Community health is one of the most fundamental and crucial specializations in the public health field; after all, public health starts in the community. While there are many areas of public health that rarely or never have direct contact with people in the field – public health epidemiology, public health analysis, health policy management, or population health management, for instance – its the community health worker who is doing the hard work on the ground every day, whether it is through community health education, direct care, or advocacy.
What to Expect from an MPH Community Health Program
An MPH in Community Health is designed to give students a thorough, advanced knowledge of the many sides of community health. Depending on whether students want to continue in direct care, move into management, or take on educational roles, the MPH community health program may emphasize areas of expertise like planning and leading community health initiatives; working with nonprofits, government agencies, and volunteers; assessing community needs on a broader scale; and promoting social and individual behavioral change for the better of the whole community. Community health workers are a diverse group, and the more adaptable the education, the more effective the worker.
The people who are interested in an MPH in Community Health will tend to fall into two categories: working public health professionals who want to enhance their career, or working adults in another field who want to make a career change. In either case, an online program may well be the best choice for their educational needs. Online MPH programs have become quite common in the last few years, as more professionals and working adults look to a master’s degree to advance their careers, and the convenience and scheduling flexibility of an online program makes going back to school a benefit rather than a sacrifice.
Ranking the Best Community Health Degree Online Programs
MPH Online’s ranking of the Top 25 MPH in Community Health Programs is created with the working public health professional in mind – just like the programs we’re surveying. For that reason, we’ve ranked online programs by affordability, from the lowest tuition cost to the highest. MPH Online is committed to providing working adults and nontraditional students with the best options available, so all of the programs ranked by MPH Online are accredited by a Department of Education approved agency; many are further accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the leading authority on public health education, and qualify graduates for CPH certification.
1. Columbia Southern University
Columbia Southern University is a unique sort of institution, a private, family-owned, fully online for-profit university specializing in professional education for working adults. Founded in 1993 by Robert Mayes, Sr, CSU was designed from the beginning for flexibility and practicality, providing convenient alternatives for students who could not attend a conventional college. Originally, CSU offered an online degree in Environmental Engineering – the field of Mayes’ expertise, which was sorely lacking in educational opportunities – quickly adding programs in valuable areas like computer science, business, criminal justice. Today, CSU has been widely recognized for their innovations.
Columbia Southern’s online MPH in Community Health Education degree program prepares working professionals already in the public health field to work in educational capacities. With a focus on skills like health promotion strategy, program planning and management, and community outreach, the MPH community health curriculum is designed for a wide applicability in a variety of settings. CSU’s LifePace Learning allows students to complete their program on their own time; courses can be as little as a month, or take as much as 18 weeks, so students can plan their studies around their current schedules.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
2. New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University is the Land of Enchantment’s oldest university (by one year), founded in 1888 as a traditional liberal arts college, which later merged with the state’s agricultural research station to form a land-grant public research university. With its heritage as a land-grant institution, NMSU has always maintained its dedication to the heart of the land-grant mission – to provide educational opportunities for all people of New Mexico. As such, NMSU has been crucial to the workforce and professional development in New Mexico, from its main campus in Las Cruces to its many extension campuses to its strong and growing online programs.
NMSU’s online MPH in Community Health Education degree program is designed specifically for working public health professionals in New Mexico who cannot leave their careers or travel to Las Cruces. However, New Mexico State’s online program is available in nearly every US state, with only a handful of exceptions. NMSU’s Department of Public Health Sciences is led by a faculty of highly trained, experienced instructors who know the field of public health in New Mexico like no one else, with particular emphasis on the border region and Native American populations – the most at-risk of New Mexico’s people.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
3. University of Montana-Missoula
The flagship of the University of Montana system, the University of Montana-Missoula dates back to 1893, several years before the Montana Territory was admitted to statehood. As the state’s primary institution for professional education, UM has been central to Montana’s leadership and public service for past century and change. From forestry and conservation to healthcare and education, UM keeps Montana healthy, and that goes especially for the School of Public and Community Health Sciences – the only CEPH-accredited public health school in the state.
Of course, with its large size and rural populations, UM has made online education a priority as a critical way to reach Montana’s working professionals and nontraditional students. The University of Montana online MPH in Community Health and Prevention Sciences degree program is a perfect example of the work UM has put into its distance options. The SPCHS and the Health and Human Performance have collaborated to develop a program that gives public health professionals a thorough understanding of the field. A hybrid format consisting of both online and on-campus courses gives students the best of both worlds for one of the top MPH community health programs in the West.
