Healthcare administrators make decisions that can improve health outcomes and facilitate the lifesaving work of doctors and nurses. From planning budgets to inspiring teams on the frontlines, these leaders address some of the most urgent challenges facing communities, hospitals, medical practices, biopharmaceutical companies and payer organizations.
To maximize their impact, today’s administrators must be able to apply best practices and organizational principles to the decisions and operations that affect countless lives.
If you’re interested in advancing into a leadership role or honing your quantitative skills, UCLA’s online Master of Healthcare Administration is designed to help reach your goals with effective, value-based care strategies that are guided by both data and compassion.
INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
The online MHA program equips graduates with the specific knowledge and skills that are in highest demand for administrative roles in healthcare, preparing them to build talented teams, manage operations and guide analytical decision making.
BOOST YOUR EXPERTISE THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH REAL ORGANIZATIONS
Featuring two on-campus immersions and a capstone project, the curriculum provides networking opportunities and real-world experience. During the capstone project, you’ll work with a healthcare organization to implement and evaluate solutions to organizational or management problems.
PURSUE YOUR MASTER’S DEGREE WITHOUT PAUSING YOUR CAREER
This flexible program offers most course content asynchronously, with the freedom to adjust the number of courses you take each quarter. Whether you enroll in one course or two, you can strike an ideal balance between full-time professional commitments and progress toward your degree.
For more details about UCLA’s online MHA degree, download a brochure.
UCLA Online Master of Healthcare Administration Fast Facts
Benefit from the professional development and networking opportunities offered by the No. 1-ranked public university in the U.S.
Participate in primarily virtual coursework, with two immersive experiences on UCLA’s campus and around Los Angeles.
Multiple chances to start the program each year. The upcoming start date for the Winter 2025 term is January 6, 2025 .
Earn your master’s degree in as little as two years while working full time.
Customize your study schedule by choosing one or two courses per term, with the option to adjust as needed.
Admitted students must have a minimum of three years of professional work experience in any industry.
No GRE required for admission.
Tuition: $925 per unit; $61,050 total program tuition
“Affordable, high-quality healthcare and an equitable healthcare system are only possible if those leading and operating the delivery system have the necessary skills to develop and operate organizations aligned with that vision. The UCLA Fielding School’s new MHA program will play a critical role in educating tomorrow’s delivery system leaders. The online nature of the program will enhance accessibility by potential students, thereby responding to the urgent need for a master’s-prepared leadership workforce.”
Thomas Priselac
President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System
Online MHA Program Overview
Students in the online Master of Healthcare Administration program prepare for leadership roles where they can achieve improved health outcomes and more efficient operations. The MHA builds the skills that managers and executives need to integrate analytics into their decision making, maintain a budget and communicate effectively with stakeholders throughout their organizations. Professionals can take advantage of this online program’s flexibility to continue working full time while preparing to advance their careers in a rapidly growing field.
The online MHA program leverages the expertise of faculty at UCLA, the university ranked No. 1 among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report. Courses are taught by groundbreaking researchers and experienced professionals in both healthcare and management. Faculty members in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health contribute to worldwide efforts that improve the well-being of communities, and the school’s research centers are dedicated to pioneering multidisciplinary work that fuels innovation in areas like healthcare management, health policy, health equity, healthy climate solutions, and public health and disasters. Since 1960, the Fielding School of Public Health has held accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), a mark of continued excellence for training in the field.
Request Brochure
Fill out the fields below to download a program brochure and request more information about the online Master of Healthcare Administration from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. You can also contact a program representative with your questions by calling toll-free at (877) 819-5033.
Online Master of Healthcare Administration Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission to the online MHA program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California
- Cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0. (Please contact a program representative to discuss your eligibility if you do not meet this requirement)
- Three years of professional work experience in any industry
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed online application
- Application fee: $135 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; $140 for all other applicants
- Official copies of transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- Statement of purpose
- Personal statement
- Professional résumé showing at least three years of professional work experience
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL scores (for international applicants only)
See our admissions page for details on the required application materials and process.
Visit the admissions pageOnline MHA Curriculum
The online MHA curriculum is specifically designed to address healthcare administration roles. MHA faculty members base their courses on cutting-edge research and real-world experience. You’ll learn to draw actionable insights from data, facilitate value-based care initiatives and support essential business functions like management, finance, strategic marketing and data analytics.
The master’s in healthcare administration benefits current and aspiring healthcare leaders, providing them with the knowledge to advance their careers. This specialized curriculum covers concepts such as:
- How U.S. health services systems are organized and financed
- Effective approaches to strategically market healthcare services and products
- Discovering actionable insights through analytics and statistical methods
- Ethical and legal consideration for the healthcare industry, including privacy
- Management theory for improving performance in healthcare organizations
- Control systems for operations, performance management and service quality
- Public health measures to protect the well-being of populations and stop the spread of disease
The online healthcare administration master’s program features a combination of asynchronous learning to fit into your busy schedule and weekly, one-hour live sessions with your peers and instructors. You’ll gain hands-on experience and expand your professional network through two on-campus immersions and a capstone field project. During this project, students consult with healthcare organizations to solve real organizational or managerial problems.
For more details, see our curriculum page.
Visit the curriculum pageHealthcare Administration Careers
Demand for healthcare leaders is growing fast in the U.S. due to an aging population, private and public health system challenges and advances in health information technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth in healthcare administration jobs is projected at 28% between 2021 and 2031, and the median healthcare administrator salary for professionals with a master’s degree is $101,340.
The online MHA prepares students to excel in a variety of management and executive positions, including:
- Healthcare administrator
- Clinical director/supervisor
- Quality and safety manager
- Risk and compliance manager
- C-suite executive
- Clinical finance manager
- Clinical operations manager
- Data analyst
- Healthcare consultant
- Biopharmaceutical manager
