Masters in Public Health in USA: Top Universities & Job Prospects in 2025

Masters in Public Health in USA, often termed as MPH in USA or Master’s in Public Health in the United States, is a STEM-based program. Over 60 accredited schools in the USA offer a master’s degree in Public Health. The program fee varies across Universities, and can go up to USD 70,000. The main intake for the MPH program in the USA is the Fall Intake, but there are other admission sessions as well. Here, in this blog, we’ve discussed everything about this Master’s course in Public Health in the USA. Read on!

MPH in USA: A Bird’s Eye View

The duration of Public health courses in USA for international students is 2 years. If you want to study in USA, you can choose either a part-time or a full-time MPH program. Here we have discussed the top universities that offer MPH programs, program duration, specialisations, course fees and other details. Let’s explore the STEM MPH courses in the USA! 

What Exactly is This MPH Program in the USA?

Over the past few years, the MPH program in the United States has undergone an extensive evaluation to ensure its alignment with various top institutional and programmatic missions, objectives, and strategic initiatives, while ensuring that the master’s program in public health remains competitive and fiscally sound.

The Master of Public Health degree (MPH) is offered as a non-thesis program. It is designed to prepare students to become effective public health practitioners, scientists, and educators. There are almost six MPH specialisations in the USA that are offered by the universities. They are:

• Biostatistics
• Environmental health
• Humanitarian health
• Epidemiology
• Health Leadership and Management
• Population health management
• Women and reproductive health
• Public health practice
• Global Environmental Sustainability and Health
• Social and behavioural sciences

Note: The MPH in USA specialisations mentioned here vary across Universities. Thus, you should check which University is offering which specialisations in their MPH program. 

Duration of MPH in the USA

MPH is a specialised 2-year STEM-based program. Also, some MPH programs offer accelerated tracks for completion in as little as 1 year. On the other hand, other courses allow for part-time enrollment and may take a longer time duration. 

MPH in USA: Common Core Curriculum

The list below includes the common courses that all MPH students in the United States are required to take. Because of the different semesters that students enter the MPH program, and the variety of specialisations offered with the MPH degree at the top Universities, the order in which students take these master's courses may vary.

• Introduction to Epidemiology
• Public Health Policy
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Introduction to Public Health
• Organisational Leadership and Management
• Community-Based Methods and Practice
• Applied Practice Experience
• Integrated Learning Experience

A master’s degree in Public Health in the USA opens up a variety of career opportunities. Students gain theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and key competencies that qualify them to work in the broad domain of Public Health.

Your Career After Completion of MPH in the USA

Upon graduation, many graduates continue working in research, sometimes to pursue a PhD degree. Another very popular career path among the MPH graduates is provided by the job openings in -

• Public Health institutions at the local, regional, national or international level. 
• Many of the graduates also take up employment in health insurance companies, in the field of workplace health promotion or the pharmaceutical sector.

Top 10 Universities for MPH in USA 2025 - 2026

Here we have listed the top ten universities in the United States that offer MPH programs for international students. The universities are listed based on the United States News Rankings 2025 for the best Public health courses in the USA. 

Explore Top MPH Universities in USA!

Note: The ranking data of the Universities for the MPH program in the US is dynamic and changes over time. To get the real data on ranking at specific universities, you should visit each university's website. 

STEM MPH Courses in USA

Several MPH programs in the USA, i.e., Master of Public Health courses, are designated as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses. This type of master’s course offers additional advantages for international students seeking OPT extensions. 

This OPT extension is a STEM OPT extension. It helps international students extend their work authorisation after graduation. These MPH STEMP programs focus on broad areas, such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental health, and also include data analysis and research methods.

Some of the top universities offer STEM MPH courses in USA. 

• Johns Hopkins University
• New York University
• Long Island University
• Drexel University
• University of New Haven 
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Michigan
• University of Illinois, Chicago

Things To Know

• The University of New Haven was the first institute in the United States that introduce STEM STEM-based MPH program for international students.

• In 1920, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health started offering a 1-year Certificate Course in Public Health for MDs and Bachelor’s degree holders in medicine and physical sciences. 

MPH Tuition Fees in USA 2025 -2026

The MPH tuition fees in the United States differ from University to University. Here are the top Universities and their 1st year tuition fees for the MPH program. 

Fully Funded MPH Program in the USA For International Students

It is advised that applicants check the MPH fees in the USA before making up their minds to apply for admission. These are just first-year fees, which may vary for different intakes as well. Here are the top four universities in the USA that offer MPH programs for international students. These universities cover fully funded tuition fees for public health courses

• Boston University
• University of Colorado
• Yale University
• Drexel University

Master's in Public Health in USA: Eligibility Requirements 

Your admission to Master's in Public Health in USA will be smooth and easy if you meet the following eligibility requirements. 

• Bachelor’s degree
• Educational transcripts
• Statement of Purpose 
• Letter of recommendation 
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Work experience (Not mandatory)
• GRE scores
• IELTS or TOEFL to prove English language proficiency 
• Financial documents

Job Roles And Salary After MPH in USA

In the United States, the average salary of an MPH graduate can be around USD 73,000 to USD 101,340 per year. While experienced individuals may earn as high as USD 393,000 or more. It depends on the skills, expertise, and experience. Here are the top job roles and average salary after MPH in the USA. 

Summing Up

Studying for a Masters in Public Health in USA is no doubt a smart investment for international students. If you aim to impact community and global health, this master’s program could be your choice. With more than 60 top universities offering STEM and non-STEM MPH programs, flexible program duration, a variety of specialisations and access to high-paid salaries in private and government sectors, it is a rewarding and versatile career. The STEM OPT extension also adds a significant post-study work opportunity for international students. If you are looking for a global career in public health with unlimited potential and growth, a Master's in Public Health inthe  USA can be second to none!

For more information about the MPH program in the USA, choosing a University, admission procedures, and all, talk to Education Vibes today. We will help you choose the best university for your MPH program. Look no more!