MHA vs. MBA: Which Graduate Degree Is Right for You?
Strong leadership fuels progress across all sectors, and the demand for capable leaders in the dynamic fields of health care and business continues to rise today.
For driven, career-minded individuals, that means opportunity is everywhere.
As you contemplate advancing your career through graduate studies, the decision between a Master of Health Administration (MHA) and a Master of Business Administration can be pivotal.
Below, we will compare these two respected and distinct degrees, analyzing key differences between their curriculum, career paths, focus areas, earning potential, and long-term professional goals.
With a clear understanding of each degree, you will be well-equipped to choose the path that best aligns with your administrative leadership goals.
Health Care Administration vs. Business Administration
The MHA and the MBA share one common goal of cultivating leadership skills, yet they address fundamentally different domains. To help clarify which path might be right for you, let’s examine the core focus of each degree.
What is an MHA?
A Master of Health Administration is an advanced degree that prepares students for leadership roles within health care organizations. Its core focus surrounds the intricacies of health care delivery systems, health policy, hospital operations, patient care quality, and regulatory compliance.
An MHA is well-suited for professionals who aim to influence health care systems through operational and administrative leadership.
What is an MBA?
A Master of Business Administration is an advanced degree designed to prepare students for leadership and management roles across various industries. Its core focus surrounds broad-based business knowledge such as finance, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship, and strategy.
An MBA is a strong choice for individuals pursuing versatile leadership roles across industries such as finance, consulting, technology, and health care, especially through specialized tracks.
MBA and MHA Curriculum: Comparing Coursework
The different focus areas of an MHA vs. an MBA are reflected in their coursework.
MHA MHA curriculum and courses, particularly those at the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, center on the business of health care. Within the curricula, students study managerial finance, health policy and law, organizational behavior in health care, legal aspects of health care, quality improvement, health economics, and health care systems and operations. Through these studies, the program places an emphasis on industry-specific case studies, internships and practicums within health care settings, and regulatory and ethical frameworks in health systems. | MBA MBA curriculum offers a broader business foundation. Core courses often cover corporate finance, marketing strategy, operations management, business analytics, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Coursework in an MBA program places an emphasis on general business theory and application, cross-industry case studies, internships across sectors, and optional concentrations such as health care management or data science. |
Careers with an MHA vs. Careers with an MBA
Both degrees equip graduates with the skills needed to succeed in the workforce, though the career paths and professional environments often differ.
As mentioned, MHA careers directly pave the path to leadership in health care-specific roles. The following job titles and work settings illustrate this direct connection to the field.
Common job titles include:
| Common work settings include:
|
MBA careers, on the other hand, can lead to a number of different career paths. With a business administration master’s degree, opportunities span a wide range of titles and settings.
Common job titles include:
| Common work settings include:
|
Long-Term Potential in Health Care Leadership and Beyond
For many MHA graduates, the long-term trajectory of their careers often leads to prominent C-suite roles within hospitals and health systems: Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). In these influential positions, graduates shape the future of health care delivery.
In contrast, MBA graduates leverage their versatile business acumen and unique career flexibility across a multitude of industries and functions, often to pivot their careers, scale companies, or pursue entrepreneurial ventures. While an MBA can certainly lead to leadership roles within health care (depending on specializations studied), more realistically, the degree leads to executive positions like CEO, CFO, or director in general business industries.
MBA vs. MHA Salary and ROI
The median salary for MHA graduates typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 or more annually, with variations based on factors such as experience level, the size and type of the employing organization, and geographic location.
The earning potential is particularly high for those who ascend to executive-level positions within hospitals, health systems, and other health care entities, leading to a high return on investment.
Starting salaries for MBA graduates often range from $90,000 to $160,000+ per year, but this figure can vary significantly based on the specific industry and the given role.
The highest ROI for a Master of Business Administration is often seen in sectors such as consulting, finance, and technology. While MBA graduates can certainly achieve high salaries in health care, their earning potential and ROI are far more variable depending on their career track.
Choosing the Right Degree for Your Career in Health Administration
To summarize and simplify your decision, consider these clear and concise points:
Choose an MHA if you:
| Choose an MBA if you
|
Still not sure which degree is your best fit? Connect with the Brooks Graduate Admissions Staff who can answer your questions about pursuing an MHA, discuss your health care passions, interests, motivations, and more.
Earn Your Health Administration Degree at Cornell Brooks
If you are considering a Master of Business Administration to leverage transferable skills for another industry, such as health care, ask yourself this: Why take an indirect route?
An MBA and an MHA are both powerful degrees, but they serve different purposes.
- An MHA offers specialized leadership in health care.
- An MBA delivers broad business leadership across sectors.
With a Master of Health Administration, you will gain targeted, industry-specific leadership training so you can make an immediate impact in health care—no specialization required.
To help discern your next step, imagine your future. Where do you see yourself in five or ten years? If you see yourself shaping health systems, driving policy, or strategically leading health care organizations, the MHA is the clearest path forward.
The Sloan Master of Health Administration at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy offers a two-year, CAHME-accredited residential MHA designed to prepare the next generation of health care leaders.
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.
