Compare CAHME-accredited Maryland MHA programs by cost, format, admissions, and public-sector career outcomes.
Maryland houses the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: three of the largest federal health agencies in the country, alongside major hospital systems like Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland Medical System. That density creates a deep, year-round market for health administration talent.
Online-eligible MHA programs in the state range from CAHME-accredited options to flat-rate tuition models, but this ranking surfaces only programs that meet a blended quality standard. The order reflects a composite of online delivery, graduation outcomes, and institutional strength, not a simple cost comparison. For professionals weighing no-GRE admissions or in-state tuition breaks, the challenge is balancing affordability with the credential’s market value.
The following rankings spotlight online-eligible Master of Health Administration and healthcare management programs based in Maryland, ordered by a blended quality composite that rewards online delivery, institutional graduation outcomes, and overall program strength. This is not a cost ranking or a salary ranking: it prioritizes academic quality and accessibility for students who need flexible, remote-friendly options. Because institution-wide graduation rates are the most reliable metric available from federal data, those figures appear on every card below. Keep in mind that these rates reflect all undergraduate completers at the university, not MHA students specifically, so treat them as a broad institutional indicator rather than a program-level measure.
Towson, MD · ~$17,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Baltimore-area professionals seeking hybrid flexibility
Towson University is a large public institution just north of Baltimore with deep ties to Maryland's community college system and regional health employers. Its College of Health Professions anchors multiple health administration pathways, and its graduate programs feature evening and hybrid scheduling tailored to working professionals across the Baltimore corridor. Towson's in-state graduate tuition is among the lowest on this list, making it especially attractive for Maryland residents who want a public-university credential without a long commute.
College Park, MD · $16,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Clinicians pursuing executive healthcare leadership
The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship research institution and carries an institution-wide graduation rate near 89%, the highest among all programs in this ranking. Its online MHA sits within the School of Public Health and emphasizes health economics, strategic planning, and quality improvement. A dual degree option with the University of Maryland School of Medicine sets it apart for clinicians pursuing executive leadership, and required internship and capstone components connect students to Maryland hospitals and state agencies.
Adelphi, MD · $22,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Military-affiliated learners using federal benefits
University of Maryland Global Campus is built from the ground up for nontraditional and distance learners, including active-duty military, veterans, and federal employees concentrated in the Maryland and D.C. corridor. Its M.S. in Healthcare Administration covers 42 credit hours and explicitly prepares graduates for the FACHE and CPH certification exams. UMGC's no-cost digital course materials, interest-free payment plans, and broad transfer credit policy lower barriers for working professionals across the state.
Owings Mills, MD · $27,000/yr
Stevenson University is a private institution in Owings Mills offering a fully online Master's in Healthcare Management structured around accelerated eight-week courses. Two concentration tracks, Quality Management and Patient Safety or Project Management in Healthcare, let students specialize for distinct career paths. Stevenson's IACBE-accredited program supports employer tuition reimbursement partnerships and offers a low-residency option for F-1 visa holders, broadening its reach beyond the typical Maryland commuter student.
Emmitsburg, MD · $20,000 – $25,000/yr
Mount St. Mary's University, located in Emmitsburg, delivers its online M.S. in Health Administration through the IACBE-accredited Bolte School of Business. At 36 credit hours and six annual start dates, the program is designed for maximum scheduling agility. A distinctive feature is the embedded Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, which prepares graduates for quality improvement and operational efficiency roles increasingly valued in Maryland hospital systems and managed care organizations.
Only two Maryland-connected MHA programs currently hold accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME): Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Uniformed Services University's Master of Health Administration and Policy program.1 Every other master's-level health administration option based in Maryland, including programs at University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Global Campus, Mount St. Mary's University, Morgan State University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and University of Baltimore, currently sits outside CAHME's accredited directory.1
CAHME is the sole programmatic accreditor for healthcare management education in the United States and Canada.1 That distinction matters because regional or institutional accreditation, the kind granted to an entire university, confirms that a school meets baseline standards for degree-granting institutions. It says nothing about whether a specific MHA curriculum meets the field's professional benchmarks for competencies like health finance, operations, policy analysis, and leadership. A university can be fully accredited as an institution while its MHA program has never sought or earned CAHME review. Maryland families researching options need to check both boxes separately.
