Most Affordable MPH Online Programs
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By TopMastersInHealthcare.com Staff Last Updated: February 1, 2021
Altruistic professionals interested in improving the quality of care across communities can earn a master of public health degree. This multidisciplinary degree provides students with diverse competencies required in multiple areas of the healthcare industry. Graduates go on to become medical and health services managers, epidemiologists, health and safety engineers, and health educators.
Students should note that earning potential varies by career and experience; however, MPH graduates earn about $64,970 on average. Online MPH programs typically require about 45 credits, and students can earn their degree in 2-3 years with full-time attendance. Part-time students may need to double the average program length.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Colleges and universities may offer multiple concentrations depending on the resources available to the program, including health systems and policy, humanitarian health, and infectious diseases. Courses may include determinants of health, implementing public health interventions, and public health practice. Students should research programs that meet their needs to determine average tuition rates as prices vary.
Most Affordable Online MPH Programs
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BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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University of Florida
Gainesville, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
University of Illinois at Springfield
Springfield, IL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
University of South Florida-Main Campus
Tampa, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA - 4 years
- Campus
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.
Simmons University
Boston, MA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
Florida International University
Miami, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Stillwater, OK - 4 years
- Online + Campus
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.
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a Council on Education for Public Health-approved online MPH that allows working professionals to pursue an advanced degree. The MPH online program's part-time format means students take 1-3 classes each term, typically graduating within three years. The program features three start dates throughout the year, and students work in cohorts of 60 or fewer of their fellow learners.
Distance learners can complete some course requirements in person at the university's Institute of Public Health, which offers condensed classes in the winter and summer semesters.
Qualified applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, along with at least two years of public health experience. Prospective students should also submit three letters of recommendation, a goals statement, and GRE scores.
Johns Hopkins is located in Baltimore, Maryland. All distance learners, including out-of-state residents, pay the same tuition rate. Johns Hopkins University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Located in Johnson City, ETSU delivers a fully online MPH degree with an epidemiology focus. Students learn to use data and research to assess public health concerns, reduce risks for disease within particular populations, improve community health, and influence effective public health policies.
Incoming students are expected to hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA, and to submit three letters of recommendation and their official GRE scores. Individuals who possess a master's degree or who have taken the GMAT in the last five years may seek an exemption from the GRE requirement.
ETSU's distance learners can access the school's Graduate Student Success Center, which provides academic advising, career services, personal counseling, goal setting, and online tutoring.
The university's public health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. ETSU also offers reduced tuition for students who take all their courses online in a semester.
East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN - 4 years
- Online + Campus
UofM offers two MPH online programs: a conventional two-year degree and an accelerated 12-month option. Students on either track can take all required courses online and specialize in biostatistics, epidemiology, health systems and policy, social and behavioral sciences, or urban health.
The 42-credit program includes 18 credits of core classes and 18 elective credits, along with six credits consisting of a field experience and a master's project. Students must maintain a B average to graduate and take the Certified in Public Health exam.
To apply, prospective students provide official college transcripts, GRE scores, a statement of purpose, three recommendation letters, and a resume. The program only considers applicants with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
The online MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Distance learners through UofM Global pay a reduced tuition rate. The University of Memphis is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Located in Pensacola, UWF delivers a 42-credit online MPH program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The program features concentrations in general public health; global health; and health promotion, education, and behavior.
All students complete a two-term, six-credit practicum, during which they work directly with an approved internship advisor. Before graduation, students take a comprehensive exam. Program participants must maintain a B average to remain in good academic standing.
Eligible applicants to the MPH online program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They also must provide their official GRE scores, a statement of their career goals, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample.
Out-of-state candidates taking classes online can apply for waivers to reduce their tuition. Distance learners also receive access resources like academic advising, career counseling, military services, and technology assistance. University of West Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Creighton University
Omaha, NE - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Creighton's flexible MPH degree teaches students to promote meaningful change by meeting the needs of underserved populations around the world. The MPH online program's asynchronous format was developed to provide working professionals with maximum convenience. Students may also choose from concentrations in health policy and ethics or healthcare management, and/or seek graduate certificates in bioethics and healthcare management.
Program participants take part in a practicum experience tailored to their interests and career goals. This component involves working with a public health professional and completing a capstone project prior to graduation.
Application materials for the MPH program include a current resume, a personal statement, official college transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, but do not need to provide GRE scores. Students may begin the program in August, January, or May of each year. Creighton University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina. The university's Brody School of Medicine offers a 45-credit online MPH program featuring concentrations in epidemiology, community health and health behavior, and health policy administration and leadership. Students also engage in a 240-hour field placement and submit a final professional paper detailing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a research project.
Applicants to the MPH online program should submit their official college transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a letter of intent, a resume, and their MCAT or GRE scores. The program requires incoming students to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Starting in August 2020, students can enroll in ECU's new School of Rural Public Health. By combining multiple disciplines, the school aims to identify and address public health challenges in rural and underserved communities. ECU's online MPH is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Shenandoah's School of Health Professions offers an interdisciplinary online MPH program that focuses on identifying and addressing public health problems in rural and underserved communities. The 45-credit program includes a course on rural health systems, in which candidates explore the health disparities and challenges many rural residents face. Students may also take elective courses on maternal and child health, global health, and environmental health.
Applicants to the online MPH program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary institution. Application materials include two letters of recommendation, a resume, a personal statement, and official GRE scores.
The School of Health Professions also offers a physicians’ assistant/MPH dual degree, which features 15 overlapping credits between the two degrees. An accelerated bachelors-to-MPH option allows Shenandoah undergraduates to seamlessly move into more advanced studies.
Shenandoah is located in Winchester, Virginia. All graduate students pay the same tuition, regardless of their residence status. Shenandoah University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.