For working public health professionals who want to move into higher positions, a doctorate in public health is a major step. Today, public health schools generally offer either a PhD (a more research-oriented doctorate) or a DrPH (a more professional-oriented doctorate). Universities and colleges that offer a public health doctorate program often do so in several different concentrations so that students have several options to choose from. In order for you to choose the right one, you will need to make some profound decisions when it comes to what you want in terms of your career. You should also look at whether or not an online Doctorate in Public Health is offered as well. CEPH accreditation is also essential.
Choosing your college and particular concentration is a personal decision and one that you will have to work with. If you are already working in the career of your choice, your next step should be very easy. This involves understanding the goals you have and then finding the doctorate degree program that provides you with the type of coursework, skills, and resources you need to move on. Everyone has different goals and must choose a path that works for them.
How We Ranked the Top Public Health PhD Programs
There’s no use getting a public health doctorate that doesn’t help you advance in your career, so MPHOnline editors focus exclusively on accredited, trusted institutions with a history of excellence. Programs are ranked based on their cost, reputation, and salary potential, using data from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and Niche. Both online and campus programs are included.
1. Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health
Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health is one of the top public health PhD programs to consider if you are seeking a graduate degree. A&M offers two graduate doctorate programs with three core concentrations. Students may choose from Epidemiology & Environmental Health (66 credits) or Health Promotion & Community Health Sciences (54 credits). Both majors are strongly influenced with rural public health issues in mind. Texas A&E has a 10-15% acceptance rate with an average of 15 doctoral students beginning the PhD program each year. Class ratios are 20:1. Average GRE scores are 156 verbal, 164 quantitative, and 4.0 in writing.
Texas A&M is a public research university that was founded in 1876. With the largest student body in Texas and one of the largest nationally, Texas A&M has over 53,000 students with 200 in the PhD of Public Health program. Texas A&M Health Center ranks #37 in US News & World Reports as the best school to receive a doctorate in Public Health.
Degree: DrPH – 2 concentrations
Format: Campus
2. UCLA – Fielding School of Public Health
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health offers one of the top PhD programs in Public Health. UCLA’s Public Health doctorate program offers five areas of concentration: Environmental Health Sciences, Health Policy Management, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Community Health Sciences. All five areas of concentration offer courses in current and needed areas of study such as water quality, emerging global disease prevention, and problem solving current issues through biostatistics. Over 800 students apply to UCLA’s Public Health doctorate with an acceptance rate of 35%. Application deadline for the fall of next year is December 1st. Students that apply require records of GRE general test and a GPA of 3.0.
UCLA’s Center of Health Sciences is located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles and was founded in 1961. The total student population at the Fielding School of Public Health is 690 with a class ratio or 18:1. UCLA consistently receives high praise as a college overall, and especially in the Public Health Department. US News & World Report has voted them the #1 public institution for several years in a row and they are also rated as the #11 Best School for Public Health. The Fielding School of Public Health has 15 public research centers to advance your studies through the promotion of education, discovery, and service.
Degree: DrPH – 5 concentrations
Format: Campus
3. UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of North Carolina’s School of Global Public Health designed an Executive Doctoral Program in Health Leadership that is specifically for working professionals in middle to senior level careers in public health. UNC’s School of Global Health is known as the best doctor of public health programs in the US. In fact, it ranks #2 in schools for public health in US News & World Reports. Students must apply by February 1 to be accepted into the Fall term. The first two years of the degree require completing all coursework with three visits to campus. Dissertations are started after this and typically take 1-3 years. The acceptance rate into UNC School of Public Health is 44%. Students must complete the GRE General Test, Comp Exam, and present Thesis upon entrance into the program.
UNC at Chapel Hill was founded in 1797 and it is the nation’s first public university. The School of Public Health is known as one of the best in the nation. UNC is also rated an overall #5 by US News & World Reports as one of the best public universities in the nation. Although UNC has a student body of 30,000+, the Public Health Department has awarded 95 public health doctorate degrees from this prestigious college.
Degree: Executive DrPH
Format: Online
4. University of Texas Health Science Center
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health offers one of the top public health PhD programs in the state. UTH is known for having one of the largest medical centers in the world with over six schools, including their School of Public Health. The Austin campus houses the PhD program while the Houston office houses the DrPH program. The PhD program has five areas of concentration that focus on public health research. Applicants should have a Master’s in behavioral or social science. The degree takes 3-5 years to complete with a minimum of 54 credits. The fields offered include Behavioral Sciences & Health Promotion, Biostatistics, Environmental Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Economics/Health Services Research, and Healthcare Management/Health Policy.
