Best Online Master’s in Public Health Programs of 2025

Public health jobs are growing, and an online master’s can get you started without high costs. Explore our guide on the best online MPH programs.
Elin Johnson
By
Edited by
Updated March 13, 2025
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If you’re passionate about improving community health, consider a career in public health. In a public health role, you can address health concerns affecting various communities.

Take it from an expert: “A career in public health is very rewarding,” says Randy Schwartz, who has an MS in public health and over three decades of experience in health promotion and disease prevention. “There are opportunities to address important issues facing the country and your community.”

A master of public health (MPH) is one of the best ways to start your career in public health. And by earning your MPH online, you could save time and money on your degree.

Online MPH Program Highlights

  • Choose from among concentrations such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and health policy.
  • In our 2024 Online Education Trends Report, 98% of online nursing and healthcare students and graduates say they would recommend online education to others.
  • Similarly, over 9 in 10 nursing and healthcare students and graduates say they think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.
  • Learn how to implement policies and practices to address real-world health issues.

Start Your Online MPH Journey Today

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Best Online MPH Programs of 2025

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
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How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

BestColleges Top-Ranked-2024 Badge
  • Affordability (30%)
  • Student outcomes (30%)
  • Reputation (20%)
  • Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

#1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$10,552

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$28,844

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

19%

Acceptance Rate

25%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,360

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

32,496

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,552

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,844

Chapel Hill, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,552

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,844

Acceptance Rate

19%

Online Enrollment

25%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,360

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

32,496

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#2

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA4 yearCampus + Online

$7,176

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$19,140

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

34%

Acceptance Rate

56%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,742

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,622

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

37,539

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,176

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,140

San Diego, CA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,176

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,140

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment

56%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,742

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,622

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

37,539

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$27,335

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

24%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,694

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

54,814

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,335

Gainesville, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,335

Acceptance Rate

24%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,694

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

54,814

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN4 yearCampus + Online

$9,718

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$28,520

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

50%

Acceptance Rate

35%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,208

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,010

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

52,211

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,718

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,520

West Lafayette, IN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,718

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,520

Acceptance Rate

50%

Online Enrollment

35%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,208

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,010

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

52,211

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#5

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$60,480

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

8%

Acceptance Rate

62%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Retention Rate

98%

Students Enrolled

30,363

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Baltimore, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Acceptance Rate

8%

Online Enrollment

62%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,480

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,480

Retention Rate

98%

Students Enrolled

30,363

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#6

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$16,238

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$35,388

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

45%

Acceptance Rate

27%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,889

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$38,690

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

40,813

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,238

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,388

College Park, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,238

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,388

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

27%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,889

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$38,690

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

40,813

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$2,003

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

59%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,003

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,003

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#8

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$19,048

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

41%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,963

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

48,566

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,048

Tampa, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,048

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,963

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

48,566

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#9

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY4 yearCampus + Online

$11,310

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

69%

Acceptance Rate

44%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,070

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,860

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

31,887

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,310

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,100

Buffalo, NY4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,310

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,100

Acceptance Rate

69%

Online Enrollment

44%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,070

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,860

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

31,887

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, NV4 yearCampus + Online

$5,814

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,356

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

85%

Acceptance Rate

30%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,875

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,831

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

21,791

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,814

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,356

Reno, NV4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,814

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,356

Acceptance Rate

85%

Online Enrollment

30%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,875

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,831

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

21,791

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Why You Should Get a Master’s in Public Health

  • minusPrepare for In-Demand Jobs: Many careers in public health, such as epidemiologist, require or expect you to have a master’s in public health.
  • minusGain Experience: An online MPH provides you with real-world knowledge and experience in the field of public health so you can hit the ground running.
  • minusHelp Communities: A public health career lets you give back to the community by improving health outcomes.

Benefits of Getting an MPH Online

  • minusAn online master’s program allows for more flexibility with your schedule.
  • minusIn our survey, just over half of online master’s students and graduates say their classes allowed them to build their professional networks.
  • minusIn that same report, 56% of online master’s students and grads say the assignments in their classes could relate to future jobs.
  • minusOnline programs tend to be cheaper than in-person programs.

How to Choose the Best Online MPH Program for You

As you research online MPH programs, be sure to consider factors like cost, program length, accreditation, application requirements, available concentrations, and potential career paths.

How Much Does an Online MPH Cost?

Cost of Online MPH Degree, 2019-2020

Avg. Tuition & Fees

$12,780

Avg. Net Price

$9,293

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average tuition and fees for an online MPH program were just under $13,000 in 2019-2020. With financial aid, this comes out to an average net price of around $9,000 per year.

