CEPH-accredited online MPH programs convince future employers that you have the required skills for a public health role at a hospital, medical center, public health agency, or another healthcare management environment. Upon graduation, you might land a job as a health program manager, research coordinator, healthcare policy analyst, or another specialized position.
In this guide for 2021, learn about CEPH-accredited online MPH programs, their benefits, and what to expect when you graduate.
Contents
What Is CEPH?
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the accrediting body for schools that offer public health programs such as MPH degrees. Schools with CEPH-accredited programs must maintain the highest educational standards for students.
Some employers only consider job applicants who graduate from a CEPH-accredited program, so choosing an MPH degree with this accreditation can prove lucrative.
The CEPH currently accredits the following programs:
- Undergraduate degrees
- Master’s degrees (including MPH degrees)
- Doctoral degrees
CEPH Accreditation
The CEPH accredits schools that meet its high standards of education quality. You can find CEPH-accredited programs at online schools and traditional physical colleges. One prerequisite of CEPH accreditation is that the school must prepare students to sit the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination. This industry-standard exam, administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE), covers areas of knowledge that pertain to the field of public health. This knowledge includes expertise in topics like epidemiology, health education, health development, nutrition management, behavioral sciences, and environmental health.
The Accreditation Process
Any school that offers an MPH program can apply for CEPH accreditation. The Council will review the school and decide whether to accredit its program based on a series of criteria, such as high educational standards and student preparedness for the CPH exam.
Schools will need to meet the Council’s high standards every year or have their accreditation removed.
What Is an Online CEPH-Accredited MPH Program?
You can now study for an MPH program with CEPH accreditation online. All you need is a computer or smart device and an internet connection. Unlike a CEPH-accredited MPH degree at a physical college, you will access course content and submit assignments online via a learning management system (LMS). A typical online program comprises video tutorials, digital workshops, webinars, and group sessions. You will communicate with tutors, academic staff, and other students over the internet.
Studying for a CEPH-accredited online program provides these benefits:
- You don’t have to commute to a physical college.
- You can maintain existing work or family commitments while you study.
- You can access learning opportunities that aren’t available in your local community.
- You can learn at a time that suits you.
- You won’t have to pay for travel or campus accommodation.
Online Curriculum
Course content on online CEPH-accredited MPH programs differs depending on the school. However, you might learn these skills:
- Epidemiology
- Environmental health
- Biostatistics
- Health education
- Health communication
- Health models
- Health development
- International health management
- Vaccine management
- Health law
- Public health and ethics
An MPH program with CEPH accreditation might require you to complete a dissertation about a subject that interests you, and this project might contribute to your final grade. Some programs include exams after each course; others require you to take a final exam toward the end of the program.
There might also be opportunities to work in a public health role during your studies. Many online schools with CEPH-accredited MPH programs offer internships at local hospitals, medical centers, and public health agencies. Undertaking work experience in one of these environments could provide you with new skills that might further your future career.
CEPH-Accredited MPH Program Requirements
You typically need a bachelor’s degree to enroll in a CEPH-accredited MPH program. Some schools might substitute this degree requirement with experience in a public health or healthcare management role.
Applying for one of these degrees is simple. You submit evidence of academic and work experience to the program director at the school of your choice. This evidence includes letters from previous employers and internship coordinators, as well as academic transcripts that show the grade point average (GPA) from any programs you completed in the past.
Online CEPH-Accredited MPH Program Costs
The cost of studying for an online CEPH-accredited MPH degree depends on the school that offers the program. An online Master of Public Health degree with CEPH accreditation at Liberty University, for example, costs around $26,000. This cost includes tuition, fees, and books.
Studying for an online program might cost you less than getting an MPH at a physical college. That’s because you won’t have to pay to commute to school or live on campus. You can reduce the costs associated with your degree by applying for a scholarship or grant. Many organizations offer financial aid to students from low-income backgrounds or to those who can demonstrate exceptional academic achievement in the field of public health.
Career Opportunities
A CEPH-accredited MPH program could expand your job options because some recruiters only consider job applicants with this accredited degree.
The mean annual wage for an epidemiologist — a common job for those with a CEPH-accredited MPH — is $83,260, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $40.20.
The top-paying states for epidemiologists are:
- Washington: $113,900 (mean annual wage)
- Nevada: $104,530
- Maryland: $100,940
- District of Columbia: $99,520
- New Jersey: $99,330
The top-paying metropolitan areas for epidemiologists are:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $134,580 (mean annual wage)
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN: $122,520
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: $121,560
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $117,320
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $114,300
- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV: $108,590
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: $98,980
- Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA: $98,740
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: $97,420
- Trenton, NJ: $95,740
The mean annual wage for a medical and health services manager is $118,800
The mean annual wage for a medical and health services manager — another popular job for those with a CEPH-accredited MPH degree — is $118,800, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $57.12.