UTHealth is a public health science center that was created in 1972. Prospective students of the public health program must apply by February 1st for Fall and July 1st for Spring. Students are reviewed on a first-come/first-served basis, so it is important to apply as soon as possible. Students must have a 3.0 GPA and GRE scores. The acceptance rate is 55-60% each year. Students should expect to hear back in approximately 6-8 weeks regarding the final decision of admittance.
Degree: DrPH – 4 concentrations
Format: Campus
5. University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health
The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health offers 11 areas of concentration in one of the top public health PhD programs in the nation. Prospective students must have a Bachelor’s degree, MCAT (no GRE required) and a 3.0 GPA on their last 60 credit hours that they have taken.Students apply through AMSCA and are contacted by UWSMPH for a secondary application that must be finished by December 1st for admission the next Fall. The acceptance rate at UWSMPH is 54% with a class ratio of 17:1. The 10 concentrations in Public Health include: Biomedical Data Science, Cancer Biology, Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Clinical Investigation, Endocrinology, Epidemiology, Medical Physics, Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, Molecular & Environmental Toxicology, Neuroscience, Physiology, and Population Health.
UWSMPH is one of only two medical schools in Wisconsin, and the only public medical university. The Health Sciences Learning Center is located on the West End of UW-Madison with the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research. UWSMPH’s research grants account for 40% of all grants received at UW-Madison, making it a very active research and education school.
Degree: PhD – 10 concentrations
Format: Campus
6. University of Georgia School of Public Health
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at the University of Georgia College of Public Health in Athens, GA, is an advanced professional degree and known as one of the top PhD programs in Public Health. UGACPH is known for its high standards and innovative methods that are geared especially for senior level public health practice careers. Prospective students must complete a SOPHAS application and send official transcripts of every institution attended there. Students must also submit three letters of recommendation, Resume/CV, statement of purpose, and complete a personal interview. The DrPH requires a Master of Public Health or an equivalent degree. The doctorate programs at UGA have an acceptance rate of 54%.
UGA was founded in 1785 and is considered a very selective public university. UGACPH officially opened in 2005, combining several environmental science areas to make up two new departments: Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Health Policy & Management. Since then, they have opened an innovative branch called the Institute for Public Health.
Degree: DrPH
Format: Campus
7. Ohio State University College of Public Health
The Ohio State University College of Public Health offers a PhD that is one of the most highly respected and best doctor of public health programs in the nation. OSU College of Public Health offers concentrations in Biostatistics, Environmental Public Health, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior & Health Promotion. The College of Public Health is considered extremely selective with an 11% acceptance rate. The average GPA of grad school students is 3.72. Prospective applicants must submit their overall GPA and Science GPA separately. Applicants apply through ASCMA with 3 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, GPAs, and MCAT scores. Students are highly encouraged to have some clinical experience, too.
OSU College of Medicine and Public Health can trace their roots back to 1834. Their hospital, Ohio State University Hospital is ranked as one of the top 20 hospitals in US News & World Reports. Alumni of OSU College of Public Health are nationally recognized for their contributions in research and education.
Degree: PhD – 5 concentrations
Format: Campus
8. University of Minnesota School of Public Health
If you want to attend one of the top PhD programs in Public Health, the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health is considered highly prestigious. UM’s Public Health Doctorate has four different areas of concentration: Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Health Services Research, Policy & Administration. Each department may have different requirements, but prospective students can expect to submit their GPA, GRE, and personal essay through SOPHAS. The average GPA of students in the doctorate program is 3.84. You are not expected to have a Masters, but it does help. If you don’t get accepted into the PhD program without a Masters degree, you will automatically be considered for admissions into the master’s program. Acceptance rate is 25%. To be admitted in Fall, priority funding deadline is December 1st with a Final Deadline of February 1st.
University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health was founded in 1844, but public health courses have been offered since it was founded in 1874. They rank really well with several respected organizations. Notably, they are #9 in Best School for Public Health in US News & World Report and #2 in Healthcare Administration.
