6 Best MPH Programs in North Carolina – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Interested in a career in public health? Graduates of MPH programs in North Carolina are consummate professionals who’ve worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to track the virus, halt its spread and prevent even more residents of the Tar Heel State from becoming infected. When you enroll in an MPH program in North Carolina, you’ll be able to choose between traditional campus-based options and distance learning curricula. After you graduate, you’ll earn an average salary of $87,740 a year. Public health is an ideal career choice for people who are interested in healthcare outside the confines of the caregiver/patient relationship. Keep reading to find out more about the 6 best MPH programs in North Carolina for 2025.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 6 BEST MPH PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 6 best campus-based and online MPH programs in North Carolina.)
1) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill
Programs Offered: MPH (On-Campus & Online)
On-Campus Concentrations Offered: Applied Epidemiology,Environmental Health Solutions,Global Health,Health Behavior,Health Equity, Social Justice & Human Rights,Health Policy,Leadership In Practice,Maternal, Child & Family Health,Nutrition,Nutrition With Registered Dietitian (RD) Training,Place-Based Health,Population Health For Clinicians, and Public Health Data Science
Online Concentrations Offered: Leadership, Nutrition, and Registered Dietitian
About the School: Are you passionate about making a difference in public health, locally and globally? If so, what better than graduating from one of the best MPH programs in North Carolina. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers one such program that can help you pursue your dream career in an area of your interest. Here, not only do you have the option to choose from several paths, but the school’s enriching multicultural environment prepares you to become a culturally competent leader that today’s diverse world seeks.
Program Details: The MPH program is offered face-to-face as well as online, with both formats offering a different set of concentration options. While the on-campus MPH offers almost 14 concentration options, if you prefer learning through the distance format, you can choose from either Leadership, Nutrition, or Registered Dietician, depending on your interests. Regardless of the concentration track you choose, your training entails completing 15 credits of core, 15 in concentration-specific courses, 9 credits in electives, 200 hours of practicum, and finally 3 credits in a culminating experience. The core courses build a foundation for your MPH degree, educating you in public health & healthcare systems, leadership, evidence-based approaches, planning & management to promote health and policy in public health. On a full-time basis, you can complete this program in two years after which you can explore a wide range of employment options in the public health domain.
Key Highlights
• Almost 100% of the school’s public health graduates find suitable employment within six of graduation.• Did you know that the school’s graduates are successfully working to improve health in all 100 counties of the state as well as in 62 countries across the globe.
2) East Carolina University - Greenville
Programs Offered: MPH (On-Campus & Online)
On-Campus Concentrations Offered: Epidemiology, Health Policy Administration & Leadership, and Community Health & Health Behavior
Online Concentrations Offered: Epidemiology, Health Policy Administration & Leadership, and Community Health & Health Behavior
About the School: Counted among the best North Carolina MPH programs, East Carolina University’s master’s in public health through excellence in education and research prepares you to work as a leader in public health, education & training, or a medical & health services manager. Here, the faculty engages in various public health initiatives including improving the health of the underserved and minority populations where you can involve yourself and gain valuable learning lessons. As an MPH student, you will be provided with several internships that often translate into meaningful employment opportunities post-graduation. The college offers three concentrations, which you can pursue either on-campus or online, depending on your preference.
Program Details: To be eligible for this MPH you must have an accredited undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Depending on the track you choose, you will be trained in key competencies of epidemiology, health policy administration & leadership, and community health & behavior. Each concentration comprises core, concentration-specific, and elective courses. Regardless of the track, the common core courses of 24 credits educate you in biostatistics, public health practice, ethics & law in public health, epidemiology, and research methods. Stressing on rural health, the curriculum also includes a course in interdisciplinary rural health. The electives for each concentration comprising 6 to 9 credits can be customized, depending on your career goals. On a full-time basis, you can complete this program in two years, whereas if enrolled in a part-time schedule you can stretch it up to four years.
Key Highlights
• Most of the on-campus courses are offered in the late afternoon or early evening, thereby providing you the flexibility of juggling other life responsibilities.• As an MPH student, you can participate in ECU’s Public Health student organization by attending public health conferences and other events.
3) University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Charlotte
Programs Offered: MPH
Concentrations Offered: Community Health Practice (CHPR), Epidemiology (EPID), Physical Activity & Nutrition (PANU), and Population Health Analytics (PHAN)
About the School: If you are keen on improving community health, what better than completing your MPH education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte that stresses health equity, particularly in the underserved urban areas. With a common goal of improving community health, the college trains you in vital competencies of community health practice, epidemiology, physical activity & nutrition, and population health analytics. Here, at one of the best MPH programs in North Carolina, in addition to achieving an affordable education, you can also earn while you learn through some form of assistantship in research or teaching. Also, as a graduate of this college, you can expect to find suitable placements at a variety of settings, including state health departments, healthcare systems, and non-profit healthcare institutions.
Program Details: If you are seeking master of public health programs in North Carolina that offer the personalized touch of face-to-face instructions then enrolling into this program can be considered as here, you will complete the entire coursework in-person. The program is offered in four concentration options and requires completing 45 credits, comprising of core, concentration-specific, electives, applied practice experience, and a capstone. On a full-time basis, you can complete this program within two years, however, if you enroll for the part-time enrollment you can stretch the duration for up to seven years. Regardless of the track the core coursework builds the foundation for the concentration-specific courses and educates you in the U.S. healthcare system, case studies in public health, evidence-based methods, health promotion program management, and policy & leadership. The electives can be chosen from a broad range of options, including, maternal & child health systems, chronic disease epidemiology, and health informatics. Furthermore, the applied experience or internship entails completing 160 hours in a real-world practice setting. Finally, the capstone helps in honing professional skills by providing several growth opportunities where you can apply the newly acquired knowledge to practice.
