10 Best Online 1-Year MPH Programs For 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Are you one of the people who desires to see an improvement in the health of individuals and society overall? If you could play a role in preventing disease and injuries and help control the spread of infectious diseases by promoting healthy lifestyles, would you? If this sounds like something you would like to do, but you aren’t sure if you have the time, perhaps a 1-year online MPH program could fit into your plans. Read this article to learn about some of the best 1-year MPH programs online for 2025 and to learn what it takes to achieve a master’s in public health degree so you can begin pursuing your dream!
What Exactly Is the Goal Of A One-Year Online MPH Program?
The goal of online 1-year MPH programs is to educate individuals interested in becoming public health researchers, practitioners, and educators and who are willing to dedicate the time and effort it takes to learn at a fast pace. One-year Master of Public Health programs focus on engaging students with educators who can help them become future leaders in the public health industry, to foster partnerships within communities that bring the science and practice of public health together, and to recruit students who are truly interested in making long-lasting contributions to the improvement of public health overall.
8 Advantages Of 1-Year Online MPH Programs
Because the program only takes twelve months, students enrolled in even the best 1-year MPH programs online can sometimes feel overwhelmed. However, no matter how intense a program is, there are some advantages to choosing one of these 1-year online MPH programs.
1. Save money!
When you enroll in an online 1-year Master of Public Health program, you could reduce the amount of money you spend on your education. Depending on whether your school charges per course only, or also requires a semester fee for tuition, this could make a big difference in your out-of-pocket expense.2. Convenience and flexibility:
Typically, 1-year online MPH programs allow all the required coursework to be completed 100% online. Taking the courses exclusively online means students may be able to have more flexibility when it comes to scheduling work and family time.3. Study anytime from anywhere.
One great benefit of online one-year MPH programs is that you don’t have to worry about relocating to be near a college campus to access the resources you need to complete the program. Everything you need you can connect with online making it easier for you to study from anywhere at times that are most convenient to you.4. Finishing a program faster means beginning your career faster.
Completing an online 12-month MPH program means in a year’s time you can begin working in a relatively short amount of time.5. Lots of choices:
Public health is a very diverse field of study. Whether you are interested in working at local, state, or federal levels, there are opportunities for public health professionals in a vast variety of positions. From scientists, social workers, teachers, and administrators, there is something for everyone. By enrolling in and completing a 1-year online MPH program, you can complete the program quickly and begin your career as a specialist in the field.6. Earn more money.
Possessing a master’s degree in public health puts you in the realm of higher earning ability. In fact, there are some jobs in the public health field requiring an MPH that pay six-figure incomes. A few examples include Health and Safety Engineer, Biostatistician, and a Public Health Attorney.7. Save time.
Earning a one-year online MPH degree means working professionals who desire to advance their careers can complete their degree quickly.8. Get ahead of the competition!
Candidates who choose to follow a one-year path to an MPH rather than the traditional 2-year format can get a head start in the industry compared to students who choose to enroll in longer-term courses.How Much Do 1-Year Online MPH Programs Cost?
The cost of 1-year online MPH programs vary anywhere from just over $13,000 to more than $73,000. Some students may be required to pay out-of-state tuition, which can mean higher tuition rates. Applicants to any program should talk with a financial advisor and ask about any fees that are in addition to general tuition. A few examples of some of the tuition costs for the best 1-year MPH programs online include the following:
1. John Hopkin’s University requires online MPH students to complete 80 credits for completion of the program with a total tuition cost of approximately $73,960.
2. University of Florida charges $550 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. With forty-eight credits required for completion of the program, students can expect to pay approximately $26,400 to complete the one-year online MPH program.
3. Drexel University’s online 1-year MPH students complete between 38 and 56 credits, depending on which concentration they choose. The tuition rate is $907 per credit hour, which means Drexel students can earn an online MPH degree anywhere between $34,446 and $50,792.
Coursework
The curriculum associated with online 12-month MPH programs vary from school to school and differs some depending on a student’s preferred area of concentration. Most MPH curriculum require students to complete at least 42 credit hours of coursework.
Common core courses include Foundations of Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, and Program Planning and Research. A few examples of what some universities require in their curriculum are listed below.
George Washington University offers an intensive online 12-month MPH program. While enrolled in this program, students are required to complete the same coursework as those enrolled in the university’s traditional on-campus MPH programs. Students typically take an average of 11.5 credits per quarter. The program includes 17 core public health courses, 16 elective course credits, 10 program-specific courses, and 2 culminating experience credits.
Students enrolled in one of the 1-year online MPH programs at the University of Memphis are required to complete 42 credit hours. These include 18 core course hours, 18, concentration or elective courses, 3 hours of practicum, and 3 hours of master’s project or thesis.
All students at Drexel University participate in a three-course sequence regarding Public Health Methods as part of their public health education foundation. These courses meet the University’s core competencies. The university offers three specialty online 1-year MPH programs. After completing the core competencies, students may choose a specific specialty, each of which has program-specific coursework as follows.
