Today's Top Doctorate Programs for Public Health Online
See top online DrPH programs from CEPH-accredited schools and learn what to expect from this career-advancing degree.
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree is the terminal degree for public health professionals working (or looking to work) in a practice-based setting. Students can focus their research and coursework on public health policy, global health, leadership, and a variety of additional tracks that line up with their career goals. Because many students are mid-career and working, colleges and universities have moved some or all of their DrPH programs online, giving those admitted the ability to study part-time, full-time, and with tremendous time and place flexibility.
When it comes to finding the best online DrPH programs, a number of good options exist, but how do you choose the right one? The answer: research. List the available schools, decide which factors matter the most, and start narrowing your list one by one.
The following guide to online DrPH programs is a great starting point. It answers key questions that could make a college decision tough. From program basics to understanding accreditation, start your online program journey here.
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Public
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Private
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama
Private
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
Public
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Private
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
Public
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia
Private
CEPH Accreditation for Online DrPH Programs
Accreditation is one of the most important aspects of any degree program, no matter the level. Accreditation assures that a school or program has been evaluated by an independent body and found to meet the standards of a solid education. Accreditation ensures quality; that’s why many schools will only accept transfer credits from accredited institutions, and why, in most cases, financial aid is only awarded to those students who are enrolled in an accredited program.
Regional accreditation speaks to the quality standards of a school itself; programmatic accreditation comes from independent bodies that focus on a particular area of education, and accredit the programs themselves. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the accrediting body for public health programs, including Doctor of Public Health online programs. Choosing a CEPH accredited program helps ensure that employers will recognize the education as a high-quality one, and that graduates will be a good bet for employment in their organizations. If you have any questions about a programs CEPH accreditation, look for the school or program’s information on the CEPH website, or contact the school directly.
Inside the Online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
Getting to know an online Doctor of Public Health program before you apply is a great way to ensure you make the right choices. Remember that the best decision is an informed one. So take your time in reviewing curriculum requirements, costs of tuition and fees, career prospects upon graduation from a particular program, the distance learning aspect (and how often you might need to be on campus), and more. Here are a few key questions you’ll want to answer before you leap.
Who is an online DrPH for?
Busy professionals who want to advance their careers often look to Doctor of Public Health online programs. They want the flexibility of online learning coupled with the ability to continue working in their jobs, gaining experience and moving up the ladder as they gain another level of education. DrPH programs are popular among mid-level professionals in the public health field who have some experience, earned a master’s in public health, and are now ready to take the next step in career advancement.
But keep in mind that online learning, while incredibly flexible for most, can also provide some challenges. A person must be comfortable working, studying, and communicating online. They must be well-versed in the technology it takes to handle message boards, chat rooms, video lectures, and more. They must be able to work independently for long hours at a time, with some guidance but lots of wiggle room. They should be organized, driven to succeed, have a great deal of self-discipline, and be able to create and meet their own deadlines. Fortunately, many of these skills come easily to seasoned public health professionals.
What’s the difference between a DrPH and a PhD?
Though the DrPH and the PhD might seem quite similar, the truth is that graduates from each program are prepared for very different roles in the field. PhD studies focus strongly on academic and scientific roles in public health, helping to prepare students to enter into research or academia. The DrPH is a professional degree meant for those who intend to work hands-on in the field in a leadership role. Here’s a bit more about how each degree breaks down:
| DrPH | PhD in Public Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Academic focus | Evidence-based | Research-based |
| Career track | Clinical/professional | Academia |
| Program type (common) | Part-time | Full-time |
| Program length | 4-5 years | 5-7 years |
| Primary students | Mid-career | Early career |
Get information on the online PhD programs in public health.
What do you learn in an online DrPH program?
Despite variety across online DrPH programs, many will have similar core concepts or courses that students need to learn or take. This helps to ensure that professionals graduate with the skills they need to excel in a variety of public health settings. Here’s a sampling of what you should see when earning your Doctor of Public Health online.
