7 Best MHA Programs in Virginia – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
A degree from one of the MHA programs in Virginia can lead to many different employment opportunities in the medical sector, such as clinical manager, hospital director, or healthcare policy analyst. When you enroll in an MHA program, you can expect to sharpen your analysis and communication skills and learn about budgeting, cost setting, electronic record management, and how to comply with government regulations and healthcare laws. Graduates of MHA programs in the Old Dominion State are well compensated for their work; on average, they earn $123,670. Interested in learning more? Read on for information about the 7 best MHA programs in Virginia for 2025.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 7 BEST MHA PROGRAMS IN VIRGINIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 7 best campus-based and online MHA programs in Virginia.)
1. Virginia Commonwealth University - Richmond
MHA Concentrations: Healthcare Delivery Organization Leadership
About the School: Virginia Commonwealth University’s MHA should certainly be on your list especially if you are looking for affordable, high-quality MHA education. Counted among the best MHA programs in Virginia, if you enroll here, you’ll study in small-sized classes and be mentored by internationally renowned faculty members who are committed to your academic as well as professional success. Moreover, upon graduation, you’ll become a member of an outstanding alumni network of more than 2500 graduates who hold pivotal leadership positions across the nation’s healthcare sector. To help you fulfill your career aspirations, the college offers two MHA programs, an on-campus MHA and an online MSHA.
Program Details: Whether you are an experienced healthcare professional or someone in an entry-level position, here, you can enroll in the traditional on-campus MHA or the online MSHA program.
No matter the program you enter, the curriculum emphasizes healthcare delivery organization leadership. Also, the rigorous business and management component combined with the knowledge of healthcare uniquely positions you for leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings.
While the traditional program is open for students with little or no healthcare experience, the MSHA online track is designed for mid-level professionals aspiring on climbing the career ladder.
The traditional on-campus MHA coursework comprises a total of 59 credits. Out of these, 48 are in core courses, 3 credits are in electives, and 8 credits are to be completed in an administrative residency.
On the other hand, the MSHA program is offered through asynchronous online classes and requires the completion of 41 credits.
Regardless of the program you enter, you will become adept in key topics of communication & relationship management, leadership, professionalism, knowledge of the healthcare environment, and business and analytical skills.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for either of these MHA programs in Virginia, you must have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75. In addition, you require submitting transcripts, a professional resume, and three letters of reference. Further, to qualify for the MSHA program, you also require to have at least five years of professional work experience in the healthcare field.
Key Highlights
• The traditional on-campus MHA includes an administrative residency of 12 months, where you’ll hone your practical skills at a healthcare organization while even getting paid for it! What's more, for most MHA graduates the residency translates into a placement.• The MHA program has won many accolades and ranking in the top position in the U.S. News & World Report’s best programs list is just one among them.
• The college offers dual degrees combined with its MHA curriculum. These dual degrees are perfectly suited for those who aim to gain expertise in two complementary fields of practice. So, you can choose to combine either law/health administration, medicine/ health administration, or information systems/health administration. By enrolling in either of the dual degree programs, you’ll be able to earn two degrees with a reduced course load.
2. George Mason University - Fairfax
MHA (Online) Concentrations: Health Care Quality, and Executive
About the School: Do you have business acumen along with a passion for healthcare? If you’ve answered yes to this question and you are keen on getting started with this journey in the ‘’Old Dominion’’ state, then you are in the right place. You can take the first step towards a thriving healthcare career by applying to one of the best MHA programs in Virginia. George Mason University’s MHA program can be a great option you should consider. With two modes of delivery, you can decide between online or on-campus classes, based on your preference. In addition, with two concentrations to choose from, you can graduate with specialized skills in your chosen area of interest.
Program Details: This MHA program in Virginia offers two tracks, an online and an on-campus program. Also, based on your interest and career goals, you can choose either the Health Care Quality or the Executive concentration. While the healthcare quality concentration imparts specialized knowledge in improving the quality of healthcare delivery, the executive concentration prepares you for leadership roles in a variety of healthcare settings.
No matter the format you enroll in, you will complete the same rigorous curriculum. While the online classes provide the flexibility of taking classes at your convenience, the on-campus track requires you to participate in classes at scheduled hours in the evenings.
