11 Best MHA Programs in Pennsylvania – 2023
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Graduates of MHA programs in Pennsylvania earn $120,910 a year on average. Their extensive training opens up managerial employment opportunities in hospitals, medical centers, ambulatory care clinics, physicians’ offices, and community agencies throughout the state. Whether you’re interested in healthcare finances, emerging healthcare technology, clinical management, or strategic growth, the skills you master while earning your Master’s in Health Administration degree will prove invaluable as you pursue your professional career. Find out more by reading the descriptions we’ve provided of the 11 best MHA programs in Pennsylvania for 2023.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 11 BEST MHA PROGRAMS IN PENNSYLVANIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2023
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 11 best campus-based and online MHA programs in Pennsylvania.)
1. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh (On-Campus)
Program Details: This MHA program in Pennsylvania goes through continuous revision to stay up-to-date. The revised curriculum comprises a total of 60 credits, including core and elective courses. The program is offered in person, taking almost two years to complete.
The core courses strengthen your foundation in vital topics such as financial management in healthcare, human resources management, healthcare informatics, health law & ethics, marketing healthcare & business planning. Also, the coursework teaches you about microeconomics, managerial epidemiology, and the strategic management of health services organizations & health policy. In addition to the core courses, you also complete elective courses worth 10 credits.
Admission Requirements: To qualify for this MHA in Pennsylvania, you’ll require to have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, the college requires one to have completed courses in algebra or statistics. Although a GRE score is not required, you may be able to strengthen your application if you submit it.
Key Highlights
• The MHA program ranks among the top programs in the nation as per the U.S. News & World Report.• The program boasts of an exceptional graduation and placement rate, having all of its students successfully graduate and find employment within three months of leaving the college.
• The college emphasizes the application of knowledge, and hence in every semester, you’ll take courses that enhance professional development through a systematic synthesis of knowledge. So, in the first two semesters, you’ll go through professional development seminars. Whereas the third semester entails completing a residency and finally you’ll complete a master’s essay in the fourth semester.
• University of Pittsburgh offers an add-on MBA along with the MHA program. If you enroll in this dual degree, you complete two curriculums within three years instead of the four years if done separately. As a graduate of this dual degree, you’ll be able to accelerate your career to top-level leadership positions.
2. The Pennsylvania State University - University Park
About the School: Whether you desire the flexibility of online classes or the personalized touch of in-person classes, at Pennsylvania State University, you’ll be able to find an MHA program that is just right for you. With more than 25 years of offering excellent MHA education, the college has carved a niche for itself in producing high-skilled healthcare leaders. College graduates play varied roles in healthcare administration and management.
Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to explore employment in several healthcare organizations, including consulting firms, insurance companies, skilled nursing facilities, health systems, and government health agencies, to name a few.
Program Details: Counted among the best MHA programs in Pennsylvania, this MHA program offers two options, an on-campus and online MHA program. Both programs, designed for experienced healthcare professionals, offer the same coursework.
Regardless of the format you choose, you’ll complete a competency-based curriculum that is based on the values of integrity, empathy, leadership, and innovation. The 49-credit curriculum spans two years and includes courses, including finance management, healthcare leadership, health services organizational behavior, and population health. In addition, you’ll learn about managing healthcare operations project management, human resource management, healthcare informatics, and healthcare marketing. Towards the end of the coursework, you’ll complete an interprofessional capstone project where you’ll get involved in any one area of healthcare administration.
Admission Requirements: To gain admission into this master of healthcare administration program in Pennsylvania, you must fulfill the admission selection criteria. The college accepts applications on a rolling basis and at the same time is quite selective of candidates entering the program. To start with, your undergraduate GPA must not be below 3.0. In addition, you must demonstrate leadership abilities through work experience, and extracurricular or voluntary activities. Also, you must be prepared to submit a resume, a personal statement, and your transcripts.
Key Highlights
• The college integrates its bachelors in health policy & administration with its MHA. The integrated coursework, allows you to graduate with two degrees within five years. This combined program is a good option if you are still deciding on your bachelor's education.• You can combine your knowledge of healthcare administration with that of law through a dual degree leading to J.D./MHA. Through this dual degree, you will gain a firm footing in the laws and regulations related to healthcare administration & management.
3. The University of Scranton - Scranton (On-Campus and Online)
About the School: Are you seeking faith-based training from one of the best MHA programs in Pennsylvania? Also, do you aspire to specialize in post-acute care management? Well, the University of Scranton’s MHA program can be an answer to both of these questions.
