What Are the Best Online MPH Programs?

There’s no denying that a master’s degree in public health is versatile. Many colleges and universities offer numerous opportunities to customize this degree with concentrations and electives, and even the generalist Master of Public Health (MPH) degree has many applications. After earning an MPH, students go on to work in disciplines as varied as epidemic prevention, health education, environmental health, and social welfare.

You’ll not only serve the public good as a public health official; you’ll also be in position to earn a respectable living. According to Purdue University, average salaries for MPHs range from $44,390 (health educator) to $96,540 (medical and health services managers). More than a few jobs in public health pay six figures.

If you’re looking for a higher-paying leadership position in public health, it makes sense to consider the nation’s top MPH programs—a category that now includes not only traditional programs, but also online master’s degrees.

The best online MPH programs are ostensibly those at schools known for their public health departments, but it’s worth noting that ‘best’ is always subjective. The list below includes some high-profile colleges and universities as well as many state schools. The best online Master of Public Health program for you is the one that offers the convenience you need, has concentrations relevant to your career aspirations, and won’t break the bank.

In this list of the best online MPH programs, we’ll cover:

• Benefits of an online Master of Public Health program
• How long it will take to earn an online MPH
• Coursework in the best online MPH programs
• How to apply to an online MPH program
• Concentrations offered in online Master of Public Health programs
• What are the best online MPH degree programs?

Benefits of an online Master of Public Health program

Many online MPH programs are designed with working professionals in mind, so don’t assume that you’ll have to scale back your professional responsibilities while you pursue your master’s degree. Some students have the availability and the resources to study full-time on-campus, but if you’re not one of them, online MPH programs are the compromise that’s not really a compromise. The best online MPH programs are every bit as rigorous and respected as traditional on-campus programs, and they confer the exact same degrees. The big differences are convenience and flexibility; online study has the advantage in both.

How long it will take to earn an online MPH?

How long it takes to earn an online MPH depends on the program. It can take anywhere from 12 months to four years or more to earn this degree online, though most students graduate in two to three years. Part-time students typically take longer to graduate than full-time students, though these distinctions don’t necessarily mean much when you’re enrolled in an asynchronous, self-paced program. Some online MPH programs let you graduate more quickly if you have relevant graduate-level college credits or significant professional experience in the public health sphere.

Coursework in the best online MPH programs

Most MPH programs touch on topics like:

• Health administration
• Environmental health
• Disease prevention
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Global health
• Human behavior and psychology
• Health informatics
• Health disparities among populations
• Occupational health

Some online MPH programs dig deep into these topics and don’t offer many courses related to specializations within public health. Others give students multiple opportunities to customize their degrees with concentrations, specialization tracks, electives, and research-driven capstone projects related to existing issues in public health.

How to apply to an online MPH program

The application process for online MPH programs is typically the same as for traditional programs. The academic and professional prerequisites can vary widely by school. Many programs allow students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds to apply. That said, just because a school doesn’t require specific bachelor’s degrees (like a Bachelor of Science in Public Health) or relevant prerequisite courses doesn’t mean you can’t improve your chances of being accepted with an internship or research assistantship in public health.

Every school asks applicants for a slightly different list of materials. Some require GRE scores and a personal essay; others want to see a resume and professional recommendations. Read each program’s application guidelines carefully so you can be sure you meet requirements, and submit all requested materials in precisely the manner that is required.

Concentrations offered in online Master of Public Health programs

There are plenty of generalist MPH programs, but the best online MPH program for you is likely one that offers a specialization track relevant to your specific career aspiration. Some examples of concentrations offered in online Master of Public Health programs include:

• Health promotion
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Environmental health
• Health services administration
• Health Education
• Community health sciences
• Global health
• Public health policy
• Nutrition
• Maternal and child health
• Public health management
• Social and behavioral sciences

What are the best online MPH degree programs?

For each of the online master’s programs in public health listed below, we’ve included the most relevant information to consider when choosing from among the available options: degree type, format, tuition, graduation requirements, core courses, electives, concentrations, and features. As you read through this list, keep your existing professional and personal commitments, your budget, and your career aspirations in mind.

