Inside Online MPH Programs with No GRE Requirements

Many online MPH programs are nixing the GRE requirement. Explore 2024’s best schools with GRE alternatives and what that means for you.

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There’s nothing like an expensive, difficult standardized test to put you off applying to grad school. Fortunately, the GRE is going out of style. Many excellent programs are moving away from the GRE requirement for applicants, opting instead for a more holistic evaluation. This means you’ll have more opportunities to shine with your personal statement, references, and previous experiences.

Are no-GRE schools as good as schools who require the exam? Yes. Ever heard of Georgetown? What about MIT? These are just two top-tier schools who no longer require the GRE. So, save yourself some time, money, and stress by avoiding the GRE altogether. In this article, we’ll cover some of the best no-GRE programs for public health students and everything you need to know to select the perfect program for your goals.

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About the ranking

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Methodology for EduMed’s 2022 Best Online Programs

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 2021

# 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 University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX Public N/A 1

The University of North Texas Health Science Center’s master of public health degree, which can be completed entirely online or in a hybrid format, focuses on leadership for supervisory roles in the public health field. The program has a 48-credit hour version for those who have recently earned their bachelor's degree or are training to enter the public health field from another profession. There is also a 42-credit hour version designed for professionals who have worked in the medical or public health fields for at least three years. Students in both versions take classes related to epidemiology, biostatistics, organizational leadership, and public health law and policy. They also participate in practical experiences to apply what they learned to real-world settings and pass a comprehensive examination to graduate.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 42-48
  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $13,500.00 to $16,000.00/program
  • Mode: Fully online or Partially online
  • Accreditation: CCSACS (school); CEPH (program)
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
0%
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
2 University of South DakotaVermillion, SD Public N/A 1

The online Master of Public Health offered by the University of South Dakota is for those interested in using their knowledge and skills to practice in rural communities. The program, which is delivered in conjunction with South Dakota State University, provides a curriculum based on five core competencies: health services administration, epidemiology, environmental health, biostatistics, and social and behavioral sciences. Graduates provide care to patients in underserved and rural populations through disease prevention programs. They also perform epidemiological health analyses that can influence policy and programs designed to enhance wellness in a community. Coursework covers public health theory and practice, leadership and project management, and social and behavioral sciences.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 42
  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $145.40/credit
  • Mode: Fully online
  • Accreditation: HLC (school); CEPH (program)
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
67%
AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
3 Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN Public N/A 1

To be admitted into the online public health master’s program at Purdue University-Main Campus, applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a professional resume, a 500-word personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. In addition, applicants are required to participate in a phone interview with an admissions advisor.

Once they enter the program, students learn advanced concepts related to environmental health sciences, biostatistics, health system administration and management, epidemiology, and behavioral and social sciences. They take synchronous classes that allow them to work at their own pace. Throughout the program, they participate in discussion boards to communicate with classmates and professors and submit assignments via e-mail.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 42
  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $700.00/credit
  • Mode: Fully online
  • Accreditation: HLC (school); CEPH (program)
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
43%
AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
4 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC Public N/A 1

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s online public health master’s degree is offered on a full- or part-time basis and allows students to choose one of three concentrations: leadership in practice, nutrition, and public health/registered dietician. Those in the leadership in practice program learn a combination of communication, research, ethical, and management skills that help them take an administrative role in the field. Those interested in public health as it relates to nutrition can enroll in either the nutrition or public health/registered dietician concentrations. The MPH nutrition program focuses on using communication, counseling, and behavioral change to improve the health of communities through diet. Those who want to become registered dietitians can enroll in the combination Master of Public Health/Registered Dietitian program to learn how to apply advanced dietitian principles to a public health setting.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 42-57
  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $1,997.40/credit
  • Mode: Fully online
  • Accreditation: SACSCC (school); CEPH (program)
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
41%
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
5 University of FloridaGainesville, FL Public N/A 1