1. MPH in Epidemiology covers courses in Biostatistics, Public Health and Epidemiology.
2. MPH in Global Health program includes courses that are discipline-specific such as Health Systems Policy Analysis, Public and Global Health Ethics, Monitoring and Evaluating Global Health Programs and Advocacy, and Overview of Issues in Global Health.
3. MPH in Urban Health: Introduction to Urban Health, Urban Inequality and Health: theory, Evidence, and Action; Process Monitoring and Outcomes Evaluation for Community Health Programs
At Boston University, students enrolled in the online 12-month MPH program are required to complete forty-eight credit hours to graduate. The curriculum is designed to help students understand how social, economic, biological, political, cultural and environmental factors affect the health of the general population. Core curriculum includes courses in Quantitative Methods of Public Health, Health Systems, Law, and Policy, as well as Individual, Community, and Population Health. Additionally, all students must complete at least 240 practicum hours.
Admission Requirements
Although each school may have a different list of requirements for admission to the school or program, admission requirements for 1-year MPH programs online are typically the same as the requirements for traditional on-campus programs. MPH admission requirements typically include possessing a bachelor’s degree, providing letters of recommendation, presenting a resume’ or curriculum vitae and providing a personal statement. Some schools require standardized test scores such as the LSAT, MCAT, or GRE. However, many schools no longer require those tests for admission. Because schools differ, it is important to speak with an admissions counselor to verify minimum admission requirements and make sure your application meets the standard the school expects from applicants.
The University of Florida requires applicants to hold a United States bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, have a cumulative 3.0 GPA for all undergraduate coursework that was taken after the first sixty hours of undergraduate study, be proficient in English, and to choose a professional interest in at least one public health concentration. Tufts University does not require GRE scores but will review them, if submitted. Applicants must submit a resume’ that includes both professional and academic experience and that highlights any health informatics or analytics knowledge/experience you have. Additionally, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and copies of official transcripts are required. Applicants to George Washington University are required to submit a statement of purpose, official transcripts, resume’ or curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required.
How To Fund Your Online 1-Year Master Of Public Health Program?
Many prospective college students find themselves struggling with the thought of how to afford going back to school. Even if you have already achieved the minimum bachelor’s degree that 1-year MPH programs online require for admission and have a good job or steady income, the idea of taking time off or adding the expense of tuition can feel overwhelming. However, there are options for financial assistance available if you really want to enroll in any of the 1-year MPH programs online that are available.
If you want to enroll in a one-year MPH program but are asking yourself how you will pay for it, here are a few suggestions that you may find helpful.
• FAFSA:
As soon as possible, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many people do not fill out a FAFSA because they think they won’t qualify for assistance. However, this application covers financial assistance including work-study programs, student loans, federal grants (never have to repay), and even some school-based or state assistance.• Compare Tuition and School-Offered Assistance at Different Schools:
Just because a school has one of the best 1-year online MPH programs, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is going to be the most expensive. You can get a good, quality education at schools that have more affordable tuition rates. On the other hand, some schools with higher tuition and fee rates offer special types of aid for students, which could make them more affordable. In other words, do your homework when it comes to researching tuition.• Ask your current employer if they offer employee scholarships.
Some employers offer programs that allow employees to return to school to get a higher degree if they agree to continue working for the company for a set amount of time after graduation. This is a great way to further your education and keep your job.8 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing A 1-Year Online MPH Program
Knowing that you want to enroll in a one-year online MPH program is just the beginning of the process. How do you know which is the best online 1-year MPH program for you? Listed below are eight important factors to consider as you prepare to choose a one-year online MPH program.
1. What kind of reputation does the school have?
If the school has a reputation for developing well-educated, work-prepared graduates, that’s a good sign. Even if the MPH program is new at a school you are considering, that may not be a bad thing. Look at the other online programs the school offers. Are they successful? If so, the school may have seen a need to offer an online MPH program to meet the demand of public health workers. On the other hand, if you are considering a school that is not well-known or whose 1-year online MPH program does not have a record of equipping successful graduates, you should consider other available alternatives.2. Ask how many students complete the 1-year MPH program in one year’s time.
While it is understandable that sometimes things happen that may cause a student to have to change their schedule or postpone a class until a later time, the idea here is to complete this online MPH program in twelve months. Pay attention to the wording used on the school’s websites. Many say the “online MPH program can be completed in as little as 12 months.” The key word here is can. You want to know if you are enrolling in a school that has a proven track record of successful completion in one year.3. Ask for a comparison of the school’s 1-year online MPH degree requirements/curriculum vs the traditional on-campus program.
Make sure you are being offered the same course options and the same support options as students in a residential program.4. Check faculty credentials.