Key Highlights
• If you are an undergraduate student at UNC, should you desire a public health career you can consider enrolling into the early entry MPH program that allows you to take some of the MPH courses during the senior year of baccalaureate studies. This way you can earn the MPH quicker than the regular route.• At UNC Charlotte, you will be part of a small cohort comprising 15 to 30 students, thereby allowing meaningful interactions and helping you build bonds that often last a lifetime.
4) University of North Carolina at Greensboro - Greensboro
Programs Offered: MPH
Concentrations Offered: Community Health Education
About the School: If you are keen on completing your MPH education from one of the best master of public health schools in North Carolina that offers training to develop and manage population-based health promotion, then the University of North Carolina at Greensboro must be high on your list. Through innovative research and teaching the college produces leaders who go on to make valuable contributions to public health, both locally and globally. To design a curriculum that is impactful in the real world, the college collaborates with community organizations across the state. Accredited by the CEPH, the program not only prepares you for leadership in public health but also makes you eligible to take the national certification exam for Certified Health Education Specialist.
Program Details: By enrolling in this MPH program you will graduate as a community health specialist, well versed with diverse populations. The program emphasizing effective communication makes you adept at using technology to educate various communities on the importance of health promotion, disease prevention, injuries, chronic diseases, and the consequences of disasters. The program starts in fall each year and admits a maximum of 30 students. The college accepts applications on a rolling basis, so it is advisable you apply well before the application deadline. To be eligible for admission you either must have a high GPA, related work experience, or strong letters of recommendation.
Upon acceptance into the program, you must complete 45 credits to earn your MPH degree. With classes held only once a week in the evenings, you can easily fit this academic schedule into your life. You can either enroll in the part-time or full-time curriculum depending on whether you want to complete the program within two years or stretch it longer to up to three years. The coursework starts with foundations of public health and progresses to train you in advanced concepts of qualitative methods, public health theories & strategies, determinants of health, epidemiology, systems, leadership & policy, evaluation methods, and assessment & planning. Also, you must complete three electives and a community health practicum.
Key Highlights
• Throughout this program, you will work towards developing your e-portfolio which can be displayed to future employers at the time of seeking placements.• If eligible, you can avail of an assistantship within the public health education department. This opportunity, open to highly qualified students can prove to be an enriching learning experience where you work closely with mentors on various public health projects.
5) Campbell University - Buies Creek
Programs Offered: MPH
About the School: A career in public health offers promising employment opportunities not only in the nation but even across the world. Campbell University’s public health school is housed in a state-of-art facility that boasts of an interprofessional environment where you can collaborate with students from other health sciences. Here, public health education focuses on rural health care and health promotion, providing you a robust foundation in health care research. Guided by a dedicated faculty, the college’s Christian tradition provides a conducive environment where community service and health equity are emphasized.
Program Details: Whether you are from medicine, athletic training, or for that matter any other academic background if you are looking at well-known MPH programs in North Carolina that welcome students from all walks of life then this MPH program may be a befitting choice. To be eligible for this program you must have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Here you can customize the coursework by choosing 10 credits in elective courses. The total 42-credit coursework which entails completing 32 credits in core, leaves completing the remaining courses in your field of interest. Offered in the on-campus format, the core courses educate you in statistical methods, an overview of rural health, health policy & management, epidemiology, health education & promotion, community health assessment & evaluation, ethical issues in public health, and environmental health.
Key Highlights
• During the first semester, you will go through a seminar that provides an effective platform for fruitful interaction between faculty and students to provide an insightful understanding of various areas of public health.• The MPH coursework requires you to complete a practicum per semester, entailing earning a total of 180 hours of real-world experience during the first three semesters of the program.
6) Lenoir-Rhyne University - Hickory
Programs Offered: MPH (online)
About the School: There are not many online MPH programs in North Carolina that offer you the convenience of taking the entire coursework from the comfort of your home. Lenoir-Rhyne University is one of the few schools that provide you the opportunity of advancing your career in public health through the distance learning format. The college trains you through extensive real-world experiences in diverse settings along with research opportunities focused on better community health.
Program Details: This 42-credit-coursework emphasizes community health and requires two years of full-time study. The core courses focus on foundations of public health, epidemiology, public health leadership & management, public health policy, and program planning & implementation. You also learn about quantitative & qualitative analysis, community engagement, health communication, and program evaluation. Additionally, the coursework entails completing electives worth of nine credits from a wide range of choices. The newly acquired knowledge is applied in a real-world setting during the field experience which you must complete as part of your training.
Key Highlights
• The six credits of capstone experiences that you must complete entails a public health seminar, two applied practice experiences, and two integrated learning experiences.• The college offers this MPH program through the regular route as well as through the Career Track path that requires you have a minimum of six years of professional work experience.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the Total Number of Accredited MPH programs in North Carolina?
According to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), there are currently 8 accredited Master’s in Public Health programs in North Carolina.| Total MPH Programs in North Carolina |
| 8 |
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