Organizational Leadership
A study on how to lead effectively in organizations of various sizes, financial abilities, and goals. Leadership courses are an integral part of the doctoral degree programs in public health. They might be presented under names such as Leadership Seminar, Leading Organizations, Advanced Leadership, and the like.
Problem-Solving Seminar
Part of the goal of the Doctor of Public Health online is to prepare students for solving problems, whether that’s for an individual or a global community. Problem-solving seminars take real-world issues and challenge students to work through the issue and present solutions that serve the greater good. A few examples of course names might include: The Obesity Crisis, The Opioid Crisis, Protecting the Environment, Safeguarding Workers, or Suicide Prevention.
Data Analysis
Those in the public health field are often faced with reams of data and asked to make sense of it all. Understanding how to analyze that data, condense it down into something meaningful, and convey that through effective communication is what this course is all about. Though many schools simply name this “Data Analysis,” this might show up under other names, such as Advanced Data Analysis, Data Workshop, or Methods for Data Analysis.
Research
All that data comes from in-depth research, which public health leaders must understand how to conduct, evaluate, and communicate to others within an organization. Research courses will help students understand what goes into surveys, canvassing, and other forms of collecting information from various populations. The courses might be called things like Qualitative Research, Research Theory and Methods, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Data Analysis, or Mixed Methods in Research in Public Health.
Communication
Those in public health are often in the public eye, offering information to reporters, journalists, news organizations, government organizations, and more. Strong communication skills are an absolute necessity for someone representing public health interests in front of the cameras. These courses, with names like Effective Presentations, News Media Interviews, or Public Health Media, are designed to help students feel at ease when communicating important information to the greater communities.
Doctor of Public Health online programs are meant to bolster a student’s skills in a variety of areas that will help them become more effective leaders. Many incoming students already have a firm grasp of these skills and just need a bit of polish as they move forward into their leadership roles. A few of these skills include:
- Excellent communication
- Attention to detail
- The ability to disseminate research
- Problem-solving skills
- Strong leadership abilities
What opportunities to specialize do online DrPH programs have?
Those entering the doctoral program in public health are already well into established careers and seeking a step up along that path. Specializing within a degree program is quite common at this stage, as students usually want to further the career path they are already on and become more proficient in one particular area. Most students already have a specific track in mind that will dovetail with their career goals. Here are a few of the more common concentrations you can choose from in your online Doctor of Public Health program.
Health Leadership
This concentration focuses on preparing students to move into upper-level roles in public health organizations. Their work as administrators can help move these organizations into greater opportunities to foster the public good, engage communities they serve, and touch everyone from the individual to the global community.
Epidemiology
This cornerstone of public health focuses on health and disease in certain populations; this concentration helps students better understand and implement the research, survey, and assessment methodologies necessary to understand what is happening in various communities or populations, then search for solutions that will suit the growing needs of those individuals within those communities.
How long do online DrPH programs take?
The length of your Doctor of Public Health online program depends on a number of factors. Though most schools offer a four year schedule that can be extended to six years for the dissertation completion and defense, this often assumes part-time enrollment for working professionals. Those who devote full-time study to the degree could bring that time down to two to four years (again, much of this depends upon how long the dissertation takes). Other factors include the school itself, the schedule on which it offers online courses, start dates of the various schools, and more.
What’s the cost of earning a DrPH online?
Costs vary by the type of school, how long it takes you to complete a program (part-time or full-time), how much financial aid you might be eligible to receive, and even where you live – some schools offer in-state tuition to online students, no matter where they live, while others have entirely different tuition rates specifically for online learning. Here’s what the tuition looks like for some of today’s best online DrPH programs:
- Johns Hopkins University:
$1,162/credit - University of Illinois – Chicago:
$950/credit - Pennsylvania State University:
$21,960/year - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
$742/credit (resident), $1,548/credit (non-resident)
Do I need to take the GRE to get into a DrPH program?
