Best Online MPH Programs with No GRE Requirement

Several online MPH programs that are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) have eliminated the GRE requirement. These CEPH-accredited universities recognize that the test may not accurately reflect an applicant’s potential for success in graduate school. Instead of relying solely on standardized test scores, many of these programs have chosen to take a holistic review of applicants’ qualifications — including their academic and professional experience, letters of recommendation, and other application materials.By removing the GRE requirement, these programs aim to attract a more diverse pool of applicants and make graduate education more accessible to a broader range of candidates.

When searching for a program’s accreditation status, look at the program or school website. You’ll also find current accreditation information on CEPH’s List of Accredited Schools and Programs or the CEPH-accredited program search engine.

As the costs presented in the spotlights above indicate, the total price tags for online MPH no-GRE programs vary substantially, anywhere from the mid to upper $20,000s to the upper $40,000s or more. These figures are meant to provide a general estimate of what your program might cost, so it’s vital that you take the time to dig into the details for each MPH program you’re considering.

It’s also important that you take into account any financial aid money you receive when calculating your degree cost. When you factor in financial aid that doesn’t have to be paid back, you could be looking at paying a lot less money for your MPH degree than the published cost. To learn about the many types of potential resources available to help you pay for your no-GRE online MPH program, visit our Funding Your Online Master’s Degree guide.

Completion times for no-GRE online MPH programs vary. Most program lengths fall into the 1.5- to 2-year range for full-time students and the 2.5- to 3-year range for part-time students. There are exceptions, however. For example, the University at Buffalo’s Individualized MPH program offers a one-year accelerated format for exceptionally motivated students. At the opposite end of the spectrum, some programs feature generous maximum completion times (sometimes five years or more) for MPH students with particularly substantial work and personal obligations.

Programs may provide GRE waivers to applicants who meet certain conditions. Some programs may offer waivers for applicants with significant work experience, an advanced degree, or a high undergraduate GPA. Each program has its policies and criteria, so checking individual program requirements and contacting the admissions office to inquire about possible waivers is essential. One example is The University of Arizona, which waives the GRE requirement for applicants to some MPH concentrations if the applicant has five or more years of paid experience in public health. Also, many online MPH programs, including the University of Arizona, have been waiving their GRE requirements for all applicants since the arrival of COVID-19. Obtaining a waiver is not guaranteed, and applicants should be prepared to submit GRE scores if necessary.

You should only consider submitting scores if a program states that GRE scores are optional, and then only if your scores are good. Otherwise, you’re most likely better off not submitting them. GRE submittal policies, however, can get a bit confusing. For example, GRE scores aren’t required by the University of Michigan’s online MPH program. The program may accept them, but only to be used “to inform future use of standardized test scores in the admissions process.” In other words, GRE scores have no impact whatsoever on your chances of getting accepted into the program. If you’re thinking of submitting GRE scores, contact the program directly to find out if it’s worth the effort.