Based on Jesuit values, the program is committed to the holistic development of its MHA students. Also, apart from providing a solid grounding in core MHA competencies, the program offers a specialization in post-acute care. Aside from this, the college has earned the recognition of the U.S. News & World Report, ranking among the top graduate schools in the nation, indicating an overall excellent learning experience.
Program Details: This MHA program in Pennsylvania comes with two options, an on-campus program designed for students with little or without any professional experience, and an online program meant for professionals with at least three years of experience.
The on-campus program requires the completion of a total of 44 credits, whereas the online MHA program comprises 47 credits. Both programs offer the Post-Acute Care specialization.
Regardless of the program you enter, you’ll require completing core courses in healthcare planning & marketing, healthcare law, and other such topics related to healthcare, including economics, policy, human resources, operations & quality, and finances. Further, the electives make you adept in post-acute care management. In addition, you must complete a field experience in a healthcare organization. The field experience is tailored to suit your specific needs and is based on whether you have any past professional experience or not.
Admission Requirements: To gain admission into this MHA program in Pennsylvania, regardless of whether you opt for the online or on-campus program, you must have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, the online program requires you to have at least three years of professional experience in healthcare. While a GMAT or GRE score is not required, you may want to submit it for your on-campus program application to enhance your odds of admission.
Key Highlights
• The college offers students the option of completing an elective course abroad. Through this course, you’ll be able to spend 10 days in another country. You’ll attend lectures offered by an international faculty and also gain a close understanding of other cultures. The experience is not only enriching but also positions you as a leader with a global outlook.• As an MHA student, you can participate in the college’s ACHE Student Chapter. This organization, meant for MHA students expands learning avenues and also proves to be a great platform for professional networking.
4. Drexel University - Philadelphia
About the School: Drexel University is known to offer one of the best MHA programs in Pennsylvania. Here, you’ll be mentored by doctorally prepared faculty members who are highly experienced leaders and managers. Besides, interprofessional practice and research are emphasized, thereby providing you with the skills and knowledge to thrive in an interprofessional healthcare environment. The college offers you two MHA programs, a hybrid, and an online track.
Program Details: The hybrid program will be suited for those who prefer the blend of online and in-person learning. Whereas the online program is perfect for self-motivated learners who prefer the flexibility of taking classes from the comfort of their homes.
The coursework, regardless of the track, comprises 45 credits. Both programs offer part-time and full-time enrollment. While the full-time program takes two years to complete, you can graduate within three years through the part-time schedule.
The core courses, common to both programs, strengthen your knowledge in managerial epidemiology, ethical & legal issues in healthcare, healthcare policy, human resources management, and strategic planning for healthcare administration. You also learn about national health expenses by understanding health costs at a macro level. Further, you must complete two elective courses in your chosen area of interest.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission into either of these two MHA programs in Pennsylvania, you must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a healthcare field. Suppose your degree is not in healthcare, then you must have at least one year of work experience in healthcare. Also, your undergraduate GPA must not be below 3.0. In addition, to fulfill the other admission requirements, you must submit your official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, an essay, and a resume.
Key Highlights
• Both MHA programs entail completing an applied management project. This course entails completing a residency, where you must work as a group to closely observe the nuances of healthcare administration in an organizational setting. The experience culminates with a presentation of your findings.• The college offers discounted tuition rates to eligible students who are either alumni, from the military, or members of a partner organization.
5. Temple University - Philadelphia (Hybrid)
Program Details: Designed for working healthcare professionals, who prefer the utmost flexibility in terms of course delivery and pace, this master of healthcare administration program in Pennsylvania provides you the opportunity of studying in a way that is convenient to you.
This 30-credit coursework builds on your past professional experience and trains you in vital business concepts, such as financial analysis, leadership & consulting skills, and management of operations in a global business environment. Also, you’ll learn about current and future healthcare trends, information technology in healthcare, economics in healthcare, and healthcare laws and ethics.
You can complete this program on a part-time basis, stretching the timeline to a maximum of five years. Also, you can choose to take courses, online, or on campus, based on your preference.
Admission Requirements: To apply to this MHA in Pennsylvania, your undergraduate GPA must not be below 3.0. Also, you must have at least three years of professional work experience in healthcare. In addition, you must submit your resume, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal goal statement.
Key Highlights
• The advantageous location of the college, where some of the nation’s prominent healthcare organizations are situated, provides you the opportunity of exploring a wide variety of internship and employment opportunities.• Whether you are a resident of Pennsylvania or an out-of-state student, you’ll still be paying the same tuition cost!