Degree: MPH in Community Health and Prevention Sciences
Format: Hybrid
Cost: $$$$$
4. UNT Health Science Center
Founded in 1970 as a private osteopathic medical school, the University of North Texas Health Science Center began as the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine before being taken over by the state in 1975. Today, part of the UNT system, the UNT Health Science Center is a graduate university made up of five colleges, including the School of Public Health, which began in 1999. The Health Science Center is particularly known for its outreach to the community of North Texas, from programs encouraging young people to take up medicine, to its award-winning programs for Hispanic and Latinx students.
The UNT Health Science Center online MPH Professional Option is a program designed for a very select group of students: applicants must be working professionals in public health with at least three years of experience, already holding an advanced degree, or be enrolled in a dual degree program. The Professional Option is designed for flexibility, including fully online or hybrid formats, making it ideal for both career-changing professionals or public health professionals looking for advancement in the field. With an emphasis on community health and health policy management, graduates are ready for careers in public health leadership with a top community health degree online.
Degree: MPH Professional Option
Format: Online or Hybrid
Cost: $$$$$
5. University of Nevada Reno
As Nevada’s designated land-grant public research university, the impact the University of Nevada Reno has on life in the Silver State is hard to calculate. Founded in 1874, UNR was the state’s only 4-year college for nearly a century, until its Las Vegas campus became an independent institution in 1965, and even after the establishment of UNLV, UN Reno has been critical to professional education and research, especially in healthcare, including the oldest medical school in the state. UNR has offered the MPH since 2000, establishing the School of Community Health Sciences in 2004 as a home for their CEPH-accredited public health program.
UNR’s online MPH in Public Health Practice degree program prepares public health professionals and career-changing adults with all they need to take on careers in nearly any area of public health, depending on their background and goals. The community health degree online program is designed for maximum flexibility, with fully online courses and no residency requirement, multiple start dates throughout the year, and no GRE required. https://www.mphonline.org/best-mph-programs-no-gre/ Students can direct their studies to a variety of specializations, including community health education, and with UNR’s convenient format, graduates can be heading into their new careers in less than 2 years.
Degree: MPH in Public Health Practice
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
6. Georgia Southern University
The mission of Georgia Southern University’s MPH Community Health is to prepare students in the application and development of community-based public health interventions that solve issues in the public health field. Georgia Southern University was established in 1906, originally as a land-grant agricultural college, but during its century of existence GSU has been a normal school, a teachers college, and today is classified as a Research and Doctoral institution. While the main university is located in Statesboro, Georgia, other locations are stationed in Armstrong and Liberty, Georgia.
With Georgia Southern’s online MPH Community Health program, students learn to develop and put into action community health initiatives, with a specific focus on meeting the needs of marginalized urban and rural communities. A minimum of 45 credits is required to complete this program, and the courses required include program concentration courses, a public health core course, a capstone research project, and the like. Graduates of this urban public health degree online program can be fully prepared for working for the government and public sectors.
Degree: MPH in Community Health
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
7. Colorado School of Public Health
The University of Northern Colorado began in October 1890 as the Colorado State Normal School; UNC started as a college to train teachers to be qualified for public schools. In 1911, the name of this institution changed to Colorado State Teachers College, awarding bachelor’s degrees in education. Then the school progressed a few years later by adding to the curriculum of the school, eventually reaching the status of a full, comprehensive public university. As a regional institution, UNC plays a key role in preparing professional leadership and service for Northern Colorado, especially in areas related to health and social affairs.
With the University of Northern Colorado’s online MPH in Community Health Education program, students can obtain a nationally-recognized master’s degree from a nationally ranked school with first-rate opportunities. Their program is derived through the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) which is a partnership between Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. With the uniqueness of this program, students will have access to take on the collaborative model from all three ColoradoSPH campuses. Additionally, the University of Northern Colorado provides three MPH concentrations that uniquely focus on the rapidly growing requisites of the public health profession.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
8. Northeastern University
Northeastern University has several campuses, and this institution’s main campus is located in Boston, MA, the United States’ premiere home for higher education with nearly 60 colleges and universities. Northeastern University has been determined for over 100 years that experience supersedes learning over anything else; for that reason, Northeastern has developed the nation’s largest and most famous cooperative education program. They believe that experience positions people beyond the limitations of a campus, degree, or discipline to a lifetime of learning, growth, the creation of knowledge anywhere and anytime, and this has been proven time and time again with their undergraduates turning to their leaders.
