Ohio MHA Programs Online: Comparing Top Schools
Healthcare administrators manage budgets, hire staff, and ensure quality, patient-centered care. To advance in this growing field and boost earning potential, many pursue a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). This guide highlights what you’ll study, how they work online, financial aid options, and the best online MHA programs in Ohio to help start your graduate school search.
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Online MHA Programs in Ohio: How They Work
Earning a master’s in healthcare administration can open doors to leadership positions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. It’s a great way to build a successful career for those who want to make a difference without patient interaction. But how do you find the right school? And what does it mean to earn your degree online? Let EduMed give you a glimpse inside three of today’s best online MHA programs in Ohio. See what they entail, how much they cost, how long they take, and what you’ll learn.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University offers an online MBA in Health Care Administration for working professionals. The 36-credit program can be completed in 19 months and covers ethical leadership, healthcare finance, quality management, marketing, healthcare strategy, and current trends. Start dates every few months provide even greater flexibility.
Tuition is $498 per credit hour, totaling $17,928. The curriculum blends business and healthcare courses, preparing graduates for leadership roles in healthcare settings, and the student-faculty ratio of 13 to 1 is fantastic for personalized attention. Financial aid is available, and the program emphasizes a Christian worldview.
- Duration: 19 months
- Mode: Fully online
- Cost: $17,928 ($498 per credit hour)
- Admissions Requirements: Complete the application, send official transcripts from all previous institutions, and stay in touch with admissions to get personalized next steps.
- Curriculum: Healthcare finance, ethical and legal considerations, leadership, quality management, trends in healthcare, and more.
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Tiffin University
Tiffin University offers an online MBA in Healthcare Administration that can be completed in 14 months. The program includes 32-36 credit hours and covers management systems, decision-making tools, healthcare finance, and current issues in healthcare law and ethics.
Designed for working professionals, the program readies graduates for leadership roles in various healthcare settings. The faculty is filled with industry practitioners, ensuring practical, real-world insights. The student-faculty ratio is 19 to 1, providing plenty of opportunity for one-on-one assistance from the professor and small class sizes that allow for better interaction with peers.
The program is ACBSP-accredited and offers six start dates per year.
- Duration: 14 months
- Mode: Fully online
- Cost: $27,020 (14 monthly payments of $1,930)
- Admissions Requirements: A completed application, undergraduate transcripts showing a 3.0 or above GPA, and proof of graduation are required; other requirements might come into play for individual students.
- Curriculum: Healthcare finances, legal and ethical concerns, organizational behavior, human resources, leadership, decision-making in the healthcare field, and more.
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University offers a Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) program designed for working professionals and recent graduates. The 37-credit program includes courses in healthcare finance, data analytics, management, and law. It features real-world internships and a capstone project, providing hands-on experience. Expect an 18-1 student-faculty ratio, which gives ample opportunity for solid connections with professors and peers.
The curriculum is delivered through a mix of face-to-face evening classes, online asynchronous, and synchronous formats. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree, a minimum GPA of 2.75, GRE/GMAT scores (with exceptions), and relevant work experience.
- Duration: About 2 years, including internship
- Mode: Hybrid
- Cost: $17,304 ($476.70 per credit) plus fees
- Admissions Requirements: Proof of a bachelor’s degree earned with at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale, a completed application, official GMAT or GRE scores (unless the student already holds a master’s degree), two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and a personal statement.
- Curriculum: Healthcare management, data analytics, finance in healthcare, health information systems, human resources, operations, supply chains, and more.
Questions About Online MHA Degrees in Ohio
Before diving into any program, it’s important to have all your questions answered. The following are questions that most students have as they consider an MHA program. Below, you’ll find answers to the most common questions, including those on accreditation, skills and knowledge, and costs.
What knowledge and skills do you learn in MHA programs in Ohio?
MHA programs combine the evidence-based and patient-centered aspects of healthcare delivery with core business and management skills. Students receive instruction in key knowledge areas that equip them to plan, coordinate, and direct medical and health services. For example, the online MHA program at Mercy College of Ohio focuses on health leadership and builds competency in areas like business literacy, relationship and human resources management, and healthcare delivery systems.
Many programs conclude with a capstone course designed to prepare students for high-level employment or promotion. At schools like the University of Cincinnati, that requirement means completing a two-semester seminar exploring current and emerging issues in healthcare management.
Are there CAHME-accredited online MHA programs in Ohio?
While this may not be true of every program, schools like Xavier University offer an online MHA in Ohio with full CAHME accreditation. This form of accreditation provides healthcare-specific backing to qualified programs and could set you apart as a job-seeking graduate. Minimally, always make sure prospective schools hold institutional accreditation.
What are the admissions requirements for MHA programs in Ohio?
The most important requirement is that prospective applicants hold a relevant, accredited bachelor’s degree with a competitive GPA (typically 2.75 or above). Ohio University provides an additional list of admissions components shared by many other programs. It includes:
- Official academic transcripts
- Entrance examinations (usually for international applicants only)
- A short statement of purpose (500-1,000 words)
- Two or three letters of reference
- A professional resume
Some programs require additional materials like relevant work experience or course prerequisites, so follow the instructions on your application closely.
