A master of public health (MPH) offers a versatile education tailored to a unique career path, with courses covering the intersection of disease, social and behavioral science, biostatistics, community education, and health policy.
The degree typically takes about two years to complete, though programs might offer accelerated formats for professionals already in the field. Students completing their coursework part-time might need longer to graduate. Earning an MPH degree can help professionals land a variety of roles within the public health field. Many graduates become epidemiologists, conducting work as experts in the spread of diseases.
In addition to interesting work, the epidemiology career path offers lucrative compensation and promising career growth. Epidemiologists earn a median annual salary of $78,850, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also projects the number of jobs for epidemiologists to increase by 27% between 2022 and 2032 — a rate that considerably outpaces average growth rates.
MPH students who specialize in education often become community health educators, also known as health education specialists. The BLS reports that these professionals earn median annual salaries of nearly $59,990, with a faster-than-average projected job growth of 7% between 2022-2032.
Students juggling multiple responsibilities, including jobs and family obligations, may prefer to pursue a master's in public health degree online. Online MPH programs give degree seekers the flexibility to study on their own schedules. Plus, by cutting out the commute to campus, distance learners can save significant time and money.
Featured Online Programs
To help you select the right online MPH program for you, we used our ranking methodology to select the top online MPH programs.
Read about our ranking methodology here.
Top 10 Online MPH Programs
University of Florida – Gainesville, FL
University of California-Berkeley – Berkeley, CA
New York University – New York, NY
Samford University – Birmingham, AL
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus – Stillwater, OK
The University of West Florida – Pensacola, FL
West Virginia University – Morgantown, WV
The University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL
University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Ohio University-Main Campus – Athens, OH
Methodology Overview
PublicHealth.org ranks program based on about a dozen factors, including academic quality, affordability, and earning potential after graduation. We use data from trusted sources like the U.S. Department of Education to accurately and objectively assess school value, considering important factors such as student retention rate, average net price, and median student debt.These rankings are from 2020 and 2021. Learn more by reading out detailed school-ranking methodology.
Best Online MPH Programs
Applying to an Online MPH Program
Each school selects their own admission requirements for public health master's programs. Generally speaking, prospective students should hold a bachelor's degree. They must typically apply by submitting their undergraduate transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Schools do not always require applicants to hold their degree in public health or a related field, but they usually set minimum GPA requirements ranging from 2.5-3.2. Many, but not all, schools require applicants to send in GRE or GMAT scores. Some programs require 1-2 years of work experience within the public health or healthcare field.
Schools may also impose requirements based on an applicant's chosen specialization. Biostatistics students, for example, may need to show a passing grade in calculus on their undergraduate transcript to demonstrate their readiness for the graduate-level coursework.
Explore The Best Bachelor's Degrees in Public Health.