Community Health

Students who will have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or a comparable degree from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad, or its equivalent, prior to matriculation, as well as a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, are welcome to apply to the Master of Health Administration program.   Our program will offer rolling admission until the following dates: March 1st for international and April 1st for domestic students.   Please note that SOPHAS applications must go through the verification process prior to these deadlines, so please plan accordingly. 

• Applicants should submit their application through SOPHAS. For assistance with the SOPHAS application, please review the SOPHAS application instructions.
• The Master of Health Administration Application will open in SOPHAS on Aug. 16, 2023. 
• Due to the importance that our program places on cohort learning, the Master of Health Administration program only accepts applications for Fall admission.
• Please note, a grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant, for the last two years of undergraduate study is a minimum requirement for admission.
• International applicants must meet minimum requirements based on their country of origin.

Online SOPHAS Application

Applicants who submit all of the required materials listed below will have their application reviewed by our admissions committee. 

Personal Statement

This statement is a very important part of your application. Use the following prompts to guide the writing of your personal statement. The personal statement should be 1-2 pages (1.5” spacing)

• Why are you interested in the MHA program at the University of Illinois?
• How will the education and skills you gain from the MHA program help you meet your academic and professional career goals?
• Describe any previous health administration-related experience including volunteer time, paid work, internships, coursework, and pertinent training.
• Share unique personal qualities, characteristics, and/or skills you believe will enable you to be successful in the program.
• If desired, share information to explain anything unusual in your transcripts or résumé.

Résumé

• A detailed résumé must be submitted to SOPHAS for admission consideration.  While experience is not required, previous health and/or administration experience is beneficial to your application, as it will be considered by the admission review board.

Three Letters of Recommendation

• This program requires three letters of recommendation, with at least one letter from a professor or instructor who can attest to the applicant’s capability to pursue graduate studies. The admission review committee prefers, if possible, that this letter come from a professor/instructor who taught the applicant within their final 60 credit hours. The other letters may come from academic or professional sources who can speak to your educational endeavors, work history, internship experience, and/or team building and leadership skills.
  • Individuals who received a degree two or more years ago may submit a professional reference in place of an academic reference if desired.

Official Transcripts

• Transcripts must show courses completed, grades, degree completed, and date of graduation. Official transcripts are required to be sent directly to SOPHAS from all U.S. and English-speaking Canadian institutions. Upon admission, students will also be required to submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions to the Graduate College.
• If you are in process of completing your degree and expect to do so before you would enter the University of Illinois, please submit your current transcript with your application. After your degree is completed, you must arrange for another transcript to be sent directly to the University. Students in this situation will be admitted conditionally pending receipt of final academic credentials showing the undergraduate degree as conferred.

Optional: Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Test Scores

• Beginning with the Fall 2021 application cycle, GRE scores are no longer required to submit your application to the MHA program. However, your application must demonstrate sufficient academic/quantitative preparedness to be considered for admission to the program. Your prior coursework, volunteer and/or work experiences, and recommendations are just a few of the items the admissions committee will review to gauge your preparedness for graduate studies.
• Although the GRE scores are not required, the scores may provide helpful supporting information in some cases. Applicants that have taken the GRE and feel their scores would benefit their application are encouraged to submit the scores. If you would like to submit scores, we recommend you scan your official score report as a PDF file and attach it to your application. You do not need to submit official scores through ETS, but if you choose to, the GRE code for the University of Illinois MHA program in SOPHAS is 4229.

All of the materials listed above must be submitted in order for an applicant to be considered for admission. Additional materials are required for International Applicants.

Finalists for admission will be granted virtual interviews with the program leaders to determine admission status.

Transcripts

• If you attended a foreign school or earned your degree outside of the United States, you must have your foreign coursework evaluated by the World Educational Services (WES). SOPHAS will only accept evaluations obtained directly from WES. If a student studied abroad or participated in an exchange program through a U.S. institution, WES is not needed for that coursework. It is only needed if a degree was earned or if a foreign university was their primary school. Please note that WES evaluations are required prior to verification in SOPHAS.  Applicants that are not verified in SOPHAS prior to the stated application deadline, may not have their application reviewed.  Please plan ahead as you consider your timeline for applying. 

TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)

• If you are from a non-English speaking country, you are required to show English proficiency as measured by the TOEFL or IELTS exams. Our graduate college requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 103 or IELTS of 7.5 for full-status admission. Detailed requirements for the TOEFL/IELTS (including exemption information) are outlined here. 

Required upon admission: Statement of Financial Resources

• Upon being offered admission, if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you need to provide the University Admissions Officer with a copy of your passport (as well as any dependents) and proof of funding. You will find the Declaration and Certification of Finances form and related information here. You will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover the estimated expenses for admitted students as described in the Declaration and Certification of Financed form. You may subtract the amount you have been awarded in scholarship funds for ONE year.

All of the materials listed above must be submitted in order for an applicant to be considered for admission, unless otherwise noted.

​​​​​Once admitted, here are some helpful resources:

• International Applicants
• International Applicant FAQs
• International Student and Scholars Services – Prospective Students