Most Affordable Online MPH Programs
Explore 50 accredited online MPH programs that score top marks on affordability and learn other ways to make grad school cheaper.
Written By
Shannon Lee
- Bio
Shannon Lee has been a freelance writer, editor, and novelist for over 25 years. Her work has appeared on Fox Business, Forbes, MSN, Bob Vila, Modernize, Nashville Scene, MoneyGeek, MVP Parent, and many other outlets; her writing on home improvement led to an editorial position with The Spruce in 2021. She's written extensively on higher education, relationships, and the intersection of technology, health, and medicine. When she's not freelancing, Shannon also writes fiction novels.
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The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having qualified public health professionals communities can trust. If you’re looking for a grad degree that allows you to join their ranks, earning an online Master of Public Health (MPH) is an excellent option. This page will help you find a quality, accredited program at a low price. Keep reading to find a list of this year’s most affordable online MPH programs, and other ways you can lower the cost of grad school.
50 Most Affordable Online MPH Programs in 2023
Plenty of schools offer solid online MPH programs. However, affordability can often be the determining factor. Begin your affordable MPH program search with the following list of schools ranked on several key affordability and quality metrics using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). You can learn more about our methodology by clicking on the “About the ranking” button.
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Base Methodology for EduMed’s 2023 Online College Rankings
1. Create List of Eligible Schools and Programs
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in subject area offered partially or fully online.
2. Assign Weightings
After creating the list of eligible schools, EduMed data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of affordability, support services, and online program availability metrics. Online program availability and overall affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings.
Online Program Availability
- Number of online programs in subject area reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education.
Affordability
- Cost – Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on tuition and fees per academic year.
- Students w/ Institutional Aid – Percentage of students who receive financial aid from the school itself.
Support Services
- Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.
- Career Placement – Existence of this service on campus or online.
About Our Data
EduMed’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2022
| # | School Name | Type | Cost | Online Programs | More Details | School Information | Online Students | Academic Counseling | Career Placement | Students w/Institutional Aid | Median Earnings 10yrs After Entry | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach, AL | Private for-profit | $ | 1 | Based in Orange Beach, Alabama, Columbia Southern University is a private, for-profit institution that offers a flexible online master’s in public health. A reasonable option for working students, this MPH program utilizes an asynchronous delivery that allows students to complete coursework at their own pace, anywhere, and at any time. Throughout this online master’s, students complete major requirements that include public health concepts, health behavior, concepts of environmental health, and a degree-culminating public health capstone. Potential applicants should note that this school does not hold accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the region’s premier accrediting organization. Prospective students can apply online and must include academic transcripts. Program Highlights: Online Master of Public Health
|
Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio39/1 |
AccreditationDEAC | |||
| 2 | Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah, OK | Public | $ | 1 | Northeastern State University is a public, Oklahoma-based institution that offers a master’s in public health that students can complete entirely online. Whether attending part-time or full-time, students gain foundational knowledge in public health through disciplines including health policy, epidemiology, and environmental health. Additionally, students choose between academic specializations in public health leadership or global health. Core classes include public health interventions, social and health behavior theories, and healthcare policy and ethical leadership. Prospective students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and submit official transcripts showing a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Additionally, applicants must submit GRE scores and complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better. Program Highlights: Master’s Degree in Public Health
|
Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationHLC | |||
| 3 | East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC | Public | $ | 2 | North Carolina’s East Carolina University is home to a master’s in public health, allowing students to build the foundational skills required for effective public health practice. Throughout this 45-credit program, students tackle both core public health classes and specialization classes. Core classes include topics such as public health practice, ethics and law in public health, fundamentals of environmental health, and interdisciplinary rural health. Alongside public health fundamentals, students choose from specializations including community health, epidemiology, and health policy and leadership. Before graduation, students complete a degree-culminating experience that is comprised of a research paper and field practicum. Interested students can apply online and must include official transcripts and all relevant fees. Program Highlights: Public Health MPH
|
Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio19/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | |||
| 4 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM | Public | $$ | 1 | Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico State University offers a standout master’s in public health that students can complete entirely online. This program’s 100% online curriculum challenges master’s students to hone the skills required to effectively address health challenges and inequities facing various populations. As students work their way through this 42-credit curriculum, they will tackle a mix of core courses and concentration classes. Online learners choose between academic concentrations in health behavior and health management. Core public health courses include topics such as environmental public health issues, biostatistical applications in public health, and epidemiological approaches to disease control and prevention. Program Highlights: Master of Public Health
|
Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio16/1 |
AccreditationHLC | |||
| 5 | Texas Woman’s UniversityDenton, TX | Public | $$ | 1 | Texas Women’s University is home to a 42-credit public health master’s that full-time students can complete in just two years. This program utilizes in-person and online classes to deliver core public health classes and academic concentrations in health promotion and behavior in rural communities. Public health core classes include topics such as biostatistics, environmental health, applied research methods, and health advocacy and leadership. In addition to standard coursework, master’s students dedicate over 350 hours to a practicum experience at an approved public health organization. Prospective students typically hold a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field and have a minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-division coursework. Program Highlights: Master of Public Health
|
Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio19/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | |||
| 6 | The University of MontanaMissoula, MT | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationNWCCU | ||||
| 7 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, MO | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio20/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 8 | Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 9 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 10 | University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationNWCCU | ||||
| 11 | University of South DakotaVermillion, SD | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio15/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 12 | Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 13 | Utah State UniversityLogan, UT | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio19/1 |
AccreditationNWCCU | ||||
