, including, Health Systems Administration, Healthcare Economics, Healthcare Law & Ethics, Health Care Marketing, Health Care Policy, and Managerial Epidemiology. If you enroll for full-time classes, you can complete the program within two years, part-timers, however, will take longer to graduate.
As a graduate of this program, you will develop the ability to think through complex problems, strengthen your financial acumen, and develop strong healthcare administration skills. You will be prepared to take on various managerial positions in healthcare, where you will work towards improving the quality of care in health organizations.
Admission Requirements: Whether you are from business, healthcare, or any other educational background, you are eligible to apply to this program. Admission requirements for the program are three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, criminal background check, a completed immunization form, and a GPA of no less than 2.5. Also, a GRE score may be required.
Key Highlights
• As a student of this program, you will be provided with internship opportunities, wherein you will practice administrative skills in real-world healthcare environments.• If you enter the program from any other background apart from business or healthcare, you must complete the prescribed pre-requisite courses, preferably before starting the program.
4. South University - Savannah (Online)
Program Details: This MHA program provides you with the business skills necessary to seek management roles within healthcare facilities. Here, you will learn how to apply knowledge in law & ethics, financial management, marketing, health policy, and human resources. Additionally, you will learn calculated planning to develop healthcare delivery systems.
Consisting of 12 courses, this program requires completing 48 credit hours. Some of the topics you'll delve into include health law & ethics, healthcare planning & marketing, quality performance & management, current economics in healthcare, and healthcare organizations & administration.
As a graduate of this accredited master of healthcare administration program in Georgia, you'll be able to assess the effect of healthcare policy & law on healthcare delivery. Besides, you will also be adept at overcoming leadership & managerial challenges in healthcare. After completing the program, you can apply for jobs in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare companies, medical laboratories, and medical companies.
Admission Requirements: Requirements for admission are a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, a 2.7 overall grade point average or higher. If your GPA is lower than the prescribed limit, you may be considered for provisional admission, provided you earn a GPA higher than 3.0 in the first quarter of your MHA program.
Key Highlights
• As one of the top online MHA programs in Georgia, South University uses an advanced learning platform, that enhances your learning experience through interesting media content and digital books. Moreover, the online classroom can be accessed on the move through mobile phones and tools like the Pulse App. Pulse helps you stay on track with your courses and keeps you connected with classmates and professors.• The college offers military benefits to students coming from the US Defense forces. So, if you are a military member, veteran, or dependent, you can enjoy solid support for a seamless transition to student life.
5. Strayer University - Atlanta (Online)
About the School: Regarded among the best online MHA programs in Georgia, Strayer University’s MHA offers best-in-class technology for its online degree, allowing you to conveniently take courses from anywhere. Here, the MHA training prepares you with relevant skills that are in demand and those that can be immediately applied to the workplace.
You'll get help from advisors, coaches, and faculty members that guide you through the program. The faculty brings knowledge, expertise, and industry experience to the classroom. The best part is, they don’t think of you as students, but as motivated professionals.
Here, the MHA program comes with two concentration options, one that focuses on clinical care management and the other that trains you in the management of public health.
Program Details: As mentioned above, this MHA in Georgia offers two concentrations, clinical care management, and public health management. Regardless of the concentration you choose, you will first start the program with MHA courses worth 54 credits. These courses, each lasting for 11 weeks, strengthen your knowledge in health care management, health economics, health information systems, health financial management, health services strategic marketing, and healthcare policy, law & ethics.
Should you choose the Clinical Care Management track, you will further build skills on how to improve clinical operations at healthcare facilities and enhance patient wellbeing through effective administration. To graduate, in addition to the 54-credit MHA courses you will require earning 13.5 credits in three courses, including Healthcare Operations Management, Long-Term Care Management, and Physician's Practice Management.
On the other hand, the 13.5-credit Public Health Management concentration track prepares you to resolve public healthcare organizational issues and optimize management. Besides the 54 credit MHA courses, the program requires you to complete three courses, including Managerial Epidemiology, Public Health Management, and Environmental Health Management.
Out of these master of healthcare administration programs in Georgia, regardless of the track you choose, you will graduate within two years of full-time study.
Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for this accredited MHA program in Georgia include a completed application and enrollment agreement, proof of a completed baccalaureate degree, official copies of transcripts, and a current, valid, and legible government-issued photo identification.
Key Highlights
• At Strayer, not only will you leave the program equipped with professional proficiency, but the personalized learning experience that the college offers will help you forge bonds that often last a lifetime.• Strayer has more than 500 organizations as its partners. If you work for any of its partner organizations, you may be eligible for a fee concession for your MHA.
6. University of Phoenix-Georgia - Atlanta (Online)
About the School: Are you keen on completing your master's in healthcare education from one of the best online MHA programs in Georgia? If so, you may want to consider the University of Phoenix – Georgia’s MHA program as one of your options. The program’s faculty prepare you for real-world challenges by bringing in their years of experience to the classroom. The gap between practice and theory is effectively filled by extensive practical experiences at various healthcare organizations. The university offers two MHA programs, a traditional MHA track, and a competency-based program.
Program Details: The university’s online MHA programs are aligned to ACHE standards, and are CAHME accredited. These two accredited MHA programs in Georgia, one the standard Master of Health Administration and the other a competency-based Master of Health Administration track help you prepare for a promising career in the healthcare field.
While the standard MHA track takes 17 months to complete, the competency-based track can be finished in less than 12 months. This is because you can move through courses rather swiftly, spending more time only on courses you have little or no knowledge of. Both these programs require completing 36 credits and prepare you for health administration, leadership, business management, and professionalism. Furthermore, you will explore topics such as ethical marketing, systems thinking, leveraging informatics, scanning the health sector, and operating in structure.
Also, you will learn how to utilize data to decrease cost and improve the quality of patient care, navigate the world of healthcare mergers & acquisitions, and reply quickly to modifications in the healthcare sector. After graduating from the program, you can become a health information management director, a health manager, or a practice administrator.
With the standard Master of Health Administration track, you complete the coursework by taking eight courses per year, while the competency track moving faster, allows you to complete up to 12 courses within one year. To break this further, with the standard track you can take only one course at a time, whereas, the competency track, allows you to complete four courses at a time.
Admission Requirements: To get accepted into either of these MHA programs in Georgia, applicants must submit an undergraduate degree, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Additionally, for the competency-based track, you must have at least three years of management or leadership experience in the past 10 years.
Key Highlights
• This MHA program works closely with labor market researchers to fit in-demand skills into the MHA training. This ensures students learn and demonstrate skills that employers want.• The competency-based track allows you to take up to four 16-week courses simultaneously. As a working professional, this provides considerable flexibility to complete the coursework at your preferred pace.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the Total Number of Accredited MHA programs in Georgia?
As per the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), currently there are 2 accredited Master’s in Healthcare Administration programs in Georgia.| Total MHA Programs in Georgia |
| 2 |
MHA Programs in Other Cities & States