Degree: PhD – 4 concentrations
Format: Campus
9. University of Michigan School of Public Health
The University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School of Public Health offers a PhD in Public for professional graduate students. The graduate school has a 58% acceptance rate. Requirements include SOPHAS application form and essay, reflective essay, GRE General Test, MCAT, defense of dissertation, preliminary exam, letters of recommendations, and all school transcripts. The PhD in Public Health usually extends past six semesters of a Master’s Degree in your chosen area of concentration which could include Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Health Policy, or Nutrition. The rate of acceptance is 58%
The University of Michigan School of Public Health is the oldest public health school in the country. It was founded in 1941. UM SPH is located next to the college’s medical campus. Ann Arbor is considered one of the best places to live in the country because of its small-town appeal within a large urban area. They rank #4 in US News & World Reports for Best Public Health School in America.
Degree: PhD
Format: Campus
10. University of Maryland School of Public Health
The University of Maryland School of Public Health offers one of the best doctor of public health programs in the nation. Students may choose to apply to eight different areas of study, including Environmental Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Family Science, Maternal & Child Health, Health Services, Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, and Behavioral & Community Health. Prospective students may apply through SOPHA or directly to the school, depending on the area of concentration. Transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and a resume are required for admittance. Acceptance rate is 44.5% for graduate school programs.
University of Maryland is a public university that was founded on 60 acres in 1807. It is now ranked as one of the top colleges to study Public Health. They have over 230 graduate programs with 11,000+ graduate students enrolled.
Degree: PhD – 8 concentrations
Format: Campus
11. SUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health
The SUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health’s Doctor of Public Health program is considered a part-time degree that allows for 2 classes per semester while working in the public health industry. Students are advised to set aside 8 years towards study. It is one of the top PhD programs in public health largely due to the medical center that serves over 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. The degree requires 45 credits of completion with a 12 hour dissertation. Application deadline is May 31st for Fall semester but has been extended to July 31st in 2020. Applicants must turn in 3 letters of recommendation, a standardized test, all previous attendance of college transcripts, and a personal statement. Students must have a prior GPA of 3.5 and the acceptance rate is 49.3%.
SUNY Downstate is a public medical school with over 85 graduate programs ranked as the best in the US. The university boasts a 2:1 student/teacher ratio. There are over 8,000 faculty and staff members at the state hospital and 1,846 graduate students. SUNY ranks #8 in graduates that teach at an American medical school. Their residency program is the 16th largest in America, and they are the fourth largest employer in Brooklyn.
Degree: DrPH
Format: Campus
12. University of California, Irvine
When you want one of the top PhD programs in public health, the University of California, Irvine Public Health PhD is a major contender in the state of California and the whole nation. UCI Public Health doctorates are very selective with an acceptance rate of 36.5%. Students that apply usually have a GPA of 4.0. Expect to be at the top of the class when you apply here.The PhD program has 2 areas of concentration: Global Health or Disease Prevention, which are some of the most sought-out majors in Public Health. Most students spend close to 6 years completing their degree. Applicants must apply through both UCI and SOPHAS. The minimum GPA to apply is 3.0, and most other requirements of a graduate degree application apply, bearing in mind that meeting their bare minimum doesn’t guarantee entrance. Deadline for Fall quarter is December 1.
UCI is a rigorous and cutting-edge research university. They have 64 doctorate degrees, of which 44 are ranked in the top 25 of Academic Analytics. Their accolades go on and on. Most notably, they place in the top 10 of public universities with US News & World Reports.
Degree: PhD – 2 concentrations
Format: Campus
13. University of Washington School of Public Health
The University of Washington’s School of Public Health is one of the most prestigious and top programs in Public Health to aspire for admittance. They have an acceptance rate of 40.48%. UW SPH offers 10 areas of concentration in their doctoral programs, including; Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Hygiene, Environmental Toxicology, Epidemiology, Global Health Metrics & Implementation Science, Health Services, Nutritional Sciences, Pathobiology, Statistical Genetic Pathways, and Public Health Genetics. Admission requirements are 3 letters of recommendation, GRE, transcripts, and personal statement.
The Pacific Northwest has one School of Public Health and it is University of Washington’s. It is a top tier school for research, which makes it ideal for a doctoral program in public health. In-state tuition is one of the most affordable on the West Coast, making admissions to the program highly competitive. UW SPH is one of the top 5 Public Health graduate schools according to US News & World Reports.
