Online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
Fully Online
Access your coursework anywhere
2 Immersions
Learn and network on campus in L.A.
Flexible Pacing
Your choice of 1 or 2 courses per term
24 Months
Graduate in 2 years, even while working full time
Competitive Tuition
Get prestige without the premium
Program Snapshot
For Emerging Leaders Who Know Healthcare Is a Mission and a Business
You care about improving healthcare outcomes and building a meaningful career. You’ve been putting in the work, and now you’re ready to lead it. That’s where we come in.
We built our online Master of Healthcare Administration so you can earn your degree in as little as two years. You’ll graduate with healthcare management skills you can use immediately, a degree that employers trust and a portfolio that proves you’re ready to lead.
One of the best public universities in the nation
Nationally accredited program with 60+ years of CEPH recognition
Healthcare-specific strategy, analytics and finance expertise
Bruin network of 660,000+ global alumni
No GRE required to apply
74%
of graduates received a promotion or a new job in an average of 16 months after starting the program
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 enrollment specialist with your questions by calling (424) 443-7385.
MHA Student Success Stories
Hear From Our MHA Students & Alumni
Our students say it best: UCLA Fielding provides a supportive community, standout program quality and career-long connections.
Many of us pursue master’s programs as a way to advance and stand out. As soon as I joined this program and told people I was now a UCLA master’s student in healthcare, that really changed things. My peers looked at me differently, and my direct leadership got more involved in helping me take on new projects.”
Henry Phan, Program Manager at Providence St. Mary Medical Center, UCLA MHA student
Interacting with my peers, faculty and alumni from the program has really opened my eyes to the culture of openness and the nurturing behavior of the faculty. They really want you to grow, and they are willing to go out of their way to connect you with someone who is able to get you to where you want to be in the future.”
Jamie Pham, Internal Auditor at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, UCLA MHA alum
The Case for UCLA
Globally Recognized Excellence
UCLA's online Master of Healthcare Administration consistently ranks among the nation’s best. As the #2 public university in the nation (U.S. News & World Report), UCLA delivers top-tier education backed by the Fielding School of Public Health’s accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health.
#2 Public University in the U.S.
U.S. News & World Report
#2 Public Colleges for Veterans & #5 Overall
U.S. News & World Report
#8 School of Public Health
U.S. News & World Report
#15 World Reputation Rankings
Times Higher Education
#16 Academic Ranking of World Universities
Shanghai Rankings
Your Path to Leadership
Where Your MHA Can Take You
How the program runs, what you gain, and where grads land.
MHA Careers
Wondering what you can do with an MHA degree or considering the ROI of this degree? Here you’ll find a selection of roles and average salaries to give you a grounded view of what’s possible.
See our career outcomes page or Master of Healthcare Administration careers article for a more detailed look at your options.
Growing Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects healthcare management careers to grow in demand by 23% over the next decade.
Salary Growth
Healthcare administrators with an advanced degree saw a 15% median salary increase from 2024 to 2025. Nearly 20% of national job postings that require a master’s degree offer salaries of $160K or higher.
(Lightcast Labor Database)
Where Our Graduates Work
Cedars-Sinai
Kaiser Permanente
Stanford Health Care
United Healthcare
UCLA Health
Children’s Hospital LA
Planned Parenthood
MHA Careers
Use analytics to make data-driven decisions that improve access, cost and quality.
Lead operations with tools from management, process improvement and performance control.
Build and defend budgets and business cases using healthcare finance.
Plan ethical, effective strategies for growth and market positioning.
Speak the language of clinicians, operators and finance partners to get buy in.
Make operational and strategic decisions that align with healthcare policy and regulatory requirements.
Coach cross-functional teams with clarity and accountability.
MHA Program Format
How You’ll Learn
Most coursework is asynchronous, which means you access it on your own schedule. Weekly one-hour live sessions with faculty and classmates keep you engaged, challenged and connected with your cohort.
Everything happens online except for two on-campus immersions in Los Angeles where you can network with peers and faculty.
How You’ll Control the Pace
You choose whether to take one or two courses per term, and you can change the approach each term if needed. Our program keeps pace with your schedule so you can have the flexibility you need.
Our online MHA is designed for rising leaders. These are professionals who’ve already gained some healthcare experience and who want to take on new or expanded leadership roles.