• As an MHA student, if you wish to, you can participate in a global learning experience in countries such as China, India, Latin America, or South Africa. Through global immersions, internships, and volunteer activities, you’ll gain a global perspective in healthcare leadership.
6. Point Park University - Pittsburgh (Online)
As a graduate, you will be equipped with professional skills to play many rewarding leadership roles such as that of a nursing home administrator, clinical manager, health information manager, nurse administrator, community health manager, and many more.
Program Details: This is a 36-credit coursework that can be completed within 18 months. The entirely online coursework trains you in various healthcare-related topics, including accounting, quantitative methods, data analysis, strategic planning, health economics, healthcare policy, and finances. Also, you’ll master concepts in ethics & leadership, healthcare quality improvement, healthcare law, and healthcare informatics. The program also includes a course in global health administration, where you’ll gain an understanding of various issues in the management and administration of healthcare at a global level.
Admission Requirements: This MHA program in Pennsylvania takes in students having a bachelor’s degree and a GPA of not less than 2.75. Also, to qualify, you must have at least one year of experience in a business or healthcare field. Suppose, you do not have professional experience, then the college requires you to submit a GRE score. Additionally, you must be prepared to submit your transcripts, a resume, and two letters of reference.
Key Highlights
• If eligible, you’ll be able to transfer up to nine credits from your previous education. The transfer will further reduce the time and costs of earning your MHA degree.• The college offers several financial aid options to MHA students. In fact, here more than 90% of students receive some form of financial assistance. To know if you are eligible, you must contact the college’s financial aid office.
7. Pennsylvania State University – Middletown (On-Campus)
Program Details: The program is open to students from varied professional backgrounds. It is offered on a part-time basis and you can enter at the beginning of any semester. You can complete the program within two to four years, taking one or two courses each semester.
The 36-credit coursework comprises eight core and two elective courses, in addition to a culminating experience. Through the core courses, you’ll learn about the health systems organization, health economics & policy, health financial management, research design, and organizational behavior. Also, you’ll understand how to manage issues in information technology in government and non-profit organizations.
Further, you must complete two elective courses from a wide range of course options. In the final culminating experience, you’ll complete an MHA research project, either individually or as part of a small group.
Admission Requirements: The college accepts applications on a rolling basis, meaning you can apply anytime throughout the year. Also, because this MHA program in Pennsylvania is designed for working students, you must have at least three years of work experience to be eligible. Besides, you require having an undergraduate GPA of not less than 3.0. The college also requires you to submit a statement of purpose, a resume, and a GRE score, only in case your GPA is less than 3.0.
Key Highlights
• Penn State allows a transfer of up to nine credits from your previous degree. If your previous credits are from Penn State, then you may be eligible for a transfer of up to 15 credits.• This MHA in Pennsylvania reports a promising employment rate, having most of its graduates finding suitable jobs in hospitals, long-term organizations, health insurance companies, and public health organizations.
8. Duquesne University - Pittsburgh (Online)
About the School: Duquesne University is a Catholic university that is renowned for its healthcare education. Its MHA program is counted among the well-known master of healthcare administration programs in Pennsylvania. Here, you’ll be taught by faculty members who are healthcare leaders and managers. Also, because the college is a research-based institution, you’ll be able to explore many possibilities of learning by participating in research projects. To accommodate the needs of working students, the college offers its MHA through a 100% online format. Besides, here, you can choose an area to specialize in from the three concentration options.
Program Details: This MHA program in Pennsylvania offers three highly in-demand concentrations, including Health Informatics & Data Analytics, Healthcare Compliance & Risk Management, and Population Health. The online coursework comprises 14 courses and requires the completion of a total of 42 credits.
The program starts with 9 credits of foundation courses where you are introduced to concepts in healthcare systems, managerial accounting, and health services research methods and statistics. Thereafter, you proceed to take the 27-credit core courses. The core courses prepare you in human resource management, healthcare marketing & strategic planning, healthcare economics & policy, law & ethics, healthcare information systems, financial management, leadership, and operations & quality management.
After the core courses, you continue with the program to complete two courses in your chosen concentration.
Admission Requirements: To qualify for admission, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, the college requires you to have completed seven units of math & science. Besides, you must have your transcripts, a resume, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation ready for submission.
Key Highlights
• As an MHA student, you’ll have several learning avenues to explore, such as community projects, capstone projects, administrative fellowships, and internships.• The college ranks among the best graduate schools in the nation as per the U.S. News & World Report. This recognition comes because the college provides the best value for high-quality MHA education.
