Texas MHA Programs Online: Reviewing TX Schools

Online MHA Programs in Texas: A Comparison

Distance learning offers students a great way to integrate their MHA programs into their busy work and life schedules by eliminating the time and hassle of traveling to and from campus. The good news is that there are lots of online MHA programs in Texas to choose from. Some programs deliver coursework entirely online, while other programs offer students the option to take some courses online or in person.

Some programs are presented asynchronously, allowing students to access and complete lessons at any time, and others are presented synchronously via a livestream on a set schedule. Alternatively, many programs offer courses that combine synchronous and asynchronous components. Online MHA students should also expect to complete in-person internships or practicum experiences at program-affiliated hospitals or other healthcare-related facilities in the local community.

Below, these three schools will give you a good idea of what to expect when pursuing an MHA program in Texas.

Student Resources: Answers to Common MHA Questions

When you choose to invest your time and money into an MHA program in Texas, you want to know exactly what you’re getting in return for that investment, and questions may arise about what to expect. The following are answers to some of the most commonly questions asked by aspiring MHA students.

What Financial Aid is Available for MHA Programs in Texas?

In Texas, awide range of financial aid is available for qualifying MHA students. The most popular type—and the one almost all students will qualify for—is the student loan, usually offered through the federal government. Other options include scholarships, grants, employer tuition reimbursement programs, and benefits for veterans. MHA programs in Texas sometimes offer funding opportunities specifically for their students. An example is the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, which offers scholarship opportunities to MHA applicants.

How Long Do MHA Programs in Texas Take to Complete?

Completion times for MHA programs in Texas will vary, but most full-time students should expect to commit two to two-and-a-half years for completion of all degree requirements and part-time students will typically require three years or more depending on the student’s per-semester course load. There are a few exceptions, however. For example, the MHA program at the University of Houston Clearlake can be completed in as few as 14 months full-time or 28 months part-time. Though this isn’t necessarily considered an accelerated program, the speed in which a student can complete it puts it on a par with accelerated 1-year MHA options.

What are the Admissions Requirements for MHA Programs in Texas?

As you might expect, specific admissions requirements for MHA programs in Texas vary from program to program. Nevertheless, most programs have admissions requirements similar to the following:

• Bachelor’s degree: All programs require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (or equivalent for international students).
• Minimum GPA: Specific minimums vary by program, but 2.75 is not uncommon.
• GRE/GMAT scores: These entrance exams are required by some programs; in most cases they’re necessary only if the applicant fails to meet the stated GPA for undergraduate coursework.
• Work experience: Most programs don’t require work experience in the healthcare field. Exceptions include executive track MHA programs at Texas State University and Trinity University.

Other common application requirements include a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and a current CV or resume.

What Knowledge and Skills Do You Learn at MHA Programs in Texas?

The goal of any MHA program in Texas is to prepare students to become healthcare administrators ready for the full range of practice settings in the industry. This means providing coursework and practical experiences that delve into the four domains that make up Texas A&M’s MHA Program Competency Model:

• Health Community and Environment: Public and population health assessment; health services and systems delivery, financing, and organizations; policy analysis; and legal and ethical bases for health services and systems.
• Leadership: Ethics, accountability, and self-assessment; organizational dynamics; critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving; and team building and collaboration.
• Management: Business planning; communication; financial management; performance improvement; project management; and strategic planning.
• Analytic and Technical Skills: Data analysis and information management; quantitative methods for delivery of health services; and systems thinking.

How Much Do Texas MHA Programs Cost?

Tuition rates for MHA programs in Texas vary substantially, with major factors impacting these costs including total number of credits, whether the college or university is public or private (private school programs tend to be more expensive), program length, and even the school’s academic reputation.

Also, some Texas public colleges and universities charge a higher tuition rate to students who live out of state. Finally, bear in mind that your program’s total price tag will include additional costs for program fees, books and supplies, transportation, etc.

But don’t let the bottom line frighten you from pursing an MHA program in Texas. Stated tuition and fees don’t account for financial aid, which can lower your expected costs. Before enrolling, talk to the financial aid or admissions office to determine what your final costs will be.

Ranking the Best Online MHA Programs in Texas

To make your search for the right school program easier, we’ve compiled the best MHA programs in Texas for prospective students like you. These rankings were established using self-reported data from schools, and we’ve combined ideal factors such as online components, proper accreditation, and availability of student resources to determine the top options (you can find out more about our methodology by clicking “About the Rankings”). Find out which schools made their way onto our list below.

Texas MHA Pay and Opportunities

We've focused so far on what to expect from your Texas MHA learning experience. But what about your career expectations upon graduation? To highlight the career outlook for Texas HA professionals, we've listed current salary and job growth data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the two tables below. And that data is, to put it mildly, impressive. Consider the long-term (2022-2032) projected growth figures of 28.4% and 40% for medical and health services managers in the U.S. and Texas, respectively, presented in the first table. These figures are 10 and 14 times greater than the 2.8% projected growth for all U.S. jobs overall.

Strong job growth and high job demand go hand in hand. And with high demand comes high earnings. This is evidenced by the BLS annual salary figures in the second table, which indicate a range of just under $63,000 to over $175,000 for Texas medical and health services professionals. Salary figures vary somewhat within the state, depending mostly on community size. For example, median salaries range from $86,260 in the Brownsville-Harlingen area (low end) to $115,630 in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area (high end).