MPH vs. MHA: Which Path Leads to Your Health Care Career Goals?

An MPH, or Master of Public Health, is a graduate degree that explores the threats to the health of populations, the challenges of maintaining community health, and the development of programs and resources that help people stay healthy and, ultimately, thrive. Students in MPH degree programs explore a range of health care topics and may specialize in an area of interest, such as community health, health communications, epidemiology, or health equity.

Master's in public health curricula may include courses in health policy, biostatistics, environmental health, and health education. As you complete your MPH program, you'll delve into factors that influence public health, exploring community challenges, health behaviors, and cultural and personal lifestyle choices that impact health.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the CDC both indicate the MPH degree graduates have opportunities to fulfill a wide variety of roles in the health sector, including public administration roles in government agencies, non-profits, global health organizations, and research institutions.^1,2

An MHA degree emphasizes health care management, administration, and strategic planning within health care facilities. With a health administration degree, you'll take on leadership roles within organizations devoted to health care management, delivery, and financing.

As a student in a master's in health administration program, you'll focus on the specifics of health care administration, studying topics like health care economics, financial management, health informatics, and human resources management. In some ways, it's similar to an MBA program, but unlike MBA graduates, MHA graduates enter the labor force prepared with applied practice experience specifically in the health care field.

A health administration degree might set you up for a career as a hospital administrator, health services manager, or to fulfill executive roles within health care systems, as well as medical devices, consulting, pharmaceutical, and payer organizations.

There are key differences between a typical MHA and MPH program, whether you opt to attend an in-person program or pursue an online master's degree program. Each program has its own core focus areas, coursework, and focuses on a different skill set within the field of health.

Students who pursue an MPH degree explore topics relevant to maintaining community health, such as health education, communication, and epidemiology. Students may explore and research how social determinants – such as race or economic status – affect access to health care, as well as how pandemics and other health crises damage individuals and communities. Public health programs are broad, and students are usually able to complete research or find specializations in areas that speak to their professional interests.

In an MHA, you'll be more likely to build skills like communication, decision-making, and leadership, focusing on coursework that dives deep into topics like financial management and administration, covering the business side of health care. Students in MHA programs explore how health systems work on a micro and macro level – from a private medical practice to a community hospital. They pursue research in making these systems more efficient with the goal of improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Good news for grads of both MPH and MPA programs: with a projected 1.9 million jobs becoming available across all health care jobs each year between 2023 and 2033, it’s a great time to be getting into the field.³

Certain roles will face even higher demand. MHA grads who become health services managers can expect a 29% increase in demand for their skills, while MPH students who study epidemiology will see a 19% increase in demand for their skill set.^4.1

On average, entry-level public health majors earn $51,317, with the top 10% earning over $106,000.⁵ The average MPA salary is around $72,600 per year, while an average MPH grad working as an epidemiologist earns $81,390 per year.^6,1 Whichever program you choose, your financial outlook will likely be positive as a result of your educational progress.

So how do you decide whether to pursue an MPH or an MHA? With both degrees offering similar profitability and growth potential, the answer lies in your personal career goals, interests, and the specific health issues you are passionate about addressing.

People who are oriented toward public service and research should go for an MPH, whereas those who are interested in the administrative side of health care will be best served by an MHA.

Whichever type of program you choose, you should carefully consider factors such as university accreditation, program reputation, faculty expertise, the network of alumni, and whether you'd prefer to attend an in-person program or pursue an online master's degree program.

One factor that might influence your decision to apply for an MPH or MHA is each type of program’s respective admission requirements.

Given the scientific focus of MPH programs, some do require GRE scores. Most programs generally require that applicants have a minimum undergraduate GPA, and some prefer that you have specific academic prerequisites like particular courses or areas of knowledge, although these vary from program to program. You can find out what these requirements are by looking at individual program websites, where they'll be listed in the admissions section.

The GRE is required for most MHA programs, with some making an exception for students with high undergrad GPAs or relevant work experience in the health care field. If you pursue an online master's program, you may not be required to take the GRE. No matter if you choose an in-person or online MHA program, you will find that all generally have minimum GPA requirements, although most don't have specific academic prerequisites.

Both types of programs will typically require you to submit supporting materials like letters of recommendation, a professional CV, and a statement of purpose. Your statement of purpose is one of the most critical parts of creating a strong application and should align with your career aspirations and degree choice. To help guide your application process, check out our comprehensive timeline.

If you've read this far and neither a standalone MPH nor MHA seems like the right fit for you, you might want to pursue alternate educational pathways. Students who are interested in multiple areas of health care can enroll in a dual degree program, pursuing a combined MPH/MBA or an MHA/MPH certificate.

If you're on the fence about enrolling in a full-time program, an Executive MHA or Executive MPH might be a good option. With most executive master's in health care programs offered online, they are designed to support the needs of working professionals who often are already working in health care.

As you move forward on your educational journey, it's critical that you choose a degree that aligns with your personal and professional objectives.

An MPH might be the right choice if you're research-minded and interested in growing your knowledge in the fields of public health, community health, and health care. If you're more interested in management roles and administration, an MHA is likely the right fit for you.

Whichever degree you decide to explore, you can grow your knowledge by contacting academic advisors, attending informational sessions, and speaking with current students and alumni of programs you're interested in. This real-world insight can help you determine which program will be the best fit for your own career goals and personal interests.

Decided on the type of program that's right for you? It's time to take the next steps toward researching the specific institution where you'll get your MPH or MHA degree.

Download program brochures, schedule consultations with admissions offices, and participate in open houses or virtual tours to gain deeper insights into each program you might be interested in applying to.

Getting a better sense of what each program has to offer can help you determine which programs will help you advance your career and grow your professional competence.