Healthcare Administration Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition for healthcare administration degrees is published in so many different ways that two programs with similar prices can look very different on paper, and two that look similar can differ by tens of thousands of dollars. This guide explains how to read the numbers programs publish, where scholarships and assistantships usually come from, how employer tuition support works, and the federal aid basics every graduate applicant should know. All figures below are quoted from the programs' own pages with the year they state, where they state one; tuition changes, so confirm current rates before you decide.

Per-credit rate is not total tuition

The most common published number is a per-credit rate, and on its own it does not tell you what the degree costs. You need to multiply by the program's required credits, then add fees.

George Washington University's online MHA@GW shows how it adds up: it "consists of 45 credits, with each credit costing $2,000," and the school estimates tuition at $90,000 at the 2026–27 rate. Ohio University's online MHA lists $700 per credit for Ohio residents and $722 for nonresidents, and separately publishes a "total estimated cost, minus fees" of $25,200 and $25,992.

Other programs publish different units entirely:

• Flat program price: Trinity University's on-campus MS in Health Care Administration uses a flat-rate model with total program tuition of $90,000.
• Per semester: Penn State World Campus's online MHA charges $1,048 per credit for 11 or fewer credits, or a flat $12,572 per semester for 12 or more credits (2026–27).
• Estimated total for a course plan: California State University, Northridge's MHA estimates $18,928 for in-state students and $38,908 for out-of-state and international students on a two-year plan (2025–2026).

Compare like with like. A per-credit rate, a per-semester rate and a total program estimate are not interchangeable, and a rate from one academic year will usually change in the next.

Resident, nonresident and online rates

Public universities often charge different rates by residency, and some online programs narrow or remove that gap. Examples from program pages:

Indiana University also lists a separate rate for students from partner states. Always check which category you fall into, and whether the published figure is tuition only.

Fees and other costs

Fees are frequently listed apart from tuition. George Mason University's online MHA lists $895 per credit plus a $35 per credit distance learning fee. Some programs say their figure includes fees; others say it excludes them. Ohio University's total, for example, is stated "minus fees." Also ask about costs tied to campus visits or residencies: travel for required on-campus sessions, and whether tuition continues during a residency. Our guide to residencies and internships covers how placements are structured.

Scholarships, assistantships and discounts

Program-level aid takes several forms, and programs describe each differently:

• Automatic program scholarships. Georgetown University's MS in Health Systems Administration offers a 40% scholarship that it says reduces the estimated total cost (2027–2028) from $92,652 to $55,592.
• Competitive merit awards. Georgetown also lists competitive merit-based scholarships with priority consideration for applications completed by January 15.
• Assistantships. Ohio State's MHA describes a limited number of graduate associate positions that "provide full tuition benefits" and a monthly stipend for 20 hours a week. The University of Iowa's MHA describes quarter-time graduate research assistantships with a salary and a tuition scholarship.
• Partner discounts. Seton Hall University's MHA offers a 25% tuition discount to full-time employees of named partner organizations.

Competitive awards are not guaranteed, and programs often consider applicants only by a priority deadline. Our scholarships page collects program-published opportunities.

Employer tuition support

If you already work in healthcare, your employer may be the largest funding source. Indiana University's online MHA tells health professionals to "check with your employer" about a tuition benefit, and Virginia Commonwealth University says many students in its MSHA program "are eligible for tuition assistance through their employers." Before you count on it, ask your employer about annual caps, whether you must stay employed for a period after reimbursement, whether payment comes up front or after grades post, and whether the program you choose qualifies.

Federal aid basics

For federal student aid, the U.S. Department of Education's studentaid.gov sets the rules:

• Start with the FAFSA. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid before a Direct Loan can be offered; your school uses it to determine your aid.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to graduate students without a requirement to show financial need, but you must generally be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program. Interest accrues during all periods.
• Loan limits changed. Studentaid.gov notes "important loan limit changes" under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025, with annual and aggregate limits set out in its charts.
• Grad PLUS loans are being phased out. Starting July 1, 2026, graduate students can borrow Direct PLUS Loans only under a limited exception for students already enrolled in, and borrowing for, the same program before that date. Students who do not qualify for the exception are not eligible.

Your school's financial aid office determines your actual eligibility and amounts.

Building an honest cost comparison

For each program, write down the per-credit rate and the year it applies to, multiply by required credits, add mandatory fees and any travel for campus visits, then subtract only aid you have actually been offered. That total, not the headline rate, is the number to compare. Browse affordable online MHA programs and online master's programs, and use the comparison tool to line up costs side by side. No price figure here is a promise of what you will pay, and no degree guarantees a return on its cost.