The Top 20 Online Masters of Public Health Programs
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A Masters in Public Health degree offers graduates an array of opportunities in the rewarding field of public health. Graduates can apply for jobs to improve access to healthcare, develop educational or health care programs, perform epidemiological research, and shape public health policy. There are opportunities to further your job at the local, national, and international level.
Many jobs in public health require a graduate degree, because those who earn the MPH degree have the required foundation to lead public health initiatives. Online Master’s of Public Health programs are an excellent way for working professionals to earn a degree in the field while still working at their current jobs. The online education is flexible, allowing adults to earn a degree without disrupting family and work.
If you are looking for a promotion in the field of public health, consider earning a degree from one of these top 20 online Masters of Public Health programs.
The Top 20 Online Masters of Public Health Programs
#1 – A.T. Still University of Health Services
Location: Kirksville, Missouri
Tuition: $28,806
A.T. Still University offers an online Masters of Public Health program where students can specialize in health administration, public health policy, a dental emphasis, and school health education. The program offers a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning, incorporating multiple concentrations in medicine and science. Coursework is delivered asynchronously through Blackboard Learning System. The degree can be completed 100 percent online.
#2 – Nova Southeastern University
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Tuition: $16,015
Nova Southeastern’s MPH program is designed for working professionals who want to advance their careers. The program requires 39 credits for graduation and can be completed entirely online. It is offered on a full-time or part-time schedule and takes between two and five years to earn. While classes are offered online, students must visit campus for an orientation weekend, as well as an exit seminar.
#3 – George Washington University
Location: Washington, D.C.
Tuition: $25,952
George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health offers a completely online Masters of Public Health program. Online students benefit from a customizable curriculum that is made to suit each student’s career track or area of interest. Students meet with their classmates using video and chat technology to discuss course topics. Courses can be accessed 24/7 and GWU offers an accelerated degree track where students can complete their MPH in one year.
#4 – University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Tuition: $12,642 in state, $30,036 out of state
University of Florida’s online Master of Public Health degree offers an application-driven curriculum in topics like health policy, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Students can pursue their degree part-time or pick the accelerated track. Courses are delivered asynchronously, allowing distance learners to interact with their peers, faculty, and support staff through the Canvas system. Students can complete the program in eight semesters of part-time attendance.
#5 – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Tuition: $10,248 in state, $27,459 out of state
School Profile
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a 42-credit MPH program to prepare graduates for leadership roles in public health. The program combines science and health-oriented core classes, along with electives and a practicum. In order to graduate, students must also submit a master’s thesis. The program offers a flexible schedule that is perfect for working professionals. Full-time students can complete the degree in seven semesters.
#6 – New York Medical College
Location: Valhalla, New York
Tuition: $22,999
New York Medical College’s online Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management degree trains students for a professional role in public health research and management. Students learn coursework in business, programming, and public health policy. Degree plans are created based on the individual studentís academic and professional experience.
#7 – University of South Florida
Location: Tampa, Florida
Tuition: $10,429 in state, $21,126 out of state
The University of South Florida’s online MPH program offers several concentrations, including public health practice, infection control, epidemiology, and social marketing. Most specialties are taught asynchronously, though a few classes require synchronous instruction. Students may need to spend a few days on campus at the end of the program. If they need assistance, online tutoring is offered through SmarThinking.
#8 – University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, California
Tuition: $37,504
The MPH program at the University of Southern California offers concentrations in biostatistics and epidemiology, health education and promotion, global health leadership, and geohealth. The online classes are taught by leading industry professionals. Courses combine theory with research and hands-on experience. Students can complete the online MPH program in two years.
#9 – University of Nebraska Medical Center
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Tuition: $8,221 in state, $21,910 out of state
The University of Nebraska Medical Center offers a fully online Masters of Public Health program. The specialized program emphasizes concepts in prevention, scientific theory and practice, and social justice. Students must have 45 credits to graduate and can specialize in subfields like biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, and public health practice.
