You can earn an online master’s in public health (MPH) even if you don’t have a GRE or a high enough test score. Many online schools overlook this requirement and let you enroll in an MPH program so you can earn your degree over the internet.
When you study for an online master’s in public health, you’ll learn about health services, health policies, and educational community programs without physically attending college. You’ll access course content and communicate with tutors through a learning management system (LMS). This new learning approach could increase earning potential and allow you to work in a healthcare management environment as a medical services manager, healthcare administrator, community health worker, or related job.
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What Is an Online Master’s Degree in Public Health?
An online master’s in public health (or MPH) is a graduate-level degree program taught over the internet. You can study from home or any location in the world on a computer or smart device. That means you don’t have to commute to school or live on a college campus. Many schools let you enroll in one of these programs even if you don’t have a GRE.
Earning an MPH online could provide the same earning potential and career opportunities as a conventional classroom-based degree at a college. You will take a wide range of classes, and you could earn your qualification in just two years when studying full-time.
Here are some skills you might learn on a master’s in public health (no GRE required):
- An understanding of public health issues
- Knowledge of public health policies
- How to improve healthcare outcomes in the community
- How to administer health services
When you graduate from one of these programs, you could get a job as a
- Medical services manager
- Healthcare administrator
- Community health worker
In these roles, you will protect people’s health and well-being. Responsibilities might include helping people lose weight or quit smoking, supporting local public health initiatives, and improving healthcare outcomes in the community.
You might take all your public health classes online or combine virtual lectures and seminars with hands-on experience at a local hospital, medical facility, or community center. Many learning providers have links with local hospitals and medical facilities so you might find work at these organizations when you graduate.
When you study for an online master’s in public health, you can maintain any current work, travel, or family obligations while learning new skills for your future career. You will engage with tutors and other academic staff online via a learning management system (LMS). Here, you can access live debates, video tutorials, digital workshops, webinars, discussion forums, and more. You will submit assignments and receive feedback from staff over the internet.
There are hundreds of online MPH degrees, so it’s difficult to know where to start. Which one should you choose? Where should you study? First, consider the program that provides the greatest employment and career opportunities. Many online programs have tutors with years of experience in public health and other health management-related topics. Find a program with academic staff that will teach you the required skills for your specific career path.
It’s always a wise idea to communicate with program directors about the career opportunities that might come from a particular online degree in public health. Also read marketing materials, brochures, program guides, and other resources before you choose a program. You can also communicate with alumni who previously studied at the institution. You might be able to find graduates from a specific program via websites like LinkedIn or on social media.
Note that different online schools have different eligibility and admissions requirements. These factors might influence the program you choose. Course content also differs depending on the school. Some programs in public health adopt a generalized approach to the topic. Other programs allow you to specialize in a particular field of public health such as vaccine management.
While online education used to have a stigma, this is no longer the case. Employers in the health management sector typically value online and classroom-based degrees the same because perceptions toward digital education have changed so rapidly over the last few years. Take the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. At some point during the health crisis, most students learned from home. Studying for a public health degree online, therefore, is just as prestigious as a ‘typical’ degree from a physical college. Recruiters consider your grades and previous academic and work experience rather than where you obtained your degree. Many public health professionals earned their degrees over the internet and never enrolled in a physical college. These professionals now earn high salaries.
Applying for an MPH differs from applying for a bachelor’s degree program in health management. You will submit your application to a program director and wait for a response, which can take a few weeks or even months. That’s why it’s important to plan and submit the correct documents with your application. Otherwise, you might delay the process.
Most online programs require these documents:
- Evidence of your previous academic experience, which might include academic transcripts and other documents from a school, college, community college, university, or other learning institution you attended in the past. You can also include a reference from a tutor or other academic staff with your application.
- Evidence of work-related opportunities, which might include a letter from a previous employer or internship coordinator. Many program directors want you to demonstrate any non-academic activities, such as work programs and internships.
- Personal statement, which includes information about your ambitions, learning styles, career goals, and why you want to apply for a specific program.
There are other things to consider when applying for an MPH online. A program director might want to interview you during the process. This interview might take place online or in person. You should also think about the cost of a particular program. This information will influence your search for the best MPH programs online.