You will thrive in the program if you:
Have at least three years of professional experience and are ready for a larger scope
Believe that strong healthcare leadership requires you to balance the technical and the interpersonal: confidence with data, practical management skills and compassion for patients
Want to learn alongside ambitious peers and leverage UCLA’s powerful alumni network
Are motivated, future-focused and grounded in the realities of healthcare management
The Fastest Way to Know If You Should Apply? Ask Us.
The online MHA is designed for healthcare professionals ready to lead, but we know readiness looks different for everyone.
A quick call now can save you time later. Our enrollment specialists can help you figure out if this program matches where you are in your career, what you need to strengthen your application, and whether the timing is right.
Call (424) 443-7385 to start the conversation.
Have Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with an MHA?
With a Master of Healthcare Administration, you can manage healthcare operations, lead quality improvement initiatives, oversee budgets and drive big-picture strategic change. Common roles include healthcare administrator, clinical operations manager, director of patient safety, compliance manager and service-line director.
UCLA MHA graduates work at leading organizations like Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, Stanford Health Care, UCLA Health and United Healthcare. Some lead departments, others manage performance improvement programs and many advance into executive roles.
The field offers job stability alongside fast industry growth: healthcare management positions are expected to grow 23% by 2034.
You can learn more about career paths and salary data on our career outcomes page.
What do I need to apply?
To be considered for admission to UCLA’s online MHA program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Three years of professional work experience in any industry
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Please contact an enrollment specialist to discuss your options if you do not meet the GPA requirement.
Our MHA admissions page has more details on these requirements, plus a list of what you’ll need to provide with your application.
How much does the program cost? Are any scholarships available?
The online MHA costs $62,700 for 66 units ($950 per unit). You'll also need to budget for books and supplies (approximately $100 per course) plus travel for two short on-campus immersions. Our MHA tuition page has a detailed breakdown of all costs.
Scholarships are available. Here are some of the options:
- New Student Scholarship: We award one $10,000 scholarship to an incoming student each term. Submit a completed scholarship application to be considered.
- Employer Partnership Discount: If you work for one of our partner organizations, you and your eligible family members can receive a 10% tuition discount through the AllCampus Workplace Network.
- UCLA Employee Benefits: UCLA Health employees qualify for the 10% AllCampus discount. All other UCLA employees qualify for a $6,000 stipend that is distributed over the course of the program.
You can also apply for external funding, if you are eligible. The best place to start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). UCLA’s school code is 001315-00.
Visit our financial aid section for details on these scholarships and more FAFSA information.
Veterans and active-duty military can find out about their funding options from the UCLA Veteran Resource Center.
What are the on-campus immersions?
The on-campus immersions are opportunities for online MHA students to network with their peers and faculty in person on the UCLA campus.
Students complete two required immersions. Each immersion lasts 3 days, with a total of 20 hours of time required. The immersions begin on a Thursday morning and end on Saturday.
Can I switch my schedule between part time (one course per term) and full time (two courses per term)?
Yes. Each quarter, students choose to take one course per term (part time) or two courses per term (full time), adjusting their schedule as they so choose.
The online MHA is designed to offer flexibility for working professionals. Taking one or two courses per term should not impact a student’s ability to continue working full time.
MHA vs. MPH vs. MBA with a healthcare focus: What's the difference?
- Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) programs are made specifically for healthcare management. An MHA curriculum covers strategy, operations, finance and analytics as they apply to health settings, such as hospitals, health systems, payers and clinics. If you want to run teams, build budgets and lead operational initiatives in healthcare organizations, the MHA is the most direct route.
- Master of Public Health (MPH) programs generally focus on population health, policy and social determinants of health. It's best for roles in government agencies, nonprofits or community health organizations.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs with healthcare concentrations or specializations offer comprehensive business skills with some healthcare context. You'll get broader business training, but less depth in healthcare-specific operations and policy.
Want to compare these programs in detail? Check out the article “What Can You Do With an MHA?” to learn more. We’ve also created a degree comparison table that covers curriculum, salary data, career options and more.
You can also call an enrollment specialist at (424) 443-7385 for a one-on-one conversation. They can walk you through your options and help you decide if the MHA fits your goals.
Do I need GRE scores to apply?
GRE scores are not required for admission to the online Master of Healthcare Administration program.
Still Reading? That's a Good Sign.
You’re doing your homework, and that’s exactly what we expect from a future UCLA student. For a complete overview of the MHA program, download our program brochure. You can also explore our curriculum page, the tuition and financial aid page and expansive frequently asked questions section.
