Online MHA Programs in Florida: Top FL Schools
While there are many rewarding careers in healthcare managementfor Florida residents, you will need a master’s degree to get to the highest levels. The most popular graduate degree is a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), and online MHA degree programs make this career path more accessible. In this guide, we show you the best schools in Florida, answer commonly asked questions from prospective students just like you, and explore popular careers you may be able to pursue after graduation. Read on below to find out all you’ll need.
Profiling Three of Florida’s Top MHA Programs
Most MHA programs in Florida offer either all or most of their classes on campus. Students may have the option to take a few required classes online, but they should expect the bulk of their learning to occur in person. In addition, many programs include internships, such as the MHA program at the University of South Florida.
The only fully online MHA program in Florida that’s also accredited by CAHME is the Executive MHA program from the University of Central Florida. This fully online program is designed for professionals already working in the healthcare industry. There’s also another online MHA program in Florida that’s accredited, this one by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—the Online Executive Master of Health Administration Program at Florida Atlantic University.
Coursework in fully online asynchronous programs mean that students can “attend” class at any time that’s most convenient for them. If students want to take some classes on campus, hybrid learning models are also available. Take a closer look at these spotlighted schools and learn about ideal program features below.
The University of West Florida
The University of West Florida offers an online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Program designed for early-to-mid career healthcare professionals. The 42-credit hour program includes courses on administration, finance, health economics, human resources, systems operation, quality improvement and organizational behavior. You’ll learn evidence-based strategies and applied skills to improve healthcare operations, quality of care, affordability, and access. The program is flexible with multiple start dates and options for full-time or part-time study so you can easily fit education into your life. The program can be completed in approximately 27 months. Financial aid and tuition waivers are available for eligible students, including special rates for Alabama residents and military personnel.
Duration: 24 months
Mode: Online
Cost: $384.60 per credit hour for in-state, $1,044.24 per credit hour for out-of-state
Admissions Requirements:
- Undergraduate major GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution
- Most students are employed and continue to work in healthcare as they complete the program
Curriculum:
- Lead organizations, foster teamwork, and implement strategic solutions
- Apply ethical principles and leadership theories in healthcare settings
- Evaluate healthcare systems and recommend quality improvements
- Apply financial methodologies and stay current with market trends
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida offers an Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) designed for working healthcare professionals. The primarily online program consists of 30 credit hours. The EMHA program incorporates real-world healthcare case studies and projects that require active problem-solving and decision-making. This approach enables you to implement innovative solutions effectively within your organization, preparing them to lead dynamically in the fast-evolving healthcare sector. Application deadlines are August 1 for Fall and December 15 for Spring.
Duration: Less than 2 years
Mode: Online
Cost: $14805.90 for Florida residents; $31328.10 for non-Florida residents
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Three years of healthcare experience
- Resume
- Letter of intent
- Two recommendation letters
Curriculum:
- Explore healthcare policy, management, ethics, and strategic planning.
- Develop critical-thinking skills for effective leadership in healthcare.
- Apply knowledge through real-world case studies and practical projects.
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University offers a Master of Health Administration (MHA) Program with three options: traditional, executive, and online. The program focuses on empowering students with relevant education, engaging them in solving real-world problems, and providing experiential learning. The FAU MHA Programs are built around three key pillars: Empower students with relevant education; Engage students to solve real business and societal problems; and provide experience through knowledge transfer with faculty and the business community. The traditional program is on-campus with a self-paced schedule, while the executive and online programs can be completed in 15 months without requiring GMAT/GRE scores. These programs are designed for individuals with diverse undergraduate backgrounds and healthcare experience.
Duration: 15 months
Mode: Available online or on campus
Cost: $371.82 for Florida residents; $1,026.81 for non-Florida residents
Admissions Requirements:
- 4 years of healthcare experience
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher
- GMAT/GRE required for traditional program
Curriculum:
- Explore core healthcare concepts, including finance, policy, law, and organizational behavior
- Develop leadership skills through a dedicated bootcamp and practical application
- Examine diverse healthcare systems and management principles
- Analyze real-world case studies and apply research methods to healthcare challenges
Frequently Asked Questions from Florida MHA Students
Many prospective students share similar concerns about program costs and financial aid, time to degree completion, the specific knowledge and skills gained, and admission requirements. The following FAQs address these common questions, providing detailed information on tuition and financial assistance, program length, curriculum highlights, and application procedures. Keep reading to find the answers you need.
What knowledge and skills do you learn in MHA programs in Florida?
Many of the early MHA classes cover foundational business concepts, such as marketing, finance, and accounting, as students in Florida MHA programs typically already have business experience but lack formal instruction. Students also take high-level healthcare courses that focus on strategic thinking. At the University of West Florida, this includes classes such as healthcare law, nursing informatics, healthcare human resources, and healthcare data analysis. Many programs also have a culminating requirement that allows students to demonstrate their understanding and application of the concepts they’ve learned. For example, at the University of North Florida, students complete a capstone course.
