CAHME-accredited and public-sector-focused health administration programs ranked for Texas residents
Texas houses the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex on earth, alongside a public health apparatus spanning 254 counties, dozens of hospital districts, and one of the country's fastest-growing Medicaid populations. That scale creates sustained demand for administrators who understand budgets, regulatory compliance, and workforce management at once.
The challenge for prospective students is clarity about credentials. In-state tuition for online MHA programs reviewed here ranges from roughly $6,000 to more than $20,000 annually, GRE requirements vary from school to school, and only a subset of programs carry CAHME accreditation, the credential most public hospital systems and federal facilities screen for during hiring.
For Texas residents weighing public-sector paths, whether a county health district, a VA facility, or HHSC itself, that accreditation distinction often matters more than brand-name recognition or overall program cost.
These ten programs are ranked on a blended quality composite that weights online accessibility alongside institutional outcomes, not on price or earnings alone. Most are fully online, while one is hybrid and includes a small number of in-person sessions, so check each entry if campus visits matter to you. Among the schools that report an institution-wide graduation rate, the range runs from about 43% to 74%.
Lubbock, TX · ~$7,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working clinicians seeking a fully online degree
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock exists solely for health professions education within the Texas Tech University System, so every course sits inside a clinical and health policy environment. Its online healthcare administration master's is a 36-credit accelerated option built for people already working, with three start terms a year and faculty who are practicing, board-certified healthcare executives. List-price tuition is about $6,672 in state and $18,972 out of state, and because the degree is fully online, students from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast can complete it without relocating.
Dallas, TX · ~$15,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Dallas health managers adding business training
Parker University is a private Dallas institution focused on health professions, best known for chiropractic and allied health training. Its online MBA with a health care management concentration pairs core business coursework in accounting, finance, marketing and research methods with health sector applications, and tuition is the same for Texas residents and out-of-state students. At roughly $26,208 either way, it is priced as a private degree rather than a public one, and the program is delivered fully online.
Denton, TX · $9,000 – $16,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Career changers entering health services leadership
The University of North Texas is a large public research university in Denton, inside the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and within commuting distance of one of the nation's biggest hospital markets. Its online master's in health services administration runs 39 credits over about two years and is organized around 26 leadership competencies from the National Center for Healthcare Leadership, with a holistic admissions policy and scholarship support. Listed tuition is about $8,319 in state and $18,159 out of state, and coursework covers health delivery systems, quality management, insurance and financial management.
San Marcos, TX · ~$9,000/yr (est.)
Texas State University in San Marcos sits between Austin and San Antonio, giving students access to two of the state's largest healthcare markets. Its executive MHA is an accelerated, asynchronous online program aimed at experienced professionals, with no entrance exam required and an application built around a statement of purpose and letters of recommendation. The program is positioned on affordability and flexible pacing for full-time workers, with tuition listed near $8,606 in state and $20,086 out of state.
Denton, TX · ~$9,000/yr (est.)
Texas Woman's University is a public institution with campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston and a long history in health professions education. Its master of healthcare administration is a hybrid program: coursework is online, with three in-person sessions held in Dallas or Houston. The degree can be finished in as few as 18 months over 45 credits, requires no GRE or GMAT, and offers conditional admission for applicants with GPAs between 2.5 and 2.99. Listed tuition is about $5,712 in state and $15,552 out of state.
San Angelo, TX · ~$8,000/yr (est.)
Angelo State University is a public university in San Angelo serving West Texas and the Concho Valley, where health systems often operate across large rural catchments. Its master's in hospital and health care facilities administration is delivered online in intensive eight-week courses and sits inside an AACSB-accredited business school. Listed tuition is roughly $4,495 in state and $14,335 out of state, admitted students receive automatic scholarship consideration, and the curriculum covers finance, operations, data analytics, ethics and leadership.
Huntsville, TX · ~$9,000/yr (est.)
