Keeping your job while earning a graduate degree depends less on the word “online” than on how each week actually runs. These online healthcare administration master’s programs can fit working adults, but the strongest match depends on course timing, transfer rules, and how much work you can carry at once.
Key Takeaways
- self-paced and part-time formats offer the most room around a fixed work schedule.
- The list includes MHA, MBA, MPH, and health systems degrees, so career focus matters as much as pacing.
- Some programs include campus meetings, field work, or several credentials, which can add time and travel.
The University of Minnesota option requires a few campus meetings, which makes it the notable travel exception.
Online Healthcare Administration Master’s Programs for Working Adults
The programs below cover several routes into healthcare leadership. An MHA centers the credential on healthcare administration. An MBA adds a broader business core, while an MPH places management in a public health setting. The best fit depends on the role you want and the study load your work calendar can support.
| School And Program | Verified Schedule Feature | Main Credential Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Benedictine University — Dual Master of Public Health / Master of Science in Management & Organizational Behavior | self-paced online courses | Public health and organizational management |
| Benedictine University — Master of Public Health / Health Management & Policy | self-paced online courses | Public health policy and management |
| Ohio University — Master of Business Administration / Healthcare | Working-adult online model | Business administration with a healthcare focus |
| Ohio University — Master of Health Administration | Part-time plan with one course at a time | Healthcare administration |
| George Mason University — Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management | Part-time or full-time enrollment | Health systems management |
| George Mason University — Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management / Executive Concentration | Part-time or full-time enrollment | Executive health systems leadership |
| George Mason University — Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management / Health Care Quality | Part-time or full-time enrollment | Healthcare quality management |
| Georgetown University — Master of Science in Health Systems Administration | Part-time structure | Health systems administration |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Executive Master of Healthcare Administration | Remote self-paced work with a few campus meetings | Executive healthcare administration |
GetEducated's Picks
- Fisher College Master of Business Administration / Healthcare Administration
- Grand Canyon University Master of Business Administration / Health Systems Management
- Liberty University Master of Arts in Medical Sciences - Grant Writing & Administration
1. Benedictine University — Dual Master of Public Health / Master of Science in Management & Organizational Behavior
Benedictine University states that its online courses are self-paced, so students complete assigned work around their schedules rather than attending a regular class meeting. This dual degree stands apart because it joins public health study with organizational behavior and management. That may suit a student pursuing leadership across healthcare teams or public health organizations, but two credentials can bring more requirements than a single master’s. Review the total credits, shared courses, capstones, field work, and full program cost before applying.2. Benedictine University — Master of Public Health / Health Management & Policy
The same self-paced course model makes Benedictine’s Master of Public Health / Health Management & Policy workable for adults who cannot promise a fixed evening to class. Unlike the dual degree above, this option keeps its stated focus on health management and policy within an MPH. That distinction matters for careers involving population health, public programs, or policy work. Compare the required field experience, course sequence, transfer policy, and whether field work can be completed through your current employer.
3. Ohio University — Master of Business Administration / Healthcare
Ohio University documents an online graduate model built around working professionals. The Master of Business Administration / Healthcare is the broad business option in this group, pairing an MBA credential with a healthcare focus rather than awarding an MHA. It may fit someone who wants finance, operations, and management skills that also apply outside healthcare. Examine how many courses belong to the healthcare focus, whether classes run one at a time, and what professional experience the admission review expects.
4. Ohio University — Master of Health Administration
Ohio University reports that its Master of Health Administration requires 36 credits and follows a two-year, part-time plan in which students focus on one course at a time. That clear sequence can reduce the strain of balancing several graduate subjects in the same week. Ohio also lists a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission. Applicants should review prerequisite expectations, field experience, transfer limits, and the weekly assignment pattern.
5. George Mason University — Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management
George Mason University allows students in Health Systems Management to study part time or full time, and graduate students may take up to six years to complete the master’s program. That long completion window can help if work demands force a lighter load or temporary pause. The degree’s stated focus is health systems management, making it more direct than a general MBA for hospital or health network administration. Review live class expectations, internship or field requirements, and the effect of part-time enrollment on total cost and financial aid.6. George Mason University — Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management / Executive Concentration
The concentration label makes this version most relevant to applicants comparing executive leadership study with a standard MHA curriculum. It should not be treated as interchangeable with the base degree. Read the admission rules for management experience, identify which courses are unique to the concentration, and determine whether any executive activities require attendance at a set time or place. Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management / Executive Concentration
7. George Mason University — Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management / Health Care Quality
For students focused on quality operations, George Mason University offers the Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management / Health Care Quality. Part-time and full-time enrollment make its schedule workable for employed students, while the extended completion limit provides room for a slower pace. The key question is whether the quality concentration supports the type of work you want, such as process review, patient safety, or quality management. Compare concentration courses, field assignments, transfer rules, and any group work that requires scheduled attendance.