| 14 | Louisiana State University-ShreveportShreveport, LA | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio28/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 15 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterLubbock, TX | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio7/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 16 | Lamar UniversityBeaumont, TX | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio19/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 17 | American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV | Private for-profit | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio23/1 |
AccreditationDEAC | ||||
| 18 | The University of West FloridaPensacola, FL | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio20/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 19 | Mississippi University for WomenColumbus, MS | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio12/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 20 | Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute, IN | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 21 | Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, CT | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio12/1 |
AccreditationNECHE | ||||
| 22 | Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio15/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 23 | Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | Private not-for-profit | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 24 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee, FL | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio14/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 25 | South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 26 | University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio20/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 27 | University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IL | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio12/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 28 | University of South FloridaTampa, FL | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio22/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 29 | Concordia University-NebraskaSeward, NE | Private not-for-profit | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio14/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 30 | Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette, IN | Public | $$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio28/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 31 | University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 32 | Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio16/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 33 | Florida International UniversityMiami, FL | Public | $ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio25/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 34 | Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN | Public | $$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio14/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 35 | University of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NE | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio2/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 36 | University of MemphisMemphis, TN | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio16/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 37 | Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH | Public | $$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio16/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 38 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 39 | Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA | Public | $$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio20/1 |
AccreditationNWCCU | ||||
| 40 | University of KansasLawrence, KS | Public | $$$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 41 | Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA | Public | $$$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 42 | Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH | Public | $$$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio15/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 43 | Saint Mary’s University of MinnesotaWinona, MN | Private not-for-profit | $$$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio18/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 44 | Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN | Private for-profit | $$$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio19/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 45 | Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ | Private for-profit | $$$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio21/1 |
AccreditationHLC | ||||
| 46 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | Public | $$$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementImplied no |
Student/ Faculty Ratio13/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 47 | University of FloridaGainesville, FL | Public | $$$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 48 | University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, AK | Public | $$$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio13/1 |
AccreditationNWCCU | ||||
| 49 | The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL | Public | $$$ | 2 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio20/1 |
AccreditationSACSCOC | ||||
| 50 | University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND | Public | $$$ | 1 | Academic CounselingYes |
Career PlacementYes |
Student/ Faculty Ratio17/1 |
AccreditationHLC |
What Makes an Online MPH Program Affordable?
When determining how much a Master of Public Health degree will cost, tuition is the single most important factor. Other considerations, including those discussed below, can also play major roles in how much you can expect to pay for your degree.
Whether the online MPH program is in-state or-out-of-state
Your residency status can determine your tuition rate, especially if you attend a public institution. Most state schools (as opposed to private schools) offer much lower tuition rates to in-state residents. This can make attending a public school as an out-of-state student easily twice as expensive.
How much financial aid you can get for your online MPH program
Many students acquire financial aid to help pay for their schooling, but not all forms of aid are the same. The types that don’t have to be paid back, like scholarships and grants, can make an otherwise expensive degree far more affordable.
How much of the MPH program coursework is offered online
Most online MPH programs offer the bulk of their coursework online, but some have hands-on academic requirements. This might include an in-person practicum or internship, and these travel costs add to the total cost of the MPH degree.
If the online MPH program has a class schedule that allows you to continue working while you complete your master’s
Many MPH programs have full-time course loads. Luckily, online programs often offer asynchronous learning, making it possible for students to attend class based on their schedules. The flexibility to work while in school can help you better manage the cost of your education.
How expensive the application fees are
Compared to the cost of tuition, application fees are small. If you’re applying to several schools, though, these fees quickly add up. Finding schools with no application fee can make the application process more affordable.
Whether the college is private or public
Private institutions often provide more services and personalized attention, but these advantages can come at the cost of higher tuition rates compared to those at public institutions. Fortunately, in terms of access to faculty and learning atmosphere, the difference between a public and private school is minimized at the graduate level.
Ways to Lower the Cost of Your Online MPH Degree
The cost of attendance is often the biggest hurdle for prospective students. Finding ways to defray costs may make all the difference in whether you move forward. Below are some strategies to help you make your MPH learning experience more economical.
- Search for scholarships and grants created specifically for public health students.
Though there are a lot of graduate students vying for financial aid, there is a plethora of scholarships and grants available to graduate students. Increase your chances of getting a scholarship by focusing on grants and scholarships only open to public health or MPH students. Find out more about what’s available by visiting our grant and scholarship resources page for public health students.
- Ask about employer tuition reimbursement
Not all employers offer tuition reimbursement, and the ones that do may not offer enough to cover the total cost. However, employer tuition reimbursement can still make a significant impact. Keep in mind that you’ll likely have to work for your employer for a set period after graduating to take advantage of this benefit.
- Take advantage of student discounts
Some schools offer discounts to certain students. One of the most popular is the special tuition rate for students who are active-duty military or veterans. Some graduate programs even have academic tracks designed to help these students take advantage of their VA education benefits.