By completing the 45-credit MHA coursework, regardless of the format, you will obtain proficiency in key areas, such as professionalism & ethics, management & leadership, critical thinking & problem solving, communications, and knowledge of the healthcare system & healthcare management.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for either the on-campus or online MHA track, you must have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Although your degree can be in any field, students coming from a health or business background will be preferred. The holistic admission process that the college follows also reviews your resume, personal goal statement, and any past professional experience you may have.
Key Highlights
• Regardless of whether you enter the online or on-campus MHA track, you will culminate your training with a capstone practicum. The capstone requires you to spend 6 to 8 weeks in a healthcare organization, where you apply your theoretical knowledge to practice.• At George Mason, your MHA training also includes a virtual interactive session with healthcare policymakers placed in Washington D.C. Through this unique opportunity, you’ll be able to participate in live discussions with policy experts, faculty, and fellow students. This experience helps you gain valuable insights into some of the most pressing topics relating to healthcare.
• The college allows a transfer for up to 12 credits from your previous education. If you receive the transfer, you’ll be able to earn your MHA in Virginia with lesser costs and also much sooner.
3. Liberty University - Lynchburg (Online)
About the School: If you are seeking to enter one of the best online MHA programs in Virginia, then Liberty University’s MHA program can be your best bet. Here, not only will you complete your MHA education through asynchronous online classes, but you’ll also have the option to gain specialized skills in a highly-in demand area of healthcare administration. With ten MHA specializations on offer, you can customize your MHA education to match your career aspirations. Aside from this, along with multiple start dates, the college offers 8-week courses to provide you with maximum flexibility. This means you’ll be able to start the program when you are ready and complete it within a maximum of five years by taking courses as per your convenience.
Program Details: This MHA program in Virginia offers ten specializations along with a generalist track. While the generalist track requires completion of 42 credits, if you choose any one of the ten specializations, you require to complete 48 credits.
Regardless of the track you choose, the common core courses train you in healthcare informatics, legal & ethical issues in healthcare, financial analysis, strategic management in healthcare, and economics & finance in healthcare. In addition, you also learn about managerial epidemiology, operations management, quantitative methods, and management of human resources.
After finishing the core courses, you’ll complete specialization-specific courses in any one of the ten specializations, including, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Leadership, Marketing, Nonprofit Management, Project Management, Public Administration, Public Relations, Strategic Management, or Supply Chain Management & Logistics.
Admission Requirements: As a qualifying applicant to this master of healthcare administration program in Virginia, regardless of the track, you must have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, you must be prepared to submit your official transcripts, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
Key Highlights
• All the MHA tracks, including the generalist track, require you to complete a healthcare administration capstone as a culminating experience.• If eligible, you may receive a generous transfer for up to 50% of the degree total. If allowed the transfer, you will graduate sooner than you think and with a reduced tuition cost.
• Being a military-friendly school, this MHA program offers several financial benefits to military students. Also, military students may receive a waiver on the application fee.
4. Mary Baldwin University - Staunton (Online)
About the School: Mary Baldwin University offers another of our featured MHA programs in Virginia. With a strong focus on interprofessional teamwork, the college designs its MHA curriculum in collaboration with other programs. Also, the online mode of delivery makes it rather feasible for working professionals to juggle a full-time job alongside earning a degree in healthcare administration. Besides, the college’s highly accomplished faculty leaves no stone unturned in helping MHA students reach their academic and career goals.
Program Details: This program is designed for professionals who are ready to take their careers to the next level. By completing this MHA program, you’ll master skills in healthcare financial management, organizational & systems leadership, quantitative & qualitative methods, and healthcare management & information systems. In addition to the core courses, you will complete specialization-specific courses either in Health Systems Leadership or Quality & Systems Safety, depending on the track you choose. Regardless of the track, you can complete the program within as little as 16 months.
Admission Requirements: To gain admission into this master of healthcare administration program in Virginia, you must have an accredited undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.8. As such, there is no requirement for GMAT or GRE scores, however, the college requires you to have completed a statistics or research course as a pre-requisite for admission. Other admission requirements include the submission of a personal statement, a resume, and letters of recommendation. The college accepts applications on a rolling basis so ensure apply early to enhance your chances of admission.
