Great Expectations: Factors Affecting Healthcare Management Students' Choice of Graduate Degree Programs

This study draws on survey data from 185 incoming Master's students at 16 American colleges or universities to examine students' reasons for applying to accredited graduate programs in healthcare management, factors affecting their decision to attend a specific program, and their perceptions of the differences between MPH, MHA, and MBA degree programs. Findings suggest that in making the decision to apply to a given degree program, MPH and MHA students do not differ in their perceptions of the importance of program elements such as cost, alumni network, or global/regional orientation. However, MHA students place higher value on CAHME accreditation, program ranking, and name recognition, while MPH students value CePH accreditation. In making the decision to enroll, the only statistically significant differences were that MHA students care more about school ranking while MPH students care more about CePH accreditation. Consulting and general management were the two most popular postgraduate career options across all respondents. However, a higher percentage of MPH students reported interest in working for public health agencies, while a higher percentage of MHA students were interested in working for hospitals or large healthcare systems. Program directors may wish to tailor program curricula accordingly.