The top-paying states for medical and health services managers are:
- District of Columbia: $157,590 (mean annual wage)
- New York: $156,140
- Hawaii: $139,650
- California: $138,030
- Massachusetts: $136,930
The top-paying metropolitan areas for medical and health services managers are:
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $174,010 (mean annual wage)
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $171,430
- Madera, CA: $168,090
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $156,160
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $156,050
- Corvallis, OR: $155,030
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $153,590
- Binghamton, NY: $153,490
- Salinas, CA: $153,100
- Danbury, CT: $151,670
What Are the Benefits of an Online CEPH-Accredited MPH Program?
Here are some benefits of enrolling in CEPH-accredited online MPH programs:
Essential Training
Online MPH programs with CEPH accreditation provide you with the skills for an exciting new career in public health. You can also complete the CPH exam during the program.
Increased Earning Potential
Completing a CEPH-accredited MPH program online proves to employers that you have the desired skills for a public health role. These programs assure recruiters that a school delivers the highest educational standards.
Access to Expert Tutors
Online programs provide you with access to the world’s best public health tutors. You can enroll in a program at an online college and learn specialized topics that a physical college in your area might not teach, such as international health management.
Flexibility
You can complete your online degree at a time that suits you and tailor your education around your existing schedule. If you have work, travel, or family commitments, you can study a CEPH-accredited MPH online during the evening or at weekends. You don’t have to attend a physical college during regular hours.
CEPH Accredited Schools in the US
| University | City | State | Program Name |
| A.T. Still University | Kirksville | MO | MPH Program |
| American Public University System | Charles Town | WV | Master of Public Health Program |
| American University of Beirut | Riad El Solh | Beirut | Public Health Program |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | MI | Public Health Program |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | PA | Public Health Program |
| Augusta University | Augusta | GA | Master of Public Health Program |
| Baylor University | Waco | TX | Public Health Program |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | IL | MPH Program |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | FL | MPH Program |
| Brigham Young University | Provo | UT | Public Health Program |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | CA | MPH Program |
| California Baptist University – Online | Riverside | CA | Public Health Program |
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno | CA | MPH Program |
| California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton | CA | Master of Public Health Program |
| California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach | CA | MPH Program in Community Health Education |
| California State University, Northridge | Northridge | CA | Public Health Program |
| California State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino | CA | Public Health Program |
| California State University, San Marcos | San Marcos | CA | MPH Program |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | NC | Public Health Program |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | OH | MPH Program |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant | MI | Public Health Program |
| Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles | CA | Department of Urban Public Health, MPH and BSPH Programs |
| Claremont Graduate University | Claremont | CA | Public Health Program |
| Consortium of Eastern Ohio | Rootstown | OH | University of Akron |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | NY | MPH Program |
| Dartmouth – Geisel School of Medicine | Hanover | NH | MPH Program |
| DePaul University | Chicago | IL | Public Health Program |
| Des Moines University | Des Moines | IA | MPH Program |
| East Carolina University | Greenville | NC | Public Health Program |
| East Stroudsburg University | East Stroudsburg | PA | Public Health Program |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond | KY | Public Health Program |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School | Norfolk | VA | MPH Program |
| Eastern Washington University | Spokane | WA | MPH Program |
| Florida A&M University | Tallahassee | FL | Public Health Program |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | FL | MPH Program |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | VA | Public Health Program |
| Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids | MI | MPH Program |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu | HI | Programs in Public Health |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | NY | Master of Public Health Program |
| Idaho State University | Pocatello | ID | MPH Program |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan | KS | Master of Public Health Program |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | PA | Public Health Program |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | NC | Master of Public Health Program |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | VA | Public Health Program |
| Long Island University, Brooklyn | Brooklyn | NY | Master of Public Health Program |
| Louisiana State University-Shreveport/ Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport | Shreveport | LA | MPH Program |
| Loyola University Chicago | Maywood | IL | Public Health Program |
| Marshall University | Huntington | WV | Graduate Program in Public Health |
| MCPHS University | Boston | MA | Master of Public Health Program |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Milwaukee | WI | Public Health Program |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville | TN | Master of Science in Public Health Program |
| Mercer University | Atlanta | GA | Public Health Program |
| Missouri State University | Springfield | MO | MPH Program |
| Montclair State University | Montclair | NJ | Public Health Program |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | Atlanta | GA | Public Health Program |
| Morgan State University | Baltimore | MD | Public Health Program |
| Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine | New York | NY | Graduate Program in Public Health |
| National University | La Jolla | CA | MPH Program |
| New Mexico State University | Las Cruces | NM | Public Health Program |
| New York Medical College | Valhalla | NY | Public Health Program |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo | ND | Master of Public Health Program |
| Northeastern University | Boston | MA | Public Health Program |
| Northern Illinois University | DeKalb | IL | Public Health Program |
