MHA vs. MBA vs. MS: Which Degree Is Best for Your Healthcare Career?

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Considering an advanced degree in healthcare, but not sure which one is right for you — an MS, an MBA in healthcare, or an MHA? Understanding the differences and similarities between these degrees can help you make an informed decision.

Each program has its unique focus, structure, and career outcomes. They all give you the opportunity to prepare for leadership roles in the healthcare industry, but their approaches and areas of emphasis vary. Let’s explore each degree in more detail.

While each degree type has its unique strength, they also share some commonalities when coupled with an emphasis on healthcare. They all emphasize critical thinking, strategic thinking, and innovation in the healthcare field.

They also teach you how to adapt to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology, preparing you for high-level roles in the healthcare industry, and can even lead to higher salaries.

A master of business administration (MBA) is a graduate degree that provides training for business management. MBA programs are versatile, allowing you to specialize in fields such as healthcare, finance, and marketing. The skills you gain from an MBA — like strategic planning and organizational behavior — can open doors to various leadership roles in different industries.

An MBA in healthcare is a specialized MBA program that combines a foundation in business management with healthcare administration skills. The program covers core business subjects while incorporating healthcare-specific coursework, preparing you for executive roles within the healthcare sector. You’ll learn how healthcare organizations function and how to drive organizational success.

A master of healthcare administration (MHA) typically focuses on healthcare administration, equipping you with skills to manage healthcare organizations and address industry-specific challenges such as population health, quality of care, and health policy.

An MHA degree is ideal if you’re aspiring to managerial or healthcare administrator positions in healthcare facilities. It prepares you to adapt to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology and equips you to become an effective leader in the healthcare industry.

A master of science (MS) degree is a graduate degree typically awarded in the sciences, including fields such as health, biology, and statistics. The degree aims to provide in-depth knowledge of a specialized field.

An MS in a health-related field focuses on the technical and clinical aspects of healthcare, including research and specialized healthcare knowledge. Specific focus areas and curricula will vary depending on the type of degree you pursue, but you can expect to learn in-demand skills, like data analysis and research design. Common degrees include:

Some degree programs also offer concentrations. For example, you can pursue a master’s in public health with a concentration in healthcare administration.

The career outcomes for graduates of MS, MBA in healthcare, and MHA programs can be quite diverse, reflecting the unique focus of each degree. An MHA is specialized for healthcare administration roles, while an MBA with a healthcare concentration offers a broader business education with a healthcare application.

Let’s explore the career opportunities associated with each degree.

Although these programs share some similarities, there are also key differences in their scope, focus, versatility, career outcomes, and curriculum. Let’s delve into these differences to help you make the best decision for your career objectives.

An MBA in healthcare provides a well-rounded business education with a specialization in healthcare, making it suitable if you’re seeking career flexibility. An MHA is deeply rooted in healthcare administration, specifically preparing you for managerial roles within the healthcare sector.

The scope and focus of an MS, on the other hand, depends on the specific health-related field you choose to study. For example, if you pursue a MS in health informatics, you’ll focus on learning how to leverage technology tools and data in a healthcare context, preparing you for clinical research roles.

An MHA program is a specialized degree, focusing on healthcare administration. MS degrees in a health-related field are also highly specialized degrees, each one designed to prepare you for a specific career path in the healthcare industry.

An MBA in healthcare is a general degree that offers a broader business education with a focus on healthcare. It provides a comprehensive understanding of business principles that can be applied across various industries, making it a more generalist degree.

An MBA in healthcare offers the most versatility when it comes to career options. While an MHA is geared towards specialized roles in healthcare administration, an MBA provides a broad business education that can open doors across various industries.

This flexibility allows MBA graduates to transition into different sectors outside of healthcare, including the financial and business sectors.

While there is some overlap in the type of jobs you can obtain, career outcomes for these degrees generally vary. An MHA prepares you for leadership roles in the healthcare sector, while an MBA with a healthcare concentration offers a broader business education that can lead to high-level managerial and executive positions within and outside the healthcare industry.

An MS in a health-related field is more focused on technical or scientific aspects of healthcare, preparing you for specialized roles within the healthcare sector.

The curriculum for each program differs based on its focus. An MHA program covers areas such as population health, healthcare economics, health policy, and management of healthcare organizations.

In an MBA in healthcare program, you’ll take traditional business courses like finance and marketing, along with electives focused on healthcare, such as long-term care management, hospital finance, and health informatics.

An MS in a health-related field focuses on the technical and clinical aspects of healthcare. Courses span a range of topics, including healthcare data analytics, human factors methods for health technology, introduction to health informatics, and visual analytics.

Choosing between a health-related MS, an MBA in healthcare, and an MHA depends on your career goals and interests. If you’re certain about a career in healthcare and want specialized administrative knowledge, an MHA might be the best option.

If you’re aiming for management roles with a broader business skill set, an MBA in healthcare may be more beneficial. If you’re interested in the technical or scientific aspects of healthcare, an MS could be the best fit.

Whichever graduate program path you choose, all three degrees can offer a rewarding career in healthcare management with growing demand and potential for high earnings.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 17, 2024.