The Best Master’s in Public Health Programs
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Credit: sanjeri / E+ / Getty ImagesA master of public health (MPH) degree prepares workers who can promote and protect the health and wellness of communities through public health programs, initiatives, and policies. MPH graduates work in various leadership roles such as epidemiologist, biostatistician, health educator, and researcher.
The need for graduates with MPH degrees continues to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), epidemiologists and statisticians earned a respective $81,390 and $104,110 in median annual salaries in 2023.
Want to learn more about the diverse and dynamic MPH degree program? We put together a list of the best MPH degree programs in the nation. All are designed to prepare the modern student for a career in healthcare and research.
Popular Online MPH Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Best Master of Public Health Degree Programs
Yale University
New Haven, CT- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$59,950
- Out-of-state$59,950
- In-State$45,700
- Out-of-state$46,900
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate5%
- Students Enrolled14,806
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment1%
- AccreditationYes
University of California-Los Angeles
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$41,196
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$26,544
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate11%
- Students Enrolled46,116
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Harvard University
- Cambridge, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$51,143
- Out-of-state$51,143
- In-State$50,928
- Out-of-state$52,456
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate3%
- Students Enrolled21,209
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationYes
Cornell University
- Ithaca, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,286
- Out-of-state$60,286
- In-State$29,500
- Out-of-state$29,500
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate7%
- Students Enrolled25,898
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment12%
- AccreditationYes
Vanderbilt University
- Nashville, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$54,840
- Out-of-state$54,840
- In-State$51,600
- Out-of-state$51,600
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate7%
- Students Enrolled13,796
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment11%
- AccreditationYes
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Seattle, WA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,927
- Out-of-state$38,757
- In-State$17,004
- Out-of-state$30,477
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate48%
- Students Enrolled53,083
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment19%
- AccreditationYes
University of California-Irvine
- Irvine, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,834
- Out-of-state$42,611
- In-State$11,700
- Out-of-state$26,802
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate21%
- Students Enrolled35,936
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment81%
- AccreditationYes
Brown University
- Providence, RI
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$60,944
- Out-of-state$60,944
- In-State$60,944
- Out-of-state$60,944
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate6%
- Students Enrolled10,696
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment14%
- AccreditationYes
Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,276
- Out-of-state$60,276
- In-State$56,067
- Out-of-state$56,067
- Retention Rate99%
- Acceptance Rate7%
- Students Enrolled23,409
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment7%
- AccreditationYes
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
- Tyler, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$6,143
- Out-of-state$24,383
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled89
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment89%
- AccreditationYes
How Do Master of Public Health Programs Work?
Degree seekers can complete an MPH degree in 1-2 years, although some schools give part-time MPH students up to six years to complete the program.
The MPH curriculum contains between 42-80 credits. MPH programs focus on five core public health knowledge areas established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH): biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and health policy and administration.
Public health schools also offer a variety of tracks designed to develop experts for specializations such as epidemiology, biostatistics, community health education, and/or health systems administration and policy. MPH enrollees apply what they learn during field experience and as they complete capstone research projects.
Applying to an MPH Program
Once you’re ready to apply to an MPH degree program, it’s important to review each school’s website to determine their application requirements. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, some programs may require prerequisite coursework and/or relevant work experience. Applicants must submit an application with the required admission materials.
Programs typically charge an application fee ranging from $50-$75.
- Admission Materials: Official college transcripts, a resume or CV, and an essay or personal statement. Many schools do not require standardized test scores such as the GRE or GMAT, or waive them for many applicants.
- GPA Requirement: 2.75-3.0
Why Is MPH Program Accreditation Important?
All programs on this ranking hold institutional and programmatic accreditation. CEPH is the accrediting organization for public health schools and programs in the United States. CEPH is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the gold standard to ensure public health programs meet established criteria for high-quality academic programming.
Many employers of MPH graduates, including federal and state governmental agencies, will only hire graduates from a CEPH-accredited program.
A CEPH-accredited MPH degree also provides eligibility to sit for the certified in public health exam administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Doctoral programs and many fellowships also require or prefer MPH degrees from accredited schools.
Frequently Asked Questions About MPH Degree Programs
A master of public health degree provides knowledge and practical experience applicable to a variety of careers in the private and public sectors. The projected job outlook looks good for many occupations that require an MPH. According to the BLS, epidemiologists can expect a projected 27% job growth between 2022-2032 — far faster than the national average.
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