Online MHA Programs in Texas: Key Info for Students
Launch or advance your career in healthcare management by earning your master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) degree in Texas. Find top online and on-campus programs in this guide.
The healthcare industry is thriving, both in Texas and throughout the nation, and it’s expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future. So if you’ve ever considered a career in healthcare leadership, now is the time to make your move by earning your master’s degree in healthcare administration. An MHA is one of the most popular and highly-regarded paths to qualify for advanced managerial roles in the medical field, and many accredited Texas colleges offer this graduate degree.
This guide spotlights today’s best on-campus and online MHA programs in Texas to help you find a high quality, affordable program you can feel confident about. You’ll also get an inside look at what you’ll learn during your studies, how long it will take to earn your degree, what your program will cost, and much more.
Texas Woman’s University
Denton, Texas
Public
Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, Texas
Public
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Lubbock, Texas
Public
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, Texas
Public
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas
Private
Frequently Asked Questions About MHA Programs in Texas
What knowledge and skills do you learn in MHA programs in Texas?
The goal of any MHA program in Texas is to prepare students to become effective professionals ready for the full range of practice settings in the healthcare administration 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.
Are there CAHME-accredited online MHA programs in Texas?
There are currently five online MHA programs in Texas that are accredited by CAHME. They include the MHA program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the Executive MHA program at Trinity University, the MHA program at the University of the Incarnate Word, and the MHA and Executive MHA programs at Texas State University (spotlighted above).
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.
How long do MHA programs in Texas take to complete?
Completion times for MHA programs in Texas vary, sometimes substantially. In general, most full-time students should expect to commit two to two-and-a-half years for completion of all degree requirements. Part-time programs 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.
How much do Texas MHA programs cost?
To give you an idea of the range of prices you can expect during your program search, we’ve listed the current tuition rates for three Texas MHA programs below. As you’ll see, tuition rates for MHA programs in Texas vary substantially. Major factors impacting these costs include 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.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
MS in Healthcare Administration
Total Credits: 36
$265/credit (Texas residents); $673/credit (out-of-state residents)
University of North Texas
MS in Health Services Administration
Total Credits: 45
$115.24/credit (Texas residents); $278.58/credit (out-of-state residents)
Can I get financial aid to help pay for my MHA program in Texas?
A wide range of financial aid is available for qualifying Texas 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.
To learn more about funding opportunities for your MHA program, check out EduMed’s Healthcare Administration Scholarships & Online Resources and main Financial Aid guides.
Inside Look at Online MHA Programs in Texas
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. It’s important to understand, though, that there are almost as many variations in what online study means as there are online MHA programs. For example, some programs, like Texas Tech’s Midwestern State University and Health Sciences Center, deliver coursework entirely online. Other programs, like the University of Houston Clearlake’s MHA, offer students the option to take some courses online or in person. Another variable is how online courses are formatted, with some presented asynchronously (allowing students to access and complete them at any time) and others synchronously via a livestream. Many programs, like Texas State University’s, 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 school’s or student’s local community. What all of this boils down to is that you must have a solid understanding of which elements of a program are offered online and which are not before you enroll in any online MHA program in Texas.
Earnings and Job Outlook for MHA Graduates in Texas
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).
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 509,500 | 654,200 | 144,700 | 28.40% | 54,700 |
| Texas | 49,430 | 69,180 | 19,750 | 40.00% | 6,080 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $62,980 | $105,460 | $176,280 |
| Abilene, TX | $58,890 | $98,430 | $145,930 |
| Amarillo, TX | $60,420 | $99,570 | $161,350 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $75,470 | $109,280 | $192,840 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $65,670 | $106,880 | $149,390 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $47,310 | $86,260 | $162,170 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $61,200 | $97,720 | $156,990 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $55,030 | $101,520 | $157,150 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $74,720 | $115,630 | $195,410 |
| El Paso, TX | $58,240 | $98,900 | $165,070 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $74,880 | $109,140 | $178,220 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $72,600 | $112,130 | $171,330 |
| Laredo, TX | $58,850 | $90,710 | $150,730 |
| Longview, TX | $54,200 | $97,360 | $167,370 |
| Lubbock, TX | $59,810 | $99,560 | $157,700 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $44,410 | $86,840 | $160,630 |
| Midland, TX | $61,210 | $100,620 | $208,030 |
| Odessa, TX | $60,300 | $105,250 | $141,700 |
| San Angelo, TX | $62,280 | $96,050 | $152,180 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $67,350 | $104,080 | $169,460 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $65,680 | $98,700 | $136,640 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $54,270 | $91,610 | $143,930 |
| Tyler, TX | $59,220 | $101,000 | $183,520 |
| Victoria, TX | $63,390 | $94,530 | $149,050 |
| Waco, TX | $61,250 | $101,190 | $162,620 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $50,880 | $95,970 | $129,450 |
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.
Additional Resources for MHA Students in Texas
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Texas Chapters
This national professional association of healthcare administrators and managers has seven regional chapters in Texas: ACHE Central Texas Chapter; ACHE of East Texas; ACHE of North Texas; ACHE SouthEast Texas Chapter; South Texas Healthcare Executives; Southwest Healthcare Executives Association; and Texas Midwest Healthcare Executives.
Scholarships and Online Resources for Healthcare Administration Students
This guide from EduMed offers lots of useful information and advice on finding, applying for, and winning scholarships for healthcare administration master’s students, including links to several currently available scholarship opportunities. You’ll also find descriptions and links to over two dozen helpful online resources for MHA students.
Texas Health Care Association (THCA)
This professional association provides representation and support for the long-term healthcare services field in Texas. Through its Educational Foundation, the THCA offers a variety of professional development and education programs for individuals specializing in long-term healthcare.
Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society (UPD) Texas Chapters
The national honor society for excellence in healthcare management education has chapters on a number of Texas college and university campuses with MHA programs, including Texas Southern University, the University of Houston Clear Lake, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, and all three of the schools spotlighted above—Texas A&M University, Texas State University, and Texas Woman’s University.
