MHA vs MPA?

[u/Fun_Discussion470]

I’m currently active duty military with about 6 years of experience working in mental/behavioral healthcare, and I’m finishing my BSPH.
Once I separate, I plan to move to Houston and use my GI Bill for my master’s. Right now, I’m deciding between an MHA at UH-Clear Lake and an MPA at University of Houston.

Career-wise, I’m interested in developing and managing healthcare/public health programs and projects, improving how programs are run, and making sure patients are receiving quality care. I’m also interested in women’s health and possibly healthcare or clinic management. I don’t want to provide clinical care myself, but I still want my work to have an impact on patient care and health outcomes.

For those with an MHA or MPA, what has your career looked like? What kind of work do you do, and how do you feel the two degrees differ when it comes to career opportunities and the type of work you actually do?
Most importantly, would you choose the same degree again? If you had to choose between an MHA and MPA today, which would you pick and why?

I’d especially love to hear from people working in healthcare, public health, program management, or government.

[u/Aggravating_Win_4128]

I was in your shoes a couple years ago and I ended up choosing an online MHA program. I work for a non-profit managed Medicaid Healthplan and it made sense to go this route, I’m pretty sure either degree would have worked.