The field of epidemiology, like public health overall, is experiencing a strong growth trend. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the field will grow by 10% by 2022, with a median salary of over $65,000. So, epidemiology is a strong career option if you are interested in helping people and having a financially rewarding career.
Featured MPH Programs for Epidemiology
Our research determined that the following 10 epidemiology programs are strongly worth your consideration:
Johns Hopkins University
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The MPH program in epidemiology is especially suited for public health professionals who are interesting in developing keen analytical and quantitative skills in both epidemiology and biostatistics. This program is fully accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. It also is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
The program is designed for students who have strong quantitative backgrounds who want to gain more refined skills in epidemiologic study design and data analysis.
Tuition
Tuition for the part time MPH program at Johns Hopkins University is $954 per credit hour.
University of Michigan
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The mission of the Department of Epidemiology is to provide a real and lasting contribution to the reduction of disease in human populations. It does this through education, research and service around the world. The mission of the program in education is to train professional students to be able to generate and interpret critical epidemiologic information, and to be able to synthesize it with other information. The goal is to reduce the disease burden around the world. People who graduate from this program are ready to be leaders in public health research and in public health organizations around the world.
The program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
The tuition for the cost is $12,198 per term for Michigan residents, and $20,167 for non-residents.
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The department of epidemiology at UNC is focused on developing and applying new research methods to better understand the causes and patterns of diseases and poor health. It also seeks to apply that knowledge to boost the health of at risk populations. The university provides the strongest training in both research methods and opportunities to apply epidemiology to a wider range of health problems through the department’s research. This program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
Tuition is $5124 per semester full time for in state students, and $13,729 out of state.
Columbia University
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The MPH in Epidemiology program at Columbia University stresses interdisciplinary research that is applied to many complex health problems int he world today. This department is centered around several core areas of critical public health research:
Chronic disease epidemiology
Infectious disease epidemiology
Injury epidemiology
Lifecourse epidemiology
Social epidemiology
This department sponsors and funds many training programs for both doctoral and post doctoral students in cancer, family planning, nutrition and population health, disease epidemiology and much more. The epidemiology program at Columbia is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
The annual tuition is $33,996 for this MPH program.
Emory University
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The department of epidemiology offers several degrees with a concentration in epidemiology, including the MPH, the MSPH and a Ph.D. in epidemiology. All of these programs are designed for people who have a very strong background in biology and chemistry. The major focus on this program is in analytic processes and methodology. Many of the graduates of this highly rated program opt for careers in academia and also for research roles in public and private organizations.
The epidemiology program at Emory is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
This program costs $19,200 per semester.
University of Washington
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The department of epidemiology is one of the highest rates programs in the US, with 70 faculty and 165 graduate students. There also are more than 100 health professionals and scientists that hold both adjunct and affiliate positions in the department. The research done by the faculty is very interdisciplinary and it includes a broad array of topics, such as cancer, AIDS, heart disease, child and maternal health, and Alzheimer’s disease. This epidemiology program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
Full time tuition is $4939 per semester, or $9022 out of state.
University of California-Berkeley
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The University of California-Berkeley offers two MPH programs that are focused on epidemiology and also biostatistics. The one year program will prepare you for either teaching or research work in various schools of public health, and also the medical and health sciences. This program is mainly for doctors, dentists, vets and post-doc professionals. This is a highly intensive program in epidemiology that takes one year to complete full time. You will need to take highly advanced classes in epidemiology and biostatistics.
The other option is a two year program in both epidemiology and biostatistics for the student who does not have a strong background in medicine or the health field. Both of the epidemiology programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
Tuition for this program is $5610 per semester.
Boston University
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
As a student in this top ranked epidemiology department, you will learn how to design, conduct, analyze and interpret vital epidemiological research. These are skills that are essential for a career in epidemiology or for further study in this growing field. You also will discover how to to work in collaboration on teams that do highly complex studies on the risk factors and the distribution of diseases. This top rated program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Tuition
Tution for this program is $1374 per credit hour.