Sam Houston State University is a public university in Huntsville, north of the Houston metro, and draws heavily on students who work while they study. Its online master of health administration is a 36-credit program that accepts bachelor's degrees in any field, requires no GRE or GMAT, and asks for a 3.0 GPA with no prerequisite courses. Coursework combines business fundamentals with healthcare policy, informatics, economics and human resource management, and listed tuition is about $5,856 in state and $15,696 out of state.
Canyon, TX · $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
West Texas A&M University in Canyon is a public regional university serving the Texas Panhandle, a region where administrators often manage facilities spread across wide rural distances. Its online MBA with a healthcare management concentration is AACSB accredited, uses an asynchronous format with four start terms a year, and has been delivered online since 1997. The program runs 37 credits with electives in healthcare marketing and IT planning, offers a GMAT waiver for qualifying applicants, and lists about $500 per credit hour.
El Paso, TX · $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)
Southwest University at El Paso is a private institution serving the El Paso border region, where bilingual care and cross-border health policy shape much of the local delivery system. Its online master's in health administration runs 24 months across 16 courses, covering healthcare data analytics, quality and risk management, managerial finance, strategic marketing and health law. Tuition is set at about $14,000 regardless of residency, and the university's accreditation is documented through February 2029, which gives applicants a clear planning horizon.
Wichita Falls, TX · ~$8,000/yr (est.)
Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls is a public university serving North Texas and the Red River region, including many rural and community hospitals. Its master of health administration offers four concentration tracks, including health information management, medical practice management, rural and urban hospital management, and public and community sector health care management. Online delivery and low published tuition, about $5,465 in state and $7,285 out of state, make it an option for students who want a specialization rather than a generalist degree.
A strong Master of Health Administration program combines rigorous academic preparation with practical healthcare management training, positioning graduates to lead hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and health systems. In Texas, where the healthcare sector employs more than 1.5 million workers across diverse settings from rural critical access hospitals to massive urban medical centers, program quality directly affects career outcomes. Understanding how programs differ helps you invest your time and tuition wisely.
Our rankings of best online MHA programs in Texas use a composite quality score that weighs several measurable factors. Online delivery eligibility confirms that Texas residents can complete the degree remotely or with minimal campus visits. Institutional outcomes include graduation rates, which signal how well a program supports students through completion, and median earnings after graduation, which reflect the value employers place on the credential. Debt metrics help identify programs where graduates carry manageable loan burdens relative to their earning potential. Cost data captures tuition and required fees so you can compare affordability across institutions. This transparent, data-driven approach lets you see exactly what drives each program's position rather than relying on reputation alone.
The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, known as CAHME, is the gold-standard programmatic accreditor for health administration degrees. CAHME accreditation is distinct from regional or institutional accreditation, which covers an entire university. A school can hold regional accreditation while its MHA program lacks CAHME recognition. Why does this matter? Many administrative fellowships at major health systems, including several in the Texas Medical Center, require or strongly prefer candidates from CAHME-accredited programs. Some state agencies (which often hire graduates of MPA programs in Texas) and federal employers, such as the Veterans Health Administration, also reference CAHME status when evaluating credentials. If you plan to pursue competitive fellowships or federal roles, CAHME accreditation can open doors that would otherwise remain closed.
CAHME status exists on a spectrum. Full accreditation means the program has completed a rigorous review and meets all CAHME standards. Candidacy status indicates a newer program that is working toward full accreditation and has passed initial eligibility requirements but has not yet completed the full evaluation cycle. Programs with candidacy can still provide excellent education, but graduates should confirm that target employers or fellowships accept candidacy-status credentials. Finally, some programs hold only regional accreditation and have not pursued CAHME review at all. These may still prepare you well for certain roles, but the credential carries less weight in competitive fellowship pipelines or with employers who explicitly require CAHME.
Because program selection depends on individual priorities, later sections in this guide break out CAHME accreditation status, GRE policies, tuition comparisons, and practicum or residency requirements. If cost is your primary concern, skip to the tuition comparison. If you need an online MHA no GRE required option, the dedicated table identifies which programs waive standardized testing. If fieldwork with Texas public health agencies matters most, the practicum section details placement opportunities. These filters let you narrow the field based on what matters most to your career goals.
