Best Online MHA Programs with No GRE Required
Start on your path to healthcare leadership with this guide to the best online healthcare administration master’s programs — no GRE required!
Qualified healthcare workers are in short supply – that’s no secret. What you might not know is that this shortage extends to healthcare leadership as well, as hospitals and healthcare providers struggle to fill administration and management roles.
Recognizing this critical need, many of the very best universities in the U.S. are finding ways to make their Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree more accessible. Online programs break down physical and proximity barriers, but many schools are also eliminating (or providing waivers to) the requirement to take the Graduate Record Examination, better known as the GRE.
All of this is to say: If you’ve been thinking about pursuing a career in healthcare leadership, now’s the time – and this is your guide! Keep reading to learn about top-rated online MHA programs with no GRE requirement and get answers to your most pressing questions.
Inside Popular No GRE Online MHA Programs
You’ll first need to narrow down programs, and luckily, you’ll find many excellent online MHA programs with no GRE requirements out there. Some, however, go the extra mile to provide student-focused program elements that distinguish them from the rest. We’ve identified five such programs currently available and spotlighted them below. Our selections are based on factors that include accreditation, affordability, academic quality, study convenience, and access to quality student support services.
Weber State University
The Executive Master of Health Administration offered by Weber State University, a public university in Utah, is an excellent example of a student-focused MHA degree program with no GRE requirement. The EMHA’s course of study is designed to provide maximum convenience and flexibility for working health professionals. The curriculum is presented in an accelerated format that can be completed in its entirety in as few as 16 months. However, students can set their own study pace, and all coursework is delivered fully online in an asynchronous format. That means there are no set class meeting times, thus allowing students to fit their studies most efficiently into their busy schedules. Students additionally have the choice of starting their degree program in either the fall or spring semester.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited college or university earned with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Supervisory or healthcare experience is preferred but not required.
Program Highlights:
Executive MHA
- Credits: 45
- Cost: $35,000 (total program, including all books and materials; no difference for in-state vs. out-of-state students)
- Length: As few as 16 months
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (school); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (program)
Indiana University
Designed for working healthcare professionals, Indiana University’s Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health offers an online version of its Master of Science in Healthcare Administration to students seeking advancement into leadership roles. The program is almost entirely online (80% to 99% online course delivery) but does require students to come to campus two days each semester.
Admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree earned with a 3.0 or higher GPA and a total of at least three to five years of clinical or non-clinical healthcare-related work experience. Applicants must also be currently employed in a full-time healthcare position. Application requirements include a current resume, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation (including one from an immediate supervisor or senior leader). The program begins annually in the fall semester.
Qualifying students in the MHA program also can pursue MHA/Master of Public Health and MHA/Juris Doctor joint degrees.
Program Highlights:
Master of Health Administration
- Credits: 51
- Cost: $546/credit (Indiana residents); $1,325/credit (out-of-state residents)
- Length: Varies depending on the number of courses taken each semester.
- Mode: Partially online (80% to 99% online)
- Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission (school)
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers its Master of Science in Healthcare Administration 100% online with no required campus visits of any kind. Management-based coursework features individualized instruction to prepare graduates for leadership and executive roles supporting healthcare systems.
During their last semester, students complete a capstone project demonstrating their skills in a real-world healthcare setting. Classes are delivered asynchronously, so students can log on and attend to their coursework at any time, although deadlines are set for completion of assignments. The program is both accelerated and self-paced with a maximum of two courses taken each eight-week term.
Applicants to the MSHA program must possess a bachelor’s degree in any major obtained at an accredited university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher for all previous undergraduate/graduate coursework. GPA and experience working in healthcare or a related field are taken into consideration in the student selection process. Program starts are available in the summer, spring, and fall.
Program Highlights:
MS in Healthcare Administration
- Credits: 36
- Cost (tuition only): $265/credit (Texas residents); $685 (out-of-state residents)
- Length: Varies, with most students completing their studies in 18 months to two years
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (school)
Oklahoma State University
The online Master of Science in Health Care Administration program at Oklahoma State University is notable in that students can specialize in administration or leadership and entrepreneurship. Students undertake coursework in topics such as leadership methods and styles, research and evaluation methods, and legal issues in healthcare, and study culminates in the completion of a thesis or creative component project. Classes are taken either entirely online or through a hybrid model with online and on-campus offerings. Another notable feature of OKU’s MS in Health Care Administration is cost: Tuition rates are among the most affordable in the nation for both Oklahoma and out-of-state residents.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in any major and a minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. Applicants are required to submit a brief essay in which they describe their current job, healthcare experience (no prior experience required, but it is considered in selection), personal strengths and weaknesses, and career goals.
Program Highlights:
MS in Health Care Administration
- Credits: 32
- Cost (tuition only): $372.62/credit (Oklahoma residents); $488.48/credit (out-of-state residents)
- Length: Varies depending on the number of credits taken each semester
- Mode: Fully online or partially online (student’s option)
- Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission (school)
University of Utah
The University of Utah’s Master of Healthcare Administration online program is specifically designed for mid-career professionals seeking administrative roles in healthcare. The program is structured to be completed with two years (five semesters, including one summer) of part-time study, allowing students to continue in their full-time employment while pursuing their degree.
Coursework is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format but follows a typical semester format and includes weekly deliverables. Students also have the option to participate in a weekly evening online live session. Scholarships are available, including a $5,000 minimum award guaranteed to early applicants that can be combined with a Corporate Benefit Scholarship for a total of up to $10,000.
