Why Earn an MHA?
Today’s organizations need leaders who understand both the business and the mission of health care. An MHA equips you with the management, analytical, and strategic skills needed to improve quality, access, efficiency, and patient outcomes across a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals and health systems
- Health care consulting firms
- Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
- Health insurance and payer organizations
- Government and public health agencies
- Ambulatory care and physician practices
- Long-term care organizations
- Health care startups and innovation ventures
The MHA is one of the most versatile graduate degrees in health care, preparing graduates for rapid career advancement and leadership opportunities.
Why Cornell Sloan?
The Cornell Sloan MHA is intentionally designed to develop leaders who can adapt, innovate, and succeed in a constantly changing health care environment.
Our graduates are known for their:
- Strategic leadership skills
- Business and financial expertise
- Deep understanding of health care systems
- Commitment to health equity and patient-centered care
- Ability to navigate industry transformation
Through interdisciplinary learning, real-world experiences, and access to Cornell’s extensive network, students gain the skills and confidence to lead across the health care ecosystem.
Sloan MHA Degrees
Residential MHA degree
64-credit residential program in Ithaca, New York. Designed for early-career professionals and recent graduates seeking immersive, full-time graduate study.
Residential MHA DegreeCombined five-year BS/MHA degree
Earn your Bachelor of Science and Master of Health Administration in just five years. Available to Cornell undergraduate students in approved majors who wish to accelerate their path into health care leadership.
Five-Year BS/MHAExecutive MHA
36.5-credit hybrid executive program. Created for experienced health care professionals seeking career advancement while continuing full-time employment.
Executive MHAWhich MHA Program is Right for You?
Feature | Residential MHA | Executive MHA |
| Duration | 2 years | 18 months |
| Designation | CAHME-Accredited | CAHME-Accredited |
| Format | Full-time, in-person in Ithaca | Hybrid format designed for working professionals |
| Experience Level | Recent graduates and early-career professionals | Mid-career and senior professionals |
| Schedule | Full-time study | Continue working while earning your degree |
| Ideal Candidate | Individuals seeking immersive academic and career development experience | Experienced professionals with 5+ years of experience seeking flexible graduate education |
| Learn more about the residential MHA | Learn more about the executive MHA |
Outcomes That Matter
Career Pathways
Recent graduates have secured positions in:
- Health system administrative fellowships
- Health care consulting
- Health system operations and leadership
- Medical group and ambulatory care administration
- Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
- Health policy organizations
- Payer organizations
- Startups and innovation ventures
Impact and ROI
The Sloan MHA Program
- CAHME-Accredited
- 70-Year Program
- Top 10 Ranking by U.S. News & World Report
- 91% of Residential MHA students find a job before or 90 days after graduation (Class of 2025)
Executive MHA
- 41% of students report salary increases BEFORE graduation.
- 31% average salary increase amount earned BEFORE graduation
Sloan has been the primary force that has shaped my professional path. The two years I spent in the program were fundamental to finding my “place” in the industry and the Sloan alum and program family is – and has consistently been – an invaluable resource that has time and again provided me with career, learning and other professional growth opportunities.
– Danielle Bangs MHA ’12, Director, Veralon
The rigorous coursework in finance and economics in health care have strengthened my understanding of organizational decision-making, operational strategy, and the downstream impacts that policy decisions can have on patients, providers, and health systems.
– Alexa Okada MHA ’26, Administrative Fellow, Cleveland Clinic
Curriculum Snapshot
The Sloan MHA combines business fundamentals with specialized health care management education.
Core Areas of Study
- Health Care Finance
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Strategic Management
- Health Policy
- Health Economics
- Leadership and Organizational Behavior
- Marketing and Communications
- Data Analytics and Decision Making
- Operations Management
- Quality Improvement
Experiential Learning
Students participate in:
- Internship experiences (residential MHA program)
- Sloan Decision Labs
- Applied consulting projects
- Case-based learning
- Leadership development experiences
- Capstone projects focused on real-world health care challenges
Professional practice is at the center of the Sloan experience. These experiences allow students to apply classroom learning directly to organizational and industry problems.
Featured Faculty
Michael Richards, MD, PhD, MPH
Faculty Director, Sloan Program in Health Administration
Health care organizations & health economics
Michael Richards’ primary research involves health care provider responses to public policies and evolving market environments. He also has considerable interests in the structure and delivery of public insurance programs as well as health care workforce issues.
Laurie Sprung, PhD, MPH
Population health & health care strategy
Laurie Sprung’s career has been focused principally in three areas: health care providers’ strategic responses to the shift toward value-based reimbursement, creation and management of population health-driven delivery organizations, and the impact of consumerism on health care.
Nick Fabrizio, PhD
Health care organizations, human resources, & strategy
Nick Fabrizio’s expertise spans both the public and private sectors. He advises companies, government agencies, and prominent health care institutions on a variety of issues, including strategic decisions, public policy, mergers and acquisitions, turnaround/crisis management, and integrating technology.
Explore additional Sloan faculty whose expertise spans health policy, population health, business strategy, health care analytics, and organizational leadership.
A Community That Supports Your Success
Hear From Sloan Students and Alumni
The Sloan Program’s curriculum has truly set the stage for the acceleration of my career and connected me to the robust alumni base of the country’s oldest master’s program in its discipline.
– David Kennedy EMHA ’23, Deputy Director of Ambulatory Care Services, NYC Health + Hospitals
While applying to programs, I prioritized those with a strong track record and a robust alumni network that supports early careerists. The Sloan Program and the Brooks School stood out for their commitment to fostering meaningful alumni engagement and building lasting connections while supported by a robust academic program.
– Keshaav Krishnaa Pothapur MHA ‘25, Administrative Manager at Boston Medical Center Health System
Admissions at a Glance
Who Should Apply?
We welcome applicants from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds.
Successful applicants often demonstrate:
- Academic excellence
- Leadership potential
- Critical thinking skills
- Commitment to health care improvement
- Ability to collaborate across diverse teams
- Integrity, empathy, and professionalism
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Unofficial transcripts for application review
- Resume
- Two academic or professional recommendations
- Statement of purpose and supporting application materials
- GRE/GMAT not required and not considered
International Applicants:
- Proof of English-language proficiency is required through TOEFL, IELTS, or an approved exemption pathway established by Cornell Graduate School.
For application questions, contact: brooksgradadmissions@cornell.edu
Accredited. Connected. Respected.
The Sloan Master of Health Administration is recognized by leading organizations in health care management education, giving students confidence that their education aligns with nationally recognized standards and industry expectations.
Our affiliations include:
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME): Accreditation by CAHME signifies that the program meets rigorous standards for preparing future health care leaders through a high-quality, competency-based curriculum.
- CAHME Mentorship Circle: As a member, the Sloan Program provides advising and mentorship to other CAHME programs pursuing continuous quality improvement or accreditation, sharing best practices and insights gained through its own success.
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA): As a member of AUPHA, Sloan is part of a national network dedicated to advancing excellence in health administration education, research, and leadership.
- National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL): Sloan’s engagement with NCHL reflects its commitment to developing the leadership competencies needed to address today’s complex health care challenges.
Together, these affiliations demonstrate Sloan’s commitment to academic excellence, continuous improvement, and preparing graduates to lead across the evolving health care landscape.
Sloan faculty and students make a difference
Brooks faculty members appointed as affiliates to the National Bureau of Economic Research
Brooks School Honors MHA Students for Leadership, Service, and Community Impact
Start Your Journey Toward Health Care Leadership
Join a community of future leaders committed to improving health care systems, organizations, and outcomes.
Have Questions?
Cornell Brooks School
Contact Address
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853