What is a Master of Public Health Degree?
Are you passionate about improving the health of entire populations? Do you have a penchant for research, policy, and education? Then earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree may be right for you!
People from diverse fields, including nursing, data analytics, environmental science, and government, flock to public health careers because they are in demand, offer excellent salaries, and make a difference. Read on to learn what it takes to earn a Master of Public Health degree, including program length, salary, career options, and so much more!
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What is an MPH Degree?
A Master of Public Health (MPH) is a graduate degree that prepares students to improve and protect the health of populations through research, advocacy, creation, policy, and education. Unlike degrees in healthcare that focus on the health and treatment of individual patients, public health degrees are geared towards communities and the health, environmental, economic, and social issues that they face.
Students learn public health competencies in an MPH program to work toward the overarching goal of helping people lead healthier lives. Some core coursework you may focus on in your MPH program includes health informatics, health policy and management, epidemiology, and research. You can apply the lessons you learn in these programs across diverse professions, applications, and disciplines.
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What to Expect in a Master of Public Health Program
An MPH is a popular non-nursing master's degree for nurses seeking to transition from individualized care to community education and prevention. Public health is a broad field that ranges from areas as small as school districts, neighborhoods, and towns to entire nations or regions of the world.
As a result, master’s in public health degree programs are incredibly varied. They may even offer concentrations representing the niche needs and interests of the school’s philosophy or its surrounding community. Alternatively, the MPH curriculum may be extremely broad, offering a general overview from which students can follow their interests and personal goals.
The bottom line is that aspiring public health professionals can find varying in-person and online MPH programs suited to their specific career goals.
MPH Specializations
Examples of popular Master of Public Health degree programs and concentrations include:
- Community Health and Prevention
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy and Management
- Health Informatics
- Public Health Analytics
- Healthcare Quality & Safety
- Public Health Practice
- Public Health Advocacy
- Community Health Sciences
- Biostatistics
- Social and Behavioral Science
- Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness
- International Public Health Management
- Population Health
- Health Services Administration
Master of Public Health Coursework
Public Health topics are as wide-ranging as the various areas that professionals serve. Though there are certain courses that are universally offered by almost every program, others are highly specialized and particular to the concentration that each student chooses.
Some examples of the types of classes that are included in a Master’s of Public Health program include:
- Health behavior and social sciences
- Biostatistics
- Environmental health sciences
- Epidemiology
- Policy and advocacy
- Program planning
- Implementation and evaluation
- Leadership skills
- Child health
- Health promotion and education
- Public health issues
- Systems thinking
- Health communication
- Global health
- Cultural humility and competency
- Population Health
- Practicum
- Capstone Project
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How Much Does It Cost to Earn a Master of Public Health Degree?
Generally speaking, the average graduate school fee is between $30,000 and $40,000 per year, with most programs lasting two years. This leaves students with an anticipated $60,000 to $80,000 in costs.
However, total MPH degree costs can vary widely, and some programs charge significantly more or less than these averages depending on various factors, including:
- The University: Factors like university reputation and whether it's a public or private institution may affect the total cost of your MPH degree.
- Program Delivery: Whether you attend your MPH program in-person, online, or in a hybrid format can increase or decrease your total tuition burden.
- Residency: You can save money on your MPH degree by attending a program in your state of residency. While some programs offer the same tuition to resident and nonresident students, attending an out-of-state university can significantly increase your tuition costs.
- Full-Time vs Part-Time: Even the speed at which you complete your degree can affect your total costs. The longer it takes (i.e., part-time attendance) may increase your total tuition - albeit spread out over a longer amount of time, which can make payments more manageable for some students.
Keep in mind that tuition is just part of your total university costs. You should consider additional fees (for services, materials, labs, etc.), book costs, and even food and housing when budgeting for your program.
How Long are MPH Programs?
Most Master of Public Health programs take around two years to complete. Depending on whether you enroll as a full-time or part-time student, the program can take between 18 and 24 months. MPH programs are available in accelerated and online formats as well, providing plenty of flexibility for those with different needs and lifestyles.
Whichever master’s in public health degree you select, it will provide key competencies for success and prepare you for leadership positions in the area of public health you choose to pursue.
Master of Public Health Prerequisites
To gain admission to a Master of Public Health program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- They must have already earned their bachelor’s degree, preferably in public health or a related field.
- Most programs require that their applicants have achieved a threshold GPA during their undergraduate years.
- Most require a minimum score on either the GRE or GMAT standardized tests.
- The most competitive programs will also require demonstrated interest and some work or volunteer experience in public health.
MPH Program Accreditation
The most important way for a college or university to demonstrate the quality of its program is through accreditation by an independent agency whose sole purpose is to confirm that they meet established standards for the education that it provides.
For aspiring MPH students, choosing a school that has been accredited means that after graduation, they will be able to point to their degree with the confidence that potential employers will trust that their degree is legitimate.
No matter whether you are considering an online program or one that is offered in a traditional, in-person setting, your first step should be to confirm that it has received accreditation from one of the regional institutional accreditation agencies recognized by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and preferably that it has been accredited by a specialized accreditation agency such as the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), which is dedicated to ascertaining the quality of Public Health programs.
