Below you will find a detailed outline of the steps required to apply for admission to the master of health care administration program at Des Moines University. Please review the calendar below for upcoming application deadlines and term start dates.

Required documents for M.H.A. application

1. Submit the online application and pay $50 application fee.
2. Request official copies of transcripts from all institutions attended for both undergraduate and graduate coursework.
3. Prepare two (2) admission essays to address the questions listed below:
   • Admission essay #1
     What do you bring to the field of health care administration?
     Why do you want to earn an M.H.A. from DMU, and what do you expect from the program?
     What is your strategy for meeting the requirements of the program and balancing this with outside demands?
     Describe your ideal learning environment.
   • Admission essay #2
     Describe a challenging situation you’ve encountered, how you handled it and what you learned from the experience.
4. Identify three (3) individuals to write your letters of recommendation
   Please plan to request letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate your past and current performance in an academic or professional setting. At least one letter from a Supervisor is strongly recommended. Other recommendations may include professors, professional colleagues or fellow members of community or professional organizations.

All application materials will be submitted directly to DMU at the following address:

DMU-MHA admission
3200 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312

Email:  mhaadmit@dmu.edu
Phone: 515-271-1538
Fax: 515-271-7083

Admission review

It is solely the applicant’s responsibility to ensure delivery and receipt of all required application documents prior to the application deadline. We will confirm with applicants once their admission file is complete. Applicants are encouraged to contact us directly to verify receipt of materials. All completed application files will be reviewed for a decision following the posted deadlines.  You are welcome to submit your application anytime; however, the admission committee does not review files or make decisions off-cycle.

Admission decisions

Following the deadlines, all completed files will be reviewed. Applicants will be notified of a decision within 3 weeks of the deadline. Students who are accepted will be required to submit a non-refundable $250.00 tuition seat deposit securing their place in the class.  Deposits are used to establish student tuition accounts and are credited toward the cost of tuition for the first term. All students admitted to DMU are also subject to completion of a criminal background check through a preferred vendor. Details regarding these requirements will be delivered at the time of acceptance. Newly accepted students will also receive additional information regarding course registration, faculty advisors and financial aid.

International students

To be eligible for admission, you must be either a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Applicants in Permanent Resident “pending” status are not eligible for admission. If you are an international student, please refer to our international student information pages.

If you are a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident with a degree from a non-U.S. institution, additional documentation is required for admission consideration:

1. Foreign transcript evaluation
   Coursework taken at foreign institutions must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by one of the following evaluation services, and an official copy must be sent from the service directly to Des Moines University. A course-by-course evaluation is required, and your application will not be complete or verified until this is received. Evaluations are accepted from the following services only:
   World Education Services Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
   Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
   International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
   American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
2. TOEFL score
   Applicants with degrees completed in languages other than English must submit TOEFL scores to be considered for admission. Applicants may be required to submit documentation verifying their instruction was delivered in English. Required minimum score of:  Paper exam = 600,  computer exam = 250, internet exam = 100.

Accommodations in Education Policy

The University complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Iowa Civil Rights Act and other laws relating to the Accommodations of disabilities in its educational programming.

View the Accommodations in Education Policy