North Carolina is home to 186 hospitals and hundreds of other health facilities. To ensure the quality of their service delivery, these healthcare facilities and the professionals that manage them are overseen by the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation. For example, the North Carolina General Statute § 90-288.14 outlines the certification criteria administrators of adult care homes (with seven or more beds) should meet.
While the state’s certification requirements do not require an MHA degree, many employers prefer their administrators to have one. After all, this program equips them with the skills and knowledge to handle health organizations more effectively.
With its strong healthcare industry, renowned universities, and great job market, North Carolina proves to be one of the best states for aspiring healthcare administrators. If you want to scale your way towards a fulfilling and lucrative healthcare administration career, the information on North Carolina’s MHA programs below should give you a head start.
MHA Programs in North Carolina
There are a total of 22 MHA/MBA programs in North Carolina that can cater to aspiring healthcare industry leaders. Here are four programs that offer on-campus, hybrid, or online modalities (or a combination):
Campbell University
- Buies Creek, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Program:
Master of Business Administration — Healthcare Management
Modality: On-campus and Online
Tuition: $860 per credit for 30 credits — $25,800 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Campbell’s 37-credit MBA-Healthcare Management program is a self-paced course that may be completed in as short as 12 months. With a core focus on innovation, ethics, analytics, and digital marketing, the HM track offers specialized courses in healthcare quality and safety, finance, law and policy, management, and strategy and marketing.
Carolina University
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Program:
Master of Science — Healthcare Administration
Modality: On-campus and Online
Tuition: $10,800 per year (18 credits)
Program Overview:
Carolina U’s 36-credit MSHA program is designed to help students gain the competencies they need to lead organizations and resolve unique industry problems. The program core covers crucial topics, including Health Promotion, Global Public Health, US Healthcare & Equity, and Public Health Policy, to name a few.
Duke University
- Durham, North Carolina
- Hybrid
Program:
Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Leadership
Modality: Hybrid
Tuition: $63,000
Program Overview:
With its hands-on education and real-world examples, Duke’s 42-credit MHS-CL program helps transform students into versatile leaders who can address the ever-changing healthcare landscape. With its small class sizes that encourage peer-to-peer learning, the program reflects the workplace experience of solving problems and making decisions with people from different fields.
East Carolina University
- Greenville, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Program:
Master of Business Administration with Healthcare Management Certificate
Modality: On-campus and Online
Resident tuition: $1,367.15 per class (online), $2,016.99 per class (on-campus)
Non-resident tuition: $3,558.65 per class (online), $4,208.49 per class (on-campus)
Program Overview:
Being the first to offer an online MBA program in North Carolina, ECU provides a comprehensive yet flexible course that may be completed in 11 classes. The curriculum covers 7 foundation courses, 8 common body of knowledge courses, and 3 elective courses.
CAHME-Accredited MHA Programs in North Carolina
There are 3 MHA programs in North Carolina that are accredited by CAHME, an organization that recognizes programs that meet (if not excel) the set standards for healthcare administration education.
Appalachian State University
- Boone, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Health Administration
Accreditation: CAHME
Modality: Online
Resident tuition: $204.29 per credit for 46 credits — $9,397.34
Non-resident tuition: $939.00 per credit for 46 credits — $43,194
Program Overview:
Appalachian State’s MHA program is specially designed for working professionals who want to become strong, capable health organization leaders. The 46-credit curriculum, which features theories from practice perspectives and assignments that promote active learning, comes with two focus areas: healthcare leadership and health informatics. Both tracks may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Online + Campus
Program:
Master of Healthcare Administration
Accreditation: CAHME
Modality: On-campus (Residential) and Online (Executive)
Resident Tuition: $9,315.00 max per semester
Non-resident tuition: $18,265.00 max per semester
Program Overview:
UNC-Chapel Hills offers two MHA options. The first one is the Residential track, which is a 3-year program for entry-level healthcare leaders. The second one is the Executive track, which is a 2-year program designed for full-time healthcare leaders. Both target 24 workplace-aligned competencies.
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Campus
Program:
Master of Health Administration
Accreditation: CAHME
Modality: On-campus
Resident tuition: $4,610 per year plus other fees
Non-resident tuition: $19,646 per year plus other fees
Program Overview:
The 2-year interdisciplinary MHA program is designed to help healthcare leaders readily adapt to the complex, ever-changing environment. While no work experience is required for admission, this is recommended for applicants who wish to have a better application portfolio. Classes are usually held on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings.
Online Masters in Healthcare Administration Programs in North Carolina
Students who prefer distance-based learning may choose from any of these 15 North Carolina MHA programs:
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Science in Health Sciences — Healthcare Leadership
Modality: Online
Tuition: $540 per credit for 30 credits — $16,200 plus other fees
Program Overview:
The MSHS-Healthcare Leadership program offers a non-clinical option to advance in the healthcare field. The asynchronous online courses, which are taught in 7-week blocks, are combined with practical experiences that enable students to apply their knowledge in real-life situations. The program may be completed in a year.
