Best Online Master’s in Public Health Degree Programs

The University of Maryland College Park is one of the top-ranked research institutions in the world, and is hailed as the 25th most innovative school in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Located just outside Washington, D.C., The School of Public Health is the only accredited program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. The master’s in public health with a concentration in public health practice and policy features a blended online format for working professionals.

Administered by the Department of Health Services Administration, the 42-credit MPH prepares students to be leaders in local, national, and global health policy. Coursework features intensive leadership training, while a required internship and capstone project translate classroom learning into practical, hands-on settings. Upon completion of degree requirements, students are eligible for board certification exams.

Founded as a medical college in 1834, Tulane University in New Orleans, LA is one of the top research universities in the country. Several master’s in public health programs prepare mid-career students to be leader in their industries and specialties.

The School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane offers three MPH programs fully online: Disaster Management, Occupational Health & Safety Management MPH and Occupational & Environmental Health MPH. These 42 credit programs provide opportunities for hands-on learning with a Culmination Experience and Practicum. Students take 18 hours of School of Public Health core requirements, with 24 additional credits in a selected concentration. Courses in the environmental aspects of disaster response, population issues during disaster, or psychosocial aspects of disasters prepare students to manage public health in the wake of disasters; while coursework in toxicology, industrial hygiene, and occupational health develop leaders in occupational health and safety management.

The Medical College of Wisconsin, located in Milwaukee, WI, has been educating the next generation of scientists, physicians, and health professionals for over 120 years. As a major research institution, their students and graduates care for more than 430,000 patients every year, including more than 1.6 million patient visits. Additionally, the college benefits from close relationships with several major Milwaukee area hospitals.

Housed within the school’s Institute for Health and Society, MCW’s online master’s in public health requires no in-person responsibilities. An emphasis on partnerships with surrounding communities establishes graduates as leaders and collaborators in academics, communities, and governments. The 42-credit program is completed completely online, while a culminating field experience and capstone project allow students to synthesize and integrate the knowledge gained in the program.

With a main campus in Tampa, FL, The University of South Florida (USF) is a global research institution serving more than 49,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
USF offers seven MPH programs fully online, including epidemiology, public health practice, global disaster management and humanitarian relief, health, safety & environment, infection control, and public health administration. Students can complete the degree in as little as two years, while coursework is generally taught asynchronously. Each student meets with an assigned faculty advisor each semester, while a three-credit supervised field experience completes the degree. Due to some state regulations, USF is unable to provide online courses in certain states. Students should check with their program to confirm their eligibility.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, located in Omaha, NE, serves as the only academic public health sciences center in the state. UNMC is an intimate campus, serving about 3,700 students in six colleges, two institutes and more than 24 available degree programs.

UNMC offers three different online MPH programs: MPH in biostatistics, MPH in environmental and occupational health and MPH in public health practice. These 45 credit hour master’s degrees are designed for working adults wishing to add to their skill set in public health. Classes provide flexible, asynchronous content for working adults, while highly interactive coursework allows students to learn from world-class faculty and their peers. Admission requires a completed a Bachelor’s Degree with a 3.0 or better GPA, and several prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, math, and physics. Due to state regulatory restrictions not all programs may be available in all states, and interested students should confirm their program’s availability.

Committed to the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ, Loma Linda University in Southern California prepares medical professionals in the Seventh-Day Adventist tradition. The School of Public Health (LLUSPH) offers 17 master’s and doctoral degrees and emphasizes practical application to prepare graduates for careers in public health.

LLUSPH offers the only three online MPH programs in CA: lifestyle management, population medicine, and health education. Each 56 credit program can be completed in two to three years, and the curriculum is administered via Canvas. Each student, regardless of program, completes an introductory public health core curriculum to develop cross-field collaboration. A 400-hour practicum completes the degree, and provides students a supervised work experience to apply their skills and contribute to a health department or community organization.

One of the world’s top research universities, Michigan State University (MSU) began as the first land-grant University in the nation, and now boasts over 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. The College of Human Medicine offers an online master’s in public health for working professionals with a passion for improving large-scale health problems.

