Healthcare professionals looking to move into management roles often compare a business degree with a healthcare focus against a Master of Health Administration (MHA). Pittsburg State University offers the business option through its online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration program. The program is comprised of 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 months.
The Gladys A. Kelce College of Business at Pittsburg State University, which houses the program, is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction held by only about 6% of institutions that offer business degrees worldwide. This guide compares the two degrees on curriculum, pay data, credentials and fit, so you can choose the path that best aligns with your goals.
What Is the Difference Between an MBA in Healthcare Administration and an MHA?
An MBA builds broad business skills with a healthcare focus, while an MHA centers on how healthcare organizations run. An MBA is a general management degree, and a healthcare emphasis adds study of how care organizations operate. An MHA centers on healthcare organizations and systems, and its courses vary by school. Hiring is not limited to one degree, so the best way to compare the two options is to determine how each program fits the way you want to work.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says degree programs that focus on both management and healthcare combine business-related topics with subjects such as medical terminology, hospital organization and health information systems. A health administration degree may include courses in health services management and health informatics, as well as accounting and budgeting. The table below places the two degrees side by side, using Pitt State’s program as the MBA example.
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Feature
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MBA with a healthcare emphasis (Pitt State)
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MHA
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Main focus
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Business management with specialized healthcare courses
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Healthcare organizations and systems
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Sample coursework
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Financial strategy, marketing strategy, strategic management and healthcare financial management
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Health services management and health informatics, plus accounting and budgeting (BLS examples)
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Fits leaders who
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Want advanced business management skills with specialized healthcare knowledge
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Want a program centered on healthcare operations, systems and information management
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How Do Careers and Pay Compare for MBA vs. MHA Graduates?
Both degrees can lead to management roles in healthcare, and the difference shows up in the kind of work each one suits. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical and health services managers typically enter the field with a bachelor’s degree in health administration, nursing, business or a related area, and that advancement to top executive positions may require a master’s degree. Employers set their own preferences, so the choice between an MHA and an MBA often depends on the role a graduate wants to hold.
An MHA centers on operational leadership inside healthcare organizations. EduMed lists hospital administrator, health services manager, clinical operations director and group practice administrator among the roles that fit this focus. BLS reports that hospitals employ 28% of medical and health services managers, followed by physician offices at 13%, which are the settings where many MHA graduates work.
An MBA in Healthcare Administration pairs a business core with a healthcare emphasis. The Pittsburg State curriculum combines courses in financial strategy, marketing strategy and strategic management with healthcare courses in systems management, financial management and leadership and operations. Graduates are prepared for roles such as medical and health services manager, nursing home administrator, clinical manager, health information manager, management analyst, market research analyst, human resources manager and compliance officer. EduMed also associates MBA graduates with roles such as healthcare consultant, healthcare marketing manager, product manager and pharmaceutical executive, which reflects the degree’s use in business functions and across industries.
Because the two degrees overlap, professionals who expect to stay in hospital, clinic or practice operations may find the MHA a natural match. Those who want the option of moving into consulting, marketing, product or industry roles, or who want a business credential that applies beyond healthcare, may lean toward the MBA.
Pay data describes jobs rather than degrees, so it cannot show that one degree pays more. The healthcare administrator salary picture starts with BLS, which reported a median annual wage of $123,860 for medical and health services managers in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $73,390, and the highest 10% earned more than $224,340. BLS reports pay by occupation rather than by degree, so these figures cover managers, whatever degree they hold.
Pay also varies by setting and role. Medical and health services managers earned a median of $133,580 in hospitals and $105,770 in physician offices in May 2025. BLS reports that management analysts, a role the program page lists among MBA careers, earned a median annual wage of $101,860 in May 2025. The lowest 10% earned less than $60,640, and the highest 10% earned more than $171,640. These figures describe occupations, so they do not show that either degree leads to higher pay.
Healthcare administration careers also show strong demand. BLS projects that employment for medical and health services managers will grow 24% from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 62,300 openings each year.
In 2025, Deloitte surveyed 180 C-suite executives from large health systems in six countries and found that they cited workforce challenges as their top concern for 2026, adding that more than 90% said improving productivity would be a priority. Typical duties include preparing and monitoring budgets, recruiting and supervising staff and making sure the facility complies with laws and regulations, per BLS.