Catawba College
- Salisbury, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
MBA, Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: under $22,000
Program Overview:
Catawba’s MBA program prepares its students for top management jobs by blending its liberal arts education with healthcare business administration topics. Delivered online, courses are broken into manageable 8-week block formats. Full-time students may complete the course in 12 months, while part-timers may do so in 20–24 months.
Fayetteville State University
- Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
MBA in Healthcare Management
Modality: Online
Resident Tuition: $224 per credit for 39 credits — $8,736 plus other fees
Non-resident tuition: $560 per credit for 39 credits — $21,840 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Featuring live and recorded lectures, Fayetteville’s online MBA is ideal for busy professionals who want to lead healthcare organizations. The 39-credit program features 27 core credits and 12 elective credits in either managed care, healthcare finance, healthcare marketing, ethical/legal issues, HR, information systems, and quality outcomes.
High Point University
- High Point, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master’s in Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $925 per credit for 46 credits — $42,550 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Designed to prepare students for career advancements in the healthcare sector, High Point’s MHA program features hands-on coursework that instills the knowledge and skills that make effective healthcare leaders. With a program delivered online in 6-week terms, the flexible program may be completed in 2 years.
Lees-McRae College
- Banner Elk, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $530 per credit for 36 credits — $19,080 plus other fees
Program Overview:
The MHA program offered by Lees-McRae is for healthcare professionals who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in management, policy, and other related aspects. The program, which has a 36-credit curriculum that combines medicine with business, may be completed in 1.5 years.
Methodist University
- Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Health Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $545 per credit for 36 credits — $19,620 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Methodist’s conveniently formatted MHA program is delivered by seasoned healthcare practitioners through eight-week-term online classes. The 36-credit curriculum includes courses in policy, marketing, organizational behavior, health management, and more. Students may finish the program in 18 months.
Pfeiffer University
- Misenheimer, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Health Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $400 per credit for 39 credits — $15,600 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Created for working professionals, Pfeiffer’s MHA program helps students excel in challenging healthcare leadership roles in hospitals, facilities, insurance companies, and so much more. The 39-credit program, which may be completed in 15 months, focuses on health economics, health IT, financial management, and more subjects
Queen’s University of Charlotte
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Health Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $32,400
Program Overview:
Designed to provide in-depth management and operations education, Queen’s MHA prepares students to become ethical and efficient healthcare leaders. It features a comprehensive curriculum that includes subjects in quality improvement, healthcare law, financial management, strategic planning, and more. The program may be completed in 24 months.
Salem College
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Health Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $6,300 per semester
Program Overview:
Open to recent graduates and early-career leaders, Salem’s MHA prepares its students for the unique challenges faced by healthcare administrators. The interdisciplinary curriculum delves into key topics such as leadership, communications, ethics, and cultural proficiency, to name a few. To obtain the degree, students must also complete a capstone project and a 400-hour internship.
University of Mt. Olive
- Mount Olive, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Business Administration: Healthcare Management
Modality: Online
Tuition: $610 per credit for 39 credits — $23,790 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Offered through the Robert L. Tillman School of Business, Mt. Olive’s MBA-HCM program is for students who wish to acquire the knowledge and skills expected of healthcare leaders. This is made possible by a comprehensive curriculum that includes courses in patient safety, finance, healthcare quality, and policy, among many others.
University of North Carolina-Pembroke
- Pembroke, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $11,092.30
Program Overview:
UNC-Pembroke’s MBA-HCA program provides students with a strong foundation in economics, accounting, marketing, and managerial finance. With its concentration courses in HR, healthcare ethics, and healthcare economics, the 36-credit program is designed to provide the essential knowledge needed by healthcare administrators.
University of North Carolina-Wilmington
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $15,739.68
Program Overview:
Designed for early and mid-careerists, UNC-Wilmington offers a competency-focused MHA curriculum that provides relevant and applicable knowledge to its students. Open to applicants with at least 1 year of related healthcare experience, the curriculum covers 7 courses that span 7 weeks each. The program may be completed in a year.
Wake Forest University
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Tuition: $45,144
Program Overview:
With an average completion time of 2 years, Wake Forest’s MHA program was created for professionals who want to improve care and service delivery in their respective organizations. Immersive learning is rendered through its 12 courses (including health system management, HR management, and health informatics) and patient-centered research/innovation.
Western Carolina University
- Cullowhee, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Health Sciences — Healthcare Management
Modality: Online
Resident tuition: $5,120.28 per semester
Non-resident tuition: $10,479.78 per semester
Program Overview:
WCU’s MHS-HM program is designed for future leaders who want to deliver quality healthcare services while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The 33-credit curriculum, which has an admission criterion of a 3.0 GPA or higher, may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis.
