20 Best Accelerated MPH Programs
By Staff Writer

1 year mph programs

The accelerated MPH program is one of the key innovations of 21st-century healthcare. Today, as the world gets smaller and disease is more frequently caused by human action (and inaction), population health has emerged as the career of the future. The public health job market is exploding as the demand for qualified, well-prepared public health professionals grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for positions like Epidemiologist, Health Educator, and Medical/Health Services Managers is growing by leaps and bounds. While some professions are saturated, there is no shortage of jobs for MPH holders. And due to the demand, working professionals in all health-related fields, from doctors and nurses to researchers and teachers, are returning to school to earn MPH degrees. That’s where the accelerated MPH program becomes valuable.

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Choosing The Right Speed MPH Program

Many colleges and universities have developed accelerated MPH programs designed for working professionals in the public health field to get their MPH credentials quickly. Many of these programs are as short as 11 months, while others are less than a year and a half, helping students make an impact on public health in much shorter order. These challenging programs are generally intended specifically for students with ample work experience in the public health field, and who already have a master’s or doctorate degree in a related discipline.

How We Scored The Best Accelerated MPH Degrees

MPH Online has put together a ranking of the 20 Best Accelerated MPH Programs. Most of the colleges and universities ranked are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, the standard for public health program accreditation. Because of the intensive nature of an accelerated MPH, most of the programs are on-campus for support and mentorship, but some are available fully online.

Colleges and universities are ranked by three metrics, each evenly weighted one-third:

  • Reputation (overall U.S. News & World Report score)
  • Cost (from IPEDS)
  • Student Success

Programs Success criteria were assessed by providing a clear, easy-to-access reporting of their employment placement rate for graduates on their websites.

1. University of California, Berkeley – Berkeley, CA

The University of California, Berkeley, is California’s foremost public research university, and a nationally and internationally-recognized Public Ivy. As a UC system institution, Berkeley is not only great on its own, but part of the nation’s most prestigious public university system, with unparalleled opportunities and resources. The UC Berkeley School of Public Health is one of the world’s greatest, and oldest, public health schools, dating back to the university’s hygiene program of 1919. The public health school itself was founded in 1943, and today is the only top 10-ranked public health school independent of a medical school.

That near-century of experience and expertise informs UC Berkeley’s Accelerated MPH program. The 1-Year Interdisciplinary MPH Program is an accelerated 11-month program that is designed for working professionals. Berkeley’s program is built for diverse, mature students, who are prepared for the intensive work of 42 credit hours in only 11 months. Students must take 17-19 credits per semester, as well as summer semesters, to complete their degree between July and May. With Berkeley’s reputation on the job market, graduates can feel confident that their Berkeley accelerated MPH program will pay off with rewarding MPH jobs.

Published Employment Report: 95% 
Time to Completion: 11 months

2. Yale University – New Haven, CT

When we talk about the Ivy League – that catch-all term for excellence and elite education – we’re talking about Yale University. One of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution, Yale is the third-oldest university in America, and literally one of the models of American higher education. Yale’s School of Public Health is also one of the models of its form, founded in 1915 as one of the first designated public health programs in the nation. Today, over a century later, Yale’s School of Public Health is still a national and international leader, from its backyard in Connecticut to the farthest reaches of the world.

Yale’s accelerated MPH program allows working professionals with a high level of experience and expertise the opportunity to earn their MPH in just 11 months. Applicants to the Advanced Professional MPH Program should have a doctorate in a public health-related field, or a master’s or bachelor’s degree and significant work experience. Students take an intensive 7-week summer semester, then two full-time semesters, to make the 11-month mark. Concentrations include Health Policy, Global Health, and 4 more options. With the Yale name and connections, there is no doubt that the accelerated MPH program will have results, including a satisfying career in a job for MPH holders.

Published Employment Record: 93%
Time to Completion: 11 months

3. University of Florida – Gainesville, FL

Florida’s flagship public land, sea, and space-grant research university, the University of Florida is central to learning and research in the state. Founded in 1853, UF is one of the two preeminent universities in the state, and one of the South’s leading professional educators in health science, medicine, and public health. The UF College of Public Health and Health Professions became an independent division of the university in 1958, and is accredited as a comprehensive public health school by the CEPH, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

The University of Florida Accelerated MPH Program is intended for working professionals with ample experience in a field related to public health. The Accelerated MPH Program is only open to applicants who already have the highest degree in their field, either a doctorate or a master’s degree, and who want to add a specialized credential in public health to their career. Six concentrations include Biostatistics, Environmental Health, and Epidemiology. Students must also take a public health internship, and engage in original public health research to be presented at a Public Health Day event. With UF’s strong job placement record, UF students will find MPH jobs waiting for them at the end of the process.