Degree: PhD – 10 concentrations
Format: Campus
14. Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health
The Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health offers one of the top PhD programs in public health in the nation. IU SPH-Bloomington is considered very selective with an acceptance rate of 33%. The DrPh Program in Global Health Leadership is a 3-year degree that is offered online with 3 campus visits per year and classes given virtually in real-time face-to-face interaction. The degree is intended for mid to upper level professionals working full time jobs in the public health sector. Prospective students with a master’s degree are preferred. Applications deadlines are rotated bi-annually with a deadline of December 15 for Fall and September 1 for Spring. The doctorate requires 38 credit hours with a 9-hour dissertation. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA, transcripts from all colleges, 3 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, resume, and an interview via distance.
IU-Bloomington is considered a “Public Ivy” university and was founded in 1820. They now have over 40,000+ students and are ranked among the top 50 public universities. Bloomington was rated by VentureBeat as the 7th smartest city in America and the 5th best city for educated millennials by College Ranker. It has a large LGBTQ population. As far as college towns go, this city will be one that graduate students will love visiting or may even decide to live in forever.
Degree: DrPh in Global Health Leadership
Format: Campus
15. University of South Florida College of Public Health
The University of South Florida College of Public Health offers a DrPH online degree from one of the best doctor of public health programs. Their current acceptance rate is 54%. Fall deadline to apply is May 1st. Spring deadline to apply is June 15th. All applicants must take the GRE General test, have a 3.0 in upper-level course work, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, writing sample, and a resume. The DrPH degree is a distance learning degree offered in fall, spring and summer. Students can choose to take online or on-campus classes. The class ratio is 22:1. Areas of concentration include, Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health or Public Health & Clinical Laboratory Science & Practice,
USF is a public research university founded in 1956. The School of Public Health opened in 1984. USF has 14 colleges on campus with over 130 graduate programs offered. USF School of Public Health is considered a very high research activity. They also rank 10th worldwide in the number of US patents granted.
Degree: DrPH
Format: Online
16. University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health offers one of the top public health PhD programs in the South. The degree is made for working professionals that have a master’s degree in public health or something closely related. If a prospect’s master’s doesn’t meet SPH standards, they will have to take the MPH prerequisite courses before receiving DrPH approval. Students with a Bachelor’s degree must have excelled in academics and have a rich professional experience before accepted. They will also have to complete MPH core requirements first. Acceptance rate to UAB School of Public Health is very selective at 17%. Students should complete the program within 7 years and may be subject to dismissal within 5 years if they’ve fallen too far behind the required 42 credit hours. Prospective students must submit their entrance exam GRE scores taken within 5 years of applying, thesis, and a resume/CV.The DrPH program offers three tracks: Outcomes Research, Health Care Organization & Policy, and Maternal & Child Health. Fall deadline is April 1st. Spring deadline is November 1st.
UAB is a public research university that was established in 1936. The UAB Health System is one of the largest academic medical centers in the US. UAB is the largest employer in the state and many alumni have done their residency here and go on to work in the medical center as faculty or staff.
Degree: DrPH
Format: Campus
17. Rutgers University School of Public Health
The Rutgers University School of Public Health offers a PhD in Public Health with five areas of concentration: Biostatistics, Environmental & Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Health Systems & Policy, and Social & Behavioral Health Sciences. The graduate program is considered one of the best doctor of public health programs because of the rigorous standards that it upholds for admittance. Public Health majors are expected to have experience in the field. Admission requirements are met through an application at SOPHAS. Keep in mind that Rutgers is highly competitive and meeting the requirements of SOPHAS does not guarantee a spot into the graduate program.
Rutgers University is one of the oldest “colonial” colleges in America, founded in 1766. They are a public land-grant college. Their School of Public Health is rated #32 in America. Fortune 500 claims that Rutgers produces the 10th most CEOs nationally. Students are expected to complete 72 hours with 24 hours dedicated to research and dissertation. Students must qualify for candidacy by their 3rd year and have 9 years to complete the program. Every student must be a teacher’s assistant to graduate. Fall and Spring conferences are held to discuss trending and important issues in Public Health that all students must attend.
