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MHSA Program Information

MHSA FAQs & Resources

This page is intended to educate prospective students about options in healthcare leadership, provide information about Xavier's MHSA program options & address questions regarding the Xavier MHSA, EMHSA, and MHSA/MBA Dual Degree application process. 

There are three main sections on this page: 

  • Graduate Healthcare Leadership Overview, which outlines common master's degrees held by leaders in healthcare.
  • Xavier's MHSA Programs, which provides an overview of unique features about our various programs: 
    • Full-time MHSA
    • Executive MHSA
    • MHSA/MBA Dual Degree
  • Xavier's MHSA Application, which has answers to common questions about our application, including eligibility information for international applicants. 

Highly interested prospective students & applicants:

  • Contact Bobby Rue, Assistant Director of Recruitment for the MHSA program: ruer@xavier.edu
  • Register for an online information session to hear directly from faculty & students in the program.
  • Complete a Request Info form at the bottom of this page to receive more program information, deadline reminders, and event invitations. 

GRADUATE HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP OVERVIEW

 What is an MHSA?

  • Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) defines a Master of Health Services Administration as:
    • “a broad field serving one of the largest and most essential industry segments in the United States and Canada. There are many jobs but more importantly a career in healthcare management [with a MHSA degree] gives a person the feeling of doing good for his/her fellow man. It may seem that physicians and nurses are doing the healing but they couldn’t do their job as well without trained executives and managers.”

What can I do with an MHSA?

  • MHSA graduates obtain a variety of roles in healthcare administration. Examples include:
    • C-Suite Executives in healthcare organizations: Chief Executive Office, Chief Financial Officer, Chief
    • Presidents, VPs
    • Government officials, such as Deputy Secretary of Healthcare Finance & Medicaid
    • Practice Manager
    • Director of Ambulatory Care
    • Quality Improvement Manager
    • Fiscal Program Analyst
    • Consultants
    • Medical device, Biotech, and Pharmaceutical roles.

What’s the difference between MHSA, MSHA and MHA?

  • A Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA), Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA), and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) are different names for the same degree. Whether you choose to join us at Xavier or another MHSA/MHA program, we strongly encourage you to choose a CAHME accredited program.
  • Read more about CAHME accreditation below.

What are the differences between MHSA (and its variations), MPH and MBA?

  • Healthcare leaders can typically have graduate level education specific to healthcare management in the form of a MHSA, Master of Science in Health Administration (MHSA), or Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree. However, you will find leaders with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Public Health (MPH). The best fit will depend on your career goals.

Why does CAHME Accreditation matter?

  • Our MHSA program started in 1958 and has been continuously accredited by CAHME (formerly ACEHSA) every year since accreditation began, in 1969.

  • According to CAHME, “To ensure a successful career in healthcare management, the choice of your educational program plays a pivotal role. CAHME accredited and certified programs are of the highest quality, promising an education that is grounded in real-world demands and industry standards.” READ MORE on the “Why CAHME Matters for Students” page.

  • A recent study found that a masters degree from a CAHME accredited program was associated with $10,000 increase in salary after the first year compared to a non-accredited masters degree. Accreditation matters!

XAVIER’S MHSA PROGRAMS

What makes Xavier’s MHSA unique?

  • Jesuit Values Focus
    • As a Jesuit Catholic university, Xavier's MHSA program emphasizes values-based leadership and ethics in healthcare management. The curriculum incorporates Jesuit ideals of service, integrity, and compassion. READ MORE about Xavier University’s Mission & Identity
  • Residency with Faculty Support
    • Our full-time students complete a supervised residency at a top healthcare facility to gain real experience under the supervision of an executive leader at their sponsored site. Our students receive additional support from faculty throughout their residency. Programs who do not include the residency in their curriculum do not have this built-in layer of support, helping to ensure student success. Our faculty actively work with students searching for their residency to help get them into the best match for their interests at leading healthcare facilities throughout the US.
  • Small class sizes & Low Student-to-Faculty Ratio
    • Our full-time program admits an average of 20 students each fall, with a maximum of 28 students. Our part-time Executive MHSA program caps at 20 new students each fall & spring. This exclusivity results in a low 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring a personal learning experience and long-lasting professional relationships.
  • Faculty Advisors
    • We keep academic advising within the MHSA program, with our experienced faculty serving as academic & professional advisors to our students.
  • Dual Degree Option
    • Students can pursue dual degrees combining the MHSA with Xavier’s nationally-ranked MBA program through the Williams College of Business.