The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is the only organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit graduate programs in healthcare management. CAHME accreditation applies to the individual program, not the university as a whole, so a regionally accredited school may or may not house a CAHME-accredited MHA. Programs in "candidacy" have been accepted into the accreditation process and are undergoing review but have not yet received full status. Candidacy signals that a program is committed to meeting CAHME standards, though it does not guarantee the outcome. Texas currently has six institutions with fully accredited MHA programs, and several additional schools offer health administration master's degrees without CAHME accreditation. When evaluating your options, note that some employers and fellowship programs, particularly in the public sector and at VA medical centers, give preference to graduates of CAHME-accredited programs.
| School | Program Name | CAHME Status | Accreditation Notes | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas State University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Fully Accredited | Initial accreditation 1990; next site review Spring 2027 | On Campus, Online, Hybrid |
| Texas A&M University | Master of Health Administration | Fully Accredited | Continuously accredited since 2008 | On Campus |
| UNT Health Science Center | Master of Health Administration | Fully Accredited | First CAHME-accredited MHA in North Texas at time of accreditation | On Campus, Hybrid |
| Texas Woman's University | Master of Healthcare Administration | Fully Accredited | Current as of 2026 | Hybrid (Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth) |
| Army-Baylor University | Master of Health Administration | Fully Accredited | Current as of 2026 | On Campus, Hybrid |
| University of Houston-Victoria | Master of Health Administration | Fully Accredited | Current as of 2026 | Online |
| University of the Incarnate Word | Master of Health Administration | Fully Accredited | Current as of 2026 | Hybrid |
| Sam Houston State University | Master of Health Administration | None | Regionally accredited institution; no CAHME program accreditation | Online |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | MS in Healthcare Administration | None | Regionally accredited institution; no CAHME program accreditation | Online |
| UT Tyler | Master of Health Administration | None | Regionally accredited institution; no CAHME program accreditation | Online |
| Midwestern State University | Health Services Administration | None | Regionally accredited institution; no CAHME program accreditation | Online |
| Angelo State University | Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration MS | None | Regionally accredited institution; AACSB business accreditation | Online |
| Southern Methodist University | Master of Healthcare Administration | None | Regionally accredited institution; no CAHME program accreditation | Online |
| Texas A&M University, Texarkana | Healthcare Administration MHA | None | Regionally accredited institution; no CAHME program accreditation | Online |
A growing number of Texas MHA and health administration programs have dropped the GRE requirement entirely, removing a significant barrier for working professionals returning to graduate school. Where waiver conditions exist, programs typically look for a minimum undergraduate GPA (usually 3.0 or above) or a defined period of professional healthcare experience. Because admissions policies can shift from one cycle to the next, always confirm the current GRE policy directly with your target program before applying.
| Program | Institution | Delivery | GRE Policy | Notable Admission Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Healthcare Administration | Texas Woman's University | Hybrid | Not required | 3.0 GPA minimum; conditional admission available for 2.5 to 2.99 GPA |
| Executive MHA | Texas State University | Online | Not required | 2.8 GPA minimum; test optional |
| MHA | Texas State University | On-campus/Hybrid | Not required | Test optional |
| MHA | Texas A&M University | On-campus/Hybrid | Not required | Admissions reviewed holistically |
| MS in Healthcare Administration | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Online | Not required | Three start dates per year; designed for working professionals |
| MHA | Midwestern State University | Online | Not required | 33 credit hours; multiple concentrations available |
| Online MHA | UNT Health Science Center | Online | Not required | Two years of professional experience expected |
| MHA | University of the Incarnate Word | Hybrid | Not required | 2.80 GPA minimum; CAHME accredited |
| MS in Health Services Administration | University of North Texas | Online | Not required | Holistic admissions; 39 credit hours |
| MS in Healthcare Leadership | East Texas A&M University | Hybrid | GRE required only for GPA at or below 2.5 | Effectively waived for applicants with GPA above 2.5 |
| MHA | Southern Methodist University | Online | Not required | Test optional; two on-campus immersions required |
| MHA | Sam Houston State University | Online | Not required | 3.0 GPA minimum; bachelor's in any field accepted |
| MHA | University of Texas at Tyler | Online | Not required | 3.0 GPA minimum; rolling admissions |
Graduate tuition for health administration programs in Texas varies significantly depending on the institution and your residency status. Among the programs reviewed, in-state annual tuition ranges from roughly $6,036 at Texas A&M University-Texarkana to $9,091 at the University of North Texas. Out-of-state rates climb as high as $17,264 at UT Tyler. Notably, Midwestern State University keeps the gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition unusually narrow (about $1,300), making it one of the most accessible options for non-residents. Keep in mind that net price figures from federal data reflect institution-level averages across all programs and student populations, not MHA-specific costs.