Northeastern University’s online MPH in Urban Health program focuses on the specific needs of underserved urban communities. The Northeastern MPH offers classes online, through traditional classes, and through a hybrid format. Students in the urban public health program are trained with research, education, and service to be prepared to protect and promote the health of all communities, but especially to respond to the environmental and economic conditions of urban settings. Their courses for this program include biostatistics in public health, environmental health, introduction to epidemiology, public health administration and policy, and society, behavior, and health.
Degree: MPH in Urban Health
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
9. San Jose State University
Found in 1857, San Jose State University (SJSU) provides over 145 areas of study and 108 concentrations. Being California’s oldest public university, SJSU is located on downtown San Jose on 154 acres of land. Though SJSU began as a normal school, preparing teachers for service in the public schools (and teaching classes at night), during the latter half of the 20th century the university became known for another reason: as Silicon Valley’s public university. More San Jose State grads are hired in Silicon Valley than any other university, and not just in tech; areas like public health are ripe for disruption, and Silicon Valley is on the mission.
SJSU’s online MPH in Community Health Education degree program is the best foundation for a career in public health in the Valley. The curriculum consists of 42 units, including 22 units of public health care, 16 units of health education core, and four units of a practicum. Other requirements include students passing a comprehensive exam, which is the only option for distance students; however, campus students can choose the exam or do a thesis or independent project, which requires more units of study in the MPH program. It’s the best community health degree online opportunity in Silicon Valley.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
10. California State University, Northridge
The mission of California State University Northridge (CSUN) includes extending and advancing knowledge, culture, and learning, especially throughout the state. With more than 40,000 students, CSUN is the largest of the CSU system universities, and one of the largest in California. CSUN began simply as an extension campus of CSU-Los Angeles, serving the San Fernando Valley region, but by 1958 demand in the Valley had become so great that the campus became an independent state university on its own. CSUN is ranked one of the best colleges in the nation for minority students, thanks to its outreach to the Hispanic and African-American communities.
The CSUN online MPH in Community Health Education program is a two-year program consisting of seven terms. This program covers five areas of professional preparation and public health: behavioral science, social science, health policy and management, epidemiology, environmental health, and biostatistics. Field training is also included in the public sector to foster the decision-making skills’ development and to offer practical experience. CSUN has accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), while the public health program is further accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
11. East Tennessee State University
Founded in 1911, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) was originally named as East Tennessee State Normal School, a teacher-training program designed to get qualified teachers into the rural region’s communities. Today, ETSU is the state’s fourth biggest university, and follows a regional mission to enhance the success of the student and improve the life quality in the region and beyond. To that end, ETSU has off-campus centers in nearby Elizabethton and Kingsport, along with a growing online program that is gaining national reputation for success.
ETSU’s online MPH Community Health degree program is designed in a unique competency-based format, allowing working professionals in the field to increase their skills in a way that is both convenient, and easily applicable to their current positions. Obtaining the MPH Community Health will prepare graduates for health promotion and for health education that’s population-focused. Students will also be able to conduct and develop program evaluations and health assessments and to conduct and develop the establishing collaborative community and the important stance of organizational partnerships.
Degree: MPH in Community Health
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
12. University of Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) was established in 1880 as a private medical college, but by 1902, UNMC was associated with the University of Nebraska System. It then expanded rapidly in the early part of the 20th century by establishing a dental college, a hospital, college of medicine, college of nursing, and pharmacy college. Today, UNMC is a public center of patient care, health sciences education, and research. In 2016 the U.S. News & World Report ranked UNMC in the national top 5 “Best Medical Schools: Primary Care” category.
UNMC’s online MPH in Health Promotion degree program is created for graduates to broaden the health promotion training and related fields and to work in public health. This program cultivates leaders to address the challenges of evolving public health. The UNMC community health MPH program focuses on being evidence-based, practice-centered, diverse, equity-focused, and collaborative. Furthermore, the concentration of this community health degree online program focuses on four primary areas, including the application of the organizational and community health theories, principles, best practices in intervention, planning programs, and incorporating, analyzing, and incorporating key factors and contexts essential to the program implementation or interventions.