9. King's College - Wilkes-Barre (Hybrid)
Program Details: The 37-credit curriculum is offered in a hybrid format, so you can attend in-person classes or take courses online. The program comprises a total of 12 courses, in addition to a capstone project. The 12 courses comprise nine core and three electives.
Through the core courses, you’ll obtain proficiency in various healthcare-related topics such as health policy, economics, financial management, quantitative business methods, organizational ethics, healthcare marketing & branding, and leadership. Further, you’ll complete electives in your chosen area of interest, depending on your career goals and interests.
Admission Requirements: The college follows a rolling admission process, so ensure you apply early to enhance your chances. To qualify for this MHA program in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to possess an accredited bachelor’s degree. In addition, you must be prepared to submit a resume, two recommendation letters, official transcripts, and a personal goal statement.
Key Highlights
• The college conducts annual job fairs in which some of the prominent employers in the area participate. This opportunity can be rather fruitful in securing a placement even while you are still in college.• Should you desire to continue your education, the college offers promising MHA graduates priority admission into the Doctor of Health Science in Population Health Management from Thomas Jefferson University College. In addition to priority admission, you'll also be eligible for a tuition discount. To qualify for the program, you must have completed your MHA with a minimum GPA of 3.3, or have at least five years of relevant work experience.
10. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences - Lancaster (Online)
Program Details: This MHA in Pennsylvania requires completing a total of 34 credits. You’ll acquire skills and knowledge in health promotion & disease prevention, communication& technology, healthcare policy & finance, and leadership in healthcare. Also, you master concepts in health systems organization & management, organizational behavior, quantitative business analysis, and strategic planning. The program also includes one elective course on your preferred topic of interest.
Admission Requirements: This MHA program takes in students who have completed their undergraduate studies with a minimum GPA of 2.8. Also, you are required to have completed a course in statistics with a minimum grade of C. To fulfill the admission requirements, you must also submit two letters of recommendation and a personal goal statement.
Key Highlights
• This master of healthcare administration program in Pennsylvania not only allows the transfer of credits from your previous education but also permits the transfer of your federal financial aid that you may have received at an earlier institution. The transfer is allowed only for eligible students.• In addition to several scholarships and funding opportunities, the college also offers tuition discounts to employees of partner healthcare organizations.
11. Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia (Hybrid)
About the School: If you are keen on enrolling in one of the hybrid MHA programs in Pennsylvania, then your search may end with Saint Joseph's University’s MHA program. Not only does this program offer the flexibility of taking classes, online or on-campus but here you can choose to complete your MHA education in general coursework or Organization Development and Leadership. Aside from this, being located in a city with a bustling healthcare industry, finding lucrative internship and employment opportunities will be a walk in the park.
Program Details: Designed for experienced healthcare professionals, this MHA in Pennsylvania can take your career to another level. With classes offered online, on-campus, and in the hybrid format, you can choose the way you want to complete your MHA studies. Also, you’ll attend lectures in the evenings and be part of a small-sized class where close-knit interactions are the order of the day. Besides, you can choose the intensive full-time schedule or the slower pace of the part-time schedule.
The MHA program offers two tracks, a general track, and a specialization track in organization, development, and leadership, so you can enroll based on your interest and career goals. While the general track requires completing 36 credits, if you enroll in the specialization, you’ll require 42 credits for graduation.
Regardless of the track you enter, the common core courses focus on population health, health policy, organization development, operations & information systems, legal principles, and leadership.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for either of the MHA tracks, you must at least have two years of work experience in the healthcare industry. In addition, your undergraduate score must be at least 3.0. Other requirements for admission include the submission of transcripts, a resume, a personal goal statement, and letters of recommendation.
Key Highlights
• The college is a Yellow Ribbon school that offers service members, veterans, and their family members several education benefits. To know your benefits, you must contact the college Veterans Services Office.• Here, there are several ways you can fund your MHA education and graduate assistantships in one of them. Also, you may be eligible for a tuition discount if you are either an alumnus of the college or have at least one year of service in a service organization, or are working at a partner organization.
• If you want to enhance your leadership career by acquiring skills in the field of health informatics, then you may want to consider dual enrollment in the college’s Master of Health Administration/MS in Health Informatics. By just completing 45 credits, you’ll be able to earn two complementing master's degrees.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the Total Number of Accredited MHA programs in Pennsylvania?
As per the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), currently there are 4 accredited Master’s in Healthcare Administration programs in Pennsylvania.| Total MHA Programs in Pennsylvania |
| 4 |
MHA Programs in Other Cities & States