Texas offers MHA graduates a compelling combination of strong healthcare labor markets and favorable tax conditions. Understanding how program costs translate into earning potential helps you evaluate which investment makes the most sense for your career trajectory.
Program-specific earnings data for MHA completers from Texas institutions is not yet available through federal reporting systems. This means we cannot compare one-year, two-year, or four-year post-graduation earnings across individual programs at this time. However, institutional return-on-investment calculations provide useful context. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center shows an ROI ratio exceeding 7.5, reflecting its relatively low tuition (around $7,150 for in-state students) against strong regional employment outcomes. Southern Methodist University's program, despite higher tuition near $37,000, still demonstrates a solid ROI ratio above 4.0, suggesting graduates command salaries that justify the investment. Programs at UT Tyler, Texas State University, and Texas Woman's University cluster around ROI ratios between 2.7 and 3.3, making them among the more affordable online MHA programs in the state.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data for Medical and Health Services Managers across Texas metros reveals substantial variation by region. Dallas-Fort Worth leads with a median annual wage of $131,370, followed closely by Austin-Round Rock at $130,780. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land reports a median of $125,070, while San Antonio-New Braunfels trails at $108,760.1
For mid-career professionals targeting senior positions, the 75th and 90th percentile figures matter most:
Dallas-Fort Worth also employs the most health administration professionals statewide, with over 14,390 positions compared to roughly 11,620 in Houston and around 6,000 each in Austin and San Antonio.1
Texas levies no state income tax, which meaningfully increases take-home pay compared to states with progressive tax structures. A health services manager earning $125,000 in Texas keeps several thousand dollars more annually than a peer earning the same salary in California or New York. When evaluating total compensation packages, this tax advantage compounds the already competitive wage levels in Texas healthcare markets.
These salary figures reflect the full population of medical and health services managers across all educational backgrounds and experience levels, not exclusively MHA holders. Program-completer earnings, when available, measure outcomes for graduates of specific degree programs regardless of occupation. Both measures provide valuable but distinct perspectives. Regional BLS data helps you benchmark what employers pay in your target market, while ROI ratios offer a rough gauge of how tuition costs compare to expected earnings potential within each institution's graduate population.
Salary potential for Medical and Health Services Managers varies significantly across Texas metro areas. Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex consistently offer the strongest compensation, driven by the concentration of large hospital systems and the presence of the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical complex. The chart below highlights median and 75th-percentile annual wages for the four largest metro areas.
Where can MHA graduates find public-sector careers in Texas?
Texas operates a sprawling public health and hospital infrastructure that relies on health administration professionals to manage services efficiently. Major employers include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which oversees Medicaid, mental health, and regulatory programs; the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), responsible for public health preparedness and community health; and a network of county health departments and public hospital districts. The Harris Health System in Houston and Parkland Health in Dallas County are among the largest safety-net providers, while the Veterans Health Administration operates multiple medical centers across the state, including in Temple, San Antonio, and Houston. Each of these employers hires MHA graduates into careers in public administration, ranging from clinic operations and finance to policy analysis and program management.