Degree: MPH in Health Promotion
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
13. Purdue University Global
Established in 1869, Purdue University is well known for their research contributions and scholarly excellence in the engineering, aerospace, technology, science, and math fields, with more than 116 university-approved research institutes and centers and 400 laboratories. Ranked among the top 10 best colleges in the U.S. News and World Report for numerous programs, Purdue created a stir in the world of higher education when it purchased the for-profit Kaplan University system, transforming it into Purdue University Global. Already noted as one of the top online public educators, Purdue has leapt to the front of the pack.
Purdue Global’s online MPH in Community and Family Health program is accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH), the nationally recognized body for public health schools and public health programs. With the Community and Family Health concentration, students focus on issues relating to the family unit, including areas like nutrition, social factors, health disparities, and communication. By assessing and identifying community health and family in this context, students will be well prepared to develop effective initiatives and programs.
Degree: MPH in Community and Family Health
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
14. CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (usually known simply as CUNY School of Public Health, or CUNY-SPH) has a vision to promote social justice and health in New York City and the globe through leadership and innovation. Founded in 2007, CUNY-SPH was a collaborative effort between CUNY Brooklyn, Lehman, and Hunter, as well as the Graduate Center and public health faculty throughout the CUNY system. All of CUNY’s public health expertise is gathered in the SPH to focus on the unique needs of urban communities, especially health disparities, and there is no greater laboratory for urban public health than New York City.
CUNY-SPH’s hybrid MPH in Community Health Education degree program is designed to help students develop competencies needed to promote urban community health, particularly through the application of public health concepts and research. Students put into practice the skills of researching, planning, and implementing specific initiatives, and evaluating the effectiveness of those initiatives. As a hybrid program, the CUNY-SPH provides all core classes in an online format, though specialized courses may require campus visits. Students in the MPH program must complete either a Masters Essay, research paper, or a capstone project; at least 3 credits of fieldwork is also required.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Hybrid
Cost: $$$$$
15. Concordia University Nebraska
Concordia University is established in 1894 by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and continues today as a private, coeducational higher learning institution. As a Lutheran institution, Concordia Nebraska a Christ-centered community equipping women and men for lives of service, learning, and leadership in the world and in church. CUN is regularly ranked among the top regional colleges in the Midwest, and like the other members of the Concordia system, Concordia Nebraska is earning national attention for its exceptional online program, using technology to reach out not only to Nebraska’s rural community and working adults, but across the US.
With Concordia’s MPH in Community Health Education degree program, students will be able to analyze public health needs and develop programs for the improvement of the population’s health. Students can complete this program in just two years. Graduates will be prepared for careers in leadership in the public health field as they complete courses including community health, human services, biology, and exercise science. Additionally, applicants don’t have to take the GRE, https://www.mphonline.org/admission-mph-without-gre/ making it an attractive alternative for older, working professionals who have experience – rather than a standardized test – to prove their merit.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Education
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
16. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina’s first class was admitted in 1795, making it the first public university in the US and giving UNC the remarkable distinction of being the only public school to have graduated baccalaureate students during the 18th century. As a Public Ivy, UNC’s influence not only over North Carolina, but over the South and the nation, has been immense, particularly in the area of public health. In 1940, the Gillings School of Global Public Health was founded as an annex to UNC. According to U.S. News & World Report, Gillings School of Global Public Health ranked as the #1 state-supported public health school.
The UNC MPH in Leadership in Practice degree program offered by Gillings School of Global Public Health was established based upon one essential intention: to improve health worldwide by eliminating existing healthcare inequities. For those who are time-limited, it is noted that the highly regarded MPH community health program is available online. Each MPH concentration strives to deliver coursework that supports their “Healthy People, Happy Planet” initiative. The Gillings School of Global Public Health operates from the edict that local is global and, vice versa. Graduates of Gillings regularly earn national recognition throughout a variety of public health specialties.
Degree: MPH in Leadership in Practice
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
17. George Mason University
A stone’s throw from Washington D.C. sits Virginia’s largest public research school, George Mason University. Diversity is one of Mason’s fundamental precepts. In fact, Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report. Their 34,000 students attend classes online and across five campuses – including one located in Songdo, Korea. Named for Revolutionary hero George Mason, whose amazing contributions include The Bill of Rights, which was first used as Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, GMU is dedicated to the people of Virginia. The Mason Online Masters of Public Health (MPH)is considered a premium professional degree worldwide. Fortunately, the degree can be completed online.
