Share
See how one healthcare professional is balancing a full-time career, personal life, and an online MHA at University of the Cumberlands.
Going back to school doesn’t always mean putting your career or personal life on hold. Online graduate programs can give working professionals the flexibility to continue building their careers while advancing their education.
Nick Miller, a current Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA) student at University of the Cumberlands, knows what that looks like firsthand. A native of London, Kentucky, Nick works full time for a Federally Qualified Health Center in southeastern Kentucky. When he began considering graduate school, one question stood out: Could he balance graduate-level coursework with his career and personal life?
For Nick, the answer has been yes. Cumberlands’ 100 percent online MHA format has allowed him to continue working in healthcare and making time for the people who matter to him while pursuing his graduate degree.
“Cumberlands’ MHA program has given me the flexibility I needed to continue working full-time while earning a degree that directly relates to my career in healthcare leadership,” Nick said.
Can You Balance an Online MHA With a Full-Time Job?
An online MHA can offer working professionals greater flexibility to balance graduate coursework with existing responsibilities. Before enrolling in Cumberlands’ MHA program, Nick wondered whether he would have enough time for everything. Now about a year into the program, he has found the coursework challenging but manageable alongside his other responsibilities.
“My biggest concern was whether I would be able to balance graduate-level coursework with working full-time and still have time for my personal life,” Nick said. “Since starting the program, I have been pleasantly surprised by how manageable the online format is.”
University of the Cumberlands’ Master of Science in Healthcare Administration is offered 100 percent online with asynchronous coursework, allowing students to study and complete assignments around their schedules. Courses are offered in eight-week bi-terms, with students typically taking one or two courses per bi-term and two bi-terms offered each semester.
This structure allows students to focus on fewer courses at one time while continuing to manage their professional and personal responsibilities.
Is an Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration Affordable?
The cost of an online MHA varies by institution. At University of the Cumberlands, the 31-credit-hour MHA costs $355 per credit hour.
In its 2026 evaluation of top MHA programs in Kentucky, HealthcareManagement.org ranked Cumberlands as the most affordable program included on its list.
Graduate students at Cumberlands also benefit from the university’s One Price Promise, an affordability initiative designed to make education costs more transparent. Tuition, textbooks and course materials, and essential fees are included in one rate, helping students understand their costs without unexpected fees.
For Nick, the affordability of graduate education at Cumberlands has made pursuing his degree more manageable than he anticipated.
“The program has been more affordable and manageable than I initially expected from a graduate degree,” Nick said. “Being able to complete the program online also helps because I do not have the additional expenses that can come with commuting or relocating for school. I feel like I am able to invest in my education and future without completely disrupting my current life.”
What Is Online MHA Coursework Like?
Online MHA coursework typically combines healthcare knowledge with business and leadership skills. At Cumberlands, the MHA curriculum is designed to develop students’ understanding of healthcare theory and practice alongside skills in leadership, communication, finance, ethics, and healthcare administration. Coursework emphasizes research-based strategy and real-world application.
Students complete courses such as Organizational Behavior, Healthcare Accounting, Customer Satisfaction Management, Digital Health and Analytics, and others designed to explore the business and administrative sides of healthcare.
For Nick, one of the most valuable parts of the coursework is the opportunity to consider how those concepts apply outside the classroom.
“Instead of simply memorizing information, I am often asked to think about how concepts involving finance, leadership, business, ethics, and healthcare administration apply in the real world,” he explained.
Can You Apply an MHA to Your Current Healthcare Career?
For professionals already working in healthcare, an MHA can provide opportunities to connect graduate coursework with situations they encounter on the job. Nick is experiencing that connection while continuing his full-time healthcare career.
“What stands out most to me is how well the program fits into the life of someone who is already working full-time,” he said. “I can immediately connect what I am learning in class to my professional experience, which makes earning my graduate degree feel both practical and worthwhile.”
That ability to connect coursework with professional experience is one reason Nick sees value in earning his MHA while continuing to work in the field.
Do Online MHA Students Get Support?
Online graduate students at Cumberlands have access to academic and student support resources throughout their programs. For Nick, studying online has not meant navigating graduate school entirely on his own.
“Even though the program is online, I have never felt like I was completely on my own when I needed guidance or clarification,” Nick said.
Graduate students are assigned a Student Success Coordinator who can provide advising, guidance, resources, and encouragement as they navigate university life.
Online students also have access to resources including online tutoring, the Graduate Writing Center, and free counseling services through TimelyCare.
Is an MHA Worth It for Healthcare Professionals?
Whether an MHA is worth pursuing depends on factors such as a student’s career goals, experience, educational needs, and financial circumstances. For healthcare professionals interested in leadership or management, an MHA can help develop knowledge across both healthcare and business disciplines.
For Nick, the degree has strengthened his confidence as he continues to grow in his current professional role.
“Since starting this program, I feel more confident about taking the next step in my career and eventually moving into higher levels of healthcare leadership,” he said.
The broader career outlook for healthcare management is also strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. Graduate education in healthcare administration can help professionals develop knowledge across healthcare and business disciplines that may be relevant to leadership and management roles in the industry.
Why Did Nick Choose University of the Cumberlands?
For Nick, choosing Cumberlands for graduate school meant returning to a university he already knew while finding a program that could accommodate his career.
“I chose to continue my education at the University of the Cumberlands because I had a positive experience completing my undergraduate degree here and wanted to continue building on that experience,” Nick said. “The online graduate program also gave me the flexibility I needed to continue working full-time while earning a degree that directly relates to my career in healthcare leadership.”
His experience reflects what he was looking for when he started his graduate-school search: an education that could complement rather than interrupt the career he was already building.
Nick's story also illustrates strengths of Cumberlands' MHA program recently recognized on a national level by HealthcareManagement.org. Cumberlands' MHA program ranked No. 9 in Kentucky for its affordability, flexibility, and student success. Learn more about what the ranking means for prospective students.
Explore Cumberlands’ Online Master’s in Healthcare Administration
University of the Cumberlands offers its Master of Science in Healthcare Administration entirely online for professionals interested in developing healthcare leadership, administration, and business skills.
Degree: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MHA)
Format: 100 percent online
Credits: 31 credit hours
Tuition: $355 per credit hour
Typical completion: Approximately one to two years, depending on course load
Share