Degree: PhD
Format: Campus
18. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health offers one of the top public health PhD programs in the US. The DrPH has 5 areas of concentration: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Population & Family Health, and Sociomedical Sciences. The acceptance rate into Columbia’s SPH program is 60%, which isn’t as competitive as some of the schools listed here; however, prospective students still average a GPA of 3.4 even though to apply a 3.0 GPA is acceptable. All MPH core curriculum is a prerequisite to being accepted into the DrPH program. Depending on your area of concentration, admissions may be different. For example, Biostatistics requires 3 years of calculus while Environmental Health Statements requires a personal statement of purpose.
Columbia’s SPH was founded in 1918 under a school of epidemiology. Since then, they expanded to public health in 1945. In 2015, Columbia’s SPH broke into the top 5 Best Schools for Public Health according to US News & World Reports. Columbia University has 1,400+ students in the Public Health graduate program and the school is one of the largest recipients for sponsored research in the public health sector.
Degree: DrPH – 5 concentrations
Format: Campus
19. University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health
University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health offers one of the top PhD programs in public health in Texas. Their graduate degree has two areas of concentration: Epidemiology or Health Behavior Research. Both degrees require a thesis and supervised internship. You may apply with a Bachelor’s but a Master’s in Public Health is preferred. The minimum GPA accepted is 3.5, but the average GPA of students accepted into the program is 3.8+. Students that apply are accepted at a rate of 59%. July 1st is the deadline for Fall approval. If selected, you will be invited to an interview. Students must also apply through SOPHAS and meet all the requirements including a personal essay, 3 letters of recommendation, and transcripts.
University of North Texas Health Science Center of Public Health is a top public medical school that was established in 1970. Students are expected to complete their graduate degree in 3-5 years and take 9 hours of credit each semester. Students may not take employment outside of the school. The school has a vibrant city location in the DFW area along with a low cost of living and plenty of employment opportunities. UNT Health Science Center ranks #89 in Best Schools for Public Health by US News & World Reports.
Degree: PhD – 2 concentrations
Format: Campus
20. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center is known for one of the best doctor of public health programs in the US. LSU’s Health Sciences offers 3 concentrations in Public Health: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Behavioral & Community Health. Admissions for each concentration vary slightly, but all students are encouraged to obtain their MPH, present 3 letters of recommendation, make a personal goal statement letter, and provide all transcripts. LSU’s School of Public Health has an acceptance rate of 67%, yet it is ranked #62 for Best Schools for Public Health by US News & World Reports.
LSU’s Health Sciences Center of New Orleans is a public university and part of six of the LSU System colleges. The Medical School was founded in 1931. Since then, it has been through ups and downs, but after Hurricane Katrina, they rebuilt the Health Sciences Center with $1.1B in funding to open a state-of-the-art medical center. The facility is one of the biggest parts of New Orleans’ biomedical research corridor.
Degree: PhD – 3 concentrations
Format: Campus
21. Emory University – Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health is known as #5 in best doctor of public health programs by US News & World Reports. Emory has 6 areas of concentration, including Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, Health Services Research and Health Policy, Nutrition and Health Sciences. Acceptance rate into the Rollins School of Public Health is 11%, making it very selective. While each department has individual admission requirements, one can expect to submit a resume/CV, transcripts, statement of purpose, writing sample, standardized test scores and letters of reference.
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health was founded in 1990 and has 150 graduate students. They are closely affiliated with the CDC based in Atlanta along with very prestigious public health centers and institutions.
Degree: PhD – 6 concentrations
Format: Campus
22. New York University Global Institute of Public Health
One of the top public health PhD programs is at New York University’s Global Institute of Public Health. NYU-GPH’s program is rated #37 by US News & World Reports and has an acceptance rate of 70%. Applicants must complete the SOPHAS application and apply to the school with a resume/CV, all official college transcripts, writing sample 5-15 pages, personal statement, letters of recommendation and official GRE scores. Application deadline for the Fall semester is December 2nd. Students must select an area of concentration in Epidemiology, Public Health Policy & Management, or Social & Behavioral Sciences.
NYU is located in Greenwich Village and is a private research university. It is known for having very prestigious alumni, including 37 Nobel Laureates, 30 Academy Award winners, over 30 Pulitzer Prize winners and many other notable alumni.