How Much Does a Master’s in Public Health Cost?
A master’s in public health costs, on average, between $25,000 and $87,000 in tuition fees, according to U.S. News & World Report. Individual credits typically cost between $550 and $1,800. These costs don’t include any exam fees, registration fees, travel costs, program supplies, or accommodation costs.
An online master’s in public health might cost less than a regular degree because you won’t have travel or room and board costs.
You can reduce the costs associated with an online master’s degree in public health by applying for a grant, scholarship, or another type of financial aid. There are no limits on how many applications you can make during the academic year. However, many programs cater to students who demonstrate exceptional personal accomplishments or academic experience. (Many programs also cater to students from low-income households or minority backgrounds.) You can find a list of scholarships and financial aid programs for an online MPH on the internet.
Average Salary for a Master’s in Public Health
The median annual salary for someone with an MPH is around $66,000, according to PayScale. (Data correct as of July 21, 2021.)
The mean annual wage for healthcare support workers — one of the most common job roles for those with an MPH — is $41,430, according to research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $19.92.
The top-paying states for healthcare support workers are:
- District of Columbia: $53,840 (mean annual wage)
- Alaska: $52,100
- California: $50,490
- Illinois: $49,530
- West Virginia: $47,760
The top-paying metropolitan areas for healthcare support workers are:
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $65,500 (mean annual wage)
- Fairbanks, AK: $57,410
- Morgantown, WV: $56,470
- Worcester, MA-CT 70: $55,780
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $55,210
The mean annual wage for training and development managers working for public health organizations is $125,920, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $60.54.
The top-paying states for training and development managers working for public health organizations are:
- New Jersey: $174,860 (mean annual wage)
- New York: $169,300
- Washington: $145,280
- Virginia:$143,780
- California: $143,400
The top-paying metropolitan areas for healthcare support workers working for public health organizations are:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $178,590 (mean annual wage)
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $167,570
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $166,750
- Trenton, NJ: $159,960
- Syracuse, NY: $159,150
The mean annual wage for medical and health services managers — another popular job role for those with an MPH — is $118,880, 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
The mean annual wage for chief executives working for public health organizations is $197,840, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $95.12
The top-paying states for chief executives working for public health organizations are:
- South Dakota: $259,430 (mean annual wage)
- New Jersey: $258,450
- District of Columbia: $253,820
- Connecticut: $247,310
- Washington: $243,150
The top-paying metropolitan areas for chief executives working for public health organizations are:
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT: $293,000 (mean annual wage)
- Midland, TX: $269,360
- Sioux Falls, SD: $263,770
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX: $260,450
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $260,390
The mean annual wage for marketing managers working for public health organizations is $154,470, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $74.27.
The top-paying states for marketing managers working for public health organizations are:
- New Jersey: $174,860 (mean annual wage)
- New York: $169,300
- Washington: $145,280
- Virginia: $143,780
- California: $143,400
The top-paying metropolitan areas for marketing managers working for public health organizations are:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $178,590 (mean annual wage)
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $167,570
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $166,750
- Trenton, NJ: $159,960
- Syracuse, NY: $159,150
The mean annual wage for public relations and fundraising managers working for public health organizations is $135,580, according to BLS. (Data correct as of May 2020.) That’s a mean hourly wage of $65.18.
The top-paying states for public relations and fundraising managers working for public health organizations are:
- District of Columbia: $204,270 (mean annual wage)
- New York: $175,170
- Virginia: $165,190
- New Jersey: $163,930
- Rhode Island: $158,070
The top-paying metropolitan areas for public relations and fundraising managers working for public health organizations are:
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: $195,770 (mean annual wage)
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $178,810
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $167,720
- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA: $157,270
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO: $156,310
Those with specific skills such as healthcare workforce development might earn higher salaries than the numbers quoted above.
What Is the Job Outlook for Public Health Master’s Degree Holders?
The outlook is good for those with an MPH. There will be an 8.2% rise in job opportunities for healthcare support workers from 2018 to 2028, according to the Department of Labor and Projections Central. That’s higher than the average increase for all job types, which stands at around 5%.
