7 Best Online DrPH Programs – 2025


Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

In the public health field, a Doctor of Public Health degree is held in the highest regards. The majority of people who enter a DrPH program already hold a master’s degree and are ready to take their career to a new level. During an online DrPH program, students learn how to apply public health principles in a wide range of different environments that includes health departments and other organizations that play a role in health advocacy. People with this degree go on to become leaders in the public health departments in which they serve, and a DrPH degree can make a person eligible to work in positions with titles such as program director and public health advisor.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics currently reports that the demand for management-level professionals in the health care field is expected to rise by 18 percent over the next ten years. This faster than average rate means that students who successfully complete this program can find a position that allows them to apply their knowledge of public health in a leadership role.

If you’d like to learn about the Best Online DrPH Programs for 2025, read on.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE DRPH PROGRAMS

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Following are the 7 Best Online DrPH Programs in the Nation for 2025


1) Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD


Concentrations:

Environmental Health , Health Equity & Social Justice , Health Policy and Management , and Implementation Science

If you have completed your master’s in public health or any other health-related area and aspire to take on leadership roles in public health on a national and international level, then Johns Hopkins University’s online DrPH degree can greatly enhance your prospects in this sought-after career.

The program is primarily offered part-time to accommodate your work schedule and usually takes four-five years to complete. To pursue this DrPH, the college offers four specialization options that include Environmental Health, Health Equity & Social Justice, Health Policy & Management, and Implementation Science. Furthermore, you can also customize your coursework by choosing courses in your preferred area of interest from varied fields such as mental health, surveillance, nutrition, or any other area being offered by the college.

The curriculum requires completion of 56 credits in core and specialized courses and an additional eight credits for the dissertation. Regardless of the specialization you choose, the core courses are common and focus on analytical skills, program design & evaluation, policymaking, management, leadership, and communication. Out of the 56 credits, 28 credits are to be completed in your chosen specialization or customized study. The dissertation, an important part of the coursework will require applying the knowledge gained to address real-world public health issues and find appropriate solutions.

Key Highlights


• In case you want to pursue this program full-time, you can make a special request which may be considered only in exceptional cases.
• If your previous degree is not in public health, then you will require completing additional MPH core courses along with the DrPH courses.



2) University of South Florida - Tampa, FL


Concentrations:

Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health , and Public Health & Clinical Laboratory Science & Practice

University of South Florida’s DrPH online program prepares you for advanced evidence-based public health practice that can open-up career avenues for leadership positions in various public health settings such as health departments, non-profit organizations, international and national health agencies. The coursework is delivered online, so you can continue working; however, you must be prepared to travel to the university’s Tampa campus for three mandatory campus sessions, each lasting four to five days.

This doctoral degree comes with two concentration options, one that prepares you for leadership roles in public health and the other skewed towards laboratory and scientific expertise. Regardless of what you choose, you start your coursework with core courses that focus on the evaluation, designing, and implementation of public health policies in the country as well as across the globe.

To begin with, the program admits students with basic public health knowledge. Preferably, an MPH or MHA from an accredited school is required to be eligible. Alternatively, if you have any other health degree, then you must complete nine credits of public health courses at USF.

To earn this degree, you must complete 43 credit coursework, comprising 13-credit core courses, 12-credit concentration courses, 12-credits in electives, and 6-credit hours in the public health doctoral project.

Key Highlights


• Although GRE is a requirement for this program, you can have it waived off if you have a GPA of 3.50 and above in your MPH or MHA.
• During the program, you must engage in one or more practice experiences in public health. This can be done at your current workplace or any other organization with the approval of your faculty.



3) University of Illinois - Chicago, IL


One of the popular DrPH online programs in Chicago, University of Illinois’s Leadership program is typically meant for those with a public health degree along with at least three years of mid to managerial level work experience in public health. The curriculum is aimed at developing leadership skills in all areas of public health. Being a part-time program that is delivered online, you can pursue this degree from anywhere and complete it in a span of four to six years.

The program starts in fall, each year, and admits only 15 students. The coursework requires completing 96 semester hours, out of which 28 are in core courses, eight are in electives, and 28 semester hours in the dissertation project. The remaining 32 semester hours are earned as transfer credits for your previous degree in MPH. The core curriculum mainly covers courses in public health leadership, personal leadership development, and public health leadership tools.

Key Highlights


• The program requires you to attend a three-day on-campus session in August during the first three years. You must be prepared to make arrangements for this mandatory attendance.
• If your previous degree is in a field other than public health, you must complete 15 credits in core public health courses before the start of this program.



4) Loma Linda University - Loma Linda, CA


Concentrations:

Health Education, Health Policy & Leadership, and Preventive Care

Loma Linda University offers an online Doctor of Public Health program with three specialization options to prepare individuals for advanced positions in the field of public health.

While the health education concentration is aimed towards community health education, the health policy & leadership track focuses on analysis, designing, and implementation of health policies; whereas the preventive care specialization is meant for those who want to work towards the development of programs and preventive measures in addressing chronic and acute illnesses. The coursework is offered on a full-time basis via the web, and students usually complete this program in two years.