Degree: PhD
Format: Campus
23. University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
The University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health is one of the top PhD programs in public health and ranks as #19 in Best Schools of Public Health by US News & World Reports. The program is offered online with a required annual summer session. The program is 96 semester hours with an additional 5-hour practicums for those without experience. The degree is ideal for mid-management professionals wanting to advance their degree. Applicants should have a 3.3 GPA and submit GRE scores, letters of recommendation, personal statement, work experience, and college transcripts. Upon invitation, prospects will be personally interviewed. Acceptance rate into the graduate program is 53%.
University of Illinois at Chicago is an exclusive state research institution that began its program with an emphasis in health in the 19th century. They currently have 31,000+ students with only 230 enrolled in the School of Public Health.
Degree: DrPH
Format: Online
24. West Virginia University School of Public Health
West Virginia University School of Public Health is a one of the top public health PhD programs offered to online graduate students. Three areas of concentration include Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. All applicants must first complete the SOPHAS application. Upon acceptance of SOPHAS, a WVU Graduate Application is required.
West Virginia University School of Public Health is in a small town setting in Morgantown, WV. The program began in 2011 and is the only public health program offered in West Virginia. US News & World Reports ranks it in the top 100 Public Schools.
Degree: PhD
Format: Online
25. Loma Linda University School of Public Health
The Loma Linda University School of Public Health is considered one of the best doctor of public health programs in the US. Loma Linda offers several PhD programs in public Health including Health Education, Health Policy and Leadership, and Preventive Care. The program is designed for working professionals to enter senior level positions after a 3-5 year rigorous program. GRE scores must be in the upper 40% with relevant field experience.
Loma Linda University is a private school associated with Seventh-day Adventists and was founded in 1905. They have over six different hospitals on their Southern California campus. The School of Public Health was established in 1978. The School of Public Health ranks #56 in US News & World Reports along with several other high rankings in the medical field.
Degree: DrPH – 3 concentrations
Format: Online
Should I Get a Doctorate in Public Health?
Students who want to pursue a Doctorate in Public Health can choose to work in a variety of industries. Both science and health care industries offer positions that could use the expertise of a graduate with a doctorate in Public Health, from a microbiologist in a science lab to a dietitian in a school or hospital setting. Nurses and physicians who work within the Public Health Department release statements about public health concerns, like disease outbreaks potential health threats that have to do with the public’s water supply. Administrative positions in organizations like the CDC will definitely be in reach with a doctorate.
Deciding to earn a Doctorate in Public Health will result in many benefits. First and foremost, job security is a priority for many individuals who work in the public health field. Secondly, the opportunity to advance is always available. If you have reached the top managerial position in your particular area, then you can choose to pursue employment in another sector and using your current career experience as a bargaining chip. Either way, earning your Public Health Doctorate is the best way to put your career on the right path.
Can I Get a Public Health Doctorate Online?
Public Health doctorate programs can be found online that provide the same in-depth education as a traditional classroom. Individuals who are moving on to earn their Doctorate in Public Heath degree, will often choose an online class program for the convenience it offers. Those who already work forty hours a week find it very hard to work at their job and attend a classroom setting. With online doctorate programs, students can attend their online classes at their own convenience or in between shifts at work. Hands-on experience is extremely valuable, especially when working with the public on any level. The hands-on experience that is received while working is also beneficial when completing some of the online coursework.
Online doctorate programs in Public Health offer students unique opportunities for advancement in various professions. Colleges and universities that offer online doctorate programs in Public Health make sure that students who use that platform have the exact same learning opportunities as those students who have enrolled in the school’s traditional classroom setting. Online courses are taught by professionals who have been in their chosen careers. In an online setting, faculty members work to make themselves more accessible outside of the traditional coursework.
How Much Can I Make with a Doctorate in Public Health?
The salary for a doctoral graduate with a degree in public health normally averages around $60,000 a year. Some degree programs have lower than average salaries while others have average salaries that are well in excess of $150,000 a year. Most of these high paying positions are in upper management or in organizations where public health issues and policies are addressed on a government level. The more experience a person has in different levels of the industry the more opportunities they will receive once they have received their degree.
The salary for a graduate with a doctorate in Public Health will depend on a wide variety of factors. Experience plays a huge role in how much a person earns when they first start out and how much they receive in raises or incentives. Another factor is the degree they have earned. A Bachelor’s or Masters will not get the same salary advantage as someone who has a Doctorate degree or higher. The salary earned by a doctoral graduate is greatly dependent on the company but the candidates’ credentials will speak for themselves.
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