MSU’s master’s in public health is completely online. Asynchronous coursework allows students to complete it when most convenient, while online discussion boards and group projects promote collaborative learning. The 42 credit terminal degree can be taken part-time or full-time, and upon completion of required coursework, students participate in a capstone project and 240 hour practicum. The practicum can be completed anywhere in the U.S. or at a variety of international sites convenient for students.

Situated in the heart of Denver, CO, the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) has been at the forefront of online education since 1996, and the School of Public Health is the only accredited school of health in the Rocky Mountain region. The online master of public health in leadership and public health practice is designed for working professionals who aspire to leadership roles in health-focused organizations.

The MPH at CU Denver is offered online with an emphasis on collaborative learning. The 42 credit program develops core competencies in public health, and two on-campus visits are required to fulfill the management and leadership course requirements. A culminating capstone project and practicum emphasizes practical applications, while often providing students further career options. CU Denver is a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, which allows for a discounted tuition rate if students reside in one of 15 participating states.

Founded in 1898, Des Moines University (DMU) in Des Moines, IA is a health sciences university that only offers graduate programs. DMU is one of the largest medical schools in the country with over 1,700 students, three colleges and eight graduate degrees.

DMU’s online MPH programs are fully accredited and offer three concentrations: general public health, health service management and health promotion. The 46 credit curriculum provides a broad training in public health, with concentrations for students to tailor the program to their career goals. A capstone project and practicum allows students to apply their knowledge to real-world health problems. The MPH can be completed in as little as 2.5 years, and financial aid is granted to those in need.

Located in Salus Park, PA, Salus University is a health science university with students across the globe. SU is an accredited university and a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization and recognizes the high cost of health disparities around the globe. The online master’s in public health prepares students to be motivated, curious learners to advance worldwide health and well-being.

The 42 credit master’s in public health is offered part-time as a distance option. Coursework in epidemiology, international development and health, and environmental health provide this program a global focus, while a capstone project and practicum integrates classroom learning with real-world application. Certificates in humanitarian and refugee health care and health policy are available for additional credits.

State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany) is a public state university nestled into New York’s historic capital. This major research university serves more than 17,000 students and offers more than 125 graduate programs. The School of Public Health was founded in 1985, and builds on collaborative research, education, practice between UAlbany and the New York State Department of Health.

A fully online, part time master’s in public health develops core knowledge of the public health field via coursework in statistics, epidemiology, and behavioral aspects of health. Field opportunities provide students with direct application to real-world health problems, and are available at sites convenient for students. The 51 credit program is offered year-round and is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Northeastern University is located in historic Boston, MA. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a worldwide, experiential research university focused on global education and research. With campuses around the country, NU offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees through their nine colleges and schools.

NU’s master of public health in urban health is focused on the effect of the urban environment on a population’s wellbeing with an emphasis on racial and ethnic health disparities. The MPH is offered fully online, and courses in general public health and general urban health provide a foundation in public health competencies, while a culminating practicum and capstone project presents students with direct application of their learning to issues of poverty, violence, and substance abuse. Faculty projects and directed studies provide students with additional opportunities to confront real-world problems.

Located in Valhalla, NY, New York Medical College (NYMC) was created in 1860 and now features three schools - School of Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Health Sciences and Practice. NYMC features an inclusive and humanistic approach to education and recently joined the Touro College and University System in 2011.

NYMC offers online MPH programs in three areas: behavioral sciences & health promotion, environmental health science, and health policy and management (also offered in an accelerated format). Each MPH can be completed completely online, however students may elect to take a blend of online and in-person courses. The 42 credit program can be completed in two years, however the accelerated MPH in health policy and management allows students to complete the program in a single year over three consecutive semesters. Admission into the online MPH is restricted to those with advanced degrees in healthcare such as physicians, medical students, and other professionals in health-related fields.