Key Highlights
• As a graduate of the MHA program, you will be prepared to explore promising job positions in various types of work settings, including, insurance, health IT, health policy & advocacy, healthcare associations, and healthcare non-profit organizations, to name a few.• If you are aspiring to a high-level leadership career, then here, you have an option of combining the MBA curriculum with your MHA coursework. This is possible through the dual degree MHA/MBA that combines core business and healthcare concepts.
5. Norfolk State University - Norfolk (Online)
Program Details: This MHA in Virginia can be completed either full-time or part-time. While the full-time coursework can be completed within four semesters, the part-time program spans six semesters.
The MHA curriculum is based on the five main pillars of communication & relationship management, leadership, professionalism, knowledge of the healthcare environment, and business skills & knowledge. This 36-credit program prepares you for healthcare financial management, healthcare marketing, healthcare economics, and health informatics. You also obtain proficiency in managerial epidemiology, human resource management, and healthcare leadership. Also, you master research methods in health services.
Admission Requirements: The program takes in students holding a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Also, your undergraduate score must not be below 3.0. To fulfill the admission requirements, you must submit unofficial transcripts, a resume, and a personal goal statement.
Key Highlights
• You can transfer up to 12 credits from your previous education, provided you have earned a minimum grade of B and the courses have not been taken more than five years ago.• The MHA coursework is taught by a highly accomplished faculty who bring their years of expertise into the classroom.
6. University of Management and Technology - Arlington (On-Campus)
Program Details: This MHA program in Virginia is a 45-credit curriculum that comprises core courses and electives. The total 15 courses that you must complete, include 10 courses in health administration core and 5 electives from fields such as business, project management, and healthcare.
Through the core courses, you’ll obtain proficiency in important concepts such as the economics of healthcare, financial management, health services system, law & ethics, and health services marketing. Also, you’ll learn about long-term care management, organizational behavior in health services, and statistics in health services. Towards the end of the program, you complete a capstone project where you’ll apply the newly acquired knowledge to solve an issue in the management of a healthcare organization.
Admission Requirements: To qualify for this MHA program in Virginia, your bachelor’s degree must be accredited and your GPA must not be below 3.0. Also, you must submit your official transcripts and three letters of recommendation. A GRE or GMAT score is optional.
Key Highlights
• The college offers military benefits to servicemen, veterans, and their family members.• The college’s faculty boasts international work experience, having worked in more than 20 countries. The insightful global perspective which they bring to the class enriches your learning and prepares you with a global outlook.
• Here, to further reduce the costs, you can avail of financial assistance through several initiatives, including scholarships and teaching & research assistantships.
7. University of the Potomac - Falls Church (Online & On-Campus)
Program Details: The MHA program is a 36-credit curriculum. Similar to most other master's of healthcare administration programs in Virginia, the coursework mainly comprises core courses and electives.
The 27-credit core courses make you knowledgeable in healthcare systems, management of healthcare organizations, healthcare policy, law & ethics, financial management of healthcare organizations, and public health. You’ll also gain a global perspective by learning about global health systems. Further, you’ll acquire skills in the management of a physician group practice.
Additionally, you must complete three elective courses from a wide range of course options, including healthcare informatics, healthcare marketing, health insurance, organizational behavior in healthcare, and human resource management. Finally, you must complete a capstone project in healthcare systems.
Admission Requirements: This MHA in Virginia is open to students with an accredited bachelor’s degree. Also, the college requires you to submit two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose. Besides, although a GMAT or GRE score is not required, it is preferred that you submit it to strengthen your application.
Key Highlights
• If eligible, you’ll be able to transfer up to 16 credits from your previous education. This means you’ll require taking lesser credits to earn your MHA degree.• The MHA program is accredited by the MSCHE, meaning you can rest assured of receiving an MHA education that is of high standards and in tune with the evolving demands of the industry.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the Total Number of Accredited MHA programs in Virginia?
As per the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), currently there are 2 accredited Master’s in Healthcare Administration programs in Virginia.| Total MHA Programs in Virginia |
| 2 |
MHA Programs in Other Cities & States