MHA Careers: 6 Impactful Roles You Can Pursue with a Master of Health Administration
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve and expand, the need for knowledgeable, business-savvy leaders is greater than ever. A Master of Health Administration (MHA) is one of the most effective ways to position yourself for leadership roles in this high-growth field. Whether you’re looking to advance your current career or pivot into healthcare administration for the first time, an MHA opens doors to a wide variety of rewarding opportunities.
In this article, we’ll explore seven of the most in-demand MHA careers and how a degree like the online MHA from the University of North Alabama (UNA) can help you prepare for them.
Why pursue a Master of Health Administration?
A Master of Health Administration equips students with a unique combination of healthcare knowledge and business leadership skills. It prepares you to manage healthcare organizations, improve patient outcomes, and lead teams in various clinical and non-clinical settings.
An MHA opens the door to a wide variety of career paths, spanning hospitals, outpatient centers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and consulting firms. And with the healthcare sector growing rapidly, so too is the demand for professionals who can navigate its complexity.
6 Healthcare administration careers that make a difference
From entry-level management to executive leadership, an MHA unlocks access to roles that are vital to the success of healthcare systems. Whether you’re interested in operations, policy, technology, or patient care coordination, there’s a role for you.
Explore these in-demand healthcare administration careers you could land with an MHA:
1. Hospital administrator
Hospital administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of hospitals and ensure efficient delivery of patient care. They manage budgets, coordinate departments, and implement policies that align with regulatory standards and organizational goals.
Why it's important: This role ensures hospitals run efficiently and effectively, improving patient care across the board.
2. Clinical manager
Sometimes called health services managers, these professionals are responsible for overseeing specific departments such as surgery, radiology, or nursing. They manage staff, schedules, budgets, and departmental goals.
Why it's important: This role bridges clinical expertise with administrative leadership, enhancing department performance.
3. Health informatics manager
This tech-forward role combines healthcare and IT. Health informatics managers lead efforts in electronic health record (EHR) management, data analysis, and systems integration to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
Why it's important: This role ensures healthcare organizations leverage data and technology to improve care delivery and security.
4. Healthcare consultant
Healthcare consultants work with hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and government agencies to analyze operations, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements. They often specialize in areas like compliance, cost control, or patient satisfaction.
Why it's important: This role helps organizations adapt to changing regulations and improve outcomes through expert guidance.
5. Healthcare policy analyst
Policy analysts research and shape public health policies at local, state, and federal levels. They work with lawmakers, nonprofits, and health organizations to advocate for systemic improvements.
Why it's important: These professionals influence decisions that affect millions, from Medicaid expansion to telehealth regulations.
6. Practice manager
Practice managers run the business side of physician offices, dental clinics, and outpatient care centers. They handle staffing, billing, compliance, and customer service.
Why it's important: This role maintains smooth operations in smaller care settings, directly impacting patient and provider experiences.
How UNA's MHA program prepares you for career success
The UNA MHA program is designed with working professionals in mind. Whether you're seeking to level up your current role or switch careers, this program offers the flexibility, support, and quality education necessary to reach your goals.
Here’s what sets UNA apart:
- Respected healthcare leadership education: AACSB-accredited, taught by faculty experts with real-world experience in healthcare leadership.
- Customizable learning experience: Available fully online, with flexible term lengths, and a tailored MHA curriculum to meet healthcare leadership goals.
- Affordable, quality MHA with ROI: Tuition under $20K, New Start Scholarship covers your first course ($1,050 value), and discounts for alumni (15%) and military (33%).*
- Professional advancement: Coursework emphasizes real-world business strategies and includes internships and job preparation.
- Healthcare leadership connections:
UNA’s MHA program ensures students can apply their education immediately in their current roles or prepare confidently for their next chapter in healthcare leadership.
Take the next step toward a meaningful career
A career in healthcare administration allows you to make a meaningful difference — not just in one organization, but across entire communities. With an MHA, you can become the kind of leader the healthcare industry urgently needs.
Take control of your future through new opportunities and be a valuable contributor to the world of healthcare. Start building your career in healthcare leadership today by exploring UNA’s online MHA program.
*The New Start Scholarship only applies to newly enrolled students in an online program who enroll in a minimum of two courses.