Published Employment Record: 89%
Time to Completion: 1 year

4. Harvard University – Cambridge, MA

No American university, except maybe Yale, has the cultural influence and name recognition as Harvard University. It is the oldest college in the US, founded in 1636, and since that time Harvard has pioneered and innovated in virtually every single area of higher education, including public health. The Chan School of Public Health can trace its beginnings to the first stirring of public health as an academic pursuit in the early 20th century, and it became independent of the medical school in 1946. With a world-class interdisciplinary faculty, Harvard’s public health program is a model of the field.

Harvard had the nation’s first graduate-level public health program, and today, the Harvard accelerated MPH program is a fast option for well-prepared professionals. Applicants with a graduate degree (or 5 years of work experience in a public health field) have the opportunity to earn their MPH in just two semesters, or 1 year, of full-time study. Eight concentrations include Clinical Effectiveness, Health Management, and Quantitative Methods, among others. Harvard’s well-established medical complex and strong connections to the field mean MPH jobs come to graduates, not the other way around.

Published Employment Record: 88% 
Time to Completion: 1 year

5. Emory University – Atlanta, GA

Widely known as one of the Southern Ivies – the South’s elite private research universities that rival the Ivy League – Emory University is central to healthcare in Atlanta, GA, and the South in general. Emory was founded in 1836 to be Georgia’s most prestigious university, and Emory Healthcare is Georgia’s largest and most renowned medical system. With Emory Healthcare, the Emory University School of Medicine, and the Rollins School of Public Health, no other university in Georgia has more of an impact on public health and medical care in Georgia, and throughout the South, than Emory.

The Emory University accelerated MPH program draws on all of Emory’s interdisciplinary expertise in medicine, health sciences, and research. The 12-Month Accelerated MPH in Health Care Management is a specialized MPH degree focused on leadership in public health, including public policy, policy analysis, operations, and human resources. Current professionals in a health-related field can apply for this 42-credit accelerated program, which includes a practicum requirement and a capstone project. Graduates have access to Atlanta’s public health job market, including the Center for Disease Control and the Emory Medical Center – one of the world’s best locations for MPH jobs.

Published Employment Record: 89% 
Time to Completion: 12 months

6. Columbia University – New York, NY

New York’s oldest and most prestigious private research university, Columbia University is an Ivy League institution among the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution. Columbia helped shape New York City into what it is today, especially in medicine, nursing, and health sciences. The Mailman School of Public Health is one of the world’s most influential public health schools, and its MPH degree program is, for many other universities, the model of what a Master of Public Health degree should be. The Mailman School is widely ranked among the top public health schools worldwide and is U.S. News & World Report’s #5 nationally.

The Columbia University accelerated MPH program takes the much-imitated 2-year Columbia MPH and schedules a tight, efficient 1-year program for highly prepared, working professionals. Applicants must already have a doctorate degree in a related field, or a master’s degree and 5 years of work experience. Those who qualify, and demonstrate their ability to keep up with an intensive, demanding schedule, can complete their Columbia MPH program in just two full semesters, plus one May-July summer term. Few colleges know the MPH like Columbia, and the Mailman name and reputation – as well as the best connections in the world – make an MPH job a given for graduates.

Published Employment Record: 88% 
Time to Completion: 11 months

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7. New York University – New York, NY

New York University is one of the most renowned and trusted private research institutions in the world and a center of culture and life in New York City. Founded in 1931 in Greenwich Village, NYU is a world leader in every discipline, from literature and art to health sciences. NYU has been a major influence on the field of public health as well, since the founding of the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, dating back to 1938. Building on that long heritage of excellence, NYU opened the College of Global Public Health in 2015. This interdisciplinary college brings together many of NYU’s schools and colleges for the most current public health education.