Administrative fellowships offer a direct route into high-impact roles. The Texas Public Health Fellowship, a 12-month program hosted by DSHS and local health departments, enrolled 42 fellows in its 2023-2024 cohort, with a 40% placement rate into permanent positions afterward.1 Master's degrees (including the MHA) are preferred or required. A specialized track, the DSHS Analytics and Health Informatics Fellowship based in San Antonio, pays a salary of $69,5722 and seeks candidates with a relevant graduate degree.
Beyond state programs, major Texas hospital systems sponsor fellowships:4 - Houston Methodist Administrative Fellowship: 18 months, rotation-based across corporate, academic, and community settings. - Memorial Hermann Health System Administrative Fellowship: 12 months, with an upcoming application deadline of August 16, 2026. - JPS Health Network in Fort Worth and UT Southwestern Medical Center (12 months, requiring an MHA, MPH, or MBA) offer additional pathways. National programs like the Presidential Management Fellows (2-year federal placement) and the CDC's Public Health Associate Program (2-year field assignments) are also open to Texas graduates. Fellowship compensation typically aligns with early-career salaries in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, though exact figures vary. Competition is keen: Texas A&M's MHA program reports a 92% placement rate overall,3 underscoring strong demand but also the value of early networking.
At the state level, HHSC and DSHS post health administration vacancies (many of which are public administration jobs) through the WorkInTexas portal, where positions are classified under the State of Texas job family system. Titles like "Program Specialist V" or "Health Services Director" map to salary groups, and applicants must address specific knowledge, skills, and abilities in their application materials. County and public hospital districts often use their own online portals.
Federal hiring for VA medical centers flows through USAJobs, with most administrator roles falling under the General Schedule (GS) pay scale, typically GS-9 to GS-12 for entry to mid-level, with locality pay adjustments for Texas metropolitan areas. Federal positions emphasize veterans' preference and often require a USAJobs-specific resume format. Both state and federal systems value CAHME-accredited degrees and relevant internships.
MHA-trained leaders frequently operate at the intersection of healthcare delivery and broader public policy. If your interest leans toward population health strategy rather than facility management, an MPH may be a stronger fit, see programs in public health for Texas. If you gravitate toward budgeting, policy analysis, and government operations, an MPA can open doors to a career in public administration, including city management, budget offices, and legislative affairs. Many dual-degree pathways exist for those who want to integrate these perspectives.
A Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator (LNFA) in Texas is the credential required to manage a Medicaid- or Medicare-certified nursing facility in the state. It is governed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) under 26 TAC Chapter 5551 and is distinct from credentials for hospital administrators, assisted-living managers, or other healthcare facility leaders, none of whom face the same state-specific licensing pathway. If your career goal involves running a skilled nursing facility, whether public or private, understanding how MHA coursework maps to LNFA requirements can save you time and money.
Texas requires LNFA candidates to hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Beyond the degree itself, applicants must complete long-term care coursework: 15 semester credit hours under the standard pathway or 12 semester credit hours for candidates who meet certain experience thresholds.2 The coursework must cover domains aligned with NAB competency areas, including resident-centered care, human resources management, finance, physical environment, and leadership and management.3 An MHA program that includes electives or concentrations in long-term care, geriatric health policy, or post-acute management can satisfy some or all of these credit-hour requirements, though candidates should verify course-by-course alignment with HHSC before enrolling.
After meeting the educational threshold, candidates must complete 1,000 hours in an Administrator-in-Training (AIT) program at a licensed nursing facility.2 A recent HHSC update removed the previous minimum bed-count requirement for AIT host facilities, broadening placement options across rural and smaller facilities statewide.2 Once the AIT is finished, candidates must pass three assessments: the NAB Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) exam, the NAB CORE national exam, and a Texas-specific state examination.3 A criminal background check is also required before licensure is issued.4
Licensed administrators must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their LNFA. Of those 40 hours, at least 6 must cover ethics and 4 must consist of HHSC-mandated training topics. Up to 20 hours may be waived under certain conditions outlined in HHSC rules.4
One Texas program, Amberton University's Graduate Certificate in Nursing Facility Administrator, includes four practicum courses designed to satisfy AIT-related requirements. At the undergraduate level, Tarrant County College's Long-Term Care Administration Certificate requires 27 credit hours. Neither of these is a full MHA degree, but both illustrate the type of targeted long-term care coursework that HHSC expects.
