The Best Master's in Healthcare Administration Programs for 2026

Michigan's School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, offers the Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA): a two-year, 60-credit-hour residential degree with a required 10-12 week internship between the first and second years, most of them paid. Year one runs a two-semester Health Services Systems sequence covering system organization, cost, and quality; the degree closes with an Integrated Learning Experience, a capstone where student teams take on a real consulting engagement for an outside client organization.

Michigan posts a 93% graduation rate against a 16% admit rate, with a 95.6 Hakia Score, tied with Johns Hopkins. The tuition split is the widest among the public programs here: $18,516 in-state versus $62,749 out-of-state, a $44,233 annual gap that compounds to roughly $88,466 over the two-year degree. The school reports over 40% of admitted students receive a departmental scholarship, but most cover 50% of tuition or less, so nonresidents should budget for close to the full spread rather than assume aid closes it. National BLS data puts median pay for medical and health services managers at $123,860 a year, unchanged by which of these schools a graduate attends.

Columbia's Department of Health Policy and Management, part of the Mailman School of Public Health, runs its MHA in three separate tracks under one CAHME-accredited curriculum: Full-Time, Part-Time, and an Executive Program. Admissions are format-specific: the full-time track does not require prior work experience, the part-time track requires one year of related healthcare experience, and the executive track requires five. All three share a core curriculum built around Managerial and Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management, Accounting and Budgeting, Healthcare Finance, Marketing, Health IT, Quality, and HR Management, mapped to 17 standardized competencies.

Columbia earns a Hakia Score of 95.5, good for #5 in this ranking, on the strength of a 96% graduation rate against a 4% admit rate, one of the tightest admission funnels in health administration. Tuition runs $66,722 a year, the same for in-state and out-of-state students since Columbia is private; that is about 54% of the $123,860 national median salary BLS reports for medical and health services managers. The program's own tracked outcomes back up the selectivity: 96% of full-time students were employed within three months of graduation, and alumni surveys put 98% of graduates across all three formats still employed three to five years out. This fits an applicant who already knows which format matches their career stage, since the executive and part-time tracks require applicants to be employed as a condition of admission.

USC Price delivers its MHA on campus in Los Angeles, built around a required 1,000-hour residency in which students work under a senior-level manager before graduating. The program's own page points to Southern California's health care density, citing 225 hospitals, 100+ health insurance plans, and 900+ advanced medical technology companies in the region, as the practical backdrop for a curriculum spanning policy, finance, operations, and health IT. USC states the MHA is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Management Education.

USC's Hakia Score of 95.1 ranks it #6 nationally, built on a 92% graduation rate and a 10% admit rate, looser than Columbia's 4% but still competitive. Tuition is $69,904 a year, the highest sticker price among this group of four and flat for in-state and out-of-state students since USC is private; that is roughly 56% of the $123,860 national median salary BLS reports for medical and health services managers. USC's 2024 employment data shows 97% of MHA graduates employed, in a PhD program, or otherwise continuing education within a year, split 49% private sector and 39% nonprofit. The program's own page also cites FREEOPP third-party estimates of $89,236 in earnings one year after completion, climbing to $143,108 after ten, for a FREEOPP-calculated return on investment of $1,040,857; that figure comes from USC's cited source, not from IPEDS or BLS data.

Harvard's Master in Health Care Management (MHCM) is not a general-audience MHA: the program requires applicants to already hold an MD, DO, DMD, or DDS (or international equivalent) and to be in a managerial role, such as a medical director, clinical executive, or physician-hospital leader. It runs low-residency over two years: three weeks on campus each summer plus five four-day weekends during the academic year, roughly 35 campus days a year, alongside an average of 10 to 15 hours a week of off-campus project work while students keep their jobs. The 17-course curriculum covers organizational behavior, financial management, cost accounting, competitive strategy, operations, and negotiation, and Harvard notes the program is accredited by ACCME to award continuing medical education credit, up to 99.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, for physician participants.

Harvard posts a Hakia Score of 95, good for #7 in this ranking, driven by a 98% graduation rate, the highest in this ranking programs here, against a 4% admit rate matching Columbia's. Tuition is $56,550 a year, the lowest of this group and flat regardless of state residency since Harvard is private; over the stated two-year program that totals roughly $113,100, about 91% of the $123,860 national median salary BLS reports for medical and health services managers. Because eligibility is restricted to licensed physicians and dentists already in leadership, this program is not an option for most prospective health administration students, but for that specific audience it converts clinical authority into a formal management credential without leaving a job.

