The healthcare industry in Oregon contributes 258 million to the state economy, along with around 256,050 jobs.
However, shortages in several areas of healthcare are making it difficult for the state to keep up with demand. Key areas of need include allied health, managers and supervisors in various settings, clinical informatics, and electronic medical records understanding.
The Oregon Health Plan, the state’s answer to Medicaid, is helping low-income individuals and families access high-quality healthcare, whereas other parts of the country struggle in this respect.
With this in mind, there’s no better time to consider a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and using your passion for healthcare to help the people of Oregon live healthier lives. Learn more about MHA programs in Oregon by continuing below.
MHA Programs in Oregon
There are currently nine Master of Healthcare Administration programs in Oregon. From an MBA with a Health Administration focus to an MPH in Health and Policy, there is something for every taste.
You can learn on-campus, online, or both, depending on which university you attend. If you prefer the focused attention of small classes in an on-campus environment, one school in Oregon offers that experience.
Here is more information on three of their programs that offer different experiences for students.
Oregon State University
- Corvallis, OR
- Campus
Program:
Master of Public Health in Health Systems and Policy
Accreditation: Council for Education in Public Health
Tuition: $5,347 per term (11 credit hours) for in-state students
Modality: On-campus learning at the Corvallis Campus
Program Overview:
The MPH in Health Systems and Policy program at Oregon State University will give you the knowledge to analyze existing federal and state healthcare policies and create new ones. The MPH program offers several concentrations including Global Health Health Promotion and Health Behavior. Students can attend on either a full or part-time basis.
Pacific University Oregon
- Forest Grove, OR
- Campus
Program:
Healthcare Management MBA
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Practices (ACBSP)
Tuition: $28,142 total for Year 1 and $9,142 for Year 2
Modality: On-campus learning 4 days a month on Hillsboro Campus (alternating weekends) or the option to join class remotely
Program Overview:
The Healthcare Management MBA program at Pacific University Oregon prepares students to be healthcare leaders with courses in managerial accounting, business law, and supply chain management. If they wish students can also enroll in the dual Healthcare/MBA program, where they are earning a degree from the College of Health Professions and the Healthcare MBA at the same time.
Portland State University
- Portland, OR
- Online + Campus + Hybrid
Program:
MPH in Public Health Practice
Accreditation: Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition: $5,562 for 9 credits or $618 per credit hour for in-state students
Modality: On-campus/online hybrid or fully online
Program Overview:
The MPH in Public Health Practice at Portland State University is offered in two formats so students can select the one that fits their lifestyle. The on-campus online hybrid takes 1 year while the fully online option is a two-year program. Students will learn how to write a grant proposal, conduct and participate in public health research studies, and develop and implement interventions for populations that are considered at risk.
CAHME Accredited MHA Programs In Oregon
CAHME or the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education is an organization that gives healthcare management curriculums the stamp of approval that showcases that they are well prepared to prepare their students to be healthcare leaders.
To earn the certification, schools must complete a general application, and they apply for candidacy once they are accepted. If accepted for candidacy, they do a self-study year, and then CAHME representatives visit the school. Finally, the school is told if they receive the accreditation in the spring or fall after the site visit.
As of now, there is only one CAHME-accredited healthcare administration program in Oregon. Here is more detail about it.
Portland State University
- Portland, OR
- Campus
Program:
MPH in Health Management and Policy
Accreditation: CAHME-accredited
Tuition: $7,022 per year for in-state students if taking 9 credit hours or $468 per credit hour
Modality: On-campus
Program Overview:
The MPH in Health Management and Policy program at Portland State University is a leading program that combines expert instructions from faculty with the opportunity to build partnerships with professionals in the industry to support budding careers. The program is completed in 2 years on average and students take courses in healthcare ethics and healthcare system analysis.
Online MHA Programs in Oregon
The flexibility of online learning allows students to take courses and complete their degrees from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. Oregon offers several MHA degrees online in different areas.
Oregon Health and Science University
- Portland, OR
- Online + Hybrid
Program:
MS in Healthcare Administration
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Tuition: $5.823 per year or $647 per credit hour for in-state students
Modality: Hybrid fully online (20% live online lecture, 80% asynchronous online learning)
Program Overview:
The MS in Healthcare Administration program at Oregon Health and Science University is meant to accommodate professionals already working in the field by being offered part-time with 2 courses per term. Students study topics like managerial decision-making and operations and quality management to strengthen their knowledge of the business of healthcare.
Oregon Health and Science University also offers a Healthcare MBA program. Here is some information about it.
Oregon Health and Science University
- Portland, OR
- Online + Hybrid
Program:
The Healthcare MBA
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Tuition: $5.823 per year or $647 per credit hour for in-state students
Modality: Hybrid fully online (20% live online lecture, 80% asynchronous online learning)
Program Overview:
This program differs from the Healthcare Administration MS program because it offers a more mixed curriculum with traditional business and a healthcare focus. It aims to give working professionals a boost when navigating the business of healthcare. With the same part-time schedule as its counterpart, students can earn their degree without worrying if they will have time for things outside of school.
Now, on to other schools.
Eastern Oregon University
- La Grande, OR
- Online
Program:
Master of Healthcare Administration
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
Tuition: $520.80 per credit for in-state students
Modality: Fully online
Program Overview:
In the Master of Healthcare Administration program at Eastern Oregon University, students will take classes in urban and rural health policy and planning, healthcare informatics, and healthcare delivery systems to help them better provide healthcare to people in all areas of Oregon. The learning experience culminates in a capstone project where students can select if they want real-world or simulated projects.
