Health Administration MHA Programs in Massachusetts & Salary Info.

Health Administration Degrees in Massachusetts

Working in healthcare administration requires a postsecondary degree, meaning that you will need to possess either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in healthcare administration or a similar field.

Whichever of the following educational institutions you choose, you will not regret your decision.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY – School of Public Health – Boston

• Master of Public Health with Certificate in Healthcare Management (On Campus)

The estimated cost per academic year is $50,980.

The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY – Questrom School of Business – Boston

• Master of Business Administration in Health Sector Management (On Campus)
• Health Sector Master of Business Administration/Medical Doctor
• Health Sector Master of Business Administration/Master of Public Health

Concentrations/specializations:

• Energy & Environmental Sustainability
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Leadership & Organizational Transformation
• Marketing
• Operations & Technology Management
• Strategy & Innovation

The estimated cost per academic year is $50,980 and the school boasts accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health.

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY – Sawyer Business School – Boston

• Master of Healthcare Administration (On Campus)

The estimated cost per academic year is $17,565.

The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Undergraduate degrees in healthcare administration give a solid foundation for entry-level healthcare management jobs in physician’s practices, nursing homes, and public health clinics, among others, and these programs are structured as Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA) programs.

The more advanced topic covered in bachelor’s degree programs in health administration are:

• Global healthcare delivery systems
• Healthcare economics and finance
• Managed care
• Human resource management in healthcare

Once they graduate, students are able to develop, plan, and manage healthcare operations for many types of healthcare facilities, being that they are taught topics such as business management, public policy, health law and ethics, and healthcare delivery systems operations.

People who finish the Graduate Degrees in Healthcare Administration and Management are adequately prepared to take on senior-level positions in settings such as major health systems, hospitals, and managed care networks, among many others.

For those interested in senior positions, some of the master’s degree programs in healthcare administration located in Massachusetts include:

• MBA in Global Health Management
• MPH in Global Health Management
• MHA in Healthcare

In schools of public policy, public administration, business administration, or public health it is common to find these graduate-level programs structured as:

• Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH) (health administration concentration)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) (health administration concentration)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) (health administration concentration)

Many schools also offer dual degrees, such as:

• JD/MHA
• MBA/MPH
• MD/MBA
• MHA/MBA

According to content delivery and the type of student they cater to, masters programs are divided into:

• executive programs aimed at working professionals;
• residential programs aimed at students seeking traditional on-campus instruction;
• accelerated programs for students completing both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

You do not need to be a student who has completed an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration to enroll in graduate studies, as you can possess undergraduate degrees in the medical field or in areas such as business, finance, and accounting.

The typical admission requirements for graduate degree programs often include:

• Minimum undergraduate GPA
• Experience in healthcare administration (executive programs)
• GRE scores
• Admissions essay
• Professional letters of recommendation

During master’s degree programs, students will be taught the following topics:

• Executive communications
• Ethical and global foundations
• Financial reporting and analysis
• Finance
• Marketing management
• Managing organizations and people
• Business analytics
• Competition, innovation, and strategy

The majority of master’s programs culminate in a master’s thesis or capstone project.

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Massachusetts

The main reason why we include a certain number of recent job posts is to show you the possible positions that healthcare administrators and managers can take and to provide you with an insight into what type of education is required for certain positions.

Administrative Director, Boston –  He/ she will support the budget and personnel management of director-level staff so a master’s degree (MPH, MBA, MHA, etc.) is required.

Quality Improvement Project Manager, Woburn –  this individual will facilitate the development, implementation, and monitoring of health programs and he/she needs to possess a degree in business administration, healthcare management or a related area to be considered for employment.

Senior Healthcare Practice Analytics Consultant, Waltham –  this person will accelerate practice growth and improve performance among many other duties and he/she must have at least a bachelor’s degree. An MBA or master’s degree in healthcare administration or business administration is desired.

Manager of Quality and Compliance, Elder Service Plan, Cambridge – This individual will plan, implement, and maintain the Elder Service Plan’s compliance with federal and state PACE regulations, so a master’s degree in healthcare administration or the equivalent experience is required.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Massachusetts

The largest employers of healthcare administrators and managers in the state are the largest healthcare systems, which include:

• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
• UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
• Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington

We would like to mention some of the professional associations which serve as excellent resources for both novice healthcare administrators and managers, as well as those who already have experience in the filed, but are seeking to network with others and stay current on the latest trends:

• Massachusetts Medical Directors Association
• Massachusetts Hospital Association
• Massachusetts Association for Healthcare Quality

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Massachusetts

If we take a look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we can find out that the median annual wage for healthcare administrators in Massachusetts is $126694 which is quite above the national median of $99,730.

Massachusetts is the third highest paying state in the country for medical and health service managers.

Regional Salary in Massachusetts