Getting an advanced degree in any field is a good idea in today’s job market. Even in a field such as medicine, where jobs are in high demand, you could find yourself struggling to win positions over the competition if you only have a bachelor’s degree. Getting a masters in health administration (MHA) can without a doubt help to put your resume at the top of the pile for any healthcare administration job.

For the best chances of being offered a lucrative position, it is important to look at top employers, in terms of how many administrators they hire. As of 2008, the following types of employers hired the most healthcare administrators:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 96,910 administrative employees
• Offices of Physicians: 23,610 administrative employees
• Nursing Care Facilities: 17,960 administrative employees
• Home Health Care Services: 13,810 administrative employees
• Outpatient Care Centers: 12,030 administrative employees

Annual salary, on average, ranges from $77,050 to $94,090 at these types of employers, though it is important to remember that these numbers reflect all administrative employees, not just those with MHA degrees. With an MHA, you can expect your salary to be on the higher end of the scale.

For some people, salary potential is more important than how many administrators a specific type of healthcare employer hires. If you’re interested in the most bang for your buck (or rather the most buck for your bang), look to the following types of companies:

• Navigation, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments manufacturing: $135,930
• Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Hosues: $123,480
• Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations; $123,460
• Management of Scientific and Technical Consulting Services: $122,610
• Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing: $122,150

Although it is more likely for those with MHA degrees to work in careers where they’re directly management healthcare, all of the above types of employers hire those with master’s degrees in subject matters relating to healthcare.

The top employer for one person may not be the top employer for the next. In addition to looking at salary, you also have to consider benefits packages, bonuses, job responsibility, and fulfillment from your job when you’re job hunting. You’ll always perform better in a job you love, even if you’re making slightly less money. The best employer for you will also be located where you want to live. Currently, the most health administration jobs, regardless of degree, are found in the District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Iowa, and Oklahoma. If you’re willing to live in a larger city, you’ll likely have more job options that if you live in a more rural area, so that increases your chances of getting more offers, but if you enjoy living in a country setting, taking a high-paying job in the center of a large city may not make sense for you.

Sometimes, the best employer is yourself. One of the top employers in the healthcare industry is you, if you decide to start your own consulting firm. With an MHA and experience in the field, this is definitely an option available to you, and one you should highly consider.

A Master of Health Administration degree is a professional degree that will prepare students for careers in healthcare administration. Holders of this degree will be prepared to become involved in the management of health services organizations, hospitals, and more. Below is a carefully compiled list of some of the best schools offering MHA programs online.

Online MHA MHA - Gerontology MHA - Health Education MHA - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program offered by the University of Phoenix is an advanced accredited degree program suited for professionals looking to gain knowledge and credentials needed to advance in today's healthcare industry. The flexible online coursework includes finance, economics, makreting, quality improvement, and more.
Online MHA Master of Public Health	Walden University — Walden offers an online MHA degree program that is sure to prepare students for a fruitful career as a health administrator. Jobs in a wide variety of healthcare settings will become available to graduates of this program, including insurance, offices, hospitals, supplies, policy, and more.
Online MHA	Ohio University — The online Master of Health Administration degree offered by Ohio University includes coursework in health system structures, managed care, health policy, marketing, strategic planning, finance, and more.
MS - Health Admin Master of Public Health MPH - Health Mgmt MS in Gerontology	Capella University — Available for study entirely online, Capella's master's degree in healthcare administration program covers multiple graduate-level areas of study pertaining to healthcare, including quality improvement, law, finance, policy, and much more. Gradutate of this program will be well prepared to advance their healthcare careers.
MBA - Healthcare Mgmt	Northeastern University — The MBA program at Northeastern University offers a specialization in healthcare management that is ideal for anyone seeking to advance a career in health administration. This online program is flexible and details how business intersects with healthcare issues.
MS - Healthcare Mgmt MBA - Healthcare Mgmt MPH - Development MPH - Health Education	Kaplan University — For anyone in the healthcare industry seeking an MS, Kaplan University offers an online Master of Science in healthcare management that is perfectly suited for individuals pursuing upper-level management positions in hospitals, outpatient centers, doctors' offices, and more.
MBA in Healthcare	George Washington University — The online MBA Healthcare program at GWU comes from a top-notch university and cn be completed within two years. The program comprises 24 core and 12 elective courses. Anyone completing the program is well-suited to manage the business operations of a healthcare practice.
MS - Health Admin MS - Health Informatics MS - Health Ethics	St. Joseph's University — St. Joseph's University confers an MS in healthcare administration that also is offered in two specializations: the ethics specialization provides a background in moral philosophy and covers subjects such as euthanasia, abortion, and artificially prolonging life; the informatics specialization focuses on health information technologies and record keeping.
MS - Health Admin MSM - Health Admin MS - Health Informatics	University of Maryland University College — The health administration master's degree programs from the University of Maryland University College are designed for mid-career professionals looking for increased responsibility within their healthcare careers. UMUC offers three specializations: MS in healthcare administration, MS in healthcare administration informatics, and MS in management - healthcare administration.
MS in Health Comm.	Boston University — The MS in health communication online degree from Boston University is geared toward the aspiring healthcare administrator who wants to specialize in marketing communications and public relations for a healthcare organization.
MBA in Healthcare Mgmt	American InterContinental University — AIU's MBA in healthcare management degree program prepares individuals for upper management positions within a variety of healthcare settings, including (but not limited to) private care facilities, hospices, hospitals, nursing clinics, insurance companies, and more. The degree is also available in a part-time option.
MBA - Healthcare Mgmt	Bellevue University — The Bellevue University master's degree in Healthcare Administration is a 39 credit hour program that includes a 4 credit Capstone Research Project. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The curriculum is offered entirely online, and applicants must have an accredited bachelor's degree.
MS in Health Admin	New England College — The master's degree in healthcare administration offered by New England College is a graduate-level program that is geared toward current healthcare professionals with bachelor's degrees looking to undertake more managerial responsibilities in the workplace.
MBA in Health Admin Accelerated MBA	Benedictine University — The MBA in Health Administration program at Benedictine University is a highly regarded educational track for students interested in healthcare management. The 96 unit credit curriculum features courses in Organizational Behavior, Business Statistics, and Health Behavior. The program offers an accelerated track for dedicated students.
MBA in Healthcare Mgmt	Colorado Technical University — The online MBA in healthcare management degree program from Colorado Tech covers a wide variety of coursework, including finance, management concepts, risk assessment, and resource allocation. Graduates of this program typically pursue careers in social service, mental health center, home health care, or health & safety management, to name a few.
MBA in Healthcare Mgmt BBA/MBA - Health Mgmt	Jones International University — JIU's MBA in healthcare management degree program focuses on the subjects of telemedicine, emerging technology, strategic management, and more. Because this is a business degree at its core, graduates of this program will be well prepared to enter numerous business fields.
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