How many students do Xavier's MHSA programs admit?

  • The full-time MHSA & MHSA/MBA Dual Degree admits a combined total of around 20 students each fall.

  • The part-time Executive MHSA program admits only 20 new students each fall & spring. 

Who is eligible for the FULL-TIME MHSA program?

  • Students with at least a bachelor’s degree in any field from a fully accredited school are eligible for the full-time MHSA program. The following are recommended guidelines:
    • Recommended 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
    • Recommended courses: statistics & microeconomics
    • Two letters of recommendation (one academic and one professional)
  • We also offer an MHSA/MBA Dual Degree, in cooperation with the Xavier Williams College of Business MBA program. This option adds 33 credits from the generalist MBA program and does not add any time to completion beyond the structure of the full-time MHSA program. View the MHSA/MBA Dual Degree Program Plan. 

Who is eligible for the PART-TIME EXECUTIVE MHSA program?

  • Both clinicians and non-clinicians with at least one year in a healthcare setting who want to make a bigger impact through administrative, quality, finance, or any other role in healthcare. MHSA differs from an MBA in that students use industry-specific terminology and are immersed in issues that a generalist MBA does not cover. As a true executive program, we require healthcare experience to create robust class discussions of peers. This also means that we respect your work and life needs, ensuring your success in our program.

What is the Student-to-Faculty ratio in Xavier's MHSA program?

  • We have a low overall 10:1 student to faculty ratio between all of the MHSA options. 
  • Class sizes rarely exceed 20 students, compared to other healthcare leadership programs with as many as 50-70 students per course. 

What is a residency & fellowship?

  • These terms are often used interchangeably, and different schools use them in different ways. 
  • Residencies & fellowships are hands-on, real-world opportunities for our students to become immersed in healthcare leadership. This is a requirement of our full-time MHSA program, but our online Executive MHSA students are eligible for them, if desired.
  • Our students are usually placed in C-suite-level executives (CEO, CFO, CIO, etc.), presidents, and vice presidents of an organization that aligns with their interests. These people are often referred to as “preceptors.”
  • We use “residency” and “fellowship” interchangeably because they both serve the same purpose. The difference is usually the length: Residencies are typically 8-12 months and fellowships are typically 12-24 months. Both are paid and include benefits.
  • Our students apply to their residency/fellowship in the second year of study through an application process. They may be placed anywhere in the country they wish to be placed. This is a competitive process similar to the matching process for physicians. Thus, students should only apply to locations that they see themselves as a good fit.
  • READ MORE about this exclusive opportunity.

What is a Co-op?

Cooperative education (co-op) is an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in their field while earning income. Co-ops are designed to work with--not against--the academic demands of a program. Rather than picking up a retail or restaurant job, we can get you work that will actually benefit you as you prepare for your future as a Servant Leader in healthcare. 

Xavier's MHSA program is partnering with local healthcare leaders to offer paid co-op placement for our students! Co-ops will begin the Spring semester of your first year of study and can continue through the end of your second year, when you begin your paid residency. While most MHSA/MHA programs do not allow their student to work, we respect and support the financial needs of our students--it's all part of the mission of the University.

XU MHSA Job placement

  • We are proud to maintain a 100% employment rate within 3 months of graduation from our program. Our long history, consistent CAHME accreditation, and residency help to ensure that our graduates attain success upon graduation.
  • READ MORE about our placement statistics.

Case Competitions

  • Case competitions are opportunities for healthcare administration students to put their education into practice while still in their program. Xavier’s teams have placed exceptionally well, especially in recent years.
  • MHSA student Jill Tore, winner of the Best Presenter award at the 2024 Ohio State First-Year Case Competition:
    • "Prior to enrolling at Xavier, I was not heavily aware of case competitions. Xavier's MHSA program not only showed me how helpful they can be to putting knowledge into practice, but also provided me with the opportunity to partake in one. I had the privilege of participating in the annual first year OSU case competition with two of my other classmates, Pierson and Taylor. We were charged with creating an innovative and effective implementation strategy for West Virginia University Medicine’s new Peak Health Medicare Advantage Plan by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the plan’s 2023 performance and recommending a geographic/market share expansion proposal for Peak Health. It was incredibly rewarding getting to use our knowledge in a practical situation for a real organization! Simply participating in the competition and working so closely with a team helped me sharpen my critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills that I carry with me to this day. I was able to take home one of the "Best Presenter" awards and I truly attribute that win to the increase in my personal confidence over the course of the month we spent on the case, the endless support from classmates above us and within our cohort, and the direction from the Xavier faculty and staff. I would always encourage participation in at least one case competition; it pushes us and is so much fun!"
  • XU MHSA student Pierson Savarino, part of the winning team at the UCLA Center for Healthcare Management Case Competition :
    • “Case competitions allow you to separate yourself from students in other programs in a positive way. I participated in the UCLA case competition because I knew it would give me a leg up on competition when it came to applying for residencies in the future. Healthcare leaders involved in the residency process understand that case competitions allow you to apply what you have learned in a real-world setting. Win, lose, or draw, participating in a case competition is a great way to stand out among graduate students. If any first-year students are interested in participating in a case competition, please reach out to me. I would love to coach / participate. Students from our program have won a national competition two years in a row and would love to help keep the run alive. Again, do not hesitate with any questions / concerns. Us second-year students are always willing to help in any way possible.”