Cornell's Sloan Program in Health Administration, housed in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy on the Ithaca campus, offers three distinct paths to the MHA: a 64-credit-hour Residential MHA for early-career students, a combined five-year BS/MHA for current Cornell undergraduates in specified majors, and a 36.5-credit-hour Executive MHA delivered virtually for experienced healthcare professionals. The curriculum builds finance, accounting, and marketing skills on top of health policy and systems coursework, aimed at graduates who work across hospitals, long-term care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies.

Cornell's Hakia Score of 95 lands it at #8 in this ranking, with a 95% graduation rate against a 9% admit rate, the least selective admit rate among the four programs profiled here though still far from open enrollment. Tuition is $68,380 a year, flat for in-state and out-of-state students since Cornell is private, and second only to USC's $69,904 in this ranking; that is roughly 55% of the $123,860 national median salary BLS reports for medical and health services managers. The three-track structure widens who the program fits: a Cornell undergraduate can stack the MHA onto a bachelor's degree in five years, while a working professional can complete the Executive MHA's shorter 36.5-credit load without relocating to Ithaca.

The University of Washington's Master of Health Administration, housed in the School of Public Health, targets early-career professionals moving into health care leadership. The program's own page points graduates toward hospitals, managed care organizations, clinics, public and community health agencies, consulting firms, government and legislative offices, and long-term care organizations, in both urban and rural settings. Applicants need an undergraduate degree, and the program favors candidates who already have some work experience in health care or health services.

UW graduates 85% of its MHA students and admits 39%, roughly two of every five applicants, a moderately selective bar. In-state tuition runs $11,869 against $42,105 out-of-state, a $30,236 gap that makes Washington residency worth securing before enrolling. That in-state price is a fraction of what private options like Yale ($67,250) or Boston University ($66,670) charge, with no residency discount available at either. Its Hakia Score of 94.6 ranks it 9th nationally among healthcare administration master's programs, built on graduation outcomes and cost together. It fits an in-state applicant early in their career who wants a leadership credential without private-school tuition. Medical and Health Services Managers earn a national median of $123,860 a year, per BLS.

Boston University's healthcare management track is a 28-unit functional certificate embedded in the School of Public Health's MPH, not a standalone MHA, and the school reports CAHME accreditation for it, from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. The curriculum runs from Nonprofit Healthcare Accounting and Healthcare Finance to HR Management in Public Health, Healthcare Delivery Systems, Digital Disruption in Health, and Strategic Management of Healthcare Organizations, plus a choice between Operations Management in Healthcare and Lean Management in Healthcare. Students finish with an Integrative Learning Experience, applying research findings to an actual healthcare delivery problem in their final term.

BU graduates 89% of students in this track and admits just 11% of applicants, close to one in nine, the second-tightest admit rate on this list after Yale. Tuition is flat at $66,670 regardless of home state, since BU is private; there's no in-state discount the way there is at UW ($11,869) or UGA ($10,034). That flat rate costs $54,801 more than UW's in-state tuition and $56,636 more than UGA's. Its Hakia Score of 94.2 ranks it 10th nationally, reflecting strong completion and selectivity even at that price point. It suits applicants who want the broader MPH credential with a CAHME-recognized management specialization and access to Boston's hospital and consulting market. Medical and Health Services Managers earn a national median of $123,860 a year, per BLS.

Yale's MPH in Health Care Management is a joint program between the Yale School of Public Health and the Yale School of Management, built around 20 total course units. Students take MPH core courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, and health policy alongside SOM courses like Accounting, Competitive Strategy, Negotiations, and Managing Marketing, plus foundational Health Policy, Finance and Management courses taught by Professor Howard Forman. The program's own page describes Yale SOM as a "top 10 ranked business school" and highlights the program's Colloquium in Healthcare Leadership, career center access, and on-campus recruiting normally reserved for business school students.

Yale posts a 96% graduation rate, among the highest here programs profiled here, against a 4% admit rate, roughly one seat for every 25 applicants and far tighter than UW's 39% or UGA's 38%. Tuition is flat at $67,250, $580 above BU's $66,670 and more than six and a half times UGA's $10,034 in-state rate, with no residency discount since Yale is private. Its Hakia Score of 94.1 ranks it 11th nationally, a fraction below BU and UW despite the higher graduation rate, reflecting the tradeoff between extreme selectivity and program scale. It fits an applicant competing at the top of the applicant pool who wants a joint public health and business credential and can absorb the full $67,250 price tag.