Few Texas MHA programs explicitly advertise a long-term care concentration or direct LNFA curriculum alignment, which means students pursuing both an MHA and LNFA licensure should map their elective choices carefully. Look for MHA electives in aging services, nursing facility finance, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement in post-acute settings. If a program does not offer these courses, supplemental coursework through a certificate program like Amberton's can fill the gap.
HHSC periodically revises Chapter 555 rules, and candidates should monitor HHSC provider letters for updates. The removal of the facility bed-count minimum for AIT placements, documented in a 2024 provider letter2, is the most notable recent change. It opens the door for AIT internships at smaller, community-based nursing facilities, including those operated by county hospital districts or public health authorities, a meaningful development for MHA students focused on public-sector long-term care.
Texas does not require a comparable state license to serve as a hospital CEO or a community health center director, though employers in those roles typically expect an MHA or equivalent graduate degree. The LNFA is specifically tied to nursing facility operations and carries legal accountability for regulatory compliance, resident safety, and Medicaid/Medicare participation. MHA graduates who do not plan to manage nursing facilities generally do not need to pursue LNFA licensure, but holding the credential broadens career options across the full continuum of care.
Experiential learning has moved from a program differentiator to a non-negotiable pillar of health administration education, as the field shifts toward competency-based training that mirrors real-world pressures. Every online MHA in Texas structures its hands-on component differently, and what one school calls a residency another labels a capstone project. The best way to navigate this variation is to go directly to each program’s curriculum page, then follow up with the program coordinator to confirm how the requirement works for working professionals, remote students, and those with specific career targets.
Start with the curriculum section. Look for terms like practicum, internship, administrative residency, capstone, or integrative experience. Note three things right away:
For CAHME-accredited programs, the accreditor requires a supervised practice experience that integrates classroom skills with applied leadership. This is not a suggestion; it is a condition of accreditation. Programs satisfy the requirement in different ways: a traditional administrative residency at a hospital or health system, a consulting-style capstone with a community clinic, or a longitudinal project in a public health department. When you visit a school’s website, check the admissions or curriculum page for a statement of CAHME compliance and a description of how the experience is structured. If that information is not obvious, contact the program directly and ask.
Industry bodies set the expectations that shape program design. The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) provides fellowship guidelines and a directory of preceptors that can help you understand what a competitive residency looks like. The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) publishes resources on competency models that underlie many MHA curricula. Although these organizations do not prescribe exact hour counts, their career centers and student resources can give you a sense of what employers expect from a residency graduate.
Once you have a shortlist, take these actions:
No single program will fit every working student’s constraints, but methodical investigation will surface the one that aligns with your responsibilities and career goals.
Choosing the right online MHA program means aligning accreditation, cost, and career goals before you submit a single application. A practical decision framework helps you compare options efficiently and avoid common missteps.
CAHME accreditation matters most if your target employer, administrative fellowship, or licensure pathway explicitly requires it. Veterans Affairs facilities, federal health agencies, and many competitive post-graduate fellowships list CAHME as a prerequisite. If you plan to work in a Texas public hospital district or pursue a residency with the state health department, confirm the program’s status early. Not every Texas program holds CAHME, and some strong programs operate without it, but closing that door accidentally can delay your career timeline.
Look past the headline tuition rate. Some programs charge in-state rates for Texas residents, others apply a flat online tuition regardless of location, and a few still differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students even for fully online cohorts. Add mandatory fees, technology charges, and estimated materials to get a true total. Our affordable MHA programs page identifies options with lower overall costs. Weigh the return on investment: a slightly higher tuition may be justified if it includes stronger career services or residency placement support.