How much do Florida MHA programs cost?
Schools’ tuition rates and fees vary widely depending on certain factors affecting program costs, such as cost of living for an on-campus program and availability of financial aid for healthcare administration programs.
There are plenty of opportunities for financial aid for students attending an MHA program in Florida. Some of the most common forms are federal student loans, grants, scholarships for healthcare administration students, fellowships, and private loans. There’s also Florida’s State Tuition Waiver Program, which allows qualified state employees to take up to six credits per semester from a Florida state college or university for free. Each individual school has discretion to decide which classes are open to the program. To learn more about scholarships open to MHA students in Florida, check out our healthcare administration student scholarships guide and financial aid guide.
Are there CAHME-accredited online MHA programs in Florida?
Online MHA programs in Florida that are properly accredited are limited, as only eight MHA programs in Florida have been accredited by CAHME, and the University of Central Florida is the only one of the eight programs that offers its curriculum online.
What are the admissions requirements for MHA programs in Florida?
Most traditional MHA programs in Florida have the same basic admissions requirements. These include:
- An application
- A minimum undergraduate GPA for the last 60 credits (usually a 3.0)
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Several years of work experience, preferably in a healthcare setting
- One or more letters of recommendation
- Copies of official transcripts
One thing that’s not usually required is a GMAT or GRE score. Many MHA programs, like the one at Florida Atlantic University, don’t require any sort of admissions test.
How long do MHA programs in Florida take to complete?
The school and program you choose will impact your time for completion. For example, students taking classes full-time at the University of North Florida can expect to graduate in about two years; students enrolled part-time need about three years. Another factor is if students are taking classes online. For example, at Florida International University, students enrolled in the hybrid program complete 48 credits in about 18 months, while fully online students need 24 months to complete the program. In certain situations, students can graduate in just 15 months, such as with the online MHA program from Florida Atlantic University.
Ranking Florida’s Best Online MHA Programs
Finding an ideal program has been made easier for students like you with our rankings of the best MHA school options. We’ve compiled a list of the top choices based off of self-reported data from the schools, looking at factors such as affordability, online components, and availability of student support resources. For a more in-depth look at our methodology, our process can be found with the “About the Rankings” button. Take a look at the schools that made their way onto our list by reading on.
The University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Public
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Public
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
Public
Career & Salary Outlook for MHA Graduates in Florida
So far, we've concentrated on finding the right Florida MHA program for you. But before you enroll, it’s important to consider what to expect in terms of earnings, job opportunities, and career potential once you've earned your degree. Let’s start with job growth. The first table below lists current job growth figures for medical and healthcare managers, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Projections Central website. These figures are eye-popping. For example, the projected growth rates of 28.4% and 36.9% for medical and health services managers in the U.S. and Florida, respectively, are an astonishing 10 and 13 times that of the 2.8% growth estimate for all occupations in the U.S. combined for the same period (2022-2032).
As for earnings, the BLS figures in the second table indicate particularly strong average annual salaries of nearly $70,000 to over $200,000 for Florida MHA jobs, with some slight variation among specific metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas within the state. The bottom line? The career outlook for graduates of MHA programs in Florida is as bright as the Florida sun, both now and into the foreseeable future.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $63,980 | $104,310 | $205,670 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $62,050 | $102,360 | $227,900 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $56,480 | $99,380 | $155,430 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $60,790 | $99,620 | $186,660 |
| Gainesville, FL | $66,380 | $111,610 | $171,080 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $63,560 | $97,140 | $152,490 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $63,690 | $104,350 | $218,210 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $60,840 | $101,150 | $239,000+ |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $67,340 | $108,380 | $206,800 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | $73,840 | $105,940 | $224,910 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | $62,400 | $102,200 | $207,040 |
| Ocala, FL | $60,160 | $96,600 | $168,530 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $63,550 | $102,290 | $170,090 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $62,520 | $104,630 | $239,000+ |
| Panama City, FL | $59,300 | $94,740 | $155,530 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $61,810 | $97,300 | $157,790 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $61,000 | $94,820 | $153,380 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $63,920 | $101,400 | $170,670 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | $65,090 | $100,760 | $161,730 |
| Sebring, FL | $57,600 | $97,840 | $162,060 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $46,990 | $97,320 | $177,490 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $67,520 | $105,800 | $212,780 |
| The Villages, FL | $58,660 | $102,040 | $190,260 |
Source: Medical and Health Services Managers, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 509,500 | 654,200 | 144,700 | 28.40% | 54,700 |
| Florida | 34,490 | 47,200 | 12,710 | 36.90% | 4,100 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
