Earning a master’s degree in public health (MPH) is a great way to prepare yourself to enter a rewarding and lucrative profession. Professionals with an MPH degree are equipped for a broad range of jobs in healthcare, government, industry, and the nonprofit world involved in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. These jobs may include public health nursing, epidemiology, and health care administration.
Finding the most affordable online MPH programs isn’t difficult. In this article, we’ll look at some of the factors to consider when looking for the best MPH program and discuss careers that are open to you with this degree.
How Much Do MPH Degrees Usually Cost?
The cost of an MPH degree varies considerably based on several factors. One factor is whether you attend a school in the state where you reside or an out-of-state institution. Many, though not all, schools charge a higher rate to out-of-state students. With the advent of online education, it is becoming more common for students to apply to schools that are outside their state of residence, which can result in higher education costs.
Let’s use the University of Florida as an example, which has a highly-rated MPH program. In-state students will pay $12,740 for tuition and fees annually for the 2023-24 school year. Out-of-state graduate students, however, pay significantly more: $30,134 in tuition and fees.
Another factor that impacts cost is whether your chosen school is a public institution that accepts state funding or a private school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of graduate-level tuition and fees in 2020-21, the latest year for which data is available, was $12,394 for public schools, while private schools charged an average of $26,621.
The rate you pay may vary from the averages, and you will likely find a range of excellent programs that charge less while still offering a high-quality educational experience. You may also be able to save significantly with scholarships, grants, and loans, so if your heart is set on a program at an out-of-state private institution, don’t assume that it is out of your reach financially until you have spoken to one of the institution’s financial aid counselors.
Should You Earn Your MPH Online?
Earning your degree online is a viable option for many students. One of the biggest pluses is that online classes offer significantly increased flexibility, especially if your chosen school has asynchronous courses. If this is the case, you might attend your classes at any time that is convenient for you.
For example, if you work during the day, you might do your classwork late at night or early in the morning. The same is true if you have family commitments, such as young children you are caring for. Watching a lecture class at an uncommon hour of the day or night may help you manage a busy schedule.
An online degree program can also save you time and money since you will not need to pay for gas or parking fees, and it will reduce the time you would typically spend driving to school and searching for a space in a crowded campus parking lot.
However, an online program can make connecting with professors and fellow students more challenging. Your teachers are likely to offer online office hours. It’s a good idea to make an appointment so your professors can get to know you and see that you’re serious about your education. But keep in mind that they won’t be standing over you in class, meaning you’ll need to remain motivated on your own to do well.
You may also miss out on the many typical college experiences that come with an in-person program, such as attending sports events or meeting your friends in a campus cafeteria for lunch. If these experiences matter to you, an in-person program will likely be a better fit.
What Can You Do With an MPH?
An MPH degree has broad applications in the professional world, and you will likely find that you have a range of possible jobs to choose from when you have your diploma in hand. Here are some common career paths that a person with an MPH might pursue:
Epidemiologist
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a particularly rosy job outlook for epidemiologists, who make a median pay of $78,830 a year and are expected to be in high demand over the next decade. The BLS anticipates an increase in the field of 26 percent by 2031, much higher than for most jobs. These professionals work in offices and laboratories, as well as in the health departments of state and regional governments and colleges and universities. Epidemiologists were essential workers during COVID since they often monitor infectious diseases. They may plan and direct studies of public health problems and work to prevent or treat them when needed.
Health education specialist
Health education specialists develop and implement programs that teach people about health and well-being. They are employed by hospitals, nonprofits, and government agencies. They make a median pay of $60,600 annually, although those who work in hospitals earn a median wage of $76,450. The highest ten percent earned more than $102,480, according to the BLS. This profession is also expected to grow faster than average, with the BLS predicting a need for 26 percent more by 2031.
Medical/health services manager
Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate medical or health services, according to the BLS. They are sometimes referred to as healthcare executives or healthcare administrators. They make a median annual salary of $101,340, and job growth is expected to be robust in the coming decade. The field is growing much faster than average, with a 28 percent increase in the number of jobs available by 2031. Types of medical service managers include:
- Nursing home managers
- Clinical managers who oversee a department or office
- Health information managers who work with databases of patient records
Our Research
This list features some of the country’s most affordable online MPH programs. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution, either public or private, with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of the most affordable online MPH programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The 50 Most Affordable Online MPH Programs