The University of Georgia's MHA sits in the College of Public Health's Department of Health Policy and Management, and the program reports it holds the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education's full four-year accreditation. It's a 54-credit-hour, two-year cohort program: year one covers the U.S. Healthcare Delivery System, Fundamentals of Health Care Accounting, Health Informatics, and Finance for Health Administration, plus a required summer internship; year two adds HR Management in Healthcare, Organizational Behavior, Quality Improvement, and Management and Leadership in Ambulatory Care, ending in a capstone project. The program requires no GRE or GMAT scores for admission.

UGA graduates 90% of MHA students and admits 38%, nearly identical selectivity to UW's 39%. In-state tuition is $10,034 against $30,272 out-of-state, a $20,238 gap, and that in-state number is among the lowest here schools profiled here, undercutting UW's $11,869 by $1,835 and running $57,216 below Yale's $67,250. Its Hakia Score of 93.4 ranks it 12th nationally. The program's own page lists fellowship placements at Geisinger, Kaiser Permanente, Emory Healthcare, and Mount Sinai, and employers including Wellstar Health System, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Deloitte. It fits an in-state applicant who wants CAHME accreditation and documented health-system placements at close to the lowest tuition on this list.

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, nonprofit institution in Pittsburgh, PA. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #13 of the 25 analyzed here with a 93.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.3 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 94% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. Carnegie Mellon University admits 12% of applicants, more selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Carnegie Mellon University charges $64,596 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $129,192 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Dartmouth College is a private, nonprofit institution in Hanover, NH. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #14 of the 25 analyzed here with a 93.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.4 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 96% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. Dartmouth College admits 5% of applicants, more selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Dartmouth College charges $66,123 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $132,246 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

New York University is a private, nonprofit institution in New York, NY. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #15 of the 25 analyzed here with a 93.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.4 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 88% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. New York University admits 9% of applicants, more selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, New York University charges $62,796 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $125,592 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Based in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program lands at #16 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 92.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs, 3.9 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 91% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. Boston College admits 16% of applicants, more selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Boston College charges $69,400 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $138,800 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Columbus, OH. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #17 of the 25 analyzed here with a 92.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 88% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Ohio State University-Main Campus charges $12,180 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $38,958 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $24,360 in tuition for residents, against $77,916 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

George Washington University is a private, nonprofit institution in Washington, DC. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #18 of the 25 analyzed here with a 92.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.4 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. George Washington University admits 47% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, George Washington University charges $67,420 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $134,840 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program lands at #19 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 92.1 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.6 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 83% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Purdue University-Main Campus admits 50% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Purdue University-Main Campus charges $9,718 a year in-state, roughly 2.9x the $28,520 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $19,436 in tuition for residents, against $57,040 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.

California State University-Long Beach is a public institution in Long Beach, CA. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #20 of the 25 analyzed here with a 92.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.7 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 69% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. California State University-Long Beach admits 46% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, California State University-Long Beach charges $6,084 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $18,684 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $12,168 in tuition for residents, against $37,368 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

University of South Florida is a public institution in Tampa, FL. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #21 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 77% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of South Florida admits 43% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of South Florida charges $4,559 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $15,473 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $9,118 in tuition for residents, against $30,946 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution in Pittsburgh, PA. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #22 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 85% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus admits 58% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus charges $20,556 a year in-state, versus $40,060 for out-of-state students. Over two years that is about $41,112 in tuition for residents, against $80,120 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.

Based in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program lands at #23 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 91.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.2 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of California-San Diego admits 27% of applicants, less selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of California-San Diego charges $12,260 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $44,148 out-of-state rate. Over two years that is about $24,520 in tuition for residents, against $88,296 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Vanderbilt University is a private, nonprofit institution in Nashville, TN. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program ranks #24 of the 25 analyzed here with a 91.5 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.2 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 94% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. Vanderbilt University admits 6% of applicants, more selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Vanderbilt University charges $65,008 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $130,016 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Master's in Healthcare Administration program lands at #25 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 91.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 93.6 group average, in the lower third of the 25 ranked programs, 5.7 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of Miami admits 19% of applicants, more selective than the 23% average for the group. That is more open than the 4% rate at Columbia University in the City of New York, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, University of Miami charges $60,720 a year in-state. Over two years that totals about $121,440 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,904 at University of Southern California. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $123,860 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.