Master of Health Administration

Lead healthcare. Shape the future of care.

An immersive, CAHME-accredited MHA program in the heart of Indianapolis’s healthcare ecosystem.

For over 50 years, Indiana University Indianapolis has led the way in educating healthcare leaders in Indiana and beyond.

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health prepares the next generation of healthcare leaders through rigorous coursework, real-world experience, and unmatched access to healthcare organizations.

Choose the format that fits your career goals, in-person or online, with a curriculum grounded in leadership, strategy, finance, and population health.

Apply now

See the admissions criteria and apply »

Request information

Let us know your interests and how we can help you »

Discover the advantage of in-person healthcare leadership training

Some leadership skills are best built face-to-face.

Our in-person MHA is designed for students who want direct access to faculty, peers, and healthcare leaders, and who value learning within a vibrant healthcare community.

The in-person advantage

  • Cohort-based learning
    Progress through the program in as little as 18 months with a close-knit cohort that becomes your professional network for years to come.
  • Live access to faculty & executives
    Learn directly from experienced faculty and guest speakers who are actively leading healthcare organizations.
  • Experiential learning & site exposure
    Go beyond theory through applied projects and exposure to real healthcare operations.
  • Career visibility in Indianapolis
    Build relationships in one of the nation’s most dynamic healthcare markets, where many regional leaders are Fairbanks School alumni. Indianapolis is home to major health systems and healthcare employers, giving in-person students unique networking opportunities.
  • Structured support & career development
    Benefit from advising, mentoring, and career guidance tailored to on-campus students.
  • Flexibility for working professionals
    Most in-person classes are offered in the evening, which accommodates working professionals.

Ideal for students seeking leadership roles within healthcare organizations, hospitals, health systems, consulting, and policy-driven environments.

Prefer flexibility? Explore the online MHA

The online MHA offers the same high-quality curriculum in a flexible format designed for working professionals.

  • Fully online coursework
  • Accelerated 8-week terms
  • Ideal for students balancing work, family, and geographic constraints
Learn more about the online MHA

Who should choose in-person vs. online?

FeatureIn-Person MHAOnline Accelerated MHA
Course DeliveryBlend of in-person and online asynchronous courses100% online asynchronous courses
In-Person RequirementStudents are expected to take all courses in-person, with few exceptionsNo in-person attendance required
Course LengthTraditional 16-week semestersAccelerated 8-week sessions
Time to CompletionFull-time: 18 months
Part-time: 2–5 years		Full-time: 18 months
Part-time: 2–3 years
Admission TermFall admission onlyRolling admissions (multiple start dates per year)
Ideal ForStudents looking to build a strong professional network, gain real-world experience, and grow leadership and communication skills through face-to-face engagementSelf-motivated professionals seeking maximum flexibility to balance work, life, and graduate study from anywhere
Networking & MentorshipExtensive in-person interaction with peers, faculty, and healthcare leaders. Opportunities to meet executive teams and health administrators through classes, panels, and events.Online discussion boards and virtual office hours offer peer and faculty support without in-person interaction. Online students are also invited and welcome to participate in extracurricular networking and other program activities alongside their in-person peers, but these are not required.
Site Visits & Career ExposureIncludes six site visits to major healthcare organizations. In-person panel discussions with healthcare leaders lead to internship and job opportunities.Includes three virtual site visits. Career connections through virtual events and career services.
Career DevelopmentStrong fit for students early in their career or looking to expand their network. Build soft skills like communication, relationship-building, and conflict resolution in real-world settings.Designed for experienced professionals seeking advancement. Online career coaching and internship flexibility.
Professional Skill BuildingDevelops leadership presence, adaptability, and interpersonal skills through live collaboration and real-time feedbackBuilds time management, digital communication, and independent problem-solving skills
 Explore this optionLearn more about this option

Career outcomes that matter

Graduates of the Fairbanks School of Public Health MHA program work across:

  • Hospitals and health systems
  • Physician practices and ambulatory care organizations
  • Consulting and healthcare analytics firms
  • Public health agencies and nonprofit organizations
  • Insurance and payer organizations

Many healthcare leaders across Indiana and beyond are Fairbanks School alumni, a testament to the strength of our professional network.

Jobs outlook

28% Projected growth in employment of medical and health services managers from 2022 to 2032.

$104,830Median pay for Medical and Health Services Managers

100%of 2025 graduates reported full-time employment

Curriculum built for healthcare leadership

The MHA curriculum emphasizes the competencies today’s healthcare organizations demand:

  • Healthcare finance and economics
  • Organizational leadership and strategy
  • Health policy and population health
  • Data-informed decision-making
  • Ethics and professionalism

Students gain both technical expertise and leadership capability, preparing them to manage complex healthcare systems.