#10 – Tulane University of Louisiana
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Tuition: $46,930
Tulane University’s online MPH if offered with an option to concentrate in disaster management, occupational health and safety management, or occupational and environmental health. Tulane’s MPH program is offered completely online and no on-campus attendance is required. The masterís degree requires between 42 and 45 credits for graduation and can be completed in two and a half years. Students who already have experience in the field can apply that experience toward the program’s practicum requirement.
#11 – Benedictine University
Location: Lisle, Illinois
Tuition: $15,832
Benedictine University offers an online Masters of Public Health program that provides practical training in todayís most relevant areas of public health. Coursework includes topics like biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and epidemiology. Students can pursue a certificate in a specialty along with their degree. The program is offered entirely online and asynchronously. The university encourages online collaboration between classmates and instructors.
#12 – University of California – Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, California
Tuition: $12,864 in state, $27,996 out of state
At the University of California – Berkeley, students can learn about environmental health, disease prevention, community disaster relief, and healthcare advocacy in the university’s online MPH program. The program’s core curriculum includes classes in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, and health services management. The program includes required courses, a written proctored exam, and a field practicum. Students must make two 8-day visits to campus during the program.
#13 – SUNY at Albany
Location: Albany, New York
Tuition: $11,255 in state, $19,735 out of state
SUNY at Albany offers an online Masters of Public Health program in Public Health Practice. The program provides students with a foundational education in public health services. Core curriculum explores the same principles as the on-campus counterpart. All students in the program must complete at least 240 hours of a practice-based internship, as well as a capstone project.
#14 – University of West Florida
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Tuition: $8,950 in state, $24,781 out of state
The MPH program at University of West Florida offers core classes in policy development and management, along with classes that build analytic, communication, and social skills. The MPH is offered 100 percent online and students must take at least 12 semester hours per year. In addition to the MPH degree, students can pursue a certificate in a public health specialty or tailor electives to a concentration of their choice.
#15 – University of South Carolina – Columbia
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Tuition: $24,115 in state, $29,020 out of state
The University of South Carolina – Columbia’s Master of Public Health in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior is offered entirely online. The program is perfect for professionals who are already working in the field. Students must complete 45 credit hours and can finish the program within two years. In order to graduate, students take a practicum seminar that prepares them for an eight-week field experience.
#16 – West Virginia University
Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
Tuition: $7,218 in state, $20,286 out of state
The online MPH program at West Virginia University is designed for working professionals who want to expand their knowledge and skills in the discipline. Students learn core concepts in their first year, then explore social and behavioral health sciences during the second. There are options for emphasis in public health practice or worksite wellness. Students must complete 44 credit hours for graduation and need to complete a practicum project, which spans the last two semesters.
#17 – University of New England
Location: Biddeford, Maine
Tuition: $20,060
The University of England’s online MPH program requires students to take 46 credits of coursework, including core and elective classes. The curriculum is finished with a culminating practicum in a field of the studentís choosing. The mission of the MPH program is centered on teaching, research, and services. Students can complete the program in 18 months if they study full-time.
#18 – University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Tuition: $26,037
School Profile
At the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, students can earn an online MPH with concentrations in public health practice or nutrition. Students complete the same core classes in both tracks before splitting off to tailored electives. All students must complete a practicum before graduation. Online students can take classes at their own pace and typically have between one and three classes per term. No summer classes are required.
#19 – University of Alabama at Birmingham
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Tuition: $6,804 in state, $15,444 out of state
The online Masters of Public Health program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham aims to build fundamental competencies in general public health courses. After core classes are completed, students can concentrate in a specific subfield that they designate. Concentrations include biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health behavior, and health care organization and policy. The program requires students to complete an internship before graduation.
#20 – University of Arizona
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Tuition: $11,511 in state, $27,383 out of state
At the University of Arizona, students can complete an online Masters of Public Health program in as little as two years. The program provides graduates with the necessary skills to further their careers in the public health field. Concentrations include applied epidemiology, health services administration, and health promotion. Half of the courses are in the student’s specific concentration and are typically delivered asynchronously. A few classes have live class sessions and group projects.
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