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How to Pay for Your Master’s Degree in Public Health
No matter what type of master’s degree is being pursued or how much it will add to overall earnings capacity, getting an advanced degree is a significant expense.
Whether you’re paying for your undergraduate degree on your own, taking out loans, or getting a little help from your family, few people have the resources available to pay the additional tens of thousands that their master's will cost. That’s why you need to know about the additional assistance and resources that are available.
Financial Aid
Federal aid is one of the most accessible and invaluable ways to help fund your education. Though many people think that filling out the FAFSA form is just for undergraduate school, graduate students can access unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Grad PLUS loans that allow them to borrow at a fixed interest rate and with other advantageous terms.
University Loans
University loans are often available directly from an individual school, and many programs also make access to loans from the state in which they are located available. Information on applying for these funds can be found on the financial aid page on each institution’s website.
Grants & Scholarships
Grants and scholarships offer students access to money that does not have to be returned. Some are offered specifically for those pursuing an advanced degree in public health or for students who have distinguished themselves in their undergraduate careers. Finding these funding sources requires a bit of effort, but is usually well worth it.
Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement is offered by many employers, though some restrict this benefit to programs that advance the employee’s future within the organization.
Private Loans
Private loans are almost always available, but care should be taken before choosing one of these funding sources to ensure that the rates they are offering are competitive. Usually, the best rates are available to those with the best credit scores.
What Can You Do with a Master of Public Health Degree?
A master’s degree in public health prepares graduates to track disease outbreaks, plan health education programs, and develop and advocate for policies in a wide range of work environments on local and global scales.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 1.9 million new job openings in healthcare annually between 2024 and 2034, which is more than any other sector.
>> Related: What are the Highest-Paying Public Health Jobs?
Workplaces for MPH Graduates
Because public health impacts so many aspects of society, MPH program graduates work in various industries, including:
- Government agencies
- Community-based agencies
- Academic institutions
- Private foundations
- Insurance companies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Hospitals and other healthcare facilities
- Research laboratories
- Substance abuse and mental health clinics
- Non-governmental health organizations
Career Opportunities
The career path available to those who hold a master’s degree in public health is limited only by the individual’s particular interests and experience, and can include the following careers:
Biostatistics and Informatics
- Systems analysts
- Database administrators
- Biostatisticians
Communications
- Public health journalists
- Information officers
- Medical writers
Community health
- Community health program coordinators
- Outreach specialists
Public Health
- Public health educators
- Nurse educators
- Health teachers
- Public health physicians and nurses
- Healthcare policy analysts
Emergency Management Specialists
- Disease preparedness researchers
- Bioterrorism researchers
Environmental Health Specialists
- Environmentalists
- Public health engineers
- Environmental health technicians
Epidemiology and Infectious Disease
- Epidemiologists and vaccine researchers
- HIV/AIDS researchers
Global Health and Humanitarian Response
- International NGO aid workers
- Global infectious disease analysts or researchers
Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse
- Addiction treatment program developers
- Mental health program coordinators
- Behavioral research scientists
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MPH Salary: How Much Can I Make with a Master of Public Health?
A career in public health offers the respect of your peers and the community you serve. Depending upon the specific position you choose, it may also provide the benefit of a generous salary.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for Master's of Public Health jobs is $120,688, with some jobs paying as much as $169,500 and others as little as $25,500.
The top five highest-paid public health positions on ZipRecruiter include:
- Public Health Director: $121,590
- Mental Health Director - $101,008
- Forensic Mental Health Nurse - $65,466
- Behavioral Health Assessor - $63,797
- Mental Health Rehabilitation - $41,069
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Prepare for a career in the growing health care field at Purdue Global. Purdue is committed to helping you find the most efficient and affordable path to your goal by applying work experience, prior learning credits, and military experience.
Multiple
Online
Enrollment: Nationwide
Walden’s online programs for healthcare meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and students learn from distinguished faculty with professional experience. Focus your career goals by choosing one of our several specializations of online Health Sciences programs.
HLC
Online
Enrollment: Nationwide
Public Health Career Outlook
According to experts at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, there is a strong long-term outlook for jobs in public health, with an expected growth that doubles the average rate for all occupations across the United States.
The BLS predicts several MPH careers have strong career outlooks, including:
- Data Scientists: 34% growth between 2024 and 2034
- Medical and Health Services Managers: 23% growth between 2024 and 2034
- Epidemiologists: 16% growth between 2024 and 2034
- Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars: 15% growth between 2024 and 2034
- Community Health Workers: 11% growth between 2024 and 2034
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Final Thoughts: Is a Master of Public Health Degree Right for Me?
Choosing a career in public health is choosing to make a difference. Many work in the field because they want to improve the health of underserved communities or influence change in healthcare delivery through policymaking and advocacy.
No matter your motivation, working in public health allows you the opportunity to evaluate and assess community health problems, develop policies that inform, educate, and empower community members to solve problems, and enforce laws to ensure public health and safety.
Public health professionals are researchers, administrators, and vital members of the healthcare workforce. Though their individual roles may differ, their goals are all the same: improving the delivery of and access to healthcare for all. If that describes your personal motivations and ethos, then pursuing a Master of Public Health is the right choice for you.