Boston University

• Degree: Executive Master of Public Health
• Format: Online, full-time (one year) and part-time (two years)
• Tuition: $1,710 per credit hour plus fees
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours
• Core courses: Quantitative Methods for Public Health; Individual, Community and Population Health; Health Systems, Law and Policy; Introduction to R; Financial Management for Health Programs; Intervention Strategies for Health Promotion; Health Law, Policy, and Policymaking; Monitoring and Evaluation of Global Health Programs; Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations; Communication and Collaboration for Public Health Leaders; plus advanced field experience
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: No GRE scores are required to submit an application; cohort-based program; designed for busy mid-career professionals; seven-week-long courses with weekly live sessions; scholarships and loans are available; ranked among the best grad schools for public health by US News and World Report

Dartmouth College

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online plus three weeks per year on the Dartmouth campus
• Tuition: $41,460 per year
• Graduation requirements: over about two years
• Core courses: Enhancing Communication & Teamwork; Foundations of Public Health; Epidemiology of Health & Healthcare; Biostatistics; Qualitative & Survey Research Methods; Applied Improvement Methods; Introduction to Environmental Health; Ethics in Health and Healthcare; Applied Epidemiology; Health Services Administration; Health Policy; International Health Systems; Communication for Health and Health Care; Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Change; Strategy for Population Health; plus an independent practicum project
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Small class sizes; 22-month program; program delivered one course at a time; a 12-to-one student-to-faculty ratio; students learn through case studies, problem sets, virtual classes, and video lectures; each student is mentored by a Dartmouth Institute faculty member

Emory University

• Degree: Executive Master of Public Health
• Format: Online with some mandatory on-campus sessions each semester
• Tuition: $1,800 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours, completed over two or three years
• Core courses: Applied Epidemiology; Introduction to Biostatistics; Applied Biostatistics; Social Behavior in Public Health; Perspectives in Environmental Health; Fundamentals of Epidemiology; Addressing Key Issues in Global Health; Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System; Introduction to Public Health; Inter-Professional Education and Training; Introduction to Public Health Surveillance; Introduction to Applied Public Health Informatics; Applied Public Health Informatics; Strategies and Resources for Online Learning
• Elective courses: Vary depending on concentration
• Concentration options: Applied epidemiology; applied public health informatics; prevention science
• Features: Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH); two required three-day on-campus sessions (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) each semester, at the beginning and end of the term; all students complete an applied practice experience (minimum 200 hours working for a public health agency)

George Washington University

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $1,750 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 45 credit hours over 18 months for full-time students or over two, three, four, or five years for part-time students
• Core courses: Varies by concentration, though all students take a practicum and must complete a culminating experience
• Elective courses: Vary by concentration; students can choose elective credits in their focus area or select courses from across focus areas
• Concentration options: Global Health; Health Policy; Environmental and Occupational Health; Epidemiology and Public Health Research Methods; Health Communication; Program Planning and Evaluation
• Features: There is a full-time accelerated one-year online MPH option; ranked among the best public health graduate schools by US News and World Report; accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health; students take live, virtual classes; online students have access to technical, academic, and career guidance; the online MPH program is highly customizable; students complete an in-field practicum

Harvard University

• Degree: Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
• Format: Online with three mandatory on-campus sessions over the course of the program; two-year part-time program
• Tuition: Approximately $33,000 per year
• Graduation requirements: 45 credits
• Core courses: Integrated Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Analytic Methods for Epidemiology; Confounding Control: A Component of Causal Inference; Study Designs for Epidemiologists; Core Components in Public Health; Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Human Research; Health Economics with Applications to Global Health Policy
• Elective courses: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; Design and Conduct of Trials in Preventive Medicine; Public-Use Databases for Epidemiology and Health Services Research; Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods for Public Health; Applications for Epidemiology; Decision Science for Public Health; Linear and Longitudinal Regression; Introduction to Data Mining and Risk Prediction; Practical Scientific Methods for Improving Health and Health Care; Infectious Disease Epidemiology; Applications for Epidemiology
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Mandatory self-initiated, faculty-mentored practicum; each year begins with a mandatory three-week on-campus intensive (in June); program culminates with a two-day on-campus symposium at which students present the results of their practicum