The NYU accelerated MPH program is one of the most innovative and unique programs of its kind in the world. The Cross-Continental MPH is an intensive 1-year, 3-term, worldwide degree program that sends students around the world to 3 different NYU locations, including Washington, DC; Florence, Italy; and Abu Dhabi. This highly immersive global experience includes intensive practicum fieldwork and NYU’s top-tier professional development. With the NYU reputation, MPH graduates can expect access to the highest reaches of MPH jobs.

Published Employment Record: 97% 
Time to Completion: 1 year

8. The Dartmouth Institute – Hanover, NH

One of the Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution, and an Ivy League research university, Dartmouth College is one of America’s foremost liberal arts and sciences institutions. Dartmouth is also one of the premier institutions in the world for public health and policy, centered around the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice. From cutting-edge research to hands-on clinical work around the world, the Dartmouth Institute is dedicated to improving health outcomes and delivery for all.

The Dartmouth Institute’s accelerated MPH program allows students to join one of the world’s most prestigious public health centers for an 11-month MPH program. This highly immersive, hands-on on-campus program offers the benefits of small classes and a 12:1 student: faculty ratio for mentoring from some of the finest public health experts in the world. The accelerated MPH program runs from July to June in 4 10-week sessions, with students taking 4 or 5 classes at a time. The Dartmouth Institute’s national and global connections bring MPH jobs to the graduate.

Published Employment Record: 98% 
Time to Completion: 11 months

9. Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, MD

No university is more associated with medicine and the health sciences that Johns Hopkins University. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins defined the American research university as the first to focus on cutting-edge research alongside teaching. Johns Hopkins also pioneered medical and biomedical research, and the Johns Hopkins Medical School, Nursing School, and Public Health School are some of the most influential in the world. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health was founded in 1916, and has been the U.S. News & World Report #1 ranked public health school in the nation for over two decades.

The Bloomberg School offers Johns Hopkins’ accelerated MPH program, an 11-month July-May program designed for working professionals in the field. Twelve concentrations are available, including Health Systems and Policy, Global Environmental Sustainability and Health, and Epidemiology. The full program is 80 credits, completed in 5 intensive 8-week terms, including coursework and concentrations. While most courses will be taken at the Baltimore campus, students may also complete credits toward the MPH online. No name is more trusted in medicine and health than Johns Hopkins, making is one of the strongest programs for MPH jobs.

Published Employment Record: 97% 
Time to Completion: 11 months

10. Northwestern University – Chicago, IL

Founded in 1851, in what was then better known as the Northwest Territory, Northwestern University was a leading force in building Chicago and the surrounding area into a global metropolis. With its focus on urban research, Northwestern is one of the most prominent private research institutions in the nation, including the Feinberg School of Medicine. The Feinberg School dates back to 1851, and has long been one of the nation’s top research-intensive medical schools in the nation – ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report.

Northwestern’s accelerated MPH program is designed for working professionals in fields related to public health. Graduates are intended to work as bridges between their professions and the public health field, using expertise in data analytics to improve health on a local, national, and global level. Full-time students can complete the program in only 12 months, with concentrations in Community Health, Global Health, and Epidemiology as options. Applicants must have substantial work experience or a medical degree. Northwestern’s reputation gives graduates confidence and success on the market for MPH jobs, and nearly all graduates are employed within six months.

Published Employment Record: high 
Time to Completion: 12 months

11. Tufts University – Medford, MA

Tufts University was founded on innovation, from its beginning in 1852 as a rare example of a nonsectarian college, at a time when most colleges were religious in nature. It took another century for Tufts to make the leap from small New England liberal arts college to a major research university, but today Tufts is known as a world leader in areas like medicine and biomedical research. Tufts has been named a New Ivy by Newsweek, and regularly ranks in the top 50 national universities in U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The Tufts University accelerated MPH program is designed for straightforwardness and speed, and can be completed in as little as three semesters by full-time students. In Tufts’ system, each course is counted as 1 credit (though some are half a credit); the MPH degree requires 13 credits. An interdisciplinary degree, MPH students take courses in management and research along technical courses like biostatistics, epidemiology, and environmental health. With Tufts’ reputation across New England and nationwide, students will find themselves perfectly prepared for jobs for MPH holders.

