Professional roles in healthcare have rapidly evolved over the past twenty years, moving beyond the more traditional hospital setting and into local and global communities by providing wide ranging services. The history of public health in the United States dates to 1798 with the establishment of a network of hospitals to provide care for ailing sailors (the forerunner of the U.S. Public Health Service), The importance of consistent public health policies and regulations has grown hand in hand with scientific discovery, improved medical technology and educational support. The primary goal of a public health practitioner is to improve and maintain a healthier community, through disease prevention by assessing healthcare needs, prioritizing needs, education and the creation of public policy. Public Health professionals work in education, environmental safety, health management, nutrition, veterinary medicine in both the private and public sectors.
We witness the work of public health professionals each year when flu season rolls around and communities offer flu shot clinics. During times of national disaster, we see public health practicioners react through our state and federal emergency management agencies. Many public health professionals and their agencies, such as Doctors Without Borders, provide international public health assistance in areas stricken by disease, natural disaster as evidenced most recently with the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides broad salary ranges for public health careers citing (among others) with Public Health Educators annual earning between $30,000-60,000, Medical and Health Service Managers at $88,000 to Epidemiologists earning $65,000 and Environmental Safety Managers estimated at $67,000.
Most schools of public health hold accreditation from the independent Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which establishes standards of excellence for colleges and universities offering degrees in Public Health.
We've compiled a listing of accredited colleges and universities offering online Master of Public Health degree programs by lowest to highest in terms of tuition and fees.
#1. University of South Florida
The Florida State College of Public Health was the first of its kind in the state of Florida when it was developed in 1984. The college offers fields of study with 10 Centers and Institutes addressing areas of public health importance such as Maternal & Child Health, Occupational Health, Violence Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Biological Threats.
Length of Study: 43 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $461 (In-State) $907 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Principles of Health Policy and Management, Environmental and Occupational Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences Applied to Health, Community Partnerships and Advocacy, Public Health Law and Ethics
#2. University of Albany
The SUNY-Albany School of Public Health opened in 1985 as a joint venture of the University, the New York State Department of Health, and later Albany Medical College. The University of Albany provides a fully-online Masters of Public Health degree, which requires nine (9) credit hours of a practice-based internship. Structured as a parttime program, the coursework may be completed within three years.
Length of Study: 51 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $473 (In State); $841 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Principles and Methods of Epidemiology I, Public Health for Professionals Seminar, Principles of Statistical Inference I, Biological Basis of Public Health, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health, Principles of Public Health, Program Development in Health Promotion
#3. University of Montana
The University of Montana's School of Public Health and Community Health Services offers a generalized MPH which includes a practicum, a professional paper, a portfolio, and 6 elective credits. Fulltime students may expect to graduate in two years by taking 21 credit hours per year. Parttime students, averaging 6 credit hours per semester, may require three and a half years to complete their degree.
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $499 (In State), $819 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Introduction to Epidemiology, History & Theory of Epidemiology, Fundamentals of Biostatistics,Public Health Administration & Management, Health Policy, Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health, Program Evaluation & Research Methods
#4. University of South Carolina
Through it's Arnold School of Public Health, the University of South Carolina offers the Masters in Public Health Services Policy and Management. Accredited through CEPH, this program prepares individuals with no previous public health or health services management experience for entry-level managerial positions. The University of South Carolina has been recognized by the Princeton Review and Kiplinger's Personal Finance, as well as U.S. News and World Report.
Length of Study: 48 Credits
Estimated Tuition Cost: $501 (In State), $1073 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Biostatistics, Concepts of Environmental Health Science, Epidemiology, Approaches and Concepts in Health Administration, Public Health Education Concepts, Law for Public Health Students, Quantitative Methods in Health Administration Spring, Health Care Finance, Long Term Care Administration
#5. East Tennessee State University
ETSU has a three-subject concentration for it's MPH online program, in Community Health, Epidemiology and Health Services Administration. This is a fully online program. The school offers an "eRate" option for students who are classified as non-residents and are enrolled exclusively in online programs which provides a 50% savings to out-of-state tuition costs.