Southern Oregon University
- Ashland, OR
- Online
Program:
MBA in Healthcare Administration
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Tuition: $19.350 total or $430 per credit hour for in-state students
Modality: Fully online
Program Overview:
The MBA in Healthcare Administration at Southern Oregon University gives students industry knowledge and business understanding through courses like strategic operations management and economic analysis. Unlike most master’s programs, they must complete both a research project and capstone to complete the program.
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Klamath Falls, OR
- Online
Program:
Master of Science in Allied Health (Administrative/Leadership track)
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Tuition: $438 per credit
Modality: Fully online
Program Overview:
The Master of Science in Allied Health program at Oregon Institute of Technology has multiple tracks including administrative/healthcare leadership. In this track, students will learn about human resource management, effective healthcare leadership teams, and biostatistics. Upon completion, they can apply their new knowledge to be competent healthcare leaders. The program is part-time and the 12 credits for the Allied Health program must be completed along with the 12 credits for the track.
No GRE Required MHA Programs in Oregon
The GRE or Graduate Record Examination is an exam that prospective graduate students must take to be considered for acceptance into graduate programs. However, only some schools list it as an admissions requirement for their programs.
Currently, Portland State University, Oregon Health and Science University, and Eastern Oregon University are the only schools that do not require the GRE in Oregon.
If more schools choose not to offer the GRE or at least make it optional, it will make graduate school more accessible for people. It costs $220 to take the exam, and if you need to do retakes, you have to pay each time.
Accelerated MHA Programs in Oregon
Accelerated graduate programs are those that can be completed in less than 2 years if desired, or the entire program is designed to be completed in less than 2 years.
Accelerated graduate programs are best suited for working professionals, those with busy lives, or those who want a degree without spending an extended period in school.
Pacific Unversity Oregon’s program can be completed in 15 months. Southern Oregon University’s program can be completed in as little as 16 months, and Oregon Health and Science University’s program can be completed in 21 months.
Those who want an MHA degree the fastest should consider attending Pacific University Oregon.
Affordable MHA Programs in Oregon
Making tuition rates affordable for students is another way to make graduate school a possibility for those who want to attend.
The tuition at Oregon State University is among the most affordable in the Pacific Northwest. They have lowered their program rates for the MPH in Health Systems and Policy Program by $4,000. It costs $5,347 per term including tuition and fees.
Southern Oregon University’s MBA in Healthcare Administration program is another affordable option. They offer pay-by-course tuition instead of requiring students to pay for the whole term. Courses at Southern Oregon University only cost $430 per credit hour.
All MHA Programs in Oregon
| University Name | Program Name | Degree | State/Location | Delivery Mode | Program Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portland State University Oregon Health & Science University/Portland State University School of Publ | Healthcare Management | MPH | OR | Residential Non-Executive Part-Time | Healthcare Management |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) | Master's | OR | On-campus and online | Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) |
| University of Portland | Healthcare Administration Program | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus | Healthcare Administration Program |
| Portland State University | Healthcare Administration | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus and online | Healthcare Administration |
| Pacific University | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | Master's | OR | On-campus | Master of Health Administration (MHA) |
| Oregon State University | Healthcare Administration | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus | Healthcare Administration |
| Eastern Oregon University | Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) | Master's | OR | Online | Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) |
| Linfield University | Healthcare Administration | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus | Healthcare Administration |
| Willamette University | Healthcare Administration | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus | Healthcare Administration |
| George Fox University | Healthcare Administration | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus | Healthcare Administration |
| Western Oregon University | Healthcare Administration | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | OR | On-campus and online | Healthcare Administration |
What Types of Careers Can I Pursue With an MHA Degree in Oregon?
Oregon has a large rural population, and the state is facing difficulty in getting enough people in the workforce to fill their healthcare needs. According to U.S News and World Report, Oregon Health and Science University Hospital is one of the top medical facilities in the state along with Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
Some of the careers that MHA students in Oregon can pursue following their education include:
Director of Care Management
As a director of care management at a health facility you will coordinate the entire culture of care for the facility, including developing goals for care quality and efficiency, planning discharge for patients, developing methods to prevent patient readmission, and oversight of length of stay for different types of patients. For rural areas like Oregon, you may consider developing an in-home video program so that patients who live too far from health facilities can still receive the care outlined in their care plan.
Compliance Manager
Compliance managers are a very important part of healthcare systems. They make sure that team members are following the various laws and regulations that govern healthcare including the HiTECH Act and HIPPA. They also develop and distribute the plan to achieve compliance goals in their department or departments and oversee necessary compliance audits whenever they take place. Compliance managers involved in Oregon’s healthcare may also make sure that their clinic is following the standards that Oregon state law has in place for rural health facilities.
Medical Practice Manager or Director
Medical practice managers are in charge of making sure medical offices run smoothly during day-to-day operations. They also create staff schedules, manage medical records and patient billing, help maintain compliance with federal and state healthcare laws, and develop required training and continuing education for new and current employees. In Oregon, the managers of smaller healthcare facilities ensure that staffing levels are adequate to meet the needs of the patient populations in their specific area. Rural facilities have more significant staffing shortages than urban areas.
Risk Manager
Risk managers have to develop a way to find and study the impact of financial and other losses on the healthcare organization, staff, and the people they serve, They also create the insurance claim budgets for departments and review contracts and plans for anything new that may be added to their facility. For example, risk managers may calculate the operating margin for hospitals in Oregon and how it relates to losses of staff and other misfortunes. They can then use that data to predict if the hospital can continue operating on its current resources.
Health Information Technologist
Health information technologists design and implement electronic medical record systems for use in hospitals and medical offices. Since healthcare facilities are moving further away from paper records, their role is becoming more and more essential. They also ensure that the systems they make are private and secure to keep patient data safe from those who want to misuse it. For example, if a hospital or doctor’s office in Oregon needs help implementing electronic medical records and translating all current records into electronic format, the health information technologist can help them do that.