GMU’s online MPH in Public Health Practice degree program has been deftly designed to develop public health professionals with skills to contribute to a wide variety of specialties. MPH graduates develop exceptional leadership and management skills to meet the many health care needs and inequities. MPH graduates succeed at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the DC Department of Health. The school’s mission is to create an opportunity for each student to discover who he or she wants to be, and in doing so, be ready to take advantage of the expected positive growth of the job market.
Degree: MPH in Public Health Practice
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
18. University of Arizona
Forbes has ranked the University of Arizona (UA) as one of the nation’s higher learning institutions that offers a better return on educational investment than most other schools. UA explores the most fundamental human issues in the realms of medicine, business, science, and the arts. At the beginning of the 21st century, UA established The Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. This highly-regarded college is dedicated to the creation of new methods, attitudes, and advances regarding public health preparedness and chronic disease prevention. The Zuckerman College of Public Health is the only CEPH-accredited school of public health in the state of Arizona.
UA’s online MPH in Health Promotion degree program can be accomplished in as little as 2 years and 100% online. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)- the gold standard of public health accreditations, has duly accredited UA’s MPH online program. The remarkable flexibility of this program provides limitless options for working professionals who need flexibility and convenience around their current work and home life. Professionals who have earned an MPH degree are completely prepared to define government policies, and undertake the responsibilities of healthy lifestyle advocates through local and regional non-profits or hospital.
Degree: MPH in Health Promotion
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
19. UC Berkeley Online
The University of California at Berkeley is a globally recognized, premier learning institution. Founded in 1868, UC-Berkeley now occupies a campus that exceeds 1,200 acres. The finest minds gather from across the globe at UC Berkeley to explore and solve the world’s most meaningful matters. For years now, UC Berkeley has had the honor and respect of being ranked as the nation’s #1 public university. UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health (SPH) is a CEPH-accredited school located near both the main campus and Silicon Valley. The School of Public Health at UC Berkeley seeks to develop public health leaders with a mission to advance public health initiatives that provide for a healthier world.
The UC Berkeley Online MPH degree program provides the necessary flexibility for those studying while working full time. However, students must be proficient time managers to meet Berkeley Online’s academic standards. A community health degree online may be the perfect way to secure public health positions in the areas of social justice, innovation, research and service. The UC Berkeley Online MPH degree typically takes 2.5 years to complete; however, it is possible to complete the program in two years with your academic advisor’s approval.
Degree: MPH
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
20. University of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) is nestled near the epicenter of one of the nation’s great cities. UIC’s fifteen colleges provide educational excellence to 30,000 students. UIC holds the honor of being considered a culturally rich and diverse school. UIC’s research remains a strong, durable influence in the development of public health and social policies that seek to improve the quality of life for everyone. UIC’s urban public health program provides students attending the School of Public Health an opportunity to study by traditional methods, on the streets of Chicago and even across the world.
The School of Public Health offers UIC’s online MPH in Community Health Services degree program for working public health professionals who are interested in expanding their knowledge of public health practice, or moving into managerial roles. Students with at least 3 years of experience may be admitted to the Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) for a more advanced, more accelerated program. UIC-MPH students join the school’s commitment to the support the inclusion of contributions from a culturally diverse student body and to join nearby laboratories in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for each of earth’s citizens.
Degree: MPH in Community Health Services
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
21. Rutgers University
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, was established before the American Revolution, making it the eighth oldest institution of higher learning in the country. In 2016, Rutgers celebrated its tradition-rich 250-year anniversary. The Rutgers’ student body includes more than 69,000 students across several campuses, making it one of the most inclusive and comprehensive research universities in the country. Rutgers is proud to hold the distinction as one of the country’s esteemed universities in the study of human health. The university’s urban public health program prepares students for upper-level careers in the public health arena.
The Newark and New Brunswick campuses offer Rutgers’ MPH in Urban Public Health degree program from the School of Public Health. MPH graduates develop their skills and mastery by completing comprehensive studies. This integrative experience prepares efficient, effective, responsive and ethical healthcare leaders. An MPH in Urban Public Health readies students for the unique health needs of underserved and at-risk urban populations. Rutgers’ MPH program includes vigilantly supervised fieldwork which provides a hands-on approach to real-world problems. Fieldwork also expands career opportunities after graduation, as students meet current health professionals through this interpersonal part of the MPH program.