| Northwestern University | Chicago | IL | Public Health Program |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | FL | Public Health Program |
| Oakland University | Rochester | MI | Master of Public Health Program |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | VA | MPH Program |
| Pennsylvania State University | Hershey | PA | Public Health Program |
| Ponce Health Sciences University | Ponce | PR | Public Health Program |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette | IN | Public Health Program |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | CA | Public Health Program |
| San José State University | San Jose | CA | MPH Program |
| Simmons University | Boston | MA | Public Health Program |
| Simon Fraser University | Burnaby British Columbia | VA | Public Health Program |
| Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven | CT | Public Health Program |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale | IL | Public Health Program |
| St. Catherine University | Saint Paul | MN | Public Health Program |
| St. George’s University | Grenada | West Indies | MPH Program |
| Stony Brook University – SUNY | Stony Brook | NY | Program in Public Health |
| SUNY – Upstate Medical University | Syracuse | NY | Master of Public Health Program |
| Teacher’s College, Columbia University | New York | NY | Community Health Education Program |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | TN | BS and MPH Programs |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Lubbock | TX | MPH Program |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | PA | Public Health Program |
| Touro University – California | Vallejo | CA | MPH Program |
| Tufts University School of Medicine | Boston | MA | Public Health Program |
| Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences | Bethesda | MD | Public Health Program |
| University of Alaska-Anchorage | Anchorage | AK | MPH Program |
| University of California, Davis | Davis | CA | MPH Program |
| University of California, Irvine | Irvine | CA | Public Health Program |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | OH | Public Health Program |
| University of Connecticut | Farmington | CT | Graduate Program in Public Health |
| University of Haifa | Mt. Carmel Haifa | Israel | Master in Public Health Program |
| University of Hawaii | Honolulu | HI | Public Health Program |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | IL | Master of Public Health Program |
| University of Kansas | Kansas City | KS | KU-MPH Program |
| University of Maryland School of Medicine | Baltimore | MD | MPH Program |
| University of Miami | Miami | FL | Graduate Programs in Public Health |
| University of Missouri – Columbia | Columbia | MO | BS and MPH Programs |
| University of Montana | Missoula | MT | Public Health Program |
| University of Nevada, Reno | Reno | NV | Public Health Program |
| University of New England | Portland | ME | Graduate Program in Public Health |
| University of New Hampshire | Durham | NH | Master of Public Health Program |
| University of New Mexico | Albuquerque | NM | Master of Public Health Program |
| University of North Carolina, Charlotte | Charlotte | NC | Public Health Programs |
| University of North Carolina, Greensboro | Greensboro | NC | MPH Program in Community Health Education |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | ND | MPH Program |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | FL | BS and MPH Programs |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | PA | Graduate Program in Public Health Studies |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | NY | Public Health Program |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | CA | MPH Program |
| University of South Dakota/South Dakota State University | Vermillion | SD | MPH Program |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | Public Health Program |
| University of Southern Maine | Portland | ME | Master of Public Health Program |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg | MS | Public Health Program |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville | TN | MPH Program |
| University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso | TX | Master of Public Health Program |
| University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Galveston | TX | Graduate Programs in Public Health |
| University of Toledo | Toledo | OH | Master of Public Health Program |
| University of Utah | Salt Lake City | UT | Public Health Program |
| University of Vermont | Burlington | VT | Public Health Program |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville | VA | MPH Program |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | FL | MPH Program |
| University of Wisconsin – La Crosse | La Crosse | WI | BS in Community Health Education Program |
| University of Wisconsin – Madison | Madison | WI | Master of Public Health Program |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | TN | Master of Public Health Program |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | VA | MPH Program |
| Virginia Tech | Blacksburg | VA | Public Health Program |
| Walden University | Minneapolis | MN | MPH & DrPH Programs |
| Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis | MO | Public Health Programs |
| Wayne State University | Detroit | MI | MPH Program |
| West Chester University | West Chester | PA | MPH Program |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green | KY | Public Health Programs |
| Western University | London Ontario Canada | RM | MPH Program |
| Westminster College | Salt Lake City | UT | Public Health Program |
| Wright State University | Kettering | OH | MPH Program |
Summary
- CEPH-accredited MPH programs take around two years to complete. However, you can reduce this time frame by taking extra classes on weekends or during the evening.
- You can complete an MPH with CEPH accreditation online and communicate with tutors via video tutorials, digital workshops, and webinars via an LMS.
- You will learn an incredible range of public health topics during one of these programs, including environmental health, biostatistics, health models, health law, health communication, and more.
- Depending on the school, you can take part in an internship at a local hospital, medical center, or public health agency during your studies.
- Many recruiters favor applicants who complete a CEPH-accredited MPH program.
- Earning your MPH online could improve earning potential and further your public health career.
- You can access the best tutors from around the world when you study for an MPH with CEPH accreditation online.
- CEPH-accredited MPH degrees fluctuate in cost. However, online programs might cost less than conventional degrees because you won’t have to commute to a physical location or pay for accommodation.
- An online Master of Public Health degree with CEPH accreditation at Liberty University costs around $26,000.
- You can apply for a scholarship or grant to reduce the costs associated with CEPH-accredited online MPH programs.