It is absolutely okay to do some research on the people who may be teaching you in this program. Ask if the teachers are licensed and certified or if they specialize in any specific concentration of public health. Find out what kind of experience they have outside the classroom. College instructors who have real-world experience in their field of expertise are going to be able to provide you with first-hand advice and information that could be beneficial to your success later. This is especially important as your goal is to complete this program in one year. The more experienced the instructors, the more you can glean from them in a short amount of time.5. Is tech support available for online students?
Studying and learning from home can be a great experience, but it can also present some challenges. Before you enroll in an online MPH course, make sure the school has a good system of technical support for online learners. Nothing can be more frustrating that trying to access an online lecture or study material and find that your access has not been verified or you’ve been locked out. Tech support is a must!6. Are there networking opportunities for online students?
Attending school online does not have to mean that you are alone. Some of the best 1-year MPH programs online offer networking opportunities that make it possible for students to interact and engage with one another through virtual meetings and with people in their local community who specialize in the public health industry.7. Is the school online student-friendly?
You can answer this by paying attention to how responsive the admissions advisors are from the moment you first contact them. Find out what their learning style is for online MPH students. For example, do they offer pre-recorded content or virtual class sessions? Are the courses led by faculty or are students left to self-pace their coursework? These are important things to consider as you will be expected to cover a great deal of information in a short time as a student of a one-year online MPH program.8. Accreditation!
Today many well-known and respected traditional universities that are accredited appreciate the benefits of offering online programs for prospective students. If an online 1-year MPH program is accredited and certified, it is likely to be a program of higher quality which means student success rates are higher.FOLLOWING ARE THE 10 BEST ONLINE 1-YEAR MPH PROGRAMS FOR 2025
1. Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD (11 Months)
2. Boston University - Boston, MA (12 Months)
Concentrations:
Community Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, & Evaluation; Environmental Health; Epidemiology & Biostatistics; Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, & Evaluation; Health Communication & Promotion; Health Policy & Law; Healthcare Management; and Program Management3. George Washington University - Washington, DC (12 Months)
Concentrations:
Environmental & Occupational Health, Epidemiology & Public Health Research Methods, Global Health, Health Communication, Health Policy, and Program Planning & Evaluation4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI (20 Months)
Concentrations:
Population & Health Sciences5. Drexel University - Philadelphia, PA (12 Months)
Concentrations:
Epidemiology, Global Health, Urban Health, and Executive6. New York University - New York, NY (17 Months)
7. University of Florida - Gainesville, FL (12 Months)
Concentrations:
Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Population Health Management, Public Health Practice, and Social and Behavioral Sciences8. University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA (12 Months)
Concentrations:
Biostatistics/Epidemiology, Community Health Promotion, Global Health, GeoHealth, and Health Services & Policy9. The University of Memphis - Memphis, TN (12 Months)
Concentrations:
Urban Health, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Generalist, and Social & Behavioral Sciences10. Tufts University - Medford, MA (18 Months)
Concentrations:
Epidemiology & BiostatisticsCareer Opportunities Post Completion Of 1-Year MPH
After completion of a one-year online MPH program, graduates can establish a career in various professions and industries. Some of the most common include:
Health Educators
work to develop and implement plans of action to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals as well as communities. They teach others about behaviors that help to promote and maintain wellness.Public Health Data Analysts
gather and analyze information related to specific and/or general issues that affect the public health sector. They help create solutions to public health problems and develop and coordinate programs focused on public health issues.Epidemiologists
search to determine the cause for disease, determine how to stop the spread or prevent new outbreaks and to identify individuals who may be at risk for developing disease.Hospital Administrators
create and maintain policies, develop procedures related to quality assurance, public relations, and medical treatments and evaluate hospital staff including physicians.Healthcare Coordinators
work with patients and their families/caregivers to discuss issues regarding health and wellness, provide education about health conditions, medications, and instructions for care.Public Health Practitioners
are responsible for assessing the health and wellness of communities. They help develop programs to educate individuals and communities about disease prevention and healthy lifestyles.Average MPH Salary
According to PayScale, the average annual income for someone who has achieved an MPH degree is around $64,782. The yearly salary is comparable to $31.15 hourly which is more than four times the current Federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Individuals who choose a public health specialty may make higher or lower salaries, depending on what the specialty is and what the current demand for that particular specialty is. Additionally, the amount of experience one has, and the demand for master's-prepared public health workers in some geographical regions can also impact one's potential salary.
| Per Hour | $31.15 | |
| Per Month | $5,400 | |
| Per Year | $64,782 | |
| (Source: payscale.com) | ||
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals who hold public health jobs can expect about an eleven percent growth rate in job opportunities through 2026. The aging population and ever-increasing occurrence of chronic diseases support the idea that the need for people who are well-educated in these issues, such as those with master’s in public health degrees, will continue to be very valuable in the public health industry.
Bottomline
Positive outlook for future job opportunities, good income potential, and the chance to have an impact on the health and wellness of people and communities working in public health can be a part of your future if you choose to seek one of the best 1-year online MPH programs, like those we’ve mentioned in this article.