Along with a bachelor’s degree (minimum 3.25 GPA), applicants must have either five years of healthcare work experience and three years or more of managerial/supervisory experience or five years or more of professional clinical experience.
Program Highlights:
MHA Online
- Credits: 43.5
- Cost (est. total program tuition and fees): $51,200 (Utah residents); $90,400 (out-of-state residents)
- Length: Two years
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (school); Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (program)
What Are the Admissions Requirements for No GRE Online MHA Programs?
The admissions requirements for online MHA no-GRE programs vary from program to program. There are, however, several common requirements like the following:
- Bachelor’s degree: All online MHA no-GRE programs require applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree obtained from a properly accredited college or university. Some programs require the degree to be in a healthcare or a management-related major, but most will accept students with a bachelor’s in any major. You can also expect there to be a minimum GPA requirement on previously completed college coursework. Examples of minimum GPA requirements for MHA programs include Maryville University (3.0) and Texas Tech University (2.7).
- Prior work experience: A history of work experience in the healthcare and/or administration fields may or may not be a requirement for MHA program admissions, or work experience may simply be preferred (for example, with the MHA program at the University of Cincinnati). Further, the extent of work experience required can vary substantially from program to program. MHA programs requiring work experience include NYU Wagner (one year) and the University of Utah (five or more years).
- Other requirements: Additional common application requirements include a current resume, letters of recommendation, responses to essay questions, and a statement of purpose. Applicants under serious consideration should also expect to sit for an interview with an admissions officer or one or more program faculty members.
It’s important to note here that stated admissions requirements are minimum requirements, and that meeting them does not guarantee acceptance. Therefore, it is to your advantage to go beyond a program’s minimum requirements whenever possible.
How Much Do No-GRE Online MHA Programs Cost?
The costs of online no-GRE MHA programs vary, sometimes substantially. There are any number of factors that impact program cost. Two of the most common are whether the school offering the program is public or private (private schools tend to charge higher tuition rates) and, for public schools, whether the student is an in-state or out-of-state resident (out-of-state residents are often charged a higher tuition rate than in-state residents). Many online programs do not charge more for tuition if you are not a resident.
We’ve listed below the current tuition rates for three online no-GRE online MHA programs. Along with the figures quoted in the program spotlights above, they’ll give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for your degree. Bear in mind, though, that your total program cost will be higher once you include additional program fees and the cost of books, supplies, etc.
Ohio University
Online Master of Health Administration
Total Credits: 36
$658/credit (Ohio residents); $677/credit (out-of-state residents)
Are Online MHA Programs That Don’t Require the GRE Good Quality?
You might think that if an MHA program doesn’t require applicants to submit GRE scores, it may be less academically rigorous. But that’s simply not the case. If an online MHA program is properly accredited (like the ones discussed in this guide), you can rest assured that they’ll provide you with the high-quality education deserving of your time, effort, and hard-earned money. The fact that the GRE is not required to apply is most likely an indication that a program does not consider GRE scores an accurate predictor of the applicant’s ability to succeed in that program.
Should I Provide My GRE Scores Even if an MHA Program Doesn’t Require Them?
This is a very good question, and the simple answer is: It depends on the program. It should be noted that some no-GRE program schools (such as Purdue University’s) indicate on their websites that applicants can submit GRE scores if they wish to, and that those scores will be considered as part of the overall admissions evaluation process. Additionally, many programs require GRE score submittals for applicants that do not meet other admissions requirements, most commonly the minimum GPA requirement. Examples include programs at Boston College (GPA below 3.0) and Stony Brook University (limited quantitative undergraduate coursework).
If you’ve taken the GRE and would like to submit your score, our best advice is to contact the program you’re applying to and ask if your GRE score will help. One note of caution, however: Only submit your GRE score if it’s a good one. Submitting a bad or even average score may hurt your chances for admission more than it helps.
Are No GRE Online MHA Programs Accredited?
Yes. In fact, online MHA programs with no GRE requirement are accredited in the same ways that programs requiring GRE scores are. First and foremost, you’ll be looking for proper institutional accreditation, which concerns the vetting of colleges and universities taken as a whole. Institutional accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities is handled by a number of regional and national accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Many, but not all, MHA programs are additionally individually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). You can check current institutional and programmatic accreditation status by using the DOE’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs search engine.
How Long Are No GRE Online MHA Programs, and Can I Earn One Part-Time?
Online MHA no-GRE programs are fundamentally designed to offer study convenience and flexibility to working professionals, often by presenting courses in asynchronous formats and allowing students to complete their programs at their own pace. Whether your program is self-paced or not, you’ll find that most programs feature completion times of between 18 months and two years, with full-time and part-time options. There are some exceptions, however, such as the MHA programs at Weber State University (as few as 16 months) and Louisiana State University Shreveport (as few as 12 months). Other program length examples include Methodist University (18 months) and Ohio University (two years part-time, but allows students up to six years to complete all requirements).
Is Financial Aid Available for No GRE Online MHA Programs?
Whether a program requires GRE scores or not has no impact on the ability to receive financial aid. What is important is a program’s accreditation status. Generally, the college or university offering your MHA program must be properly institutionally accredited (see above) to be eligible for most federal student aid resources, including federal student loans and grants. All other common types of financial aid are also available to students in online MHA no-GRE programs. These types include scholarships, fellowships, grants, assistantships, non-federal student loans, VA benefits (for veterans and active-duty military), and employer tuition reimbursement programs.
Be sure to contact your school’s financial aid office to find out about specific funding opportunities that might be available to you. And to learn more about how to pay for your online MHA degree, check out EduMed’s own healthcare administration scholarship guide and main financial aid guide.