March 19, 2024

Top 25 Online MPH Programs (Master’s in Public Health)

accredited online mph programs
Over the past 20 years, the field of healthcare management has seen a dramatic rise in educational opportunities as well as diverse employment options. One of the ways that interested individuals can become healthcare managers is by earning a Master of Public Health (MPH). Careers in public health include work in:

  • hospitals
  • long-term care facilities
  • governmental agencies
  • and many other areas.

As more and more people become interested in pursuing this avenue, the demand for high-quality online Master of Public Health programs increases.

Ranking Methodology – Online MPH Programs

The goal of this ranking list is to highlight the top online master’s in public health. The ranking system is based upon a combination of important factors, including

  • accreditation from CEPH
  • cost of attendance for graduate students
  • student to faculty ratio
  • overall graduation rates for students who began their studies in Fall 2011 as indicated by College Navigator.

We recognize that the graduation rate does not reflect graduate students, but we felt it was relevant in indicating student satisfaction and supports available to students to complete their degree. Specializations, awards and achievements earned by the school or department have also been noted.

The system controlling how points are awarded is as follows:
Student to Faculty Ratio

  • 10:1 or less= 5 Points
  • 11:1 to 15:1= 3 Points
  • Greater than 15:1= 1 Point

Average Graduate Tuition

  • Less than $8,000 per year= 5 Points
  • $8,000 to $15,000 per year= 3 Points
  • Greater than $15,000 per year= 1 Points

Average Graduation Rate

  • More than 80%= 5 Points
  • 50% to 79%= 3 Points
  • Less than 50%= 1 Points

#25 – National University- La Jolla, California

Master of Public Health Online


Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $14,976/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 42%
Points: 5
National University features a top online Master of Public Health taught by experienced faculty dedicated to student success. This 72 credit hour program offers specializations in:

  • health promotion
  • healthcare administration
  • mental health

Students complete a comprehensive capstone experience and internship to further develop their professional skills. National University emphasizes the development of communication skills necessary to work with challenging and diverse populations.

#24 – Northern Illinois University – DeKalb, Illinois

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $11,904/year in-state and $20,473/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 45%
Points: 5
The Master of Public Health Degree program offered by Northern Illinois University readies professionals for leadership roles in public health and health-related agencies. Specializations are available in either health promotion or health services management. Students complete a practicum experience, gaining real-world experience. Coursework can be completed online, when it’s most convenient.

#23 – University Of Alaska – Anchorage, Alaska

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $8,217/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 47%
Points:5
The Department of Health Sciences at the University of Alaska offers a flexible Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice. The program is designed to promote health in various communities across Alaska, the circumpolar north, the country and the around the globe. The program is open to recent grads and mid-career professionals who want to gain knowledge and experience in public health practice. At the end of the program, students need to complete a practicum thesis or project and present an oral defense in Anchorage.

#22 – Loyola University – Chicago, Illinois

Master of Public Health-Health Policy and Management

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $18,594/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 77%
Points: 7
The online Master of Public Health degree program at Loyola was created to prepare public health leaders with the skills to improve global health while focusing on eliminating health inequities. This top online MPH is a 42 credit hour degree program consisting of:

  • coursework
  • a practicum experience
  • a capstone project

Most students can complete their degree in two years.

#21 – Benedictine University – Lisle, Illinois

Online Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $16,888/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 50%
Points:7
The fully online Master’s in Public Health (MPH) degree program offers students the tools to lead organizations, agencies and companies that deal with the critical public health issues. These include improving access to health care and controlling infectious disease. The curriculum for this MPH program covers core topics like:

  • biostatistics
  • health policy
  • ethics.

Students can earn a number of graduate level certificates alongside their MPH, including:

  • Health Management and Policy
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Health Education and Promotion
  • Epidemiology

A 240 clock hour internship experience allows students to practice their skills under supervision.

#20 – University of Illinois – Chicago, Illinois

Master of Public Health Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $13,502/year in-state and $23,742/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 57%
Points:7
The fully online top Master of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago features concentrations in:

  • Community Health Sciences
  • Health Policy and Administration
  • Public Health Informatics

Each concentration area is offered in a primarily asynchronous format, ideal for working professionals. There are no on-campus visits required. Students learn to address critical issues related to:

  • public health law and policy
  • public health administration
  • communication
  • public health ethics

Students work closely with a faculty adviser, which allows them to tailor their training and academic experience.