Courses in a Public Health Master’s
There are various public health courses you can study on an MPH. These include:
- Promoting health outcomes to communities
- Understanding healthcare policies from federal, state, and local healthcare authorities
- Disease prevention
- Infection control
- Collecting healthcare information
- Behavioral science
- Sociology
- Epidemiology and statistics
Some schools require you to take specific courses as part of your master’s; others let you specialize in a particular public health field. Research all course content and requirements before you enroll in a program.
You might also learn soft skills in your program that prove valuable to future employers. These skills include conflict resolution, decision-making, problem-solving, and the ability to communicate critical public health information to communities.
A master’s degree in public health online includes coursework like essays and assignments where you will analyze topics related to health management and community health outcomes. You will usually complete a dissertation toward the end of one of these programs and submit that assignment to your program director via the school’s LMS. Your dissertation will require independent research about a public health-related topic that interests you, and it might take several weeks or months to complete the project. However, you will communicate with academic staff during this timeframe.
Your dissertation is just one of the elements that might make up your final grade in an online public health program. You might also take exams on topics such as vaccine management and community health, and these exams will test you on the knowledge you have learned in video tutorials, webinars, and one-to-one lessons with tutors.
The frequency of coursework and exams depends on the program and learning provider. For example, you might complete exams after each course or take one final test toward the end of the program. Expect to dedicate more hours to your online master’s degree than you would to a bachelor’s program.
Depending on the school, you might earn college credit if you enroll in a training program or internship at a local hospital, public health agency, medical facility, or another medical-related organization. Here, you will get hands-on experience in a real-world healthcare management setting and use this experience to develop your career in public health.
Both online and conventional schools will grade your master’s degree in public health in the same way. You will receive grades for various elements of your chosen program and get a Grade Point Average or GPA before you graduate. A typical grading system at an online school includes these categories:
- Fail
- Pass
- Merit/credit
- Distinction
Schools typically use these grading boundaries for each category:
- 50% for a pass
- 60% for a merit/credit
- 70% for a distinction
An employer might look at your GPA when applying for a public health job.
FAQs About a Public Health Master’s
Summary Information
- You can earn an MPH over the internet or at a college campus.
- You don’t always need a GRE score to enroll in an MPH program.
- It takes around two years to earn an MPH.
Benefits of an online master’s in public health (no GRE required) include:
- You can study from any location in the world.
- You can balance any existing travel, work, or family commitments with your online education.
- You don’t have to travel to college.
- The average MPH costs between $25,000 and $87,000 in tuition fees, according to U.S. News & World Report.
- These costs don’t include program supplies, accommodation fees, travel costs, registration fees, or exam fees.
- An online master’s in public health might work out cheaper because you won’t have to travel to a school or pay for accommodation.
| University Name | Program’s Name | GRE Required? |
| A.T. Still University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Azusa Pacific University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Ashford University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Baylor University’s Robbins College | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Benedictine University | Master of Public Health | Waivers Available for Applicants with Above a 2.75 GPA or Already Have an Advanced Degree |
| Boston University | Executive Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Capella University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Chicago School of Professional Psychology | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Colorado School of Public Health | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Creighton University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Des Moines University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Drexel University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Emory University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Florida International University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| George Washington University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Kent University | Master of Public Health | GRE Scores are Temporarily Waived |
| Liberty University | Master of Public Health – Global Health | Not Required |
| Loyola University Chicago | Master of Public Health | Required for Applicants With Less Than a 3.0 GPA |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Master of Public Health | GRE Waivers Available |
| National University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| New York Medical College | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Northern Illinois University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Nova Southeastern University | Master of Public Health | Required for Applicants With Less Than a 3.0 GPA |
| Ohio University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Regis College | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Simmons University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Texas A&M | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| The University of Nebraska | Master of Public Health – Public Health Administration and Policy | Required for Applicants With Less Than a 3.0 GPA |
| The University Of New England | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Tufts University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Tulane University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Alaska – Anchorage | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Albany – SUNY | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Florida | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Massachusetts – Amherst | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Minnesota | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Montana | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of Nevada – Reno | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of New England | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of North Carolina | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of San Francisco | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| University of South Dakota | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| Walden University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |
| West Coast University | Master of Public Health | Not Required |