Length of Study: 30 Credits (Thesis Option), 33 (Non Thesis Option)
Estimated Tuition Cost: $507 (In State), $1258 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Philosophy of Public Health, Environmental Health Practice I, Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Services Administration, Managing Healthcare Organizations, Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
#6. University of California-Berkley
Founded in 1943, the University of California at Berkeley is the first public health school west of the Mississippi. Specific fields of concentration for this online program were unavailable. This MPH program has 2 mandatory 8-days on-campus requirement.
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Estimated Tuition Cost: $560 (In State), $851 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Health Policy and Management Breadth Course, Theories of Health and Social Behavior, Mass Communications in Public Health, Nutritional Epidemiology, Needs Assessment in Maternal and Child Health, Health Policy Decision-Making
#7. University of Florida
The University of Florida offers the Masters of Public Health in Public Health Practice and Social Behavioral Sciences. The online program is designed as a parttime program and students are given up to 7 years to complete their degree. The online MPH Program requires a 5-hour internship which is comprised of a 48-hours of internship work per credit hour; and, in certain circumstances, may be completed at the student's place of employment. For students holding a doctoral degree in a health related field, there is an accelerated MPH program option.
Length of Study: 48 Credits (42 Credits for Accelerated Program)
Tuition Estimate Cost Per Credit Hour: $585
Curriculum Snapshot: Principles of Epidemiology, Statistical Methods for Health Science I, Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health, Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Issues in Public Health, Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases, Epidemiology and Biology of HIV/AIDS
#8. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Specifically designed for the working, healthcare professional, the University of Massachusetts MPH online program offers concentrations in Public Health Practice and a MPH in Nutrition. Both degrees are offered completely online, parttime and without an on-campus visit required.
Length of Study: 42-44 Credits (depending on concentration)
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour $590
Curriculum Snapshot: Research Methods in Public Health, Principles of Epidemiology, Principles of Epidemiology,Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Intermediate Biostatistics, Leadership of Public Health Systems, Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act
#9. University of Alabama-Birmingham
The University of Alabama-Birmingham offers several degree programs in it's Master of Public Health, which includes Environmental Health & Toxicology, Occupational Health and Safety, Health Care, Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership. This MPH requires students to demonstrate core competencies for admission in a variety of ways, such as previously earned degree in medicine, nursing or extensive education in biology/biomedical courses with a minimum of a "B" average.
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $597 (In State: 1st credit hour/$382 each additional hour); $1111 (Out of State: 1st credit hour/$896 each additional hour) A $250 online fee is assessed for each course.
Curriculum Snapshot: Intermediate Statistical Analysis I & II, Fundamentals of Environmental Health Sciences, Introduction to Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Science Core, Introduction to Public Health, Public Health Integrative Experience
#10. Benedictine University
Benedictine University has a long history of being recognized for it's academic programs by U.S. News and World Report as well as by The Chronicle for Higher Education. This CEPH accredited MPH program provides a general background with a focus on core public health subjects in epidemiology, biostatistics, health services management and behavioral and social aspects of public health. This program is offered completely online.
Length of Program: 66 Credits
Estimated Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour: $620
Curriculum Snapshot: Public Health System, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Policy, Public Health Ethics, Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health, Environmental Health, Methods of Research in Public Health, Cultural Context of Health, Biological Aspect of Public Health
#11. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is a consistently high ranking school, recognized by Kiplinger's Personal Finance and U.S. News and World Report as a "best value" program. The Masters of Public Health program is divided into several public health concentrations: Biostatistics, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Epidemiology, Health Behavior, Health Policy and Management, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition and Public Health Leadership Programs.
Length of Study: 42-54 Credits (depending on concentration)
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $650 (In State); $1,500 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Planning Health Promotion in Community, Worksite, School, and Medical Settings; Public Health Interventions & Evaluation; Introduction to Health Organization Leadership, Management, and Behavior; Information Systems, Technology, and Tools in Health Services Administration
#12. West Virginia University
West Virginia University is the first and only School of Public Health in West Virginia and offers one online MPH degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. This program's culminating experience may be completed by either a Capstone Course or Thesis.