All other Maryland-based programs referenced on this page currently show a status of not accredited in CAHME's directory as of the 2025-2026 cycle.1
Employers hiring for administrative fellowships and residencies, particularly with the Maryland Department of Health, county health districts, public hospital systems, and VA facilities, frequently give preference or set eligibility requirements around CAHME-accredited degrees. The same holds true in states where nursing home administrator licensure boards weigh CAHME status when evaluating whether a candidate's education satisfies coursework requirements. A non-CAHME program isn't disqualifying on its own, many graduates build strong public-sector careers without it, but it can mean extra documentation, narrower fellowship eligibility, or a longer path to certain licensure tracks. Readers weighing the tradeoffs across formats and price points should also review the broader accreditation landscape for public health administration degrees and programs by state before ruling any Maryland option in or out.
Understanding the true cost of an MHA program in Maryland requires looking beyond sticker price. The table below compares estimated graduate tuition for each ranked program, noting which schools charge a flat rate regardless of where you live. Net price figures shown are institution-wide averages after financial aid (based on 2023 U.S. Department of Education data) and should not be treated as MHA-specific quotes. For students seeking the most affordable path, Stevenson University currently posts the lowest estimated graduate tuition at roughly $8,460 for both in-state and out-of-state students, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious learners. If you are comparing costs across all nationally available programs, our affordable online MHA guide offers a broader look.
| School | Estimated Graduate Tuition (In-State) | Estimated Graduate Tuition (Out-of-State) | Flat Online Rate? | Format | Approx. Institution-Wide Net Price After Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevenson University | $8,460 | $8,460 | Yes | Online | $26,505 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | $9,882 | $12,132 | No (small differential) | Online | $22,063 |
| Towson University | $12,636 | $22,860 | No | Hybrid | $17,413 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | $14,351 | $14,351 | Yes | Online | $22,655 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | $18,276 | $38,207 | No | Online | $15,678 |
Maryland residents considering an MHA have several format options, from fully asynchronous online programs to hybrid models that blend virtual coursework with required in-person components. The differences matter: format choices affect scheduling flexibility, practicum logistics, and whether you need to travel to a campus at all. Below is a side-by-side comparison across the key dimensions that shape day-to-day student experience.
| Dimension | University of Maryland, College Park (Hybrid Online MHA) | Mount St. Mary's University (Online MSHA) | UMGC (Online MS in Healthcare Administration) | Stevenson University (Online MS in Healthcare Management) | Towson University (Hybrid Health Science MS, Administration) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Model | Hybrid: coursework delivered online with required in-person field components | Fully online with synchronous and asynchronous options | Fully online with select hybrid courses available | Fully online, 100% asynchronous 8-week courses | Hybrid: mix of online and on-campus evening courses |
| Synchronous vs. Asynchronous | Online coursework is primarily asynchronous; internship and capstone are scheduled in person | Both synchronous and asynchronous sessions offered, giving students flexibility each term | Asynchronous online format for most courses | Asynchronous throughout the program | On-campus sessions are synchronous; online components are asynchronous |
| Campus Visits or Residency Weekends | No traditional residency weekends, but the semester-long internship (HLSA 778, 4 credits) and capstone project (HLSA 786, 3 credits) require in-person presence at a healthcare organization | No campus visits required; program can be completed entirely at a distance | No campus visits required | No campus visits required; a low-residency option exists for international students on F-1 visas | Periodic on-campus evening meetings in Towson, MD |
| Practicum or Fieldwork Requirement | Yes: a full-semester healthcare internship at an approved site, plus a capstone project | Yes: MHA 511 Healthcare Practicum (3 credits) in the sixth semester at a field-based healthcare setting | Capstone project required; no standalone clinical practicum listed | Capstone required; no separate clinical practicum listed | Capstone or thesis option; no standalone clinical practicum listed |
| Can Practicum Be Completed Near Home? | Yes, students arrange placement at a healthcare organization in their area, subject to program approval | Yes, the field-based practicum can be completed at a healthcare site local to the student | Not applicable (capstone only) | Not applicable (capstone only) | Not applicable (capstone or thesis only) |