The University of Florida’s online public health master’s degree allows students to virtually watch lectures and complete weekly assignments. Students take examinations through an online proctoring service that monitors their activities. The MPH program allows students to concentrate their studies on public health practice or social and behavioral sciences. The public health practice program, designed for those with previous public health work experience or a doctoral-level degree in another health field, focuses on advanced public health theory and applying these concepts to leadership positions. In the social and behavioral science concentration, students learn about the complicated relationship between public health and psychological, social, cultural, and behavioral factors. Through this understanding, they apply public health principles to address healthcare inequities and disparities.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 48
  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $35.75/credit
  • Mode: Fully online
  • Accreditation: SACSCC (school); CEPH (program)
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
32%
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
6 University of ArizonaTucson, AZ Public N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
83%
AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
7 University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA Public N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
80%
AccreditationNew England Commission of Higher Education
8 Simmons CollegeBoston, MA Private, Not-for-Profit N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
100%
AccreditationNew England Commission of Higher Education
9 George Washington UniversityWashington, DC Private, Not-for-Profit N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
75%
AccreditationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
10 Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD Private, Not-for-Profit N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
52%
AccreditationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
11 Baylor UniversityWaco, TX Private, Not-for-Profit N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Students w/
Institutional Aid
97%
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
12 Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN Private, For-Profit N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
No
Students w/
Institutional Aid
0%
AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
13 University of New EnglandBiddeford, ME Private, Not-for-Profit N/A 1 Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
No
Students w/
Institutional Aid
99%
AccreditationNew England Commission of Higher Education

Additional No-GRE Schools to Consider for Your Online MPH

Are you hungry for more options? We have great news! There are more great no-GRE online master’s in public health programs than we could possibly fit into one article. So, consider this section an expansion pack of school spotlights. Here are six more excellent online MPH programs to consider during your college search.

Baylor University

The Online MPH at Baylor University is defined by its commitment to public engagement. Whether you study in person or online, you can count on regular opportunities to engage with your community’s most pressing public health concerns through your coursework and extra-curricular opportunities. As part of Baylor’s outreach efforts, you’ll complete a 3-credit practicum working directly with a public health organization in your area. This opportunity allows you to give back to your community and develop real world skills.

Baylor’s curriculum is heavily focused on health equity. Students can explore how environmental, structural, and practical concerns contribute to health inequities and how public health professionals can help address these issues. We love Baylor’s course offerings, and the flexibility Baylor extends to its students. The 42-credit online MPH can be completed asynchronously on your own timeline. Accelerated program students can complete their degree in as few as 12 months while part-time students can opt to extend their coursework over two years.

Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University (GSU) is committed to the advancement of public health study. So, their Online Master of Public Health program is constantly evolving to incorporate new research and technology. GSU’s dynamic curriculum and course offerings ensure that graduates are up to date with cutting edge skills when they begin their public health careers. If you want proof of GSU’s commitment to keeping things current, look no further than their new concentration in public health informatics. GSU recognized that the field needs more professionals in this area and developed a new curriculum accordingly.

While GSU’s MPH program is always evolving, their commitment to student support stays constant. All GSU’s online master’s programs are designed with working students in mind. This means that the school offers flexible course formats and pacing. The school also works with students to ensure that they can get hands-on field experience close to home. New online learners can rest easy knowing that GSU’s online learning professionals will be there to provide technical, logistical, and moral support.

Ohio University

The Online Master of Public Health program at Ohio University is one of the top MPH programs in the country. And they have receipts: the school is ranked as the top online college in Ohio, has been recognized by Forbes as a top research university, and holds the specialty CEPH accreditation. Ohio University is committed to providing students with a top-quality education with an academic reputation to match.

Ohio University’s MPH focuses on public health leadership, providing students with the hard and soft skills they need to excel in the field. Students can further bolster their credentials by earning a graduate certificate in epidemiology — without having to take any added credits.

Ohio University’s accelerated seven-week courses let students take fewer classes at a time. This means you’ll be able to immerse yourself in a single subject and engage deeply with your class materials. This schedule also makes space for more hands-on learning opportunities. Online MPH students take part in at least 200 field hours with a health organization in their community. This commitment to public service and developing real world skills speaks well of the school and gives you a leg up when it comes time to apply for jobs.