Online programs structure experiential requirements differently. Ask whether you can complete the practicum at your current employer, if the program finds placement for you, or if you must secure your own preceptor within a specific radius. Consider how many hours are required, whether they can be spread across semesters, and if occasional on-campus intensives are mandatory. A working professional with a full-time job in Houston needs a different rhythm than someone who can pause work for a summer administrative residency.
A growing number of programs have dropped GRE requirements entirely or offer waivers based on GPA or professional experience. If you need a no-GRE path, the no-GRE MHA programs page filters options clearly. Once you have a shortlist, check application deadlines carefully: some schools admit on a rolling basis, while others have fixed fall cohorts. Early submission often unlocks priority scholarship consideration.
If you plan to work full-time while studying, part-time pacing is not a perk, it is a necessity. Typical online MHA programs take two years full-time, but part-time tracks stretch to three or even four years. If accelerating matters, see the fastest MHA programs page for condensed options. Balance speed with sustainability: burnout helps nobody.
Have you already completed a graduate certificate in health administration, MPH, or MBA? Some MHA programs accept transfer credits for foundational courses such as epidemiology, management, or finance, which can shorten the program and reduce cost. This is not automatic; policies vary widely, so request a pre-admission credit evaluation before you apply.
If your goal is a role at HHSC, a county health district, or a VA facility, a program with visible public-sector partnerships can make a difference. Curricula emphasizing health policy, safety-net administration, and government budgeting align more directly with these employers. Even better, seek out programs with established internship pipelines into Texas public health agencies. For broader context on public-sector leadership pathways, see our guide to MPP programs in Texas.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions prospective students ask about pursuing a Master of Health Administration in Texas. Each answer draws on the program details, tuition benchmarks, and career data discussed throughout this article.
As of 2026, four Texas universities hold CAHME accreditation for their MHA programs: Texas A&M University (continuously accredited since 2008), the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas State University, and Texas Woman's University.5 CAHME accreditation signals that a program meets nationally recognized standards for healthcare management education. See the CAHME accreditation table earlier in this article for a full comparison of each program's format and delivery mode.
Yes. Several Texas MHA programs either waive the GRE entirely or offer conditional waivers based on professional experience or GPA thresholds. Texas State University's Executive MHA and Texas Woman's University both have GRE waiver options available. Policies vary by program, so check the no-GRE comparison table in this article for specifics. Many programs evaluate applicants holistically, weighing work experience, undergraduate performance, and professional references alongside (or instead of) standardized test scores.
Total program costs at Texas public universities typically fall between $15,000 and $35,000.1 Texas State University's Executive MHA Online costs roughly $19,960 at $499 per credit hour.2 Texas Woman's University estimates its total cost around $25,0003, while the Texas A&M Executive Track lists a notably lower total near $7,812.4 Actual costs depend on residency status, credit load, and fee structures. The tuition comparison section earlier in this article breaks down these figures program by program.
Salaries for health administration professionals in Texas vary by metro area, sector, and experience level. Medical and health services managers across the state typically earn competitive wages that reflect Texas's large and growing healthcare infrastructure. Public-sector roles, including positions with county health districts and public hospital systems, may offer somewhat different compensation scales than private-sector roles. The salary and metro area sections of this article provide more detailed breakdowns.
Several Texas MHA programs offer accelerated timelines. Executive and online cohort formats at universities like Texas State University are designed for working professionals and can often be completed in under two years. Program length depends on factors such as credit requirements, whether you attend full time, and whether the program uses a cohort or self-paced model. Refer to the program comparison sections above for estimated completion times at each institution.
If you plan to serve as the administrator of a licensed nursing facility in Texas, you must hold a Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) license, regardless of whether you have an MHA. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission oversees this licensure, which requires specific coursework, a supervised practicum, and passing the national (NAB) exam. An MHA degree can satisfy many of the educational requirements, but it does not replace the license itself. The licensure section of this article details how MHA curricula align with NHA requirements.
The ten programs ranked above are the strongest fits for many Texas residents, but the state's health administration market runs deeper than any single list. This directory covers additional online and hybrid programs open to Texas students, grouped by region so you can see what sits close to home. Listings appear alphabetically within each region and are not ranked.