Johns Hopkins University

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online or hybrid
• Tuition: $72,960
• Graduation requirements: 80 credit hours over two to three years or more
• Core courses: Statistical Reasoning; Statistical Methods; Methods in Biostatistics; Environmental Health; The Tools of Public Health Practice; Epidemiologic Inference; Principles of Epidemiology; Population Dynamics and Public Health; Problem Solving in Public Health; Foundational Principles of Public Health; Biologic, Genetic and Infectious Basis of Human Disease; Psychological and Behavioral Factors that Affect a Population’s Health; The Social Determinants of Public Health; Globalization and Health: A Framework for Analysis; Principles of Negotiation and Mediation for Public Health Professionals; Application of Negotiation and Mediation for Public Health Professionals; Building Collaborations Across Sectors to Improve Population Health; a practicum and capstone project
• Elective courses: Students customize their elective coursework from 200+ options based on personal interests and professional goals. Choices include: Foundations of International Health; Social and Behavioral Foundations of Primary Health Care; Assessment of Nutritional Status; Health Behavior Change at the Individual, Household and Community Levels; Social Policy for Vulnerable Populations in the US; Biologic, Genetic and Infectious Bases of Human Disease; Fundamentals of Human Physiology; Evolution of Infectious Disease; Molecular Biology of Pandemic Influenza; Stem Cells & the Biology of Aging & Disease; Public Health Toxicology; Biologic Basis of Vaccine Development; Biology of Parasitism; Epidemiologic Basis for Tuberculosis Control; Food, Culture and Nutrition; Formative Research for Behavior and Communication Interventions
• Concentration (informal) options: Child and Adolescent Health; Epidemiological and Biostatistical Methods for Public Health and Clinical Research; Food Systems; Global Environmental Sustainability and Health; Humanitarian Health; Health Leadership and Management; Health Systems and Policy; Infectious Diseases; Women’s and Reproductive Health
• Features: Online students can complete coursework at their convenience; three start dates per year; scholarship options specifically for online students; this degree is highly customizable; students can choose among many core courses and electives; numerous certificates available partially or fully online

Loyola University Chicago

• Degree: Master of Public Health in Public Health Policy and Management
• Format: Fully online
• Tuition: $1,120 per credit hour plus fees
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours over 18 months for full-time students and up to five years for part-time students; practicum and capstone project
• Core courses: Determinants of Population Health; Public Health Practice and Management; Introduction to Epidemiology; Public Health Policy: Concepts and Practice; Biostatistics I; Public Health in Action; plus concentration-specific courses and integrative learning experiences
• Elective courses: Policy Analysis; Health Services and Research Methods; Public Health Ethics; Social Determinants of Health and Bioethics; Justice and Healthcare; Global Bioethics; Advancing Health Equity Practice; Biomedical Ethics and the Law; Organizational Ethics; Public Health Law: Theories and Cases; Health Economics; Health Financing; Population Health Planning and Management; Health Program Planning and Evaluation; Fiscal Management in Health Care Organizations
• Features: Ranked among the best grad schools for public health by US News and World Report; accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health; designed for working professionals and non-traditional students; dual degree options that pair an MPH with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or Health Care Administration are available

New York University

• Degree: Master in Public Health in Sustainable Development Goals
• Format: 100 percent online, full-time or part-time
• Tuition: $76,544 (plus fees) for the full program
• Graduation requirements: 46 credit hours over 1.5 to 4 years (average: 2.5 years)
• Core courses: Epidemiology; Health Policy and Management; Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health; Global Environmental Health; Essentials of Public Health Biology; Biostatistics for Public Health; Global Health Informatics; Accelerating Progress Towards Health-Related SDGs; Budgeting for Sustainable Health Returns on Investments; Data-Driven Decision Making in Public Health; Results-Focused Strengthening Of Health Systems In LMICs; Monitoring And Management Of Public Health Programs For Equity; plus an internship
• Elective courses: A Systems Approach to Food Access; Behavioral Communications Strategies for Epidemics; Data Utilization in Public Health Practice; Perspectives in Migrant Health and Human Rights; HIV/AIDS from a Global Perspective; Bioethical Issues in Society; Global Health Disaster Preparedness & Response; Public Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: Program emphasizes a multidisciplinary, systems approach to solving complex challenges in disease control and prevention; online students have access to the school’s world-class faculty, academic resources, networking, and support; mandatory internship as a culminating experience

Tulane University

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online plus two in-person academic residencies
• Tuition: $1,370 per credit hour
• Graduation requirements: 45 credit hours over
• Core courses: Foundations in Public Health; Biostatistics for Public Health; Epidemiology for Public Health; Health Systems, Policy and Management; Design Strategies for Public Health Programs; Health Equities and Public Health; Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Health Programs; Community Training Methodologies; Health Communication Theory and Practice; Social Innovation Tools for Health Professionals; Leadership in Public Health; Healthcare Analytics; Introduction to Data Management and Analysis; Integrated Learning Experience Course (ILE); Social & Behavioral Aspects of Global Health; plus integrative learning experiences and a practicum
• Elective courses: None listed
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: No GRE scores required to apply; two start dates each year; program focuses on health equity; designed for early- to mid-career professionals; program combines asynchronous content delivery with live synchronous sessions for case studies, exercises, and discussion; required applied practice experience

