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Program Overview
Take a closer look at UNCW’s MHA online degree program
Gain the essential knowledge and practical expertise you need to deliver effective, ethical and innovative leadership across a wide range of healthcare organizations with the Master of Healthcare Administration online program from UNCW. This specialized degree program prepares you with the resources, best practices and theoretical insights to effect positive outcomes in the continuously evolving field of healthcare administration.
As an affiliate of the American College for Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Higher Education Network, UNCW is proud to offer the Master of Healthcare Administration online program. The MHA program provides a full understanding of efficient healthcare management techniques—everything from human capital resources, healthcare reform policies and population health management to patient experiences. Coursework topics include the changing structure of healthcare delivery systems, legal and ethical issues facing the healthcare industry, evidence-based decision-making, socioeconomic factors affecting public health and much more.
Plus, UNCW's MHA curriculum aligns with the National Center for Healthcare Leadership's Health Leadership Competency Model 3.0, ensuring that you are learning relevant, competency-based information that prepares you to be an exceptional healthcare leader for the 21st century.
Coursework in the MHA online program begins with a personalized learning approach. As a student, you will submit an initial gap analysis assessment identifying your areas of strength and improvement. As you progress through the program, you will continually track your knowledge base growth and reflect upon your learning. Students without a healthcare background can participate in faculty research, international travel, case competitions, student organizations, and practicum courses that provide applied learning experiences. No residency or full semester internships are required.
In this master’s healthcare administration online degree, you will:
- Analyze data that encompasses leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and health disparities among local, regional and global populations to impact population health and associated healthcare organizations
- Create evidence-based solutions aimed at improving cost, access and quality of care
- Evaluate the internal and external environmental factors (social, cultural, economic and political) impacting the strategic management of healthcare organizations
- Assess the impact of legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of healthcare and public health policy
- Apply appropriate communication strategies based on communication goals and audience characteristics
- Analyze data that encompasses leading causes of mortality, morbidity, and health disparities among local, regional and global populations to impact population health and associated healthcare organizations
- Create evidence-based solutions aimed at improving cost, access and quality of care
- Evaluate the internal and external environmental factors (social, cultural, economic and political) impacting the strategic management of healthcare organizations
- Assess the impact of legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of healthcare and public health policy
- Apply appropriate communication strategies based on communication goals and audience characteristics
Prepare for healthcare administrative and management roles such as:
- Practice Manager
- Health Information Manager
- Hospital Administrator
- Medical Records Supervisor
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Practice Manager
- Health Information Manager
- Hospital Administrator
- Medical Records Supervisor
- Nursing Home Administrator
Also available:
UNCW offers a variety of online degrees. View all our online programs.
Accreditation:
The UNC Wilmington MHA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). CAHME is the only organization recognized to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional master’s degree in healthcare management education and is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAHME Accreditation is the benchmark for students and employers to ensure that integrity of healthcare management education.
UNC Wilmington is an active affiliate of the American College for Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Higher Education Network, which supports the education and mentoring of the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Tuition
Discover the value of our low-cost tuition
Designed to be affordable and convenient, our tuition is an outstanding value and far less of a financial investment than many other North Carolina universities. We also offer pay-by-the-course tuition for our online programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year pending legislative approval. View more information on your cost of attendance.
Program | Fees Per Credit Hour | Total Tuition & Fees* |
---|---|---|
MHA (in-state residents) | $33.12 | $15,739.68 |
MHA (out-of-state residents) | $33.12 | $58,635.36 |
*N.C. resident tuition and fees. Total tuition and fees may vary by student and are subject to change. Learn more.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Please note these important dates
The MHA program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring rolling admissions and six start dates each year. Choose the start date that best suits your goals.
Please note that sessions frequently fill ahead of published deadlines. Application cycles are open until the sessions. Due to high demand, there is no advanced notice of application closures.
Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 12/7/24 | 12/14/24 | 1/15/25 | 1/16/25 | 3/2/25 |
Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/8/25 | 2/15/25 | 3/12/25 | 3/13/25 | 4/27/25 |
Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/12/25 | 4/19/25 | 5/14/25 | 5/15/25 | 6/29/25 |
Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 5/24/25 | 5/31/25 | 7/2/25 | 7/3/25 | 8/17/25 |
Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/2/25 | 8/2/25 | 8/27/25 | 8/28/25 | 10/12/25 |
Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 9/27/25 | 9/27/25 | 10/22/25 | 10/23/25 | 12/7/25 |
Students must register for courses by 5 p.m. (EST) on the registration deadline date.
Students must remit tuition payment by 10 a.m. (EST) on the tuition deadline date.
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Are you ready to apply? Check our admission requirements first
To apply for this healthcare administration online master’s degree program, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States—or the equivalent from a foreign institution.
Admission Requirements:
- Official transcripts
- Undergraduate GPA 3.0
- Bachelor's degree
MHA Online Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- All applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- No GRE/GMAT scores are required
Official transcripts from all colleges/universities are required.
Electronic Method (Preferred):
Password protected transcripts may be sent directly from the institution to [email protected]
Paper Method – Official Transcripts (Envelope Sealed by the Institution):
UNCW Graduate SchoolAttn: Kimberly Goerne Harris
601 South College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403-5955
Have a question? Call us at 855-306-4734.
Courses
Read about our online Master of Healthcare Administration courses
The MHA online curriculum is comprised of 16 courses for a total of 48 credit hours and includes 2 practicum courses (6 credit hours).
Students who have attained an undergraduate degree in a healthcare-related discipline and have one year of healthcare work experience may petition the MHA program coordinator to waive the practicum courses. If the waiver is granted, the degree audit will be updated to reflect HCA 593 and 594 as waived, and the total credit hours required for the degree will decrease to 42.
Pleae note: Students who have attained an undergraduate degree in a healthcare-related discipline and have one year of healthcare work experience may petition the MHA program coordinator to waive the practicum courses. If the waiver is granted, the degree audit will be updated to reflect HCA 593 and 594 as waived, and the total credit hours required for the degree will decrease to 42.
**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months. Consult with your advisor.
Request Information
Submit this form, and an Enrollment Specialist will contact you to answer your questions.
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