#19 – University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Massachusetts

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $13,210/year in-state and $27,834/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 77%
Points: 7
The School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts offers a fully online Master of Public Health degree program. This general concentration program requires no on-campus residency requirement. Students don’t need to be online at any set time to complete coursework. Students can take just one course each semester or as many as three…the choice is up to you! UMass Amherst is a trusted name in online MPH education, graduating over 600 students since 2001.

#18 – University of South Carolina- Columbia, South Carolina

MPH in Health Promotion, Education and Behavior – Professional Online Program

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $12,854/year in-state and $27,968/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 75%
Points:7
The top online MPH in Health Promotion, Education and Behavior from the University of South Carolina is for current professionals with a passion for human welfare. It’s a 24-36 month program. Students complete coursework in areas like:

  • community health development
  • consumer health in contemporary society
  • applied health communication

The University of South Carolina is one of 40 universities to be considered a top-tier research institution and receives the community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

#17 – Florida International University – Dallas, Florida

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 27:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $8,912/year in-state and $21,393/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 57%
Points:7
Students enrolled in the online Master of Public Health degree programs at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work can complete their degree in just 18 months. Online students work closely with faculty and peers. They’re engaged through a dynamic online learning environment. Students can maintain employment while earning their degree with the benefit of flexible online coursework. A practicum experience can be completed wherever you are located, giving students the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in a local, professional environment.

#16 – University of Missouri – Columbia, Missouri

Master of Public Health Online-Health Promotion and Policy or Veterinary Public Health

Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $8,640/year in-state and $23,659/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 68%
Points: 7
The University of Missouri School of Health Professions features an online MPH with plans of study in either Health Promotion and Policy or Veterinary Public Health. Students never need to come to campus and benefit from day to day flexibility in scheduling class. Core courses cover areas like:

  • emergency preparedness
  • human health and the environment
  • public policy processes and strategies

Students can complete a public health internship experience at a local or state public health department or community organization to apply their skills and training.

#15 – University of South Florida – Tampa, Florida

Master of Public Health and Executive Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 22:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $8,350/year in-state and $19,048/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 71%
Points: 7
The College of Public Health at the University of South Florida offers an online MPH in Public Health Practice. It gives students a real world, educational experience in a rigorous academic environment. Students can choose to focus on:

  • epidemiology
  • public health practice
  • social marketing
  • nutrition and dietetics
  • health
  • safety and environment
  • infection control
  • global disaster management, humanitarian relief and homeland security

Each program is delivered through a highly interactive online learning platform designed by the Office of Educational Technology and Assessment. Students engage with each other through blogs, podcasts, discussion forums, and web conferencing.

#14 – University of West Florida – Pensacola, Florida

Online Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 21:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,088/year in-state and $22,168/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 44%
Points:7
The University of West Florida offers a top online Master of Public Health. It provides students with a top-notch, interdisciplinary foundation of public health to prepare them to be public health professionals. Students can choose to work on a generalist degree or the concentration in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. The coursework included in this program offers students the chance to customize their degree to fit specific academic and career goals in the field of public health.

#13 – New Mexico State University – Las Cruces, New Mexico

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $4,390/year in-state and 15,309/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 46%
Points: 7
The Department of Public Health Sciences at New Mexico State University features a fully accredited MPH offered entirely in an on-line format. This top online program is designed for working public health practitioners, with asynchronous coursework that fits into any schedule. Students can choose to focus their studies on Community Health Education or Health Management, Administration and Policy. Faculty are industry experts who work closely with students to develop a solid academic foundation.

#12 – George Washington University – Washington, D.C.


Master of Public Health
Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $29,790/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 81%
Points: 9
The Milkin Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University offers a wide variety of degree options and specializations in public health. The fully online top MPH program offers concentrations in:

  • Global Health
  • Health Policy
  • Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Communication and Program Planning and Evaluation

The online MPH@GW Master of Public Health program highlights local, national and global health practices as well as multidisciplinary training. Students can choose from:

  • a one year accelerated program
  • an 18 month accelerated program
  • a customized MPH program that can take two to four years to complete.

#11 – Andrews University – Berrien Springs, Michigan

Online MPH Nutrition and Wellness

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $25,752/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 55%
Points: 9
The Department of Public Health, Nutrition, and Wellness at Andrews University features the only CEPH accredited online MPH program in Nutrition and Wellness in the United States. The program is offered in a highly interactive online format with no on-campus residency requirements. The program emphasizes vegetarian nutrition. This 42 credit hour program takes just two-and-a-half years to complete for part-time students, or 18 months for those attending full-time.