What Does Pitt State’s Online MBA in Healthcare Administration Include?
The program pairs seven core business courses with three healthcare emphasis courses, and every course runs seven weeks. The online MBA in Healthcare Administration program at Pitt State requires 30 credit hours. Core courses include Management Control Systems, Quantitative Business Analysis, Financial Strategy and Marketing Strategy, and they cover topics such as forecasting, regression analysis and capital budgeting. The course Leadership and Behavioral Management includes an experiential team-building exercise, and Strategic Management has students act as decision-makers using case method or simulation.
The emphasis courses build the healthcare focus. Healthcare Systems Management introduces the environmental issues, organizational structures and financial control mechanisms that affect healthcare management. Healthcare Financial Management covers budgeting, financial reporting, third-party payers and risk management. Healthcare Leadership and Operations Management addresses people management, strategic planning, quality leadership and working with physicians and stakeholders.
Possible career paths for an MBA in Healthcare Administration include medical and health services manager, nursing home administrator, clinical manager, health information manager, management analyst, human resources manager and compliance officer. Students who want added range can take a second emphasis, such as human resources or marketing, with three more courses, which may add time to completion. This approach allows you to tailor your degree even further to the areas where you want to gain expertise.
Does an MBA in Healthcare Administration Meet Credential and Employer Expectations?
An MBA meets the master’s degree requirement for a professional healthcare executive credential, and employer expectations vary by role. The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) awards the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) credential and accepts any master’s degree, listing the MHA, MBA, MPA and MPH as examples. Bachelor’s and associate degrees do not meet that requirement. But the degree is only one part of the process. ACHE’s full list of requirements also asks for one year of ACHE membership, a current healthcare management position with five years of experience, at least 36 continuing education credits in the past three years, four volunteer activities, two references and a passing score on the Board of Governors Exam. Confirm current rules with ACHE before you apply because requirements can change.
BLS says managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the field, though some employers prefer a master’s degree and top executive roles may require one. The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) reports that 46% of respondents said a bachelor’s degree is required for new hires in this occupation and 21% said a master’s degree is required. O*NET also lists Administration and Management first among the knowledge areas for the role. BLS also notes that all states require licensure for nursing home administrators. But requirements vary by state, so check your state board before you choose a path toward that role.
How Should You Choose Between an MBA in Healthcare Administration and an MHA?
Choose the MBA if you want to gain advanced business management skills and healthcare knowledge. Consider the MHA if you want a program centered on healthcare systems. Your goals and starting point should carry more weight than the degree title. Pitt State’s online MBA path would be a good fit for those who:
- want to gain in-demand skills in healthcare-specific areas such as finance, strategy and marketing.
- are looking to qualify for roles such as management analyst, compliance officer and healthcare manager.
- want to strengthen their credentials on a flexible schedule while they continue to work.
The MHA tends to suit a narrower focus. Online master’s in healthcare administration programs differ in pace, cost and entry rules, so compare each school’s published information before you decide. An MHA path best suits those who:
- want every course to center on healthcare organizations and systems.
- plan to stay in healthcare management for their whole career.
- who are looking for coursework in topics such as health services management and health informatics.
Picture two leaders. A nurse manager who plans to stay in clinical operations may prefer an MHA, while a department head who may move toward finance or consulting may prefer the MBA’s range. Pitt State’s program asks for a bachelor’s degree, a 2.7 GPA or higher, and a resume. There is no GMAT or GRE score required and applicants can enter with either three years of full-time managerial experience or a business degree earned within the last three years. If you are ready to build business and healthcare leadership skills, reviewing the program’s application steps is a practical way to begin.
Learn more about Pittsburg State University’s online Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration program.
About Pittsburg State University’s Online MBA in Healthcare Administration Program
Pittsburg State University’s online Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration program is delivered 100% online and requires 30 credit hours of seven-week courses. Students can finish in as few as 12 months, and the program has multiple start dates each year and no prerequisite courses.
Pittsburg State University is a public university in Pittsburg, Kansas, founded in 1903 as the Auxiliary Manual Training Normal School. It offers more than 100 academic programs across four colleges, and its Gladys A. Kelce College of Business is accredited by AACSB. The university has awarded MBA degrees for 50 years.
