What is an MHA Degree and Who Should Pursue One?
Hospitals and health systems are dynamic environments where high-stakes financial, operational, and strategic decisions are made daily. As global populations grow and health care challenges become more complex, the need for skilled, forward-thinking leadership has never been more critical.
Developing the skills necessary to pursue a successful career in this field requires proper training—training that a Master of Health Administration (MHA) is intentionally designed to provide. In an MHA program, graduates are equipped to lead and address both common and nuanced challenges that arise in health care management.
Let’s take a closer look at what an MHA degree offers and how it can help you take the next step toward your career goals.
What is an MHA?
A Master of Health Administration is an advanced degree focused on the management and administration of health care systems. Within the degree, common key areas of study include:
- health care policy
- finance
- organizational leadership
- operations
- strategy
- quality assurance
Most MHA programs require two years of full-time study and are often available in flexible formats, such as residential, executive, and hybrid options, to accommodate a wide range of professional schedules.
Purpose and Value of a Master of Health Administration
The purpose of an MHA is straightforward: to prepare professionals for leadership and management roles within the health care sector. The degree equips students with essential business, analytical, and communication skills tailored specifically to health care environments.
The degree’s value lies in its relevance. Today’s health care landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by an aging population, technological innovation, policy changes, and increasing demand for accessible and high-quality care. MHA graduates are not only uniquely positioned to navigate these challenges and changes but also to lead through them with confidence.
So, how do you know if an MHA is a worthwhile academic commitment when factoring in your background and goals?
Who Should Consider a Health Administration Master’s Degree?
An MHA degree is a versatile credential, valuable for professionals from diverse backgrounds—whether you’re looking to change careers, transition into the health care industry, or gain targeted training for a specific role.
Professionals Who Want to Transition to a Career in Health Administration
Given the size and complexity of the health care industry, it’s easy to assume that entering the field is challenging. However, professionals from business, IT, finance, and public health regularly transition into health administration with the support of an MHA. This degree bridges the knowledge gap for those without prior health care experience, enabling graduates to leverage their transferable skills and unlock opportunities in a mission-driven industry.
Health Care Professionals Who Want to Pursue Hospital Management or Other Types of Leadership in the Health Care Industry
For those with prior experience in the field who aim to pursue leadership in the health care industry, an MHA is still the ideal path forward. Nurses, clinicians, or medical technologists looking to move into supervisory, operational, or executive roles use the MHA degree to build leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
In this case, the degree program bridges the gap between clinical expertise and administrative leadership, providing the tools to manage teams, drive system improvements, and influence policy. It also opens the door to higher-impact roles and long-term career growth.
Preparing for Health Care Management Jobs with an MHA
With a health administration master’s degree, you will be equipped for a variety of health care management jobs. Some of the most common positions include:
- Hospital administrator
- Health care consultant
- Health practice manager
- Health services manager
Graduates often work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. While salaries vary based on work environment, the median annual wage for medical and health services managers in 2024 was $117,960. Additionally, the job outlook in the field is stronger than average, with a projected growth of 29% over the next decade. This blend of competitive pay and high demand makes an MHA an attractive option for those seeking career stability and advancement opportunities.
Is a Master’s in Health Care Administration Right for You?
If you are a driven, passionate, and mission-driven individual with an interest in shaping the future of health care through administrative means, consider reflecting on these questions to help determine whether a Master’s in Health Administration is right for you:
- Do you want to lead or manage in health care?
- Are you interested in combining business with social impact?
- Are you ready for a graduate-level commitment?
If you’ve answered “yes” to even one of these questions, an MHA is worth exploring. It could be the key to unlocking your leadership potential and propelling you into an impactful role in a universally critical field.
The CAHME Accredited MHA Program at Cornell Brooks
With a Master of Health Administration, you will do more than enter the field of health care, you will shape it. With the proper education and training, you can lead, manage, or transition into impactful roles within an industry that combines business and social impact. If you are interested in health care leadership, an MHA is a powerful step that can propel your career forward.
At the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy our two-year Sloan Residential MHA program is designed to train the next generation of health care leaders to address the most pressing challenges in health care administration and policy.
Ranked #8 by U.S. News and World Report, our CAHME-accredited program combines flexible course specializations based on career interests with practical learning opportunities like summer internships and a transformative capstone project.
No matter where you are in your decision-making process, whether you’re just starting to explore or actively considering your options, learning more about the MHA will bring you one step closer to a future in health care leadership.
To learn more about an MHA and the path that it paves, explore our free guide—Your Path to Health Care Leadership: The Master of Health Administration (MHA) Degree.
Master of Health Administration (MHA):
Lead at the intersection of business and health care in one of the nation’s most respected health management programs.