#10 – University of Florida – Gainesville, Florida

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $10,770/year in-state and $27,335/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 88%
Points: 9
The College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida features a 48 credit hour program with no campus visits required. Students keep on track following a traditional semester schedule with weekly assignment due dates. All students complete an internship experience and write a major paper covering a contemporary public health issue. Concentrations are available in both public health practice and social and behavioral sciences.

#9 – University of Alabama – Birmingham, Alabama

Master of Public Health Online

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,866/year in-state and $17,910/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 53%
Points: 9
The University of Alabama offers a top online Master of Public Health with six different concentration areas. Students can choose to focus on:

  • population health
  • environmental and occupational health
  • epidemiology
  • health behavior
  • health care organization and policy
  • maternal and child health policy and leadership

Online students pay great in-state tuition rates regardless of where they live.

#8 – San Jose State University – San Jose, California

Online Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 27:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,176/year in-state and $16,680/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 57%
Points: 9
The Master of Public Health Program offered by The Department of Health Sciences and Recreation was created in 1970 to train community health education practitioners. SJSU features a 42 unit MPH with coursework offered online. A short four-to-five day residency is required each year in San Jose. Courses are taught sequentially and students move through the program as a cohort.

#7 – University of Colorado – Denver, Colorado

Master of Public Health (MPH) – Leadership

Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $6,714/year in-state and $22,374/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 67%
Points: 9
The Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado offers a flexible online MPH in the area of Leadership and Public Health practice. It’s ideal for working professionals. Students complete coursework online and are only required to come to campus for two short visits. This 42 credit hour program includes both a practicum and capstone experience, allowing students to showcase their skills and benefit from hands-on professional training.

#6 – University of North Texas – Fort Worth, Texas

Master of Public Health-Professional Option

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 26:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $5,450/year in-state and $12,920/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 54%
Points: 9
The University of North Texas Health Science Center features two dynamic online Master of Public Health programs. The 42 credit hour MPH Professional Option is for professionals with at least three years of relevant work experience or who hold an advanced degree already. The 48 credit hour option is ideal for recent grads or those changing careers. Students can earn their degree in one to three years of study, depending on course load. All students complete a hands-on practicum experience to gain confidence in the workplace.

#5 – Augusta University – Augusta, Georgia

Online Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $5,144/year in-state and $17,544/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 27%
Points: 9
Augusta University features a top Master of Public Health online program that can be taken on a part-time basis and completed in two years. The program focuses on the practical aspects of public health, arming students with critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students can choose to concentrate in:

  • health management
  • health informatics
  • environmental health
  • social and behavioral sciences.

#4 – Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, Maryland

Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $52,170/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 93%
Points: 11
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers a Master of Public Health degree program. It’s designed to prepare students to become leading public health professionals. These professionals address current global health problems through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge. Students can complete the online MPH degree program on a part-time basis over a period of 2 to 3 years. The curriculum is extremely flexible, offering over 300 course options. As much as 80 percent of the course work can be completed online, with students only required to be on-campus one to two weeks each year.

#3 – University of Southern California – Los Angeles, California

Online Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $43,200/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 92%
Points:11
The Keck School of Medicine at USC features an online Master of Public Health taught by world-class faculty. This state-of-the-art online MPH program is accessible 24/7. Students stay engaged with peers and faculty through live online sessions, study groups, projects, and networking opportunities. Each student can choose an area of specialization to help boost his or her MPH degree including:

  • Biostatistics and Epidemiology
  • Community Health Promotion
  • Global Health Leadership, GeoHealth
  • Health Services and Policy.

#2 – Emory University – Atlanta, Georgia

Executive Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $40,800/year
Overall Graduation Rate: 91%
Points:11
The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University features a low residency online MPH delivered through Canvas course management software. All courses are instructor led, so you can be sure you are getting the same quality educational experience as students in the on-campus program. Program tracks are available in:

  • applied epidemiology
  • applied public health informatics
  • prevention science

All students complete a practicum of 200-400 clock hours, gaining valuable field experience.

#1 – University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Online Master of Public Health

Website
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $9,943/year in-state and $27,154/year out-of-state
Overall Graduation Rate: 91%
Points: 11
The Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is our top choice for an online Master of Public Health degree. Ranked the #1 public school of public health in the country by U.S. News and World Report, students can feel confident they are getting a top notch education. The MPH@UNC features concentrations in:

  • Leadership in Practice
  • Nutrition
  • or a joint MPH/Registered Dietician concentration

Programs are offered on a full or part-time basis. Courses are delivered through live, weekly sessions allowing students to collaborate effectively with faculty and peers

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