At the intersection of health care, business, and leadership is the Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) degree. This is a professional doctorate for experienced health care administrators who want to advance into senior leadership positions and make a significant impact in the industry.

With a specific focus on leadership, innovation, data-driven decision-making, and strategic problem-solving, a DHA equips you with theoretical insights and the practical strategies you’ll need to address the complex issues in our modern health care system (and let’s be real: there are a lot of issues!).

Discover more about the benefits of a Doctor in Health Administration degree and see if earning your DHA is the right choice for you.

What Sets the Doctor of Health Administration Apart?

How is a Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) degree different from similar doctoral degrees in health care? The biggest difference is that the DHA curriculum specifically focuses on preparing health administrators to lead and solve real-world problems in business management and patient care.  

DHA vs. PhD in Health Administration

A PhD in Health Administration, while similar to a DHA, explores the same core concepts from a more theoretical and research-based standpoint. Both degrees require you to conduct research and write a dissertation, but a DHA typically implements some sort of action-based research. If a career in teaching or academia is your goal, then the PhD would be more aligned.

DHA vs. Doctor in Public Health

Some professionals may consider earning a Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) degree where they direct their energies to preventing disease, ensuring access to care, and improving global health outcomes. DrPH professionals often work with federal or world health agencies, NGOs, and policymakers. DHA graduates are more often employed within hospital systems and other health care institutions. 

DHA vs. Master of Health Administration

A Master in Health Administration (MHA) degree is geared toward early-career health administrators and teaches them foundational concepts in management, daily operations, budgeting, and organizational leadership. Once you earn your MHA and have worked in administration for several years, a DHA degree could help you pursue senior-level positions where you can foster systemic change. 

Key Benefits of a Doctorate in Health Administration

Career Advancement Opportunities

Earning a DHA degree can improve your effectiveness as a health administrator. It can also open up many new opportunities in a health care company’s top leadership positions. DHA graduates often wind up in the C-suite in roles like Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), or Chief Operating Officer (COO). 

Earning your DHA can also help you influence the culture and direction of an entire health care system by managing its teams, tracking budgets, and driving policy changes.

Higher Earning Potential

Earning a doctorate in health administration can land you senior leadership roles with lucrative salaries. According to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care administrators earned a median annual salary of $110,680, and top health care executives earned a median wage of $194,280 per year. 

Because DHA graduates come "pre-loaded" with highly valuable skills and expertise, industry employers are more than willing to pay for that level of knowledge and experience. 

Skill Development

Earning a DHA helps you develop some of the most valuable skills for health care executives, including:

  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Analyzing complex data and metrics to boost operational efficiency, employee morale, and company reputation. 
  • Health Policy Expertise: Evaluating existing health policies and developing new initiatives to address patient needs while complying with federal and state laws.
  • Strategic Planning: Defining an organization’s mission and long-term goals, devising plans, and allocating resources to help achieve them.
  • Business Acumen: Managing budgets, optimizing operations, improving the quality of patient care, and monitoring new technologies and innovations.

Credibility and Authority

Because a DHA communicates a deep level of understanding and experience in health care administration, having this degree establishes you as a credible expert within the field and positions you as an industry thought leader. It communicates that you are a reputable, trustworthy source of information and ideas on health care policy and management. 

Who Should Consider a DHA Degree?

A DHA degree is an excellent choice for experienced health care administrators who already hold a Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Administration, or Master of Public Health (MPH).  

For current administrators wanting to improve their leadership skills and seek executive roles to drive large-scale innovation, earning a doctorate in health administration would be ideal. 

Potential Career Paths with a Doctor of Health Administration

Graduates with a DHA are often hired into senior-level positions, such as hospital administrators, health policy analysts, CEOs, or university professors. Health care administrators typically work for health care facilities (hospitals, private group practices, long-term care facilities, HMO/PPO providers, health departments, etc.). However, they can also find work with government agencies, colleges and universities, and consulting firms.

Is a DHA Degree Worth it?

There is great demand for qualified leaders who can handle issues like staffing shortages, new regulations, developing technologies, and societal shifts in the public’s perspective of the industry. With a DHA, you will have the opportunity to improve our health care system through innovative strategies, reformed policies, and ethical guidance. If you value making a positive contribution to society, then a DHA is definitely worth it. 

As for the return on investment (ROI), the price of a doctoral program in health administration (or any field) can be prohibitive. Depending on the institution, it could cost anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 per year. Considering most DHA programs take three or four years to complete, your total tuition costs will likely be close to six figures. 

That said, health care administrators are often compensated well with high salaries and generous benefits packages. Theoretically, if you earned the median wage for health administrators ($110,680 annually), you could potentially pay for your entire doctorate with just one year’s salary. If you’re already making close to six figures in your current role, you might consider the time investment and how much a DHA could really increase your salary or job satisfaction. 

Ready to Get Your DHA Degree?

The Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) degree can position you to significantly influence how health care services are administered.

If you’re intrigued by a career in health care but still aren’t sure which way to go, take our quiz to find your potential place in the future of health care.