Most Affordable Online MPH Programs

UF's 48-credit online MPH degree allows students to choose a concentration in public health practice or social and behavioral sciences. Learners pursuing their MPH online complete a six-credit applied practice experience in a nonprofit or public agency setting. They also develop a major paper and presentation describing what they learned during their experience.

By the end of the program, students are capable of identifying and solving public health problems and empowering others. Graduates know how to create and sustain community partnerships and develop plans and policies that positively affect community health.

UF also offers an accelerated, 42-credit option for individuals who already possess a health-related doctoral degree. Candidates must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to graduate. Graduates are qualified to take the National Board of Public Health Examiners credentialing exam. The University of Florida is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health delivers an online MPH program with concentrations in leadership in practice, health policy, nutrition, registered dietitian. Known as MPH@UNC, the 42-credit program combines online coursework with live weekly meetings. Most students graduate in 20-36 months, depending on their enrollment status.

All students take a class on conceptualizing public health solutions, during which they learn to identify and develop solutions to public health challenges. Candidates work with community partners and communicate key information to the public regarding public health policies and programs.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and submit their official GRE scores. Prospective students must also provide college transcripts, a resume, a statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation.

The Gillings School is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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UIS' 32-credit online MPH builds candidates' analytical skills, scientific knowledge, cultural competence, and an awareness of social justice issues. Students may select the general MPH option or engage in a STEM-focused environmental health track. The school also offers an MPH professional track for current physicians taking part in a residency program. In addition, candidates may seek a dual MPH/MPA degree online.

The MPH online program offers a variety of interesting classes, including one on emerging diseases. Students examine new and re-emerging infectious diseases around the world through the lens of public health, exploring disease's impact on economics, geography, politics and policy, and social systems.

Prospective students must hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or higher. They should also submit a personal essay and three letters of recommendation. Once enrolled, all UIS online students -- including out-of-state distance learners -- pay a reduced "e-tuition" rate. University of Illinois at Springfield is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

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USF's online MPH program prepares the next generation of public health professionals for a variety of careers, with concentrations in epidemiology, public health practice, global disaster management, infection control, social marketing, nutrition and dietetics, and environmental safety.

The MPH online program features an asynchronous course structure developed with working professionals in mind. Students can complete assignments and participate in discussions largely on their own schedule. Some concentrations do require students to attend a one-week session at the university's Tampa campus. Most full-time students can complete the program in around two years.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and provide their GRE scores, official college transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and a statement of purpose. Online learners, including out-of-state residents, can take advantage of a reduced tuition rate.

USF's College of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health. The University of South Florida is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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This university's 42-credit MPH online program allows students to customize their learning experience through elective courses like gender issues, stress management, human disease, and nutrition. Students can take all classes online, with no in-person sessions required.

Along with an internship in health education, all candidates must complete a thesis that explores and offers a potential evidence-based solution to a community health challenge. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and pass both a comprehensive final exam and the Certified Health Education Specialist exam to graduate.

Candidates interested in the online MPH program must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school and provide their official undergraduate transcripts, references, an admissions essay, and a current resume. Each applicant also engages in an interview with a faculty member. All distance learners pay in-state tuition rates, even if they live out of state.

Mississippi University for Women is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers both 45-credit and 65-credit MPH online programs. The 45-credit option accepts individuals with a prior doctoral degree or a master's degree in a health-related field who have completed at least a year of medical or dental school, or who have more than five years of health career experience. The 65-credit track remains open to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree and two or more years of public health-related work experience.

The 65-credit track allows students to specialize in health and social behavior, health management, health policy, or nutrition. The 45-credit option offers specializations in epidemiology, global health, social behavior, health management, health policy, quantitative methods, and occupational and environmental health.

Although most learning takes place online, students do need to attend some on-campus sessions. The program also requires a practicum, which students can arrange through the Office for Career Advancement. Full-time students typically complete their MPH degree in under two years. Harvard is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

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Boston-based Simmons offers an online MPH program that emphasizes health equity. The program features self-guided coursework and mostly online classes, with a few in-person immersion experiences at locations around the world. In these sessions, students closely examine public health issues and build their leadership skills to promote social change. Immersions center on issues like racism and oppression, global health and development, and border health and sustainability.

Applicants must provide a current resume, three letters of recommendation, transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities, and a personal essay. They should also hold a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, along with a passing grade in a college-level math course. The program does not require applicants to take the GRE.

The MPH online program's curriculum includes 12 core classes, two electives, and two health equity change project courses. Full-time students usually graduate in 21 months. Simmons College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

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Candidates pursuing FIU's online MPH can tailor program coursework to their interests and career goals. The 45-credit program takes 21 months to complete, and students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to graduate. A six-credit practicum and culminating experience involves students taking on a public health challenge and developing an evidence-based solution as a final project.

The curriculum includes interesting courses such as AIDS epidemiology and control, which examines the epidemiology of HIV alongside the disease's effects on people, communities, and societies.

Admission requirements for the MPH online program include a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Applicants also must submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a current resume, and official GRE scores.

FIU's MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Florida International University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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NMSU's completely online MPH program was designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Students can specialize in health behavior and health promotion or health management, administration, and policy. An asynchronous course format means students can complete class requirements largely at their own pace.

To supplement the online coursework, the university’s Albuquerque Center provides students with more than 40,000 square feet of space to engage with fellow learners, receive support services, and meet with academic advisors. The center is also home to a computer lab and conference rooms.

To apply, prospective students should submit official college transcripts, three reference letters, and a personal statement. Eligible applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better. The online MPH program is open to residents in all but 13 states.

NMSU's public health programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

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OSU students who pursue an MPH online focus on addressing public health challenges in rural communities and underserved populations. The program features a flexible format that allows students to take courses and engage in experiences based on their interests and career goals. Students may enroll in elective courses on health psychology, global nutrition, aging, sexuality, and family theory, among many other topics.

Through class projects, students learn to assess community needs, create plans to address challenges, and simulate how they will implement their plans. Common focus areas include substance abuse, mental health, food insecurity, obesity, and maternal and child health -- issues affecting families and communities throughout Oklahoma. Toward the end of their studies, learners complete a practicum at a program-approved public health site.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. They also must provide a current resume, a 1,500-word statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and official GRE scores. Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

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