Based in Morgantown, West Virginia, West Virginia University was founded in 1967. The university has received a R1 Doctoral University classification--the top level acknowledged by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education--and serves more than 31,000 students.

The WVU school of Public Health offers an online master’s in public health in social and behavioral sciences (SBHS). The program address the behavioral, social and environmental factors which affect population health, and graduates leave with the leadership skills to develop and implement programs to improve public health. The 44 credit program features a courses in core public health and a culminating practicum project. Students can expect to complete the degree in four semesters.

20. San Jose State University
Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University (SJSU) is one of the top 20 research institutions in the country, with 145 areas of study with an additional 108 areas of concentration. SJSU serves more than 30,000 graduate and undergraduate students, all of whom have access to numerous online courses.

SJSU’s online master's in public health program is a 42 credit, 24 month degree available to students across the country. Students take all courses online, and meet with their cohort in-person four to five days once per year. SJSU also offers online MPH programs with a speciality in community health education. Distance students must complete a practicum and pass a comprehensive exam as their culminating experience, while in-person students may opt to complete a project or thesis.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally-ranked public university located in historic Amherst, Massachusetts. UMass serves more than 23,000 undergraduate students, 6,600 graduate students and features 1,300 full-time faculty members.

UMass offers a specialized MPH program -- a concurrent Dietetic Internship with an online master of public health in nutrition (DI/MPH-N). This online MPH is a full-time, 24 month program. Classes are available online, however the Dietetic Internship must be completed in-person. The internship requires a minimum of 1,200 hours in the field, and each intern rotates through different focus areas including nutritional care, food service management and community nutrition activities. In addition to the on-site hours, interns meet two to three times per month for seminar and other dietetic-related networking events.

Located in Macon, GA, Mercer University (MU) is one of America’s oldest institutions of higher learning. The liberal arts university was founded by Baptists in the early 1800’s, and now features 12 schools across three cities, including medical school sites in Macon, Savannah and Columbus, GA.

The MU masters of public health prepares public health professionals to form partnerships across rural and underserved communities. Courses are offered partially online, while many others are offered on-campus during weekends and evenings to accommodate working professionals. The 42 credit MPH program can be completed in two years and classes prepare students in topics like rural health, social determinants of health, minority health and, health disparities. A final capstone project completes the degree.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) calls the historic city of Birmingham its home. UAB’s downtown campus is known as an international, public doctoral research university and academic health center. The School of Public Health is the only accredited public health school in Alabama, while students and faculty benefit from over $29 million in research funds from the NIH.

UAB offers seven fully online MPH programs through the School of Public Health: environmental health & toxicology, epidemiology health behavior, health care organization, industrial hygiene, maternal and child health policy and leadership, mph in occupational health and safety. The 42 credit program requires all students -- regardless of concentration -- to complete core coursework in public health, which facilitates collaboration across disciplines. An internship is required to graduate.

Founded in 1801 -- and one of the oldest public schools in the nation -- The University of South Carolina Columbia (USC) enrolls nearly 50,000 students each year. The school’s online master’s in public health degree is designed for current health care practitioners in communities, schools, and health departments.

The 45 credit MPH program is takes two to three years to complete, and develops a diverse set of transferable, interdisciplinary skills relevant to today’s job market. Classes on race, ethnicity and health, health inequalities, consumer health in contemporary society, and applied health communication establish a foundation in core public health principles. Students complete a public health practicum and seminar to finalize their degree requirements. Tuition charges are identical for students residing in- or out-of-state.

Situated 65 miles west of Chicago, Northern Illinois University (NIU) was founded in 1985 as a teacher's school. Today, NIU features nearly 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students across seven degree-granting colleges.

NIU recognizes the healthcare field benefits from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and the online masters in public health programs is open to those with bachelor’s degrees in all fields. The majority of coursework is completed online, and designed to accommodate working professionals. The 46 credit program features core courses, specialization and elective courses, a five credit internship, and a final comprehensive exam. The MPH program can be completed in 24 months as a full-time student, and offers two areas of specialization: health promotion and health service management.