MHA frequently asked questions // College of Health Sciences

What MHA program formats does Mizzou offer?

Mizzou offers two CAHME-accredited MHA options:

Residential MHA: A full-time, on-campus program designed for early-career students.
Executive MHA: A hybrid program combining online learning with monthly weekend sessions on campus, tailored for working professionals with at least two- three years of work experience.

Is the MHA program accredited?

The residential and the executive MHA programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

What is the application deadline?

We operate on a rolling admission which means that we accept applications until the program begins or until the cohort is full. To receive priority for potential financial support within the department, residential program applications should be submitted prior to March 1.

What are the admission requirements?

Applicants must have:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
An updated resume or curriculum vitae.
Three professional recommendations.
A personal essay detailing:
- Professional plans and career objectives.
- Interest in health administration and relevant experience.
- Specific healthcare challenges of interest.
- Preferred program format (Residential or Executive).

Learn more about our admissions and application here.

How long does the statement of purpose need to be?

Keep your statement of purpose to a page or two, and here are some ideas or key points to address in the statement:

Your professional plans and career objectives
How you became interested in health administration and how your prior training and experience would help your career
Specific issues and problems in health care you consider challenging and why
Indicate if you intend to apply to the traditional (Residential) on-campus degree program or the distance education (Executive) format

What are the English Language Proficiency requirement for international students?

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following:

TOEFL iBT score of 100 or higher.
IELTS score of 7.0 or higher.
Duolingo score of 120 or higher.

See graduate school minimum requirements for International Applicants here.

Do you require the GRE or GMAT?

No, GRE and GMAT are not required.

How many credit hours is each course worth?

Each MHA course is worth 3 credit hours, unless otherwise stated.

Where do recent graduates find jobs and what is the average starting salary?

MHA graduates pursue leadership roles in various healthcare settings, including:

Hospitals and health systems
Managed care organizations
Consulting firms
Public health agencies

The average fellowship salary for recent residential MHA graduates in the U.S. is $56,600, ranging between $45,000 and $70,000 per year according to ACHE. We recommend that our residential students apply for fellowship positions during their second year of study.

Do I need to have the prerequisite courses completed prior to beginning the program?

It depends on the program format:

Residential MHA: Only Microeconomics is required. You can complete it before starting or during the program through our free online Canvas course.
Executive MHA: You must complete a course in Statistical Analysis (or Intro to Statistics) before starting. Other prerequisites—Microeconomics, Finance, and Accounting—are included in your plan of study if not already completed.

These courses are offered as self-paced, non-credit modules developed by MHA faculty. They do not appear on your transcript or carry grades.

For the Executive program am I required to attend all executive onsite weekends?

Yes, all executive students are required to attend all the scheduled weekend on-site. The schedule is shared with you when you begin the program/ upon acceptance.

For the Executive program, what does my letter of support need to include?

The letter of support for the executive program needs to be a short note from your employer stating that they understand you are applying for the program and that they support you in doing this.

For the Executive program, can one of my letters of recommendation also be my letter of support?

Yes, your letter of support can also be used as a letter of recommendation too. Just be sure that your employer states in the letter that they both support and recommend you.

Are scholarships or financial aid available?

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available:

Students should file a FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.
We have few departmental scholarships for Residential Applicants completing their application by the priority deadline (March 1).
The College of Health Science also offers Assistantship opportunities such as Graduate Assistantship /Teaching Assistantship/ Research Assistantship

There are several external scholarships that our students qualify for, please check the MHA Funding Opportunities Page.

Who can I contact for more information?

For questions, contact Diki Lama, Senior Student Service Coordinator at ldlpdp@missouri.edu or 573-884-0698.