Length of Study: 44 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $659
Curriculum Snapshot: Applied Biostatistics I, Applied Biostatistics Lab, Public Health Epidemiology Foundations of Health Policy, Environmental Health, Social and Behavioral Theory
#13. The University of Maryland
This is a blended education format, requiring six weekends of on-campus residency and can be completed in as little as 18 months with an internship and capstone project required. Internship placement will be based on the student's background and career goals. The Capstone Project provides the opportunity to apply specific knowledge and skills to a relevant public health issue.
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $705 (In State), $1248 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Foundations of Epidemiology, Biostatistics I, Foundations of Environmental Health, Policy and Politics of Health, Health Law and Ethics, Public Health Practice and Management, Healthcare Leadership and Communications, Current Topics in Health Services
#14. University of Iowa
A unique MPH, this program is designed to meet the needs of practicing veterinarians wishing to either change careers or to become board certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Students are expected to attend two, 2-week summer institutes during their course of study. A DVM degree is required from an accredited school for admission to this program.
Length of Study:42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $763
Curriculum Snapshot: Intro to Public Health, Intro to Biostatistics, Intro to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Epidemiology I: Principles, Intro to the US Healthcare System, General Environmental Health, Exotic and Emerging Diseases of Animals, Applied Veterinary Epidemiology/Biostatistics Diagnostic Microbiology for Epidemiology, Zoonotic Diseases, Rural Health and Agricultural Medicine
#15. Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin has physical campuses located in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin and provides a fully online Master of Public Health degree. This MPH program requires a Field Placement (similar to an internship), where the student works with a public health organization in his/her community; or, a Capstone Project (similar to a thesis). The college also offers a dual degree program in collaboration with Mount Mary University which allows students to earn a baccalaureate degree from Mount Mary and MPH degree from The Medical College of Wisconsin within five years.
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $765
Curriculum Snapshot:Environmental Health, Principles of Epidemiology, Public Health Administration, Introduction to Biostatistics, Behavioral Science and Public Health, Balancing Harms and Individual and Community Interests: Ethical Issues in Public Health
#16. The University of Illinois-Chicago
Providing concentrations in Community Health Sciences and Health Policy and Administration, the University of Illinois at Chicago, offers three online MPH programs, including the only CEPH, fully accredited Masters of Public Health Informatics. No campus visits are required and students should plan on spending an average of 8-10 hours per week on course-related activities.
Length of Study: 42-49 Credits (dependent on concentration)
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $793
Curriculum Snapshot: Biostatistics I, Public Health Concepts and Practice, Behavioral Sciences in Public Health, Principles of Environmental Health Sciences, Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods, Principles of Management in Public Health
#17. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Offering seventeen areas of concentration in public health study (including a dual degree in Veterinary Public Health), the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, is a nationally ranked, top 10 university and holds a Number 8 Ranking by U.S. News and World Report for it's Public Health School. Founded in 1944, The University of Minnesota School of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $888 (In State); $1,155 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Principles of Management in Health Services Organizations, Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science,Epidemiology Culminating Experience, Ethics in Public Health: Professional Practice and Policy, Management in Health Services Organizations
#18. New York Medical College
New York Medical College offers an online MPH in Health Policy and Management. This program is focused on providing an understanding of the business, programmatic, planning and policy areas of health care and public health. There is a 1-credit hour practicum required for this program. Online students will be able to complete their practicum in a location convenient to them.
Length of Study: 46 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $975
Curriculum Snapshot: Health Care in the United States, Behavioral and Social Factors in Public Health, Environmental Influences on Human Health, Introduction to Biostatistics, Introduction to Epidemiology, Practicum (1 credit), Health Economics, Approaches to System Improvement in Healthcare Operations, Law and Health, Financial Implications of Managing Health Care
#19. Johns Hopkins University
The prestigious Johns Hopkins University consistently ranks highly in U.S. News and World Report for it's academic excellence for its online healthcare related programs. Through it's Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins offers students a parttime, online option for an MPH, with sixteen hours of "face-to-face" of on- campus courses required; and, completion of the degree is typically accomplished in 2-3 years, making it an ideal program for the working professional.
