Online MPH Programs Master of Public Health Concentrations

Our students have earned their online degrees from all around the world, for all different reasons. Some have escaped war-torn countries and sought an undergraduate public health degree online or master's degree to establish clinics in their communities. Others took the leap from rehabilitative service jobs in hopes of changing systemic issues within healthcare.

“You can go a lot of different ways with an MPH degree,” said Dr. Ashley Love, MPH program director. “Policy or legislation development, or education of people and businesses. You could track diseases and do research, identifying how things spread. There are many different angles, but you'll be able to help a lot of people, and it feels good.”

When most people think about public health, they might think of healthcare facilities or government agencies with wellness programs. But that's not always the case.

There are many opportunities for professionals with an MPH degree, both in the clinical and non-clinical space. Non-clinical can include working for government or non-government organizations, nonprofits, healthcare systems and private organizations. Many clinicians such as physicians, dentists, nurses and pharmacists will also seek this degree after practicing for some time as they see the value and find passion in needing to prevent illness or injury.

“One of the benefits of having the MPH is how it fosters the potential and diversity of your career,” said Lyndsay Goss, faculty lead of nursing and public health. “You could end up working at a federal health center, or more national, like the CDC or NIH. You could work in environmental health, food safety and so much more. It’s such a wide variety of directions you can go into, it makes it exciting. You could always go forward and educate others with that degree, as well.”

Kemar Reid '20 has plans for where he'd like his career to take him.

"In the future, I would like to work with underserved populations," he said. "I would like to work in establishing policies and procedures that secure healthcare for people in underserved communities, as well as attract people that want to work in these communities."

And for Dr. Sabrina Pink '18, she believes her master's degree changed the trajectory of her life.

"My degree program (at SNHU) was one of the best decisions I made," she said. "My master's at SNHU qualified me for an accelerated PhD program, and I went from master's to PhD in only 2.5 years. ... I went from answering phones at the front desk in a hospital to a lead epidemiologist."

That all depends on what you hope to do. If you want to address the root causes of health challenges in your local community and around the world, a master’s in public health could be a great first step in that direction.

“Oftentimes, public health is a very hidden profession, because its main goal is preventing something and providing resources for communities to keep healthy,” said Dr. Ashley Love, a MPH program director at SNHU. “So a lot of it is accomplished in the background. We’re trying to keep something from happening, so it’s harder to quantify ‘success’ by visible indicators.

“[We know] we’re succeeding when there’s less need in a community or population for assistance, when there are healthier kids or less obesity," she said. "Without public health, it’d be a disaster. No clean water, no vaccinations. Many people don’t realize how much the field of public health has pushed these things forward."

Your master’s in public health will give you hands-on learning experience doing onsite fieldwork in a public health setting. You’ll learn from professionals in the field and add valuable experience to your resume, setting you up for success in a public health career.

“One of the great things is you’ll be [positioned for real success in your field] right after graduation,” said faculty lead of nursing and public health Lyndsay Goss. “It’s also fulfilling [to impact larger populations] beyond an individual level that you may get as a nurse or doctor. You can really make a difference in your community at a local, national or policy level.”

Plus, with an optional concentration in global health, you can prepare to promote health as a basic human right around the world through research, financial assistance programs and policy analysis.

While MPH degrees can vary in costs, SNHU believes that education should be accessible to all.

Currently, the MPH program requires 42 credits at $659 per credit hour, totaling $27,678 from start to finish.

That said, the actual cost of your degree will vary based on the courses you take, the materials they require and the credits you receive for prior learning.

"The actual cost for school at SNHU was amazing," said Kemar Reid '20, who had earned his BA in Psychology here in 2018. "I compared the costs for each credit with other schools, and some were similar, but SNHU was actually very amazing. I was able to complete both degrees with what most people would probably pay for a bachelor's degree."

We accept up to 12 previously earned credits toward our master's degree programs. That means, if you’ve completed some graduate courses already, you could save up to $7,908 on tuition.

It's also worth noting that, while some courses will require textbooks, our online college degree programs aim to make use of free resources whenever possible - including ebooks, websites, training videos and other interactive content.

"I think money is a worry for all students, but SNHU has very reasonable costs," said Erica Darling '21 of the MPH program. "Education is an investment in yourself, your future and your career."

Public health professionals are in high demand, as communities seek to reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. With a career in public health, you can make a powerful impact on the lives of others.

Employment of health educators and community health workers is projected to grow 14% by 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹

A 2017 survey from the American Journal of Public Health found that approximately 22% of public health respondents were planning to retire by 2023, driving a need for more master of public health degree holders to fill key positions.²

According to the BLS, in 2023, epidemiologists earned a median salary of $81,390, and statisticians working in healthcare and social assistance earned an average salary of $87,070.¹

It depends on the job you want. Both a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) can prepare you for a rewarding career in healthcare, but jobs for these degree holders are very different.

A master’s in healthcare administration prepares you to lead a team of medical professionals in a hospital, doctor’s office or another medical facility to treat and respond to the health needs of a community. In most undergraduate healthcare administration degree programs, and especially master's coursework, you’ll explore finance, insurance reimbursement, business and management strategy, human resources and marketing.

A master of public health program explores the science and data behind national and global health initiatives and focuses on the prevention of illness and injury instead of treatment. You’ll prepare to address the root cause of health challenges and lead communities toward mitigating health risks, reducing healthcare costs and improving overall wellness.