Admissions Overview
To qualify for the program, applicants must meet the following admissions requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- GPA of 3.0 required
- Transcripts from each institution attended; a University of Southern California alumnus does not need to submit official transcript
- Five years of experience with progressively greater levels of responsibility in health care or a related field
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Professional resume
- Personal statement of purpose – a brief personal statement describing your reasons for pursuing the Executive Master of Health Administration degree, how the degree will enhance or transition your career and what you hope to contribute to the field
Executive MHA Admissions Criteria
The principal admission criterion is potential for continued distinguished academic and professional achievement.
A minimum of five years of experience with progressively greater levels of responsibility in health care or a related field is required for entry into the Executive MHA program. Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate course work is required. Allowances may be made when justified by exceptional work experience and letters of recommendation.
Interested applicants should pre-qualify their application before beginning the official USC Graduate Admissions process. Applicants for the Executive Master of Health Administration apply directly to the program.
In assessing an application, the admission committee evaluates:
- Past performance as evidenced by work experience, community service and prior academic accomplishments
- Commitment to educational and career goals, as demonstrated particularly in the written statement
- Ability to contribute to a collaborative learning environment
Specifically, EMHA admission criteria is based on:
- A minimum of 5-8 years professional experience at mid to senior career level with demonstrated upward potential
- Demonstrated managerial experience including supervisory and budgetary responsibilities
- Strong recommendation letters from professional references
- Strong personal statement of purpose
NOTE: Qualified applicants are not required to take either the GRE or the GMAT to be considered for admission to the Executive MHA.
Interested applicants may be requested to schedule and complete an interview as part of the application process. The interview is particularly helpful to explore the applicant’s professional background and alignment of professional goals with the Executive MHA program.
Academic Calendar
The USC Price School’s EMHA’s flexible, online format allows several convenient start dates throughout the year.
Spring 2023
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022
Term Start Date: January 4, 2023
Summer 2023
Application Deadline: April 1, 2023
Term Start Date: May 3, 2023
Fall 2023
Application Deadline: August 1, 2023
Term Start Date: August 30, 2023
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
Per Credit Hour: $2,137
Per Term: $12,822 (6 units)
Total Tuition: $76,932 (36 units)
Fees
Application Fee: $90
Books/Supplies: Approx. $750-1,500
Residency: $1,950*
*$975 charged with tuition for HMGT-520 course, $975 charged with tuition for HMGT-570 course
Other Fees: $1,000 – $2,000 depending on cost of airfare and lodging for residency
Financial Aid
The ability to pay for your education is always an important consideration. Many organizations offer tuition assistance to employees and, in some cases, cover 100 percent of tuition costs. Programs and policies vary among employers. Consult your human resources office to learn more about tuition assistance at your organization.
Many options are available to fund your graduate education. The USC Financial Aid Office administers federal and private programs to assist you.
For more information on applying for Financial Aid, please visit USC Financial Aid.
Veterans Administration – Yellow Ribbon Benefits
The USC Price School is proud to partner with the Veterans Administration to provide VA Yellow Ribbon benefits to qualified students. The Price School has allocated funds for five Yellow Ribbon Awards each year at up to $10,000 for each award. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides additional funding for veterans who wish to attend private institutions which can be used to meet any or all of unmet tuition/fee needs, but cannot exceed the total cost of tuition and fees. To qualify to receive Yellow Ribbon benefits, students must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate (100%) under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (based on service requirements).
To receive the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits students must be admitted to the University and registered for classes. Once enrolled, submit the following packet to USC’s School Certifying Official:
- Recent Certificate of Eligibility
- Completed Application for Semester Entitlement (ASE) Form
- Copy of a valid photo identification
Take your certificate of eligibility to the Veterans Certification Office and ask them to certify your enrollment to the VA, including Yellow Ribbon. Per federal regulations, eligible recipients will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
Note: The college or university must certify your enrollment to the VA; you may not do so yourself.