University of California – Berkeley

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online with mandatory on-campus sessions during the summer of first and second year (15 days total)
• Tuition: $1,277 per credit hour plus fees
• Graduation requirements: 14 courses over two to three years
• Core courses: Health and Social Behavior; Intro to Environmental Health Science; Health Policy and Management; Introduction to Probability and Statistics; Epidemiologic Methods; Interdisciplinary Seminar
• Elective courses: Strategic Management and the Health Sector; Organizational Behavior and Management in Health Care; Health Care Finance; Advanced Health Policy; Economics of Population Health; Health Economics; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis; Foundations of Global Health; Comparative Health Systems; Global Health Ethics; Epidemiologic Methods; Outbreak Investigations; Infectious Diseases; Regulatory Science, Drug Development, and Public Health; Evaluation of Health & Social Programs; Social and Behavioral Research: Introduction to Survey Methods; Maternal and Child Health Nutrition; Mass Communication in Public Health; Intro to GIS for Public Health; GIS for Public Health Practice; Applied Spatial Data for Public Health
• Concentration options: Health Policy & Management; Community Health Sciences; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Spatial Data Science; Global Health
• Features: Students have access to a dynamic student network and career resources; among the top 10 in the nation’s Best Graduate Public Health Schools according to US News and World Report

University of Florida

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online
• Tuition: $550 per credit hour plus fees
• Graduation requirements: 48 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Statistical Methods for Health Science; Introduction to Biostatistical Methods; Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health; Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System; Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health; Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Issues in Public Health; plus a public health internship and special project
• Elective courses: Students choose up to six credits of electives relevant to their chosen concentrations and individual career goals
• Concentration options: Public Health Practice; Social and Behavioral Sciences (with subspecialties in generalist behavioral sciences, geriatric care management, HIV/AIDS, or trauma and resiliency)
• Features: Accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health; no thesis required to graduate; online students have access to networking opportunities

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

• Degree: Master of Public Health in Maternal & Child Health
• Format: 100 percent online or hybrid
• Tuition: $1,014 per credit hours for in-state tuition; $1,332 per credit hour for out-of-state tuition
• Graduation requirements: 48 credits over two years
• Core courses: Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science; Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health; Foundations of Public Health; Fundamentals of Epidemiology; Epidemiologic Methods; Biostatistical Literacy; Biostatistics; Ethics in Public Health: Professional Practice and Policy; Principles of Management in Health Services Organizations; Excel and Access in Public Health Settings; Data Processing with PC-SAS; Introduction to SAS Programming
• Elective courses: Foundations of MCH Leadership; Principles of MCH in the US; Global Maternal and Child Health; Reproductive and Perinatal Health; Children’s Health: Issues, Program and Policies; Adolescent Health: Issues, Programs and Policies; Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs; Women’s Health; Maternal, Infant, Child, Adolescent Nutrition; Urban Health and Social Policy; Nutritional Epidemiology; Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health Practice; Principles of Public Health Research; Using Demographic Data Policy Analysis; Skills for Policy Development; Legislative Advocacy Skills for Public Health; Sexuality Education: Criteria, Curricula and Controversies; Health Leadership and Effecting Change; Planning and Budgeting for Public Health; Principles of Health Policy; and many more
• Concentration options: None listed
• Features: No GRE required to apply; two admission dates per year; a shorter advanced standing track is available for students with advanced degrees or professional experience

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online, full-time or part-time
• Tuition: $1,735 per credit hour plus fees
• Graduation requirements: 42 to 49 credit hours, 20 to 36 months
• Core courses: Understanding Public Health Issues; Methods and Measures; Data Analysis for Public Health; Conceptualizing Public Health Solutions; Developing, Implementing & Evaluating Public Health Solutions
• Elective courses: Students meet concentration competency requirements instead of taking electives
• Concentration options: Health Policy; Leadership in Practice; Nutrition; MPH/RD
• Features: Ranked the #1 in public school in the nation and #2 overall by US News & World Report; online program adheres to the same standards of admissions, curriculum, and competencies; accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health; 200 hours of applied field experience

University of North Dakota

• Degree: Master of Public Health
• Format: Online, asynchronous/synchronous and asynchronous
• Tuition: $780 per credit hour plus fees (online students pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency)
• Graduation requirements: 42 credit hours over two years
• Core courses: Planning & Management to Promote Health; Public Health & Health Care Systems; Environmental Health; Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health – Biostatistics; Public Health Communication; Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health – Epidemiology; Health Policy; plus a three-credit practicum or integrative learning experience
• Elective courses: Students choose electives based on the concentration and plan of study chosen
• Concentration options: Health Management & Policy; Indigenous Health; Population Health Research & Analytics
• Features: Lectures are delivered via live broadcasts so distance learners can participate in real-time; program has a 100 percent graduate employment rate in health-related careers; students can opt for an accelerated five-year BS/MPH degree; accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health; the university has an exchange program with the University of Bergen in Norway

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