Online Bachelor's Degrees in Public Health: Find the Right School

Inside the Online Bachelor’s in Public Health

Before you apply to a program, it is important that you spend a significant amount of time researching the cost, curriculum, and potential career prospects you may encounter upon graduating. When it comes to your education, you can never be too informed about the decisions you’re making. In the sections below, we offer a list of key questions that you should answer during the early stages of your search for an online public health program.

Online Public Health Degrees & Accreditation

Colleges and universities that offer valuable education typically possess regional accreditation. Accrediting bodies ensure that educational institutions meet particular standards and evaluate them on a regular basis. In sum, schools with regional accreditation provide quality education to their students and are worth your hard-earned tuition dollars.

Some schools will seek out programmatic accreditation, which is usually specific to one degree program or department. For public health departments, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) offers the top programmatic credential. This accreditation improves the school’s reputation and visibility among the public health community, helps institutions attract world-class faculty members and top students, and increases the school’s access to a diverse network of resources in the public health arena.

Aside from offering reassurance that you as a student are pursuing a worthwhile education, school-wide and programmatic accreditation shows your prospective employers that, upon graduation, you’ve completed a rigorous curriculum that’s been carefully vetted and approved by credible outside parties. Additionally, in order to receive federal financial aid, the federal government and other types of public funding institutions require you to attend an accredited institution. You must submit your FAFSA before the deadline to be considered for funding.

Paying for Your Online Public Health Degree

A college education cost a significant amount of money and requires careful planning ahead of time. There are many options to help you pay for school, you just need to look for them. Regardless of your financial situation, you should apply for as many funding opportunities as possible, provided you meet the requirements. This list below contains five of the most common ways public health degree-seekers obtain funding for their education.

• Scholarships: Scholarships may come through your department or college as well as from outside sources. Scholarship awards can come from public and private organizations, government bodies, private individuals, and more. Legitimate scholarships do not require you to submit an application fee to apply. You should apply for as many scholarships as possible, provided that you are competitive candidate based on the stated criteria. Scholarships are essentially free money for your education that do not need to be repaid.

• Financial Aid: The U.S. Department of Education provides students more than $150 billion in financial aid every school year. In order to be considered for these funds you must fill out and submit a FAFSA. All students should submit this free application form regardless of their financial situation. This need-based aid may come in the form of a loan, grant, or work-study position.

• Grants: Grants are often need-based awards and come from the federal or state government, your school, or private organizations. A common grant for public health students to receive is the Federal Pell Grant. The amount of the grants changes each year, and they do not need to be repaid, provided you finish your studies as intended each year.

• Work Study: These are part-time jobs for students in financial need. The positions are available to part- and full-time students and can significantly offset the cost of your education and living expenses. Be sure to check with your school’s department of financial aid to ensure that federal work-study program is available at your school, as this is not a universal program.

• Loans: After you send in your FAFSA, the federal government considers your candidacy for an education loan. Alternatively, you can apply for a loan through a private financial institution, such as a bank. Most students choose a federal loan over a private loan, as the interest rates are usually better through the government. A loan helps you cover your educational and living expenses but it must be paid back to the loaner plus interest.

What’s After Your Online Bachelor’s in Public Health

It is important for new students to fully understand the industry that they’re preparing to enter upon graduation. As you look into degree programs to pursue your bachelor’s in public health, be sure to cast a wide net and learn as much as you can from credible sources. Make sure you examine the career paths that will become available to you with your public health credentials, as well as how much you can expect to earn in those roles.

Do I need certification or licensure with a bachelor’s in public health?

In many cases, you do not need to possess a particular type of certification or license to pursue a career in public health with a bachelor’s degree. Several elective certifications are available to bachelor’s degree-holders, however. Ultimately, a certification shows your prospective employers that you’ve gone the extra mile to hone your skills and set yourself apart from other candidates in the job market.

The most commonly sought out certification, the Certified in Public Health (CPH) designation, comes from the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Students can also pursue specialty certifications such as one from the Certification Board for Infection Control and Epidemiology, which requires that candidates have a bachelor’s degree in public health and at least two years of work experience.

What can you do with a public health bachelor’s?

A bachelor’s degree in public health positions you for a variety of exciting and rewarding careers. Whether you want to work in the public or private sector, a public health degree can serve as one of the most important steps to a fulfilling career. Depending on your area of interest or concentration area, you may find yourself working as a clinical researcher, healthcare consultant, nutritionist, social worker, and more. A bachelor’s degree also prepares you for additional education in a master’s in public health program. The chart that follows illustrates only a small taste of what’s out there for bachelor’s degree-holders in public health.

How much can you earn with a public health bachelor’s?

While a bachelor’s degree in public health can position you for success in a variety of lucrative careers, your education level and amount of experience also greatly affect your earning potential. In the table that follows, we offer a spectrum of salaries based on education levels, experience, and geographic location for several common public health professions.

Continuing Education & Related Degrees

Perhaps you are interested in earning a bachelor’s in public health to expand your career options or advance up the ladder in your current position. Maybe you want something a little different than you originally planned. In public health, there’s plenty of opportunities to advance with additional education, such as a master’s in public health, or to pivot into a related career with a second bachelor’s degree. Take a look at a few of the degree options that may be a good fit if you’re currently studying or working in public health.

Continuing Education

If a DNP doesn’t seem like the right fit, students looking to advance their nursing careers or increase their expertise may want to explore other online nursing degrees. Earning an advanced education is a big decision that warrants careful consideration, so exploring alternative degree programs is a smart idea. These may be great options for nursing professionals who want to advance their careers but aren’t set on a DNP route.

Master’s in Public Health Online

Like most master’s degrees, the MPH allows you to further develop your knowledge in the field, particularly in a specialized area. Master’s programs are typically 2-3 years in length and can require an extensive final project or traditional master’s thesis, depending on your program. The MPH is usually best for students who already possess a bachelor’s degree in the field.

Doctor of Public Health Online

The doctor of public health is usually the next step for current master’s degree-holders who wish to pursue the top education and research positions in the field. Most colleges and universities, especially top-tier institutions, require their full-time, tenure track professors to possess a doctoral degree. You can also obtain research and education jobs outside of universities and work for private research organizations, the state or federal government, nonprofit institutions, and more.

Related Degrees

Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration programs best serve individuals interested in the business side of healthcare. Sometimes referred to as health services managers, professionals in healthcare administration have strong leadership skills and an understanding of the complexities of the healthcare system, hospitals, clinics, and the relevant technology. You can find entry-level positions in a variety of roles, including jobs in human resources departments and hospital management.

Health Science

Health science programs prepare you for a variety of exciting jobs in the field, including occupational therapy assistant, surgical technician, registered health information technician, and more. While pursuing your degree, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, you will choose a specialization area in health informatics, epidemiology, administration, or another popular area. In any case, a health science program will ensure that you understand the foundational knowledge of the field, including topics in medicine and nutrition, to pursue a variety of career paths upon graduation.

Today’s Best Online Public Health Degrees

Choosing the right online public health degree can be challenging with so many options to consider, from cost and flexibility to program quality and career outcomes. To simplify your search, our data analysis team has thoroughly evaluated programs across the country. Using publicly available data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and direct information from schools, we’ve identified the top online public health degrees that offer the best combination of affordability, academic excellence, student support, and career readiness. Discover this year’s leading programs and take the next step toward a rewarding career in public health.