Help Finding Masters in Healthcare Administration Program

[alexiarnps]

First
A big shout out with kudos all around. I found this forum searching for information on how to actually finish my BA degree with what little financial aid I had left and all the information contributed here made that possible for me to do and switched my husband's gears from plugging away endlessly at an AA he didn't want to pulling out all of his old credits and getting a BA in less time than his AA. Seriously, I want to hug all of you!


To the Point
I am looking for a Masters in Healthcare Administration that isn't on GetEducated.com.

Ideally I'd like:

• 12 months, but up to 18 is OK.*
  8 week terms with 6 credits, but 9 credit quarters or 12 credit semesters are OK.*
  A straight MHA, not an MBA, MPA or MPS with a concentration
  Very low price - I use residual funding for living expenses (And no, working is not an option as I would also have to pay for childcare.)
  Fewer than 36 semester credits, as I am hoping to finish this in one year.
  100% online, needing to travel with kids and bring a sitting with me negates any savings on tuition.
  I will be completing my BA at TESC in March 2014, so I would like to start in April or May 2014, if possible.
  I am trying to avoid Ashford, UofP, DeVry etc.**
  

* I am aware this is more demanding than a 12-credit undergraduate load. I am specifically not working while in school and have fantastic support so I can be take on more and be done quicker. For example, two 16 week semesters with 9 credits, one summer semester with 6 credits, then a last semester with 9 credits, or a quarter program with 6 credits for 6 quarters are fine, but only allowing 6 credits over 5 semesters would too long.
** There is an established MHA program here at OSU (expensive and 50+ miles from me) to compete locally with and public perception needs to be considered.

I am hoping someone here is in a lesser known MHA program, or knows of a new one at their school that may have not been put into circulation on the search databases. Thanks!!!


The tl;dr Parts

I had posted a while back about about looking for Masters options, and I have since sat down with a career advisor and met with a women who does the job I want to do when I graduate. Overwhelmingly their advice was to switch from a Masters in Public Health to a Masters in Heathcare Administration if my focus is on leadership. My passions are solidly within the realm of healthcare, but I won't be satisfied returning to the workforce as an analyst or program coordinator (since I have done both with no a degree) after graduating with a Masters.

I have been combing through all of the forums here and doing searches, but everything I am coming up with is several years old and the suggested schools are often not offering the program any longer (like Troy) or have become increasingly more expensive. I have poured over all of the returns on GetEducated.com and none of them meet the criteria that I need at a price I can afford for a timeframe I can do.

The Masters of Professional Studies - Public Health Administration at Fort Hays State University is almost exactly what I'm looking for and is my fall-back, but the title may be an issue. The curriculum, format, price and 30 semester credit timeframe are all absolutely perfect, the issue is that the title of the degree may be an issue when job searching. I have already spoken with the dean and the diploma and transcript will say MPS, not MPHA. If there isn't a straight MHA with the same criteria I will be going that route and taking my chances.

I am hoping someone has new information that isn't on the search websites. For example, CSU @ East Bay offers an MHA that isn't on GetEducated.com yet. But they only start in the Fall, when I need to start in the Spring to avoid a gap in funding and a possible activation of my student loan repayments.

[sanantone]

All I have to offer are search websites. But they will provide a more comprehensive listing of programs when combined.
Graduate School & Graduate, MBA, PhD Programs & Degrees - GradSchools.com
Sloan-C Catalog | The Sloan Consortium
https://secure.electroniccampus.org/

[marianne202]

I agree that an MPH will only help you if you want to work in public health. If you want to work in a hospital I recommend and MHA. I know many local hospitals won't hire MBA's with specializations because they want MHA's as their CFO's, CEO's and department managers. I spent many months researching all aspects of the programs and jobs before I chose my MHA program. I highly recommend that you visit and join the American College of Healthcare Executives. It is the premier professional organization for healthcare executives. ACHE recommends only programs accredited by AUPHA. I searched their programs and narrowed it down to St. Josephs and Bellevue University. I settled on Bellevue university for their 18-month accelerated cohort model. I can highly recommend Bellevue as many of my cohort classmates have been very successful. I also interviewed for my first mid-manager position last week at a local hospital. The ER Medical Director and the CFO both said I was the most qualified and that my interview knocked it out of the park. I felt very prepared and confident. I think if you spend some time on the ACHE and AUPHA website you will be able to find all the information you need to make an informed decision and find a program that fits your needs. Good luck! Feel free to PM me if you would like any other info.

[sanantone]

I knew you would come by and recommend Bellevue. LOL. But I also remembered that Bellevue is on GetEducated.com

[marianne202]

I don't even know what Geteducated it. But I knew that if the OP wanted a reputable program they needed to go through AUPHA. It sounds like geteducated is a clearinghouse of sorts and honestly all schools are suffering with budget cuts and decreased enrollments right now. Even our big schools like UNC, ECU and NC State are struggling so many are using any and all resources available to try to reach students, that doesn't mean they are not accredited by professional organizations or reputable schools. But very few members here have an MHA, most pursue MBA's or MPH's, so I thought I would share my experience in case it helps the OP.

[sanantone]

GetEducated.com lists online degree programs along with their costs. I'm assuming the OP already came across Bellevue if he or she really did look at all of the programs on GetEducated.com and the program didn't fit his or her needs for whatever reason. The OP didn't say anything about the reputation of schools listed on the website.

[alexiarnps]

I highly recommend that you visit and join the American College of Healthcare Executives. It is the premier professional organization for healthcare executives. ACHE recommends only programs accredited by AUPHA. I searched their programs and narrowed it down to St. Josephs and Bellevue University. I settled on Bellevue university for their 18-month accelerated cohort model. I can highly recommend Bellevue as many of my cohort classmates have been very successful.

Awesome! I'm trying to figure out how to do this inexpensively, since I need to use residual funding for living expenses, so I need a legitimate reason why an MHA is better than another degree with just a focus. Bellevue is $11,000 more expensive and an additional semester over FHSU's Masters in Professional Studies - Public Health Administration degree, but shooting myself in the foot by leaving higher paying jobs on the table because I wanted to save more money on my education is exactly what I'm trying to avoid.

I don't have any issue with my focus or conveying my expertise on my resume, I'm certified as a birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and am completing my practicum hours for being a certified lactation consultant. I just want to make sure that my formal education leaves no question that I can oversee a department or a program. The hospitals fall over themselves to have me work for them, but I keep being turned down for leadership positions, and the pay that goes with them, not because of a proven record of leadership, but because policy requires that all administration meet certain educational criteria - which in some cases has to be a specific degree title.

[alexiarnps]

Thanks for those! I got through the first link today. More tomorrow! :-)

[marianne202]

I hope you find some helpful information that helps to guide you to an educated decision based on your goals and personal needs. Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions.

[rhapsodyinblue]

I don't know if it fits your budget, but I am attending Webster University for my MHA.