MHA Admissions

NOTE: Applications for Summer and Fall are due February 15; applications received by May 1 will be considered on a space available basis. Spring admission is reserved for (internal) early entry applicants. Our MHA Handbook, describes the application process and the program in detail. The Handbook supplements the information on our website. We encourage interested applicants to download and review our Handbook.

The Program

Students may enroll in the Master of Health Administration program on a full-time or part-time basis. Classes are scheduled primarily in the evenings at the UNC Charlotte main campus and at UNC Charlotte Center City.

The MHA Program may also be combined with graduate certificates or dual degrees to provide further specialization, breadth, or depth. We have established formal dual degree options with the UNC Charlotte MBA and Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics programs. Ad hoc combinations with other related programs are possible.

Admission Criteria and Application Requirements

ALERT: The MHA Program has eliminated the GRE requirement.

As noted below applicants must now address the quantitative, verbal, and analytic abilities within their admissions essay. Applicants may still submit GRE scores for consideration as part of their application portfolio. Applicants are encouraged to review the program’s profile of competitive applicants. Applicants who are concerned that their coursework and other documents might not convey competitiveness in quantitative, analytic, or verbal reasoning capacity are encouraged to contact the program to discuss the competitiveness of their application and advisability of including GRE scores as part of their application portfolio.

We consider applicants from a variety of undergraduate degree specializations. MHA Admission is considered on a rolling basis starting in mid October for summer or fall admission (spring admission is reserved for [internal] early entry applicants. Applications are due by 15th February for full consideration.

General requirements for Master’s students at UNC Charlotte can be found on the Graduate Admissions website at Graduate Admissions Information. Applicants should thoroughly review the university requirements and our program specific expectations and competitive norms before applying.

Applications to the MHA program must be submitted through the Graduate School’s online portal called SLATE. Questions regarding the general application process should be directed to the UNC Charlotte Graduate School. Below, we summarize our expectations.

  1. Applicants to the MHA program are expected to convey their demonstrated and potential capacity for verbal, quantitative and analytical reasoning through their transcripts, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. Applicants should consider potential gaps in such evidence when preparing their statements and soliciting letters of recommendation.
  2. Applicants must provide transcripts from all institutions attended. Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for review purposes, but offers of admission will be contingent upon receipt of official transcripts.
  3. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted from persons who can reflect upon the applicant’s prior academic and/or professional performance and capability for serving as a health care administrator.
  4. The applicant must provide a career goal statement and a current resume. The statement must address the considerations raised in item 1 above, making the case that the applicant can be successful if admitted into our program.
  5. Per Graduate School Rules, international students are required to submit proof of English language proficiency by submitting official test score results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Admission Criteria: We use a portfolio approach to evaluate applicants: An applicant’s portfolio consists of reference letters, previous professional experience (resume), goal statement, and grade point average in undergraduate and previous graduate work (if applicable). The portfolio approach allows us to holistically assess applicants for potential success in our program. That said, applicants should have a GPA of at least a 3.0, or make a compelling case for their capacity as part of their essay (goal statement). Applicants are encouraged to review the competitive profile of our applicants as summarized on the MHA Program Metrics page.

Application Instructions

Application Deadlines: Applications for full-time and part-time study are admitted for the fall; students have an option to begin in the summer. For full consideration, applications are expected by February 15. Applications received after February 15 will be reviewed until the University deadline, currently: May 1, space permitting.

The University Catalog, application forms and materials can be obtained from:

Graduate Admissions
UNC Charlotte
Reese, 5th Floor
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte NC 28223-0001
704-687-5503 (Phone)
704-687-3279 (Fax)

The current Schedule of Courses is available online here.

Please use the Request to Visit button in the left navigation bar to schedule an in-person visit.

See the Video MHA FAQs Page to hear first-hand from current MHA students and alumni.