Degree: MPH in Urban Public Health
Format: On-Campus
Cost: $$$$$
22. St. John’s University
St. John’s University was established in 1870 with 47 students in Brooklyn, NY. The school embraces the Vincentian mission, believing in service to all, with a compassionate touch. Currently St. John’s serves students among seven different campuses. In the state of New York, there are four campuses in three boroughs and Long Island. The campuses abroad are located in the cities of Rome, Limerick, and Paris. The Chronicle of Higher Education has ranked St. John’s University as the #2 private nonprofit institute of higher learning. St. John’s University is proud to offer an Online Master of Public Health degree for professionals looking to meet career objectives.
The St. John’s online MPH in Community Health degree can be completed in two years – on a full-time basis – or, when taken on a part-time basis, students have five years to complete the program. Graduates of St. John’s Online MPH program are equipped to contribute to the promotion of disease prevention and an overall healthier world. St. John’s MPH degree graduates learn from an esteemed faculty who combine extensive experience as practitioners with world-class research experience, allowing students to see the application of theoretical concepts to the real world in real time.
Degree: MPH in Community Health
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$
23. Simmons University
Simmons University is situated in one of the best cities to go to school in, Boston, MA. Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review has each ranked Simmons University as a Best College. Yet, Simmons’ current vision is to reach the pinnacle as a leadership beacon. Simmons University’s mission is to deliver a transformative educational experience that marries a student’s passion with an enduring life purpose. The MPH@Simmons degree (from Simmons College) is earned in less than two years; with 45 credits taken over seven terms of eleven weeks. @Simmons’ community health degree online offers self-regulated courses, online courses of live instruction and an opportunity to join an international co-work program that offers opportunities to participate in learning experiences abroad.
At the heart of the MPH@Simmons is immersive coursework, which is introduced during a student’s last two semesters. One immersion is accomplished on Simmons Campus, which the other immersion must be done at a different destination. These immersive practices provide a wealth of experience, hands-on experience amid differing contexts. Rather than a traditional thesis, Simmons students complete a Health Equity Change Project as their culminating work, designing and implementing a real program to address community health needs in their area. These practical applications create leadership proficiencies for social change that matters.
Degree: MPH
Format: On-Campus
Cost: $$$$$
24. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) is a non-profit, private school that was founded during the 1960s – the decade of notable social-reform. The school began in response to 1965’s civil unrest to protest the social inequities in and around South Los Angeles, CA, at that time. For the past half-century, CDU has proudly contributed to the cultural diversity of the public health sector by graduating over 500 physicians and 1,200 PA’s (Physician Assistants), among other healthcare professionals. Charles R. Drew University has been ranked as the 2nd most diverse nonprofit school that offers a 4-year program. Since 2000, more than 70 percent of the graduates from CDU embodied under-represented backgrounds. CDU is committed to supporting the efforts of urban public health initiatives.
Drew’s MPH in Urban Health Disparities degree is one of the most unique programs of its kind in the nation, providing students with direct social justice action in South Los Angeles as the foundation of their education. The program dovetails with CDU’s commitment to confront the unending inequities the underserved populations receive. The Council on Education for Public Health has accredited CDU’s MPH degree in Urban Health Disparities. Those who have earned an MPH from CDU are well-developed healthcare professions with the necessary skills to solve the world’s health care inequities.
Degree: MPH in Urban Health Disparities
Format: On-Campus
Cost: $$$$$
25. A.T. Still University
A.T. Still University (ATSU) began rather humbly with 31 students in a two-room building. Over 100 years later, education experts agree that ATSU holds the distinguished title as the first osteopathic school – that is, a healthcare facility dedicated to the precept of whole-person health care. Along with AMA requirements, this renowned school adheres to the principles of Evidenced Based Medicine (EBM). ATSU’s Master of Public Health degree program has received accreditation by The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) has bestowed accreditation on the College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS). Class size at ATSU-CGHS never exceeds to 16 students, a strategy designed to deepen the student’s learning to include interpersonal connections in the field of health care.
Still University’s online MPH degree program provides a platform upon which working individuals can reach for loftier goals. The College of Graduate Health Studies prepares and develops graduates to be future healthcare pioneers and thought-leaders dedicated to what it takes to heal the world. While Still does not have a dedicated Community Health concentration, a selection of community health-related electives can allow students to focus their studies on their own. ATSU-CGHS graduates are equipped to assert change in a world in great need. A community health degree online is a flexible program to build tomorrow’s leaders with a passion to solve healthcare issues around the world.
Degree: MPH with Community Health electives
Format: Online
Cost: $$$$$