Published Employment Record: 97% 
Time to Completion: 1 year

12. Boston University – Boston, MA

A top-tier, private research university in Boston, MA, Boston University was founded in 1839. One of the world’s most prestigious institutions, Boston University has been central to scientific, technological, and medical research for more than a century and a half. In particular, the BU School of Public Health is regularly ranked as one of the world’s best, making the most of Boston’s ideal location for public health. The home of the nation’s first municipal public health department, in the first state to offer universal healthcare, Boston, MA, offers an incredible wealth of partners for BU’s public health school from the government to nonprofit to research.

Boston University’s accelerated MPH program is a thorough, 48 credit hour curriculum that can be completed in as little as 16 months. Students work through a rigorous schedule of three full semesters of coursework (4 courses at a time) and one tuition-free summer practicum. Class times are flexibly scheduled to help working professionals maintain their jobs either part-time or full-time. With BU’s location and relationships throughout Boston and Massachusetts in general, BU students come out with an excellent opportunity to obtain a job for MPH graduates.

Published Employment Record: 93% 
Time to Completion: 16 months

13. Cornell University – Ithaca, NY

The largest of the Ivy League universities, and a rare private land-grant research institution, Cornell University is one of New York’s most influential colleges. Unlike the other Ivy Leagues, which were originally religious or liberal arts colleges, Cornell was built on comprehensive scientific, technology, and humanities research. Since its founding in 1865, Cornell has been a key part of medical and biomedical learning, practice, and research for New York. That includes a world-changing commitment to public health, one that draws on the interdisciplinary cooperation across Cornell’s many schools and colleges.

Cornell University’s accelerated MPH program is designed primarily for mid-career professionals in the public health field who either already have an advanced degree in a related area, or have a significant amount of relevant work experience. This 42-credit program can be shortened to as little as 36 credit for qualifying students, which can be completed in just 12 months, or three semesters. Building on a wide range of expertise from across disciplines, Cornell offers two concentrations: Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, or Food Systems for Health. The MPH job market will be welcoming to Cornell’s accelerated MPH program graduates.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 12 months

14. Southern New Hampshire University – Manchester, NH

Southern New Hampshire University was founded in 1932 as a small accounting and secretarial school, but that’s not the reason it has become a household name in the 21st century. That is due to SNHU’s early adoption of online education, beginning with its first programs in 1995. Getting out front of the competition to offer something other universities did not help SNHU grow into one of the largest online educators in the world, with more than 80,000 online students and more fully online programs that most universities offer on-campus. SNHU is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top regional universities, and one of the most innovative universities in the nation.

The Southern New Hampshire University accelerated MPH program is one of the few fully online, fully accredited accelerated MPH degrees anywhere. The SNHU online MPH program is designed around World Health Organization and Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) standards. Taking two courses at a time in intensive 10-week terms, well-prepared professionals can complete the MPH in just 15 months, with flexible scheduling for working adults. SNHU is known for its student support, and a wide base of partners and associates helps SNHU online MPH program students find their way into satisfying jobs for MPH graduates.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 15 months
Available Online

15. University of California, Davis – Davis, CA

Founded in 1905 as an agriculture school for the University of California, the University of California, Davis, has come a long way from its roots. By the 1950s, the farm school had become an independent part of the UC system and continued adding professional programs in a variety of disciplines throughout the 20th century. The UC Davis School of Medicine has been an especially crucial part of life in northern California, building a reputation for excellence since 1966. U.S. News & World Report, in particular, has ranked Davis’ medical programs among the best in the nation.

The UC Davis accelerated MPH program that works with cooperation from across Davis’ medical programs, including the medical school, veterinary school, law, nursing, and more. This 56 credit degree program prepares students for every aspect of public health, from administration and management to technical areas of statistics, epidemiology, and clinical practice. UC Davis has deep local and statewide connections throughout the healthcare system and gives graduates a strong advantage seeking jobs for MPH holders.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 1 year

16. George Washington University – Washington, DC

George Washington University was founded in 1821 to serve as a national university, according to President George Washington’s wishes expressed in his will. With its location in the nation’s capital, GWU is, not surprisingly, one of the most politically active and influential institutions in higher education. But besides preparing future bureaucrats, diplomats, and political leaders, GWU is also a critical medical educator, including one of the oldest medical schools, and one of the most connected public health schools, in the US.