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The George Washington University

The George Washington University (GW) ensures student success by offering custom programming, strong peer and faculty support, and assistance building the connections necessary to start your public health career.

The Online Master of Public Health program at GW starts by letting students define their own timelines. Whether you opt for an accelerated 12-month program, the accelerated 18-month program, or a more traditional two-year option, you’ll be part of a close-knit cohort with whom you’ll progress through your coursework. During your time at GW, you can opt for a concentration in health informatics, or you can tailor your coursework to your goals by focusing on one of six elective tracks. Throughout your time at the school, you’ll have ample networking opportunities – both with the D.C. elite near campus and through public health organizations in your community. You couldn’t ask for a better foundation to launch your career from.

Aside from waving the GRE requirement for the program, GW works to make sure it’s MPH is accessible by offering a guaranteed $10,000 scholarship to all students accepted to the program. Students also have the support of dedicated advisors throughout their studies to help them navigate financial aid, enrollment, and coursework.

UNC – Gillings

We love UNC – Gillings (UNCG) for the wide variety of concentrations they offer to students in their no-GRE Online Masters of Public Health program. Depending on your interests, you can dedicate your studies to leadership, nutrition, applied epidemiology, or work toward becoming a registered dietitian. Each of these concentrations is relatively unique for an online MPH program so the program tends to attract highly motivated students with clear goals in mind.

Regardless of the specialty you choose, you’ll have the luxury of setting your own timeline. UNCG has rolling admissions, and three different start dates each year. Motivated full-time students can complete the program in as few as 16 months, while students who need to pace themselves can take up to five years to finish their coursework. During your studies, you’ll benefit from ample field experience designed to equip you with real-world skills, help you build connections in your community, and provide opportunities to contribute to emerging research in public health topics.

University of Bridgeport

The University of Bridgeport (UB) is committed to offering an online MPH program that trains future public health leaders in equity and social wellbeing. This commitment to equity starts with the admissions process. Applying to grad programs can be expensive, then there’s the GRE, then there’s tuition. Not at UB! The school takes the pressure of applicants by waiving both the GRE and application fees and providing over 1.5 million dollars in MPH scholarships alone. These steps to make UB’s MPH program more accessible contribute to a diverse student body where scholars of all backgrounds can come together to address pressing public health problems at local, regional, national, and global levels.

UB’s Online Master’s in Public Health Program offers three concentrations: global health, community health, and health policy and management. The broadness of these specialties gives students room to customize their curriculum and ensure their coursework and research align with their long-term goals.

Types of Online MPH Programs with No GRE

Why do schools offer the very important MPH with no GRE requirement attached? There are several reasons for this, as evidenced by the application requirements. Here’s what to expect from a school that doesn’t require the GRE.

Online MPH Programs with No GRE Requirement

Some programs have phased out the GRE altogether. Though there are some schools that have created other requirements to make up for the information the GRE might be able to provide, many of them have simply done away with the test, claiming it is too biased, doesn’t provide an accurate view of a student’s abilities, and is prohibitively expensive. These schools simply rely on the other traditional information found in an application, such as the GPA earned at the undergraduate level or the coursework completed before applying, to help them make a choice on students to admit.

However, there are some schools that allow students to submit their GRE scores to make up for something they might not have in the application process. This is especially true for those students who might have a lower GPA than the typical 3.0 required by most programs, or those who have not completed certain perquisite math and science courses. In these cases, students are allowed to submit GRE scores for consideration. In some schools, students can simply submit GRE scores if they want to present a more complete package to the admissions office – however, the GRE is considered as part of the overall application, not as something that gives a student an advantage over others who chose not to take the GRE scores.

Online MPH Programs with GRE Waivers

Some schools look to certain other criteria in order to waive the GRE requirement. A good example of this is a school that looks for a certain number of years of experience – often three to five years of work in the field – before the student applies to graduate school. In this case, that experience is considered more than enough to waive the GRE requirement that might otherwise be in place. This might also happen when a student has a certain amount of advanced coursework in public health, enough that they have learned a significant amount of information that holds them in good stead in the field and allows them to move seamlessly into the master’s coursework.

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Shannon Lee, BA AUTHOR

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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