Winston-Salem University
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Online
Program:
Master of Healthcare Administration
Modality: Online
Resident tuition: $215.12 per credit for 45 credits — $9,680.40 plus other fees
Non-resident tuition: $800.37 per credit for 45 credits — $36,016.65 plus other fees
Program Overview:
Ranked as one of the more affordable programs in the US, Winston-Salem’s MHA offering is known for its focus on health equity. After all, it is focused on improving healthcare leader representation in the Piedmont Triad region. With an online program focused on learning and service, graduates get to hone the competencies needed to lead healthcare organizations successfully.
No GRE Required MHA Programs in North Carolina
There are 13 universities in North Carolina that don’t require GRE scores:
- Appalachian State University — Master of Health Administration
- Catawba College — MBA, Healthcare Administration
- High Point University — Master’s in Healthcare Administration
- Lees-McRae College — Master of Healthcare Administration
- Methodist University — Master of Healthcare Administration
- Pfeiffer University — Master of Health Administration
- Queen’s University of Charlotte — Master of Health Administration
- University of Mt. Olive — Master of Business Administration: Healthcare Management
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill — Master of Healthcare Administration
- University of North Carolina-Charlotte — Master of Health Administration
- University of North Carolina-Wilmington — Master of Healthcare Administration
- Wake Forest University — Master of Healthcare Administration
- Winston-Salem University — Master of Healthcare Administration
Here are 4 programs that offer GRE waivers:
- Campbell Master of Business Administration — Healthcare Management — for those who meet certain educational and work experiences
- Duke University Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Leadership — for applicants who have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher
- Fayetteville State University MBA in Healthcare Management — for those who meet certain educational or experiential requirements
- University of North Carolina-Pembroke Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Healthcare Administration — for those with a cumulative GPA 2.5 and above
Accelerated MHA Programs in North Carolina
There are 5 programs in North Carolina that may be finished in a year:
- Cabarrus College of Health Sciences — MSHS in Health Leadership
- Campbell University — MBA in Healthcare Management
- Catawba College — MBA in Healthcare Administration
- UNC-Pembroke — MBA in Healthcare Administration
- UNC-Wilmington — MHA
Affordable Masters in Healthcare Administration Programs in North Carolina
The most affordable healthcare administration program for NC residents is offered by Fayetteville State University. Its MBA in Healthcare Management program only costs $8,736 plus other fees. The CAHME-accredited UNC-Charlotte also offers an inexpensive MHA program that costs $9,220 plus other fees.
As for non-residents, the cheapest option is UNC-Pembroke’s MBA in Healthcare Administration. The entire program costs $11,092.30.
All MHA Programs in North Carolina
| University Name | Program Name | Degree | State/Location | Delivery Mode | Program Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health | Healthcare Management | MHA | NC | Hybrid Executive Full-Time | Healthcare Management |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Public Health | Healthcare Management | MHA | NC | Residential Non-Executive Full-Time | Healthcare Management |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte College of Health and Human Services | Healthcare Management | MHA | NC | Residential Non-Executive Full-Time | Healthcare Management |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington School of Health and Applied Human Sciences | Healthcare Management | MHA | NC | Online Accelerated | Healthcare Management |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Master of Healthcare Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Healthcare Administration |
| Duke University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Healthcare Administration |
| Wake Forest University | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
| East Carolina University | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
| Appalachian State University | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
| UNC Charlotte | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
| Gardner-Webb University | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
| Winston-Salem State University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Healthcare Administration |
| High Point University | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
| Pfeiffer University | Master of Health Administration | Master's | NC | Full-time or part-time | Master of Health Administration |
What Types of Careers Can I Pursue With an MHA Degree in North Carolina?
Here are some career options that a North Carolina-based MHA program graduate may explore:
Hospital/Health System Administrator
Home to Duke Health, UNC Health, Atrium Health, and Novant Health, North Carolina offers a lot of opportunities for aspiring C-suite executives, healthcare administrators, patient service directors, or quality improvement managers.
Public Health Administrator
The NC Department of Health and Human Services needs MHA graduates who can function as administrators, health policy analysts, or program managers.
Insurance Administrator
MHA graduates can work as health insurance administrators or utilization review managers for NC-based companies BlueCross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Ambetter, Carolina Complete Health, and CareSource, to name a few.
Pharmaceutical Director
MHA programs provide graduates with the competencies needed to function as market access managers or health policy liaisons for NC-based pharmaceutical companies, such as Quintiles, KBI Biopharma, and Syneos Health.
Research Director
Graduates can also work as healthcare research directors for various academic institutions, such as UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Wake Forest University. Moreover, they can also qualify as administrators for the nonprofit organization Research Triangle Institute International.
