Health Administration MHA Programs in Virginia & Salary Info.

Health Administration Degrees in Virginia

Prospective Virginia health administration students can choose from three accredited educational institutions in the state without worrying about whether they will regret their decision.

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY – Department of Health Administration and Policy – Fairfax

• Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management (On Campus, Online)

The estimated cost per academic year is $8040 for in-state on-campus students, $17,928 for out of state on-campus students and $11,736 for online education.

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education; Council on Education for Public Health.

MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY – School of Business Administration – Arlington

• Master of Science in Health Care Management (On Campus)
• Master of Science in Health Care Management/Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Health Care Management/Master of Science in Information Technology

The estimated cost per academic year is $17,550 and the school is proud to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY – School of Allied Health Professions – Richmond

• Master of Health Administration (On-campus)
• Master of Science in Health Administration (Hybrid)
• Master of Health Administration/Doctor of Medicine
• Master of Health Administration/Juris Doctor
• Master of Health Administration/Master of Science in Information Systems

The estimated cost per academic year is $13,962 for in-state and $26,644 for out of state residents.

The school boasts the accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Being that there are a few different program options to choose from when seeking an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration, it is up to you to choose which one is the most suitable:

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration or Management (BS)
• Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)

Most undergraduate programs consist of 120 credit hours and students can complete them in 4 years.

The first 60 credits are usually general education requirements, and the last 60 credits are more specific to the healthcare administration field.

Common topics that are taught during these undergraduate healthcare administration programs are the following:

• Introduction to the healthcare system
• Finance and accounting
• Medical terminology
• Business administration
• Communications
• Human resources

Besides online degree programs, on-campus programs are available in the following Virginia locations for traditional students:

• Richmond
• Fairfax
• Harrisonburg
• Norfolk
• Middletown
• Winchester
• Staunton
• Arlington

Graduate degree programs are typically made up of 36 to 60 credits, and students can complete them within 24 months.

By the end of their studies, students may be required to complete a final capstone project or thesis.

The title you will get once you graduate from a master’s program may vary, as there is a wide variety of degree programs for Virginia students:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration
• Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
• Master of Science (MS) in Health Policy and Management
• Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA)
• MHA/MBA dual degree programs

You have to bear in mind that admission requirements may vary between schools, but still the most common criteria used in graduate program admissions include the following:

• Prerequisite courses
• A minimum undergraduate GPA
• Official undergraduate transcripts
• Current or prior employment in the healthcare administration field
• Personal statement or essay
• Letter of recommendation

Topics covered in graduate education courses often include:

• Finance and budget management
• Community health
• Economics of the healthcare industry
• Strategies for decision making
• Law, policy, and regulations of healthcare
• Leadership and management
• Quality control and improvement

There are numerous online healthcare administration programs available to Virginia residents, but many students prefer traditional on-campus degree programs which can be found in the following Virginia cities:

• Richmond
• Fairfax
• Norfolk
• Lynchburg
• Arlington
• Winchester

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Virginia

These job descriptions have been provided for illustration purposes only to give you a hint of what Virginia’s employment opportunities are like and what employers expect from candidates:

Sentara Medical Group, Norfolk – Director of Operations Improvement –  he/she will lead a quality control and improvement team, and both a bachelor’s degree and 8 years of healthcare management experience are required to be considered eligible for this position.

Wound Care Center, Richmond – Program Director –  This person will manage operations including budgeting, staffing, performance, and human resources; to be accepted as a regular candidate for this position, a bachelor’s degree in business or healthcare administration is required, while a master’s in the same disciplines are preferred.

Virginia Beach Correctional Center, Virginia Beach Health Service Administrator – This professional will oversee daily operations at the correctional center healthcare department, so ideal candidates should have 3-5 years in management in correctional or healthcare management, as well as a bachelor degree in nursing or healthcare administration.

Centra Health, Lynchburg – Practice Administrator – This employee is expected to monitor operations at multiple practice sites and manage staff. A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or business and five years of relevant experience is required.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Virginia

Virginia’s Largest Employers of Healthcare Administrators and Managers

• Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond
• Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk
• Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church
• University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville
• Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke
• Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, Richmond
• Sentara Williamsburg Regional Center, Williamsburg
• Winchester Medical Center, Winchester
• Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, Lynchburg
• Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, Fairfax

Professional Resources

• Virginia Medical Group Management Association
• Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
• Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority
• Virginia Rural Health Association
• Virginia Health Care Association
• Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources
• Virginia Department of Health
• American Association of Health Care Administrative Management
• American College of Health Care Administrators

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Virginia

The salaries of health administration professionals in Virginia range between $103297 and $130542.

They earn a median salary of $115748 – about $17,000 more than the national average for these professionals.

Richmond is home to some of the top salaries for these professionals who earn $130542.

What is worth mentioning is that according to the Virginia Employment Commission, medical and health services management occupations are going to experience a growth rate of 21 percent in the years to come.

Regional Salary in Virginia