Admissions: Master of Health Administration


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The UW Master of Health Administration (MHA) program is designed for early-career professionals or recent college graduates who want to pursue careers in health care management. The program considers candidates with a wide range of undergraduate training and work experience. The most competitive applicants have at least one year of professional work experience, preferably in the field of health services.

Our MHA program is a self-sustaining, fee-based program administered by the UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) in partnership with UW Continuum College.

Autumn 2024: MHA Application Timeline

Application Opens: September 1, 2023
Space Available Deadline: February 15, 2024
Applicant Interviews: February 2024
Applicants Notified: Approximately six weeks after the application deadline
Admitted Students Day: March 15, 2024

The most competitive applicants will be invited for an in-person interview with program faculty, staff, and current students. An interview is required for admission to the MHA program.

Admissions FAQs

Application Steps

Please complete an online application with the UW Graduate School AND a supplemental MHA application. We recommend you begin your application early in order to complete all requirements on time. Details are outlined below.

Step One: Research the Program

Review Our Website

Learn as much as you can about our focus, format, and program expectations to consider if the program is right for you. You can also sign up for our admissions newsletter to learn more about the program and application process.

Meet Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or its equivalent from a foreign institution
  • Minimum grade point average: Students must meet one of the following options
    • 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent measures of performance from an institution with no grading system) for credits earned at the institution awarding the bachelor’s degree
    • 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits
  • Demonstrated English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English

Applicants who also meet the following qualifications tend to be more competitive:

  • One year of full-time, professional experience in the field of health services
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.5

International and/or Undocumented Applicants

We welcome international and/or undocumented applicants. International students must have a visa status that allows for academic study at the University of Washington.

To learn more about applying to the university and available financial options, visit our department’s student resources page.

Understand Concurrent Degree Options

MHA students are eligible for the following concurrent degrees:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) with UW Foster School of Business
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) with UW School of Medicine
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) with UW Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Details and information about concurrent degrees are provided on the UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) website.

Learn More

Attend an Information Session

We highly recommend that prospective applicants attend one of our monthly information sessions on Zoom to learn about the program’s format, curriculum, admissions, career outlook, and more.

Information Sessions

Book an Advising Appointment

Meet one-on-one with our program recruitment specialist for a more in-depth discussion about the program and whether it is a good fit for you.

Advising Appointment

Connect with a Student Ambassador

Student ambassadors are current MHA students who help prospective students learn about the MHA program at the University of Washington. They have a wide variety of experiences and interests in health care.

Learn More

Step Two: Prepare to Apply

Draft written materials, obtain unofficial transcripts, designate people to write letters of recommendation, and apply early for fee waivers.

Request Unofficial Transcripts

Obtain unofficial transcripts from each college or university where you have earned a degree or taken relevant coursework. Download unofficial transcripts or scan printed copies.

UW will request official transcripts when an offer of admission is made (international applicants) or accepted (domestic applicants).

Update Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Make sure your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) are up to date. The resume or curriculum vitae should include a complete history of your academic and professional work experience as well as any volunteer work, membership in professional organizations, licenses, honors (such as scholarships and awards) and publications.

Letters of Recommendation

Number Needed: 3

Identify three people who will write letters of recommendation, such as academic advisors, professors, supervisors, or mentors. Make sure you choose people who can evaluate your leadership and management skills and speak to your potential for a career in health services management. Consider getting recommendations from current or former employers or supervisors or former teachers, though professional recommendations are preferred

You will be asked to designate recommenders in the online application system with the UW Graduate School by providing names and email addresses. The online application system will then email specific instructions to each recommender. You will be able to return to the online application to check whether the application system has received the recommendations.

You are expected to be in contact with each recommender to make sure that the recommendations are sent to the online application system by the deadline.

Prepare Written Materials

Applicants can log into the UW Graduate School online application system and select the appropriate program to view information and details related to the written statements they need to prepare.

Application Info

GRE Scores (optional)

The GRE is no longer required! However, if applicants feel their GRE scores are a better representation of their academic preparedness for the program than their transcripts, they may include their GRE scores.

If you choose to submit GRE scores, you must self-report them in the online application with the UW Graduate School AND have scores sent directly to UW from the Educational Testing Service using the UW institutional code. Scores from the testing services must arrive by the application deadline to be considered. GMAT will not be accepted in place of the GRE.

UW Institution Code: 4854

Request a Fee Waiver (optional)

You should request an application fee waiver as soon as possible.

You can request a fee waiver from the UW Graduate School or UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health.

If you requested an application fee waiver, DO NOT submit your application until you receive approval or denial for the fee waiver. You cannot get reimbursed after paying the application fee. Contact us if you have not heard about your fee waiver and need to submit your application.

Fee Waiver Info

Proof of English Language Proficiency (select students)

Applicants whose first language is not English might need to share proof of English language proficiency.

Test scores must be sent directly to the UW by the Educational Testing Service using the UW institution code. Only scores less than two years old will be accepted.

UW Institution Code: 4854

Learn More

Step Three: Apply Online

The online application process is done through the UW Graduate School. Do not submit your application before applying or receiving your fee waiver. You can save your application and come back to it at any time to continue working on it.

Apply Here

Application Sections and Materials

Step Four: Interview

Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee. The most competitive applicants will be invited for an interview with program faculty, staff, and current students. An interview is required for admission to the MHA program.

Admitted Students Day takes place on the UW Seattle campus in March for fall admissions cycles.