| Typical Practicum Hours | Semester-long internship spanning one full academic term | Practicum completed across one 8-week session in the final year | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Best Suited For | Working professionals who can commit to a structured internship semester at a nearby healthcare facility | Students who need maximum geographic flexibility and want to complete all requirements remotely | Students seeking a fully online, military-friendly program with no in-person obligations | Working professionals who prefer short, self-paced course blocks | Maryland-based students who can attend periodic evening classes on the Towson campus |
Most online MHA students in Maryland are working healthcare professionals, so part-time pacing is the norm. However, programs across the state offer a range of timelines depending on credit-hour requirements and whether an accelerated or cohort-based track is available. The comparison below outlines what to expect at three Maryland institutions offering fully online master's-level health administration degrees.
Two of the primary online health administration programs available to Maryland residents, the University of Maryland's Online MHA and Mount St. Mary's Online MS in Health Administration, have moved away from mandatory standardized testing, though they take different approaches.
The University of Maryland's online Master of Health Administration program is fully test-free for the 2025, 2026 admissions cycle. No GRE or GMAT scores are requested, reviewed, or required at any stage. The primary academic benchmark is a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Work experience in healthcare is not a mandatory prerequisite; however, candidates lacking a health-related background are encouraged to demonstrate their motivation and understanding of the field through personal statements and professional references.1
Mount St. Mary's uses an alternative approach. The program does not require GRE or GMAT scores from applicants who meet specific qualifications. The primary waiver is tied directly to professional experience: candidates with at least three years of healthcare management or relevant administrative experience automatically qualify for a test waiver. For applicants without that experience, GRE or GMAT scores become conditional. The program sets competitive score thresholds: a GRE composite of 304 or a GMAT total of 500. The minimum undergraduate GPA for consideration is 2.75, which is lower than many peer programs and reflects a more holistic review process.2
The divergence in testing policies directly answers a frequent applicant question: can I find MHA programs in Maryland online with no GRE? Yes. The University of Maryland's program is completely test-free, making it a strong choice for candidates who want to avoid standardized testing altogether. Mount St. Mary's offers a practical alternative for experienced professionals who can leverage their work history to bypass the exam requirement. Both options keep the door open without a hard testing barrier, but they suit different applicant profiles. For students seeking additional programs across the country with similar flexibility, no-GRE MHA programs cover a wider range of test-optional and test-free degrees.
It is worth noting that Johns Hopkins University's highly ranked MHA program, while often top-of-mind in Maryland, is delivered on-campus and continues to require GRE or GMAT scores with no waiver options, as detailed in the Maryland MHA programs directory. For online learners specifically, the test-free and waiver-based paths described above are the primary mechanisms for avoiding a standardized test requirement.
Maryland MHA graduates enter a job market with two well-defined career tracks: the mission-driven stability of public-sector health agencies and the rapid advancement potential inside the state's prominent private health systems. Both are deeply connected, and the right pathway often depends on whether you value policy impact or organizational scale. What sets Maryland apart is the density of public-sector fellowship and residency opportunities that many out-of-state candidates miss entirely.
Program-level earnings for online MHA graduates in Maryland are not yet individually published, but broader data for medical and health services managers confirms the state's robust compensation. In the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area, median annual wages sit between $110,000 and $119,000, while the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria region, which includes Maryland suburbs, pushes that range to $120,000 to $124,000.1 These figures reflect the strong demand for qualified administrators across hospitals, government agencies, and outpatient centers. While you wait for program-specific outcome reports, the statewide averages underscore that an MHA from a Maryland institution places you in a market where six-figure roles are common within a few years of graduation.