Length of Study: 80 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $986
Curriculum Snapshot: MPH Capstone: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seminars in Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Advanced Data Analysis Workshop, Analysis of Longitudinal Data, Occupational Health and Vulnerable Worker Populations, Principles of Environmental Health
#20. Tulane University
Founded in 1912, Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is the oldest public health school in the U.S. and the only one to offer a concentration in Tropical Medicine (not offered online). Current online MPH programs include: Occupational Health and Safety Management, Disaster Management and Occupational and Environmental Health.
Length of Study: 42 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $1117
Curriculum Snapshot: Survey of Environmental Health, Epidemiologic Methods, Basis of Disease and Genomics, Crisis and Emergency Communication, Environmental Aspects of Disaster Response, Occupational Laws and Compliance, Principles of Industrial Hygiene
#21. Harvard University
Recently renamed the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in honor of the largest, single donor in Harvard University's long history, the school currently offers only the MPH in Epidemiology online. A parttime, two-year course of study, this MPH is designed for the current working professional and requires one-third of the course requirements to be completed on campus, with the remaining two-thirds completed online. The on campus requirement is concentrated into three intensive three week periods.
Length of Study: 45 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $1184
Curriculum Snapshot: Introductory Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Analytic Methods, Study Design, Causal Inference, Fundamental Concepts in Public Health, Meta-Analysis, Outbreak Investigations, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, and Chronic Disease Epidemiology
#22. Columbia University
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health launched it's first online masters program in 2015 with degrees in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. Geared primarily towards population health research, this degree is a 22 month long program (including three weekend on campus visits) and will prepare students in research methods, statistical computing, and data analysis currently used in public health research. This program also requires a thesis.
Length of Study: 30 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $1326
Curriculum Snapshot:Introduction to Biostatistical Methods,Principles of Epidemiology I, Applied Regression I, Analysis of Categorical Data, Epidemiology II: Design & Conduct of Observational Epidemiologic Studies, Applied Regression Analysis II, The Randomized Clinical Trial
#23. University of Michigan
The oldest university in Michigan, UM's Department of Health Management and Policy has been consistently ranked by U.S. News and World Report since 1993. The program allows a student to receive either a Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) or the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and is specifically designed for students currently working full-time. A blended program, this degree requires face-to-face classroom time.
Length of Study: Approximately 22 months
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $1341 (In-State), $1469 (Out of State)
Curriculum Snapshot: Biostatistics, Health Services System, Spreadsheet Modeling, Epidemiology, Control of Quality and Costs of Health Care,Introduction to Public Health Policy, Organization and Management of Health Care Systems, Issues in Public Health Ethics
#24. George Washington University
George Washington University's Master of Public Health concentrates on improving core competencies by integrating case studies and best practices from national and international sources. This approach allows the student to tailor their studies to compliment their individual interests locally, nationally or globally. The George Washington MPH curriculum includes studies in the core disciplines of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cultural Competency, Health Communication and Public Health Leadership.
Length of Study: 45 Credits
Tuition Estimate Per Credit Hour: $1365
Curriculum Snapshot: Global Health Communication Interventions, Preventing Health Disparities,
Advanced Public Health Communication, Global Health Communication Interventions, Preventing Health Disparities, Global Health Diplomacy, Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
#25. Emory University
Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health offers concentrations in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Policy and Health Services Research, a joint program in Environmental Health and Epidemiology, and Global Demography. Each specialty requires a 200-400 hour field practicum in a variety of local, state and federal agencies under the supervision of an approved public health practitioner in concert with the student's faculty advisor.
Length of Study: 42 Credits (plus practicum)
Tuition Estimate Per Credit: $1600
Curriculum Snapshot: Introduction to Public Health Surveillance, Applied Public Health Informatics, Introduction to Biostatistics, Perspectives in Environmental Health, Addressing Key Issues in Global Health, Public Health Advocacy