It should come as no surprise that George Washington University, located so close to the halls of power, should be an important force in public health. The GWU accelerated MPH program comes from the world-renowned Milken Institute School of Public Health, offering students the access and opportunity of one of the most trusted public health schools. The intensive, 12-month online MPH program option uses the same curriculum as the traditional MPH, but condensed into a more demanding schedule. Accelerated students must be approved by the director, and cannot have another job. In return, students have GWU and the Milken Institute’s reputation to carry them on the MPH job market.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 12 months
Available Online

17. University of Miami – Miami, FL

The University of Miami dates back to 1925, when south Florida’s unprecedented development boom created the need for higher education for a sudden metropolis. In less than a century, UM has grown into one of the world’s foremost private research universities, crucial to life and learning in southern Florida. The Miller School of Medicine, especially, is a worldwide leader, coordinating the highest level of healthcare research, practice, and teaching. The Miller School is regularly ranked among the top medical schools in the nation, while UM consistently ranks in the top 50 U.S. News & World Report national universities.

The Miller School’s Department of Public Health Sciences offers the University of Miami’s accelerated MPH program. This highly competitive, highly intensive 12-month MPH degree is specifically designed for the urban environment of Miami, one of the most diverse cities in the US, and one of the most diverse universities in the nation. The program is carefully designed and scheduled in a lock-step curriculum for efficiency. In addition, community engagement and field research are written into the program, making the best possible use of UM’s setting, and giving students entry into jobs for MPH graduates in Florida and Miami.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 12 months

18. Florida International University – Miami, FL

Despite being founded in just 1965, Florida International University grew rapidly from a small extension campus to a top-tier national research university in just half a century. Today, FIU is the fourth-largest university in the US, and a deeply integrated part of life in the greater Miami-Dade metropolitan area. The Stempfel College of Public Health & Social Work is one of the academic divisions growing in reputation, with CEPH-accredited programs and strong connections throughout Florida’s healthcare system.

FIU’s accelerated MPH program is a 1-year course of study designed specifically for pre-med students and working professionals already in a field related to public health. Applicants must score higher than the 75th percentile in the GREs, or be exempt from the GRE, and be approved by the admissions committee. Four concentrations are available in the accelerated format: Environmental & Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Health Policy & Management, and Health Promotion & Disease Prevention. With FIU’s stellar reputation throughout Miami and Florida, as well as nationwide, accelerated MPH program graduates enter one of the largest, most robust MPH job markets in the nation.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 1 year

19. Florida A&M University – Tallahassee, FL

Florida A&M University is a unique institution. Founded in 1887 as Florida’s African-American land-grant university, Florida A&M built on its foundations in agriculture and mechanical engineering to become one of the most prominent HBCUs in the nation. A major research university, Florida A&M is ranked the #1 public HBCU by U.S. News & World Report, and also the top HBCU for research expenditures according to the National Science Foundation. Florida A&M is a critical part of Florida’s history and higher education landscape.

The School of Graduate Studies and Research offers the Florida A&M accelerated MPH program, the only fully online MPH program at an HBCU. The only HBCU in Florida, Florida A&M’s online MPH is an important part of closing the gap in African-American public health experts. It is also the only public health program offered by a College of Pharmacy, and that unique combination of expertise makes Florida A&M’s online MPH program exceptional. With a focus on the public health needs of underprivileged and underserved populations, the accelerated MPH program from Florida A&M is not just about jobs for MPH graduates, but public health transformation.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 1 year
Available Online

20. Thomas Jefferson University – Philadelphia, PA

Thomas Jefferson University dates back to 1825, with a medical school opened in Philadelphia by Jefferson College to compete with the dominant University of Pennsylvania. Over nearly two centuries, TJU has grown into a significant part of Philadelphia’s healthcare system, from medicine and nursing to management and public health, including the first medical school-affiliated hospital. Today, the merger of Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University has opened up possibilities for the future of research and learning, especially in public health.

The Jefferson College of Population Health offers the Thomas Jefferson University accelerated MPH program. The LEAP Pathway is part of a national initiative to increase and improve public health leadership and research. The LEAP program provides pre-healthcare students the opportunity to take a gap year and increase their credentials to an MPH degree, focusing on leadership, epidemiology, policy, and wellness. Students have a number of requirements beyond coursework, including student seminars, monthly and annual forums, and volunteership, all of which make graduates into strong contenders on the MPH job market.

Published Employment Record: N/A
Time to Completion: 10 months