Maryland's public-sector footprint creates a unique pipeline of administrative residencies and postgraduate fellowships. The VA Maryland Health Care System operates a Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program open to MHA, MPH, and MBA graduates, offering hands-on rotations across one of the nation's most complex integrated care networks.2 At the county level, health departments in Montgomery County and Prince George's County regularly host MHA administrative residents, often through direct partnerships with in-state programs. These placements embed students in budget analysis, community health planning, and emergency preparedness operations.
Several community-directed fellowship programs further strengthen the public-service pathway. The Luminis Health administrative fellowship, serving Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, accepts applications through NAFCAS for graduates from CAHME-accredited programs, with a focus on population health management. The Meritus Health administrative fellowship in Hagerstown places candidates in rural and underserved settings, while the Sheppard Pratt administrative fellowship in Towson offers a 12-month experience for those drawn to behavioral health administration. Even if your career target is a large private system like Johns Hopkins Medicine or MedStar Health, completing a residency within a county or VA setting gives you direct exposure to regulatory and safety-net operations that distinguish you from peers who trained exclusively in corporate environments.
Long-term public-sector employment in Maryland often begins with these fellowships but extends into permanent leadership roles. The Maryland Department of Health and local health departments hire MHA graduates to manage clinics, oversee grant-funded programs, and coordinate with federal partners. For professionals interested in the intersection of government and population health, the state's public health infrastructure and administrative career paths combine well. Exploring resources on public health in Maryland helps you understand how health administration fits into the broader public health workforce, while the online MPA programs for Maryland students page outlines the civil service frameworks that govern hiring and promotion in many of these agency roles.
What licenses or certifications do health administrators need in Maryland, and how can an MHA help you navigate the state's civil service system?
Most health administration roles in Maryland, including those in hospitals, clinics, and public health agencies, do not require a state-issued professional license. The major exception is the nursing home administrator role, which falls under the authority of the Maryland Board of Administrators of Health Care Facilities (BAHA). If your career path includes long-term care administration, you will need to meet BAHA's requirements, which typically involve completing an approved academic program, fulfilling an administrator-in-training (AIT) period, and passing the national and state exams administered by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).
Because specific AIT hours, degree prerequisites, and exam eligibility criteria can shift, the most reliable approach is to visit BAHA's official website directly. There you can review the latest application instructions, approved program lists, and fee schedules. Program directors at CAHME-accredited MHA programs often maintain close ties with the board and can help you map your coursework to licensure prerequisites. Do not rely on third-party summaries; always cross-reference against the board's published materials.
Maryland state government employs health administrators across multiple agencies, from the Maryland Department of Health to local county health departments and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. These positions are classified within the state's personnel system, and each classification carries specific education and experience requirements. An online master of health administration degree frequently satisfies the graduate-level education component for higher-grade public health administrator or health services manager titles, but the exact fit depends on the classification specification.
Before applying, review the official class specifications posted by the Maryland Department of Budget and Management. These documents spell out the minimum qualifications for each job code. An MHA with a concentration in public health policy or health systems management can align especially well with positions in health planning, Medicaid operations, and regulatory oversight. Keep in mind that some classifications also require years of professional experience or supervisory background, so the degree alone may not guarantee qualification at a particular pay grade. Treat the classification website as your primary source, and use job postings to confirm current requirements.
By using these primary sources, you can map your MHA to the exact credentials and job requirements Maryland expects, without relying on outdated or generalized information.
Maryland regulates nursing home administrators through the Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (BAHA), which operates under the Department of Health. The credentialing sequence below is specific to Maryland; timelines may vary depending on your program format, AIT placement availability, and exam scheduling.
Below are answers to the most common questions prospective students ask about pursuing a Master of Health Administration online in Maryland. Each response is grounded in current program data and state requirements. For deeper discussion, refer to the corresponding sections earlier in this guide.