In addition to tuition and fees, you’ll likely have to pay for course materials like textbooks. You may also need to pay distance learning or technology fees, depending on your school.

Some of the cheapest online MPH programs range from $7,000 to $16,000 — far cheaper than most other master’s programs, which typically cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.

You can save money on your online master’s in public health by submitting the FAFSA and applying for scholarships and other aid.

How Long Does It Take to Get an MPH Online?

Typical # of Credits

40-60 Credits

Typical Program Length

2 Years

It typically takes two years — or a total of 40-60 credits — to earn an MPH online.

Each program has its own credit requirements and schedules that can affect your timeline. For example, some programs may only offer evening courses.

Consider an accelerated master’s program if you wish to jumpstart your public health career more quickly. Accelerated programs can help you earn your MPH online in less time, usually a year.

Concentrations for an Online MPH

Like many master’s programs, especially health programs, you can choose a concentration for your online MPH. Picking a concentration lets you develop expertise in a particular area of public health, preparing you for more niche roles.

Each concentration will have specific courses for you to take. Check online MPH program sites to see what concentrations different programs offer.

Here are some of the most common MPH concentrations:

  • Biostatistics
  • Community health
  • Environmental health
  • Epidemiology
  • Global health
  • Health policy and administration
  • Maternal health
  • Nutrition

Online MPH Application Requirements

Accreditation for Online MPH Programs

When you’re applying to online MPH programs, make sure the programs you’re considering are accredited. Programmatic accreditation means the program has been independently vetted to meet specific standards, and you can trust you’ll get a quality education.

The leading accreditor for MPH programs is the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). All of the best online MPH programs ranked above are CEPH-accredited.

Don’t forget to also check for institutional accreditation.

What Can You Do With an Online Master’s in Public Health?

With an online MPH, you can get a job as a community health worker, public health consultant, epidemiologist, or health education specialist. In these jobs, you can earn anywhere from $50,000-$135,000.

Note that you might have to pursue additional certifications or licenses if you want to be eligible for more specialized public health jobs or advance in your current role.

Public health is a generally well-paying field with strong job growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth from 2023-2033 for the jobs below is much faster than the national average growth rate of 4%.

Popular Public Health Jobs
JobAvg. Annual SalaryDescription
Community Health Worker$52,610 (May 2023)Helps people adopt healthy habits, advocates for their health, and implements community health programs
Epidemiologist$90,430 (May 2023)Investigates and tracks the spread of diseases and health conditions
Health Education Specialist$69,790 (May 2023)Manages health education programs to meet community needs
Medical and Health Services Manager$134,440 (May 2023)Plans and coordinates health and medical services in healthcare settings
Public Health Consultant$82,300 (Oct. 2024)Creates strategies to address public health concerns
Sources: BLS, Payscale
Image of Randy Schwartz

Ask an Expert: How Much Money Can You Make in Public Health?

“Salaries in public health vary by geography, setting, and experience. In some states, governmental public health positions pay very well … while similar positions in other states may not pay at the same level. Positions in the private sector generally have better salary levels than governmental and nonprofit organization positions.”

Randy Schwartz, MSPH

Is an Online MPH Worth It?

To help you determine whether an online MPH program is worth it, start by comparing the cost of your prospective program with the potential salaries you could earn after graduation.

You should also consider the total time it will take to complete your MPH online, as well as to get any certifications you’ll need to jumpstart (or advance in) your career.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 83.4% of the class of 2023 master’s in public health graduates reported a positive career outcome.

Additionally, BestColleges’ own research found that 95% of online nursing and healthcare students and graduates think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.

Lastly, don’t forget to think about your own interests in the public health space — and what you can accomplish with an MPH.

“Public health is team- and relationship-oriented and involves solving important issues such as reducing health disparities in populations,” says Schwartz. “The opportunity to contribute to solutions on leading public health and healthcare issues makes for a rewarding job.”

Education Beyond a Master’s in Public Health

Some healthcare and public health careers require a more advanced degree than a master’s.

A doctorate in public health — such as a Ph.D. in public health or a doctor of public health (DPH) — can set you up for a career as a public health professor, public health researcher, public health consultant, biostatistician, or epidemiologist.

If you want to pursue a more competitive or specialized job, pursuing a doctorate in public health could be worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online MPH Programs

Most schools do not report individual programs’ acceptance rates. But based on fall 2023 university-wide acceptance rates reported by College Navigator, some of the easiest online MPH programs to get into may include those offered by the University of Nevada, Reno (85%), the University at Buffalo (69%), and Florida International University (59%).

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