Take all 14 courses for a total of 42 credits

  • PBHL-H 507 Human Resources and Organizational Behavior in Health Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 508 Managing Healthcare Accounting Information for Decision-Making (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 509 Financial Management Principles of Healthcare (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 514 Health Economics (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 612 Marketing Health Services Delivery (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 624 Developing Strategic Capability (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 628 Healthcare Information Systems (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 645 Leadership in Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 531 Population Health Management and Value-Based Care (3 credits)
  • PBHL-P 506 Public Health and Community-Focused Leadership (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 702 Internship in Health Administration (3 credits)
  • PBHL-H 623 Capstone in Health Administration (3 credits)

Leadership

MHA 1. Develop leadership approaches that are effective for communicating a vision, motivating stakeholders, building consensus, and leading organizational change.

MHA 2. Work cooperatively with others; create, contribute to, and lead teams.

Professional and Social Responsibility

MHA 3. Demonstrate professional values and ethics including sensitivity to the importance of workforce variety and cultural competency in the delivery of healthcare.

MHA 4. Establish a commitment to continuous learning, self-assessment, and self-improvement.

MHA 5. Contribute to the profession through coaching, advising, and mentoring.

Communications and Relationship Management

MHA 6. Write in a clear logical manner for effective business communications.

MHA 7. Demonstrate effective oral communication and presentation skills.

MHA 8. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain positive professional relationships.

Health and Healthcare Environment

MHA 9. Understand how decisions are made within the private, nonprofit, and government sectors.

MHA 10. Explain important issues in healthcare including the need for reform, major changes that have occurred, and proposals being considered for the U.S. healthcare delivery system.

Business and Analytical Skills

MHA 11. Use quantitative information for effective organizational decision-making.

MHA 12. Use financial skills for effective stewardship of resources.

MHA 13. Understand and appropriately use information technology to support business and clinical functions.

MHA 14. Apply appropriate business strategies in the development of business plans and effective project management.

Modeled after the ACHE "Leadership Competencies for Healthcare Service Managers"

Why choose us for your MHA degree?

  1. We have been fully accredited by CAHME since 1983.
  2. We have an outstanding faculty that includes full-time educators with lots of practical experience in our health systems and a network of adjunct faculty who are working professionals in the field.
  3. We're ranked as one of the best healthcare management programs in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report's Best Grad School Rankings.
  4. Our study abroad programs offer opportunities to gain new perspectives by studying in Geneva and London.
  5. Our close proximity to the top health systems in Indiana gives our students unparalleled opportunities to gain hands on experience through experiential learning, internships, and capstone projects.
  6. Our alumni include approximately half of the hospital CEOs in Indiana, as well as many other industry leaders.
  7. We’re flexible enough to accommodate both full-time and part-time students.
  8. We offer outstanding career services support to our students and alumni.
See the advantages that Indianapolis offers
*Above rates are for tuition only. Other fees apply. Use the tuition calculator to estimate your total costs.
Michaela Trame

I knew I wanted to be a leader in the healthcare space and I felt that this program would give me the tools, knowledge, and skills to get there.

Michaela Trame, MHA'19, Population Health Strategist, Vital Incite
antionette smith epps

Meet our program director

"The Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health MHA program uses constant feedback from health care leaders, alumni, students and faculty to maintain a contemporary curriculum. IU MHA students, as a result, are prepared with the knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences to excel in leadership roles in the State of Indiana and throughout the United States."

Antionette Smith Epps, DrPH, MHSA
MHA Program Director

Meet the HPM faculty

Alumni Career Profiles

Alumni career profiles

To help our prospective students understand the possibilities a degree in Health Administration offers, we've asked several alumni to share the career opportunities they have had since graduating. Browse the alumni career profiles to see what our graduates are up to.

Jabari Bradshaw

MHA-MPH

Master of Health Administration - Master of Public Health

MHA-JD

Master of Health Administration - Juris Doctor

Mission, vision and values

MHA program mission

The mission of the Indiana University Master of Health Administration (MHA) program is to prepare healthcare leaders who will work in a variety of health service management and policy settings to advance the health and well-being of people in Indiana and beyond.

Located in downtown Indianapolis, the MHA program takes advantage of its connections to one of the most dynamic healthcare markets in the region and strong alumni support to provide a wide-range of collaborative, applied, and innovative experiential learning opportunities to students and other professionals in the field.

MHA program vision

While continuing to develop healthcare leaders to meet the needs of Indiana, the MHA program aspires to broaden its influence, regionally and nationally, being recognized for developing capable, professional leaders who are forward thinking and prepared to positively impact population health and other future industry challenges.

MHA program values

The MHA program is guided by the core values of the Richard M Fairbanks School of Public Health which include; collaboration, commitment to fairness in society, environmental consciousness, respect for different perspectives, opportunity for all, innovation, respect, and understanding of varied experiences. These core values guide all aspects of teaching, research, and service.

Admissions

Apply

Learn what you must complete in order to be admitted to this degree program.

View the admissions criteria

Still have questions?

Our graduate advisor, Cher Pearcy, is available to meet with you virtually or in-person. Contact Cher at chepearc@iu.edu.

Admissions deadline

See the deadline to apply to our master's programs.

View the deadlines