Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees in Healthcare Administration

Profiles of Most Affordable Online MHA Degrees

Among online master’s programs in healthcare administration (MHAs), costs can vary significantly from school to school. Factors impacting costs include tuition, in-state or out-of-state residency, materials, lab fees, and more. As an online student, you will be saving on relocation costs, which can lead to a significantly lower total overall.

However, even after looking at the initial “sticker price” of any given online MHA program, you may not have a full picture of how affordable the program is or isn’t. Just like the most affordable online bachelor’s programs in healthcare administration, many MHA programs have generous financial aid opportunities as well as tuition reduction programs for students in specific groups. It’s also crucial to make sure that your MHA is from a properly accredited school; accreditation gives your degree legitimacy and also ensures that you would be eligible for federal grants and loans from the FAFSA.

Below, you’ll find profiles of three popular, high-quality online MHA programs with a breakdown of their costs and financial aid opportunities to give you an idea of what you can potentially expect from different programs:

Comparing the Cost of Online and Campus MHA Programs

Although convenience and flexibility are clear benefits of choosing to study online, especially when considering the savings on relocation and commuting costs, there are other ways that studying online can save you money. One of the most common is that many state schools will charge all online students in-state tuition, regardless of location. However, you should also be aware that there may be some costs associated with online study–for instance, many online graduate students are not eligible for work study programs, which can impact your total financial aid package.

Cost-Cutting Tactics for Prospective MHA Students

Beyond finding a school with relatively low tuition and/or strong healthcare administration financial aid packages, there are other ways that you can reduce costs for your MHA program. Check out some of the following ideas and learn which ones might work for you.

Apply for Scholarships, Fee Waivers, and More

Many online MHA programs offer financial aid opportunities specifically for their online students. These opportunities often take the form of in-house scholarships and grants. A prime example is the MHA Online Program at the University of Utah, which offers several program-specific scholarships and tuition discounts. Contact the financial aid office at each program you’re considering to find out if you’re eligible for MHA-specific financial aid opportunities.

Maintain Part-Time Employment

While not precisely a cost-reduction method, maintaining a paid part-time job can help give you a source of income while you study and reduce your potential student loan burden. Depending on the job in question, you may be able to utilize relevant healthcare-related skills on the job and while you study. Just be sure that you can maintain a consistent study schedule and keep up with classwork in addition to your professional responsibilities.

Take Advantage of Employer Tuition Reimbursement

A lot of employers today appreciate the value of retaining their best employees, and one way they do so is by offering an employer tuition reimbursement program. These plans reimburse employees for all or a portion of the cost of programs like online MHAs in exchange for a commitment to remain with the company for a stated period after graduation. If you like the healthcare organization you work for and want to continue working there after graduating, be sure to ask if they have employer tuition reimbursement programs.

Explore Loan Forgiveness Programs

Even if you ended up taking out a substantial amount of student loans, you may not have to pay all of them back if you qualify for a loan forgiveness program. Student loan forgiveness programs, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), will pay off the balance of your loans if you meet certain conditions–in the case of PSLF, this means working for a certain amount of time in one of the many public service occupations that are eligible.

Ranking the Most Affordable Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration Degrees

What is “most affordable” for your online MHA will at least partially depend on personal factors, such as if you’re eligible for in-state tuition. However, there are some objective considerations to affordability, such as tuition costs and the percentage of students receiving financial aid. Both of these considerations and more were used in our ranking of the best cost-effective MHA options shown here. Click on “About the Rankings” for a full explanation of our methodology. Read on to find out which of the most affordable online MHA programs made our list.