The answer to that question depends upon the particular program. Some are more traditional and want to see GRE scores, no matter what. Others take a completely opposite approach and do not require the GRE under any circumstances. Still others fall in the middle, where they do not require the GRE if an applicant has a certain amount of experience; those schools argue that experience of an applicant tells them much more than a standardized test score ever could. This is becoming more common because most DrPH students are working professionals with significant experience and who may be far removed from standardized testing.
Do online DrPH programs have any campus requirements?
Though most coursework in the DrPH program can be completed entirely online, many schools do require campus visits from time to time. The number of visits can vary by program, and might include anything from a one-time weekend visit for orientation to a visit of several days, occurring each semester. For example, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill requires DrPH students to attend six campus visits over the span of two years; one of those visits might be held somewhere other than Chapel Hill, such as in the case of a special event that focuses on leadership development.
Paying for Your Online DrPH
Paying for graduate school can be challenging for anyone, whether you have the means to pay out-of-pocket, or you need to leverage every option imaginable to make your degree a reality. No matter where you fall, always make sure you explore as many funding opportunities as possible, from the free ones (scholarships) to the ones you need to pay back (loans). Here are the five places you should look first:
What’s Next? After Earning Your DrPH Online
Many people who enter DrPH programs are working public health professionals looking to advance their careers, or to move into a specific career related to their current one. In some instances, students will choose to use the DrPH to open various doors to new jobs in a related field. Whichever bucket you fit into, it’s good to review your options so you can take your next educational step with confidence.
What can you do with an online DrPH?
Since the DrPH tends to focus strongly on leadership, it’s perfect for those who want to move the move to upper management or executive level in a variety of public health organizations. The jobs available for those with the DrPH can put individuals on the front lines of healthcare as a health program director, put them behind the scenes as an analyst, or even put them in a position that combines these very important positions. Here’s a look at a few of the many jobs available to those who earn this terminal degree.
How much can you make with a DrPH?
By the time a person earns their DrPH, they have been in the public health world for many years. That experience is one of the crucial points that affect a person’s salary in the field; the other is their level of education. When someone has earned the terminal degree, the years of experience begin to pile up and hopefully lead to better compensation. The following table shows the spectrum of salaries, based on education, experience, and location for various public health professions:
| Careers in Health | # Employed | Entry-Level | Early Career | Mid-Career | Experienced | Late Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Executives | 135,040 | $46,790 | $65,490 | $96,890 | $148,320 | – |
| Chief Executives | 16,790 | $79,870 | $113,520 | $173,770 | – | – |
| General and Operations Managers | 118,250 | $45,120 | $62,490 | $90,800 | $132,720 | $200,130 |
| Epidemiologists | 1,240 | $48,320 | $66,430 | $80,410 | $97,610 | $117,750 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 31,610 | $48,560 | $60,930 | $84,080 | $108,070 | $131,550 |
| Health Teachers, Postsecondary | 16,100 | $59,760 | $83,400 | $126,360 | $183,890 | – |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 11,900 | $60,140 | $89,920 | $140,070 | $192,260 | – |
Related Degrees
Those who want to boost their career in public health often look to the DrPH to do so, but there are other routes that might serve you just as well, if not better, depending upon your career goals. There’s also plenty of room to pivot into a related career with a second degree program. Let’s take a look at a few of the degree options that may be a good fit if you’re studying or working in public health.
Just as with the Doctor of Public Health, the PhD in the field is often pursued by mid-level or upper-level professionals who want to advance their career. However, the PhD tends to focus on preparing students for positions in research and academia. Graduates of the PhD in Public Health program often work in organizations devoted to researching public health matters, or wind up teaching at the university level.
Online Master’s in Public Health
Those who want to work hands-on in the public health world often opt for this master’s degree, which allows them to enter jobs with more responsibility in public health organizations. The master’s degree opens the door to the PhD or the DrPH, both of which can serve to help a graduate move into higher levels of their career. The master’s program is often chosen by those who have been working in the public health field and want to make it a permanent career choice.