To be eligible for this program, you must preferably be holding an MPH degree with a minimum GPA of 3.50 and a requisite GRE score. Conversely, if you have earned your master’s in another field, you must at least have background knowledge of public health and must complete core MPH courses prior to enrolling. Depending on the concentration you choose, the exact number of credits will vary; however, a minimum of 54 credit hours are required to earn your degree.

Key Highlights


• Education at LLU is deep-rooted in Christian values, and in fact, the curriculum even includes nine credits in courses that enhance spiritual development and faith-based values.
• As a doctoral student, you are required to present your applied practice experience at a professional conference. You will have the option to either do an oral or a poster presentation.



5) Capella University - Minneapolis, MN


With over 25 years of experience in online doctoral education, Capella University’s DrPH program is typically meant for students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a master’s in public health or a related degree. This online training can advance your career without keeping your current work assignments on hold.

The program helps you gain expertise in pivotal public health issues such as promoting community health by reducing health disparities, developing evidence-based practices to improve health, and influencing awareness by communicating health improvement objectives to a diverse population.

The entire coursework requires completing 14 courses. The college follows a quarter system, so you have the flexibility of completing 1 to 3 courses each quarter that spans 10 weeks. Precisely, there are 60 quarter credits to be completed comprising didactic courses, a doctoral capstone, and a practicum. The 100 hours of practicum that you must complete under the supervision of a mentor at a public health organization provides for real-world experience.

Upon completion of this program, you can explore diverse employment opportunities such as data analyst, health educator, epidemiologist, health policy analyst, public health faculty, and health manager.

Key Highlights


• If you hold a master’s in another field, you can gain eligibility into this program by completing an online certificate course at Capella, which includes five core courses in public health. These courses can be transferred either towards an MPH or DrPH.
• If eligible, you can avail of a $5K scholarship at Capella to fund your DrPH.



6) Columbia University - New York, NY


Concentrations:

Biostatistics , Environmental Health Sciences , Epidemiology , Population & Family Health , and Sociomedical Sciences

If you are exploring online DrPHprograms, Columbia University’s Doctor of Public Health program prepares you for a promising career as a public health leader. The program trains you to influence and improve community health with five specialization options, so depending on your interest and personal career goals, you can decide to complete your DrPH in either one of the specializations.

Biostatistics:

This specialization is meant for those with an aptitude for statistics. The program teaches you to use statistical data to improve health outcomes for the community. To be eligible, you must have completed your MPH with substantial coursework in biostatistics. Furthermore, you must also be well versed in calculus, and linear & matrix algebra before the start of this program.

Environmental Health Sciences:

If you have completed your MPH and aspire to advance your career in public health with a focus on environmental effects on human health, then this track can be right for you. Upon completion of this program, you will gain the expertise to work in government and private organizations where you analyze and plan policies to protect human health from environmental hazards.

Epidemiology:

To enter this program, you must either be a public health professional or a clinician, holding an MPH degree, along with at least three years of relevant work experience. You will gain advanced knowledge in the prevention of chronic and acute diseases and the implementation of preventive healthcare policies.

Population and Family Health:

This program prepares you for leadership roles in public health with a combination of on-campus, online learning, and field-based research. To be eligible for this program you must have completed your master’s, preferably in public health, and should have many years of work experience in either global health or as a leader in a related field.

Sociomedical Sciences:

This study particularly prepares you to improve public health using social and behavioral sciences. Preferably an MPH is required to gain eligibility into this program.

Key Highlights


• Most students complete this program with a specialization in four to five years. However, if need be, you have a period of up to seven years to complete the entire coursework.
• You will be taught by a distinguished faculty who hold expertise in various areas of public health such as HIV/AIDS treatment & prevention, maternal aging, and climate & health.



7) Walden University - Minneapolis, MN


By adding Walden University's doctoral degree in public health to your academic profile, you can explore advanced career avenues in government and private-public health organizations.

This online program is designed to prepare you to become a leader in this interdisciplinary field by honing your critical thinking and leadership skills. With the college allowing a transfer of up to 37 credits, having a degree in MPH will make you complete this program in less time and money.

To earn this degree, you must complete the 78-quarter credit curriculum that includes a foundation course, core courses, research courses, and a capstone course. The coursework contains subjects that teach interdisciplinary health approach, global health and issues in disease prevention, public health policy advocacy, quantitative reasoning & analysis, economics & financing of public health, advanced program implementation & evaluation, and leadership skills, thereby covering every learning curve of this dynamic career.

Key Highlights


• Just like most other online DrPH programs, to fulfill the residency requirements you are required to attend two on-campus sessions of four days each. Travel, food, and accommodation cost for these eight days must be borne by you.
• If you hold a master’s degree in another field, then you will have to complete a total of 104 quarter credits instead of the 78 required to earn your DrPH.



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