Residential MHA
Overview. The MHA is a professional degree for students wishing to pursue management careers in health systems, hospitals, consulting firms, managed care organizations, insurance firms, non-governmental organizations, medical group practices, government agencies and other settings. The residential Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree is designed for new and early careerists and emphasizes a balance between systematic learning about health services and public health issues on the one hand and management and policy analysis, concepts, and techniques on the other. Emphasis is placed on both classroom and experience-based learning. See the MHA Plan of study. (Healthcare professionals with 3 or more years of managerial experience may wish to consider the Executive MHA program).
Growth. The MHA programs support students in their academic and professional development through a series of professional development courses, faculty mentorship, student organizations and interactions with more experienced Executive MHA students and program alumni.
Value. The MHA program at Gillings provides superior value. As an institution, in state and out of state tuition is among the lowest for top ranked MHA programs and graduate students from outside North Carolina have an opportunity to qualify for in state tuition during their second year. The University, school and department also provide a variety of merit and need based awards.
Results. Residential MHA students secure full time positions in the field within 3 months of graduation. MHA students are exceptionally competitive for post graduate administrative fellowships and positions with top regional and national healthcare organizations. (For more information on job placements, see our Job Placements page).
Program Information
Mission: The Mission of the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program at UNC is to improve decision-making and leadership skills of emerging professionals who aspire to managerial roles as well as mid-career professionals looking to advance to higher level management and leadership positions in health and public health organizations in North Carolina, the United States, and globally. Our practice and research-focused faculty prepare students through a balance of classroom and experiential learning with a focus on health equity.
Vision: We aspire to remain a program of choice for professionals looking to develop, manage and lead effective, equitable and responsive organizations improving the health of individuals and eliminating health inequities.
Values: The Department of Health Policy and Management’s values (.pdf) reflect inclusive moral principles and beliefs shared by our faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Competency Model. Following completion of the MHA program, students will be prepared in these areas (.pdf).
Grading policy. The residential MHA follows the grading scale as defined by The Graduate School at UNC.
Tuition and Fees
The latest information on costs for the Master’s programs can be found by visiting the most current Tuition and Fee Rates document, found under the “Charges for Attendance (Tuition and Fee Rates)” heading on the University Cashier’s web site. Scroll down to the Health Affairs/School of Public Health section of the document.
Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change.
HPM Fees – in addition to university fees
Internship Fee – $450.00
Professional Training I Fee – $550.00
Professional Training II and III Fees – $500.00 each
Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change.
Need financial assistance? See our Financial Aid Information.
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines for all programs can be found here.
NOTE: Your application must be complete and include all required materials. Applications typically become available for the coming academic year in September.
Master’s Programs Admission Requirements
Before applying, please see our “Which Degree is Right for you?” page to ensure your eligibility for your program of choice. If you have questions, contact your academic support coordinator.
See this document (.pdf) for a detailed description of the admissions process.
PLEASE NOTE: Residential MHA candidates are required to travel to Chapel Hill for an in-person interview. Phone/Skype interviews may be arranged for applicants who are currently located out of the country.
Minimum requirements necessary for application to Residential Master’s Programs:
- An undergraduate degree with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (4.0 grading scale)
- Relevant work experience.
- Applicants are advised to prepare in microeconomics, accounting, and statistics.
- International applicants are required to submit a Financial Certificate.
Required MHA Application Materials
- Completion of online Graduate School application. Start your application by creating an account and following the instructions. Applications for the next academic year are available in August. A current email address is a required field on the application since all correspondence is conducted by email. If you have problems with the online form, contact the Graduate School.
- Nonrefundable application fee. In some instances the application fee may be waived; please see the Graduate School’s Application Fee Waiver page if you have questions or need more information on eligibility.
- Transcripts (complete, not selected courses). One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. If offered admission, one paper official transcript for each university attended will be required. If you have questions or need more information about preparing transcripts, please see the Graduate School’s transcript information here.
- The email address of three recommenders is required within the application for electronic submission and delivery.
- Submission of GRE scores is not required.
- Personal Statement (distance and master’s)
Please upload a two page (double spaced) statement addressing the following:- How will this degree program at UNC-CH contribute to your projected career?
- What is your experience working in teams and what can you contribute to a team?
- How will you contribute to a diverse, inclusive student community at Gillings?
- Please provide any additional information that will help us to evaluate your application.
International Applicants
In addition to the materials listed above, international applicants must submit the following:
- TOEFL or IELTS score (no more than 2 years old). UNC is institution #5816. For more information about these tests, see the Graduate School’s TOEFL and IELTS instruction page.
Applicants are advised to prepare in microeconomics, accounting, and statistics.
Dual and Concurrent Degree Applicants
Students must apply separately and be accepted by each program of interest. See more information about dual degrees.
Application Status
You may monitor the status of your application by logging into your account and following the instructions.
Mailing Addresses
Department of Health Policy and Management
Student Services Office
University of North Carolina
120 Rosenau Hall
#CB 7411
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411
Graduate School
UNC Graduate School
200 Bynum Hall
CB #4010
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4010
Additional Helpful Links
Prospective Student Information
Residency Requirements and Information
UNC Academic Calendar
Contact Information
Karen Volmar
Director, MHA and MSPH Programs
kmvolmar@email.unc.edu
(919) 962-0760
See our Frequently Asked Questions about the Master’s Program.