Public health is a field that is growing quickly, due to the aging population, ever-present world-wide health risks and concerns (such as radiation and communicable disease), and the rising interest in disease prevention. If you have a degree in this field, you can do everything from work as a low-level research assistant at a small lab to the director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. As you can imagine, salaries in this field fall on a wide spectrum. Is going back to school to get your master’s degree worth it? Decide for yourself:
Base MPH Salary
The base salary you can expect to earn with a masters in public health, or MPH ranges from $40,000 to $75,000 annually in most cases. Most MPH degree students go on to take salaried positions, though some laboratories, medical manufacturing plants, and other employers do still pay hourly instead. You can also work as a consultant, where you’ll essentially own your own business – in this type of position, the sky is the limit when it comes to salary! The highest-paid positions in this field, where you can expect to earn well over $100,000 annually, are with the government and world-wide organizations, though these positions also come with the most responsibility.
Factors Affecting MPH Salary
The number one factor that affects that annual salary you’ll receive as a worker in the public health field is your title. With a master’s degree, rather and just a bachelor’s degree, you’ll automatically qualify for some of the more advanced positions in this field, even with little real-world work experience. Other factors that can affect your bottom line include location, type of employer, nature of your work (if there are health risks, you’ll make more), size of employer, and whether or not you’ve had an additional specialized education.
Other MPH Benefits
Along with the salary you’ll receive as a worker in the public health field, most of these positions come with excellent benefits packages. Your benefits could include things such as health and dental coverage, a retirement plan, paid vacation and sick days, paid travel expenses, and a myriad of other perks. When comparing jobs, a better benefits package can sometimes mean more than a higher salary in this field.
Top Public Health Masters Degrees
Public health deals with the aspects of preventing disease and promoting health within a community, organization, or society. Today, many public health officials are increasingly finding that an MPH or other masters degree in public health or related subject is essential to career advancement. Below is a list of the top online colleges offering degrees in public health or similar fields.

MPH
MPH: Epidemiology
MPH: Health Management
MPH: Intl. Public Health
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University of Liverpool : The University of Liverpool's MPH program offers concentrations in epidemiology, healthcare management, and international health. The University of Liverpool attracts an international online student population which makes it easy to network with people around the world. This adds an important dimension to the learning experience that isn't found in other online classrooms.
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MPH
MPH: Epidemiology
MPH: Health Education
MPH: Program Dev.
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Kaplan University : Kaplan University offers Master of Public Health degrees in epidemiology, health education, and public health program development. These MPH programs are designed for those seeking leadership and managerial positions in government or non-profit organizations within the health industry. Courses include applying scientific research and statistics, developing public health policies and programs, and designing education programs for diverse communities.
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MPH
MPH: Disaster Mgmt
MPH: Health Education
MPH: Healthcare Policy
MPH/MBA Dual Degree
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Benedictine University : Benedictine University offers industry-specific Master of Public Health programs in disaster management, health education and health policy. These MPH programs incorporate responsiveness to local health issues along with the knowledge needed to meet public health care needs. The MPH/MBA dual degree combines health care industry best practices with business practices for a strong combination perfect for any healthcare industry leader.
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MPH
MPH: Behavioral Science
MPH: Healthcare Policy
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Capella University : Capella University's MPH in Behavioral Science explores the psychological and social factors that influence the health of communities, and gives practical knowledge of organizations, programs and policies pertinent to public health. The MPH in Health Policy combines case studies of public health issues with management theory and financial concerns of the industry.
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MPH
MPA: Health Policy
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Walden University : Walden University's Master of Public Health and MPA in health policy degrees strengthen core competencies in diversity, communications, and leadership, as well as the core disciplines of public health. Each program uses real-world case studies and gives students access to scholars and experienced workers in government, health and nonprofit sectors to make the transition from theory to practice easy.
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MHA: Health Education
Master of Health Admin
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University of Phoenix : The University of Phoenix features two marquee programs for aspiring public health administrators: the Master of Health Administration and MHA in Health Education. These degrees feature curriculums that teach the management skills and educational skills required to advance your career. Specialties include gerontology, informatics and education.
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MPH
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Grand Canyon University : Consisting of a demanding 48-unit curriculum, the Grand Canyon University Master of Public Health program prepares students for a wide variety of careers in public health and medicine. The program ends with a practicum and capstone project that students can tailor towards their area of interest.
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MS: Health Communication
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Boston University : Boston University's MS in Health Communication offers a dynamic, exciting curriculum that stresses the promotion of health care messages, including public health and targeted disease education. Graduates will be able to communicate messages clearly and professionally on disease prevention and health awareness.
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Master of Health Services
MBA: Health Services
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Strayer University : The Strayer University Master of Health Services and MBA in health services programs teach business management skills required to succeed in the field of healthcare management. The curriculum is geared towards developing thoughtful, global graduates.
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MPH
MPA: Health Admin
MPH: Dental Health
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A.T. Still University of Health Sciences : A.T. Still University of Health Sciences MPH in dental health program is for students working in the dental industry who want careers in dental public health services or administration. Courses cover the basics of public health with an emphasis on dentistry. Graduates are prepared to work in community health centers, colleges, government, and non-profit organizations.
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MS: Disaster Management
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Philadelphia University : Philadelphia University's MS in Disaster Medicine and Management is a distance learning program with a one week on-campus requirement. Students learn what steps to take to ensure business and organizational continuity of operations, how to plan for catastrophic events from human resources and technological perspectives, as well as organizational recovery.
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