How long do MHA programs in Ohio take to complete?
Timeframes for completion fluctuate quite a bit and depend on factors like enrollment status (e.g., full-time vs. part-time), program pacing, and availability of online coursework. The program at Cleveland State, for example, uses fully-online formats to accommodate working professionals and typically graduates students along an expedited path. Most programs take two years or less to complete, however. The course of study at Franklin takes 21 months, while schools like Case Western offer an accelerated program (one year) alongside a two-year option for part-time students.
How much do Ohio MHA programs cost?
There are several main factors impacting the final price tag of your degree, including the type of school you attend (e.g., public vs. private), your residency status, and whether you enroll full-time or part-time. Also keep in mind that there are often fees on top of the tuition, which can add up quickly. But don’t let the tuition numbers frighten you. Many schools offer financial aid, grants, scholarships, and other opportunities to find the funding you need to bring the bottom line down to a more comfortable level.
Career & Salary Outlook
| Area ↕ | 10th Percentile ↕ | Median ↕ | 90th Percentile ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $69,680 | $117,960 | $219,080 |
| Ohio | $65,610 | $105,040 | $185,540 |
| Akron, OH | $66,370 | $102,400 | $174,580 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $61,270 | $100,420 | $164,990 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $66,230 | $105,360 | $174,940 |
| Cleveland, OH | $66,860 | $126,530 | $209,810 |
| Columbus, OH | $67,330 | $106,630 | $183,830 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $67,590 | $105,000 | $190,250 |
| Lima, OH | $73,140 | $105,350 | $162,100 |
| Mansfield, OH | $60,730 | $96,510 | $150,120 |
| Sandusky, OH | $64,620 | $99,780 | $172,620 |
| Springfield, OH | $65,350 | $99,590 | $164,350 |
| Toledo, OH | $64,990 | $102,710 | $166,120 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $60,700 | $97,270 | $166,960 |
Source: Medical & Health Services Managers, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, 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 |
| Ohio | 18,720 | 23,310 | 4,590 | 24.50% | 1,910 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
Ranking the Best Online MHA Programs in Ohio
Program Details
- HLC Accreditation
- 69% Graduation Rate
- Private School Type
- 12/1 Student/Faculty Ratio
Why We Selected Otterbein University
- The Healthcare Administration – Masters (MHA) program offers merit-based scholarships renewable for second year based on maintaining a GPA above 3.5 and strong academic support letters.
- Otterbein partners with employers throughout Ohio to provide tuition discounts and educational benefits to employees, their spouses/partners, and dependent children through the Advantage Scholarships program.
- The program features a flexible hybrid online/classroom format tailored for working professionals, allowing you to balance career, life, and graduate study effectively.
Program Details
- HLC Accreditation
- 69% Graduation Rate
- Private School Type
- 12/1 Student/Faculty Ratio
Program Details
- HLC Accreditation
- 73% Graduation Rate
- Public School Type
- 19/1 Student/Faculty Ratio
Why We Selected University of Cincinnati
- The Healthcare Administration – Masters (MHA) program at UC Clermont is CAHME accredited, ensuring high-quality curriculum, expert faculty, and strong employer recognition for graduates.
- The program offers flexible admission criteria, allowing applicants with strong professional healthcare management experience or postgraduate studies to qualify even if their undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.
- Graduate students benefit from a flat tuition rate per credit hour without nonresident fees, plus access to military benefits and multiple scholarships to reduce overall program costs.
Program Details
- HLC Accreditation
- 73% Graduation Rate
- Public School Type
- 19/1 Student/Faculty Ratio
Base Methodology for EduMed’s “Best Online College Rankings” for the ‘25-’26 school year.
One: Create a list of eligible schools & programs
To be eligible for ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on data pulled from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which was self-reported by the schools themselves:
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
- At least one online component in a program within the ranking-subject area.
- The existence of academic and career counseling on campus and/or online.
Two: Assign weightings to eligible schools & programs
After creating the list of eligible schools, EduMed data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of metrics, which were all self-reported by the school themselves to the U.S. Department of Education and IPEDS.
The metrics are listed below in order of most- to least-heavily weighted*.
- Tuition – Average in-state tuition for undergraduate students studying full-time.
- Online Programs – Number of online programs, either partially- or fully-online, in the relevant subject area.
- Avg. Aid Amount – Average amount of institutional grant aid awarded to full-time, first-time undergraduates.
- Students w/ Aid – Percent of full-time, first-time students undergraduates awarded institutional aid.
- Online Enrollment – Percent of undergraduate students taking at least one distance education class.
- Graduation Rate – Percent of full-time, first-time receiving an award in 6 years.
- Student/Faculty Ratio – The number of students per faculty member.
*Metrics #2-5 and #6-7 were equally weighted.
About Our Data
EduMed’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2025
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