University of Pittsburgh
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The department of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh is one of the leading research and prevention organizations in the US, and it is highly rated by US News and World Report. Students in this accredited program are trained to evaluate and respond to major public health issues in chronic disease prevention, aging, reproductive health, infectious diseases and environmental health. The epidemiology program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Tuition
Full time tuition for this program is $11,700 per term for PA residents, and $19,178 for out of state.
Tulane University
MPH in Epidemiology
Summary
The mission of this program is to have a leading role in the overall improvement of global health. This is done through a high level of research, education, and service at all levels around the world. This program has a high degree of expertise in research in the epidemiology of many diseases, such as heart, infectious diseases, reproductive health and cancer. This program, accredited by CEPH, seeks to provide students with highly advanced knowledge regarding the many critical threats to public health. It also seeks to translate this research into excellent training for the next generation of public health professionals.
Tuition
Annual tuition for this program is $46,900 per year.
Selection Criteria for MPH Epidemiology Degree Programs
Accreditation
The quality of any public health program rests on the academic standards of the department that offers it. The qualifications of the faculty, the research and reference resources available, the subjects covered in the curriculum, the standards for administrative support and evaluation… these are all aspects of your degree program that you really want to know are nailed down.
That’s why accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is a crucial criteria behind the schools on this list. As the speciality accreditation agency for public health programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Educationsince 1974, CEPH evaluates MPH programs according to the unique demands and core competencies required for public health service. Accreditation is so important that it is a requirement in order to sit for the major professional certification exam, the CPH (Certified in Public Health) from NBPHE (National Board of Public Health Examiners).
Research
Diseases are constantly evolving, and it’s up to public health practitioners to stay on top of the latest effects and vectors. That’s a job that largely happens in major research universities, and it happens with the efforts of instructors and graduate students put into both statistical and on-the-ground initiatives. Getting directly involved in the front-line investigations of emerging threats, old epidemiological issues, and new challenges are all deeply important not only to the state of knowledge in public health, but to your own formative experiences in the field.
Faculty
Although the CEPH accreditation process covers the basic skills and qualifications that a public health program must require of faculty, there’s plenty of room above that baseline for schools to distinguish themselves. There’s no question that it’s a field that has rock stars… professors like Minnesota’s Ancel Keys, who launched the revolutionary Seven Countries Study, or James Harlan Steele of UT, widely considered to be the father of veterinary public health.
And while not every school has a faculty that reaches those heights, there are many that have instructors who are highly respected in the field. We sought out programs who have faculty with genuine on-the-ground experience and expertise in the field who are active in making important contributions in both research and practice.
Cost
Although cost was not our primary consideration in developing this best picks list, it’s always something to look at when considering what school to pick for a MPH degree. So while we chose only schools that are the very best in the field, we let you know what the costs will look like so you can choose something that is not only excellent, but affordable.
Reputation
The top schools in public health don’t hide their light under a bushel; usually we’re not the only ones who have figured out they belong on lists like this. We consider the opinions of other popular third-party rankings, such as those from The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, or the Economist. Chances are good that a school we’ve found at the top of the spectrum has also been well-reviewed by one or more of them.
Practicum
Public health is a hands-on business, and any CEPH-accredited program will include an applied practical experience component that puts you out in the real world for a face-to-face exposure to the conditions that you will face in practicing after graduation. This kind of internship experience is critical for the kind of practical, well-rounded graduates that the field demands, and some schools do a better job of planning, supporting, and placing students in experiential positions than others. The programs on this list are all at the top of their game when it comes to putting you into relevant, realistic, and well-supported placements where you can learn from practicing professionals while dealing with real-world problems of public health.
All schools shown here have been contacted and informed of their inclusion on this list. Schools that do not wish to be featured are immediately removed. School names are the registered trademarks of their original owners. The use of any trade name or trademark does not imply any association with the school.