Scholarships & Financial Aid

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Transfer credits

  • We are happy to consider transfer requests! Up to six credits (usually two classes) with a letter grade of B (3.0/4.0) may be accepted from other CAHME-accredited healthcare admin/health services admin master's programs, AACSB-accredited MBA programs, and CEPH-accredited MPH programs if completed within the last five-years. The student will have to submit the syllabus from the class(es) they are seeking to transfer for review. Syllabus reviews are completed AFTER acceptance and are at the discretion of program faculty.  

Course length

  • The full-time, on-campus MHSA program is currently 64 credits and takes three years to complete. The summer after the first year does not have courses, but does have the opportunity to complete an internship. The final year of the program is the residency which begins the summer after the completion of courses in the second spring semester. Check out the Full-time On-campus MHSA Course Sequence.
  • The full-time, on-campus MHSA/MBA Dual Degree program is also completed in three years and adds 33 credits through the MBA program. The MBA courses are added to the coursework of the full-time MHSA program and will require courses over the first summer of the program, while in the internship. MBA courses may be completed either online or on-campus, depending on the time of year that they are offered. Check out the MHSA/MBA Dual Degree Course Sequence.
  • The part-time, online Executive MHSA program can be completed in as little as two years, with a maximum of six years. Most students complete the program in about three years. Visit the Executive MHSA program page and scroll down to “Curriculum” for a current list of courses. For examples of part-time curriculum options, email ruer@xavier.edu.

Who will be my academic advisor?

  • MHSA program faculty serve as academic advisors to our MHSA, MHSA/MBA Dual Degree, and Executive MHSA students. Through their expertise and desire to work closely with our students, our faculty are essential to the continued success of our students. These strong professional relationships often last years after graduation.

XAVIER’S MHSA APPLICATION

Visit the XU MHSA Admissions & Info Session page for deadlines and an outline of the admissions process

Visit the XU MHSA Admissions Materials & Criteria page for a list of application requirements. 

Where do I apply?

  • Apply through Xavier’s free online graduate application. An "Apply to Xavier" button is located on the bottom of this page. 
  • We do not use third-party application systems, such as HAMPCAS or SOPHAS, which have application fees that can cause financial barriers to aspiring Servant Leaders.

How much is the application fee?

  • There is no fee for our online application.

Where do I send my transcripts?

  • Most schools now have an electronic transcript delivery service, such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, or Credentials Solutions.
  • Your former school’s Registrar or Transcript Request webpage should direct you to one of these services.
  • Schools who do not use one of the above services usually have hard copies mailed to Xavier or may submit official transcripts via email.

Office of Graduate Admissions
3800 Victory Pkwy
Cincinnati, OH 45207

Where do I add my reference letters?

  • The person who is writing your reference must upload letters of recommendation themselves. You cannot do this on their behalf.
  • Once you add their contact information in your application, we will contact them to complete a brief survey about their knowledge of your preparedness for our program. They may upload a letter, but only the survey is needed.

Does Xavier MHSA take international applicants?

  • Full time MHSA & MHSA/MBA Dual Degree
    • We are able to consider exceptional international applicants for our full-time MHSA program & MHSA/MBA Dual Degree for the fall 2025 term. Few residency locations are willing to consider sponsoring students after graduation. As such, many are not willing to take an international resident.
    • We have successfully placed international students in residencies, but we cannot guarantee continued placement in the future.
  • Executive MHSA
    • We are not able to accept international applicants into our Executive MHSA program.