Online Master’s in Health Administration (MSHA) Degree
Online Master’s in Health Administration (MSHA) Degree
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We offer our students the opportunity to study graduate-level health administration online. Enrolling in online classes can give you the opportunity to earn your master’s degree in a format that best suits you and your lifestyle. With online resources, support and flexibility, online learning at GCU may be the best option for you and your career goals.
Online: $600 per credit [More Info]
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
GCU has been an institutionally accredited university by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. Completing your MSHA courses from GCU can help you gain knowledge from a curriculum that has been evaluated and approved. To learn more about our accreditation, visit our university accreditation page.
1 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Medical and Health Services Managers as of May 2023, retrieved Nov. 26, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as medical and health services managers, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country, or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
2 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, retrieved Nov. 26, 2024.
Grand Canyon University’s Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA), offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, provides a foundation in advanced health administration principles. The curriculum is designed to provide you with the knowledge necessary to position yourself to serve as a middle- or upper-level manager in a healthcare organization. This degree focuses on fostering innovation, driving organizational improvement and supporting adaptability to enhance outcomes and efficiency within health organizations.
If you’re considering earning your health administration master’s degree, read through some of the most frequently asked questions to learn more about this degree and choosing this career.
Whether a master’s in healthcare administration is worth it depends on your personal goals and aspirations within the healthcare field. This degree is designed to provide a deep understanding of healthcare systems, policies and organizational strategies, which can be valuable for those seeking to contribute to the operational success of healthcare organizations. Beyond the potential to position yourself for possible career advancement, it offers knowledge and expertise that can help drive meaningful improvements in the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers have a median annual wage of $110,680 as of May 2023.1
Healthcare administration-related careers may be growing at a faster-than-average rate across the U.S. throughout the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates job growth for medical and health services managers to increase by about 29% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 160,600 jobs in the field.2
All courses in the master’s in health administration program are taught by knowledgeable faculty who are there to support you and share their experiences. This master’s program begins with an introduction course for all graduate students studying health professions. Students are also required to complete a 16-week practicum.
We also place emphasis on incorporating a Christian worldview in our course materials, as well as the value of servant leadership. As a Christian university, we aim to inspire students to find their purpose by integrating a religious model of servant leadership into the MSHA curriculum. The MSHA program incorporates a hands-on practicum at the end of the program to emphasize the conceptual, analytical and application skills required to manage in health organizations.
Course topics you will explore while completing this program include:
Contemporary healthcare delivery models
Legal and ethical healthcare principles
Healthcare policies
Healthcare economics
Research methods, analysis and utilization in healthcare
Structure, dynamics and effectiveness of an organization
Styles of leadership and leadership development
Healthcare business analysis
Graduates with a health administration master’s can be prepared to manage employees in an effective and respectful manner. Specific job titles that these graduates may go on to hold include facilities manager, medical and health services manager and postsecondary teacher.
Additionally, graduates may go into administrative positions in a variety of work settings, such as:
Hospitals
Long-term care facilities
Outpatient facilities
Physician offices
Mental health agencies
Insurance companies
Public health agencies
Other health organizations
Median annual wage for medical and health services managers as of May 20231
Take a step toward improving organizations by enrolling in our master’s in health administration.
Hospital and healthcare administrators are privileged with the opportunity and responsibility of potentially making a profound impact on a community. As an MSHA degree student, you will be taught to effectively communicate and manage employees, use critical thinking skills and respectfully recognize the diversity of your patients and populations while abiding by the health organization’s rules. Additionally, in the health administration master’s program, you can learn how to collect and analyze evidence and information that can be applied to improve patient safety, clinical processes and health outcomes.