8. Georgetown University — Master of Science in Health Systems Administration
Georgetown University describes its Master of Science in Health Systems Administration as a part-time, 42-credit program completed in 21 months. That fixed structure offers less open-ended pacing than George Mason’s model, but it gives working students a clear finish line. The MS title also distinguishes it from the MHA, MBA, and MPH choices on this page. Review the term calendar, live attendance, field experience, transfer policy, and how breaks between terms line up with busy periods at work.
9. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities combines remote, self-paced coursework with a few required meetings at the Twin Cities campus. It is best considered by experienced professionals who can plan for limited travel. Before committing, compare meeting dates, travel and lodging costs, employer leave rules, executive-level admission expectations, and whether the campus sessions conflict with seasonal work demands.
How These Programs Were Selected
GetEducated editors reviewed master’s-level healthcare administration options in the site’s directory of online programs from accredited schools. A program became eligible when its published format showed a clear working-adult scheduling feature: part-time enrollment, self-paced coursework, flexible pacing, evening access, or short course terms. Programs whose scheduling status could not be verified were excluded.
This is an editorial shortlist, not a score-based ranking. The final group favors programs that show useful differences in pace and credential type, including MHA, MBA, MPH, MS, dual-degree, and executive study. Every listed option meets the schedule requirement, though the University of Minnesota program also requires a few campus meetings.
The review also considered whether each program could help a reader make a real comparison rather than presenting several nearly identical choices. The healthcare administration program selection guide explains how degree focus, delivery, and career plans affect that decision.
- Included: Programs with a published working-adult format and a healthcare administration or closely connected management focus.
- Excluded: Programs with no clear proof of part-time, self-paced, evening, flexible, or short-term study.
- Not ranked: School order does not claim that one option is better than another.
What To Compare Before Enrolling
Pacing labels do not tell the whole story. Ohio University’s MHA places students in one course at a time, while an accelerated online MHA described on another program’s official page uses 30 credit hours across 10 courses, seven-week terms, and permits up to two courses at once. The faster program can be completed in as few as 12 months, but carrying two short courses may produce a heavier week than a longer part-time plan.
Compare these items on the official academic calendar and program page:
- Whether coursework is self-paced or includes required live meetings
- How many courses students normally take together
- Campus visits, internships, practicums, and group projects
- Transfer limits and credit for prior learning
- Total program cost, including mandatory fees and travel
Cost comparisons should use the whole degree rather than an advertised course rate. GetEducated’s affordability report for healthcare management master’s programs compares total program cost including all mandatory fees. Use that report alongside each school’s current credit requirements, fee list, and residency rules. For policies that could shorten the degree, see the guide to MHA transfer credit.
Credential focus should follow the job goal. An MHA or health systems MS offers the most direct title for healthcare administration, an MBA keeps the business credential broad, and an MPH connects management to public health. Accreditation may also matter to employers or doctoral programs, so compare institutional and programmatic review through this healthcare administration accreditation overview.
The career field offers a strong reason to make a careful choice, but a degree alone does not guarantee a management job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical and health services managers earned a median annual wage of $123,860 in May 2025. It also projects 24% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 62,300 openings each year during that period. Experience, employer type, and location still shape access to those roles.
Find Your Online Healthcare Degree
Narrow 520 accredited online Healthcare degree programs to find the perfect fit.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Administration
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Administration
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Economics & Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Which degree is best for hospital administration?
An MHA or health systems administration MS offers the most direct academic focus. An MBA may fit someone who wants broader business training, while an MPH may suit work involving public programs, policy, or population health.
Can I complete an MHA while working full time?
Yes, if the course load and attendance rules match your work calendar. The programs above qualify through part-time study, self-paced work, flexible pacing, or another documented working-adult format.
Are all online healthcare administration programs self-paced?
No. Benedictine and the University of Minnesota publish self-paced components, but online programs may still use live classes, group meetings, field work, or campus sessions.
Do online MHA programs require campus visits?
Some do. The University of Minnesota executive program requires a few meetings at its Twin Cities campus. Include travel time and cost when comparing it with programs that do not require campus attendance.
Is an MBA or MHA better for healthcare leadership?
An MHA is more specialized in healthcare administration. An MBA provides broader business study that may transfer more easily across industries. Your target role should decide which tradeoff makes sense.
How many classes should a working adult take at once?
A one-course sequence offers more focus, while an accelerated plan may place several demands into a short term. Compare assignment deadlines, team projects, and expected weekly study before accepting the fastest schedule.
Can transfer credit shorten an online MHA?
Possibly, but policies differ by school and program. Ask for a written transfer evaluation before enrolling, and find out whether transferred work changes the course sequence or only reduces electives.
Do executive healthcare administration programs require work experience?
Executive and professional programs often target established workers, but admission rules are not identical. Review the required type and length of experience, not just whether the school asks for a résumé.
Does a flexible schedule mean there are no deadlines?
No. Self-paced courses usually remove regular class meetings, not due dates. Students still follow weekly assignments, exams, group tasks, and term calendars.