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Best Online MPH Programs with No GRE Requirement

See how you can earn a master’s in public health (MPH) from one of 2024’s top accredited online programs without the hassle of taking the GRE.

If you’re thinking about earning your master’s in public health (MPH) but not looking forward to taking the graduate records examinations (GRE), you’ll be happy to know that more grad schools are scrapping the test as an admissions requirement. On top of less stringent admissions, many MPH programs are now offered in a convenient and flexible online format.

To help you find no-GRE MPH programs that are high-quality and affordable, we’ve surveyed accredited universities throughout the U.S. Below, we’ve identified online MPH programs that you can apply to without the time and expense of taking the GRE. We’ve also included detailed information on the admissions requirements for no-GRE MPH degrees and answered common questions about these programs. Read on to find the no-GRE online Master of Public Health program that’s right for you.

Top 50 No-GRE MPH Programs Offered Online in 2024

We’ve put together the following list of the top 50 online Master of Public Health degrees with no GRE requirement to help you find a quality program and achieve your career goals. Selections are based on official data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

Our top picks were carefully evaluated for key program elements, including accreditation, affordability, student-to-teacher ratios, total number of online students enrolled, and more. Click on “About the Ranking” below to learn more about how rankings were calculated.

About the ranking
1
Greenville, North Carolina
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

East Carolina University’s Master of Public Health program prepares students to meet the growing need for public health professionals who want to seek careers where they can improve the well-being of diverse populations and their healthcare systems. Through research and practice-based knowledge, students gain real-world experience. Coursework covers topics such as principles of health behavior, ethics and law, epidemiology, and more. Students choose from three concentrations: epidemiology; health policy, administration and leadership; or community health and health behavior. The program offers flexibility, with the choice to take classes fully online through distance education, and, if desired, take some classes (about one-third of coursework) in person in a face-to-face format.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 45
  • Length: Two years
  • Mode: Online or in person
  • Accreditation: CEPH

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
2
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

The Master of Public Health program at IU Indianapolis provides students with a broad foundation that prepares them to obtain a career in public health practice, pursue further graduate studies, or enhance their clinical career. Program faculty are from a variety of disciplines and are policymakers, community activists, and groundbreaking researchers. Students choose from one of five concentrations: epidemiology, health policy & management, interdisciplinary public health studies, public health informatics, or social & behavioral sciences. Offering online, in-person, hybrid, and full- or part-time options, students can build a program that works for their personal commitments and professional goals. There is also an accelerated online program that can be completed in as few as 15 months.

Program Highlights:

Master of Public Health

  • Credits: 45
  • Length: Varies
  • Mode: Online, hybrid, or in person
  • Accreditation: CEPH

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
3
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$

Through a strong foundation in research methods, epidemiology, and biostatistics, Carolina University’s Public Health Master of Science is designed for students looking to pursue careers as practitioners and researchers. Graduates will be prepared to communicate with the public using public health-specific communication and technology tools, integrate and apply their public health knowledge, address community needs and assist in solving public health problems, and more. Coursework covers topics such as epidemiology, health promotion and intervention, immunology, global public health, and environmental and occupational epidemiology. The program culminates in a capstone project.

Program Highlights:

Public Health Master of Science

  • Credits: 48
  • Length: Two years
  • Mode: Online or in person
  • Accreditation: TRACS

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation TRACS
4
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
5
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
6
Columbia, South Carolina
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
7
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
8
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation WSCUC
9
San Angelo, Texas
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
10
Huntsville, Alabama
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
11
Springfield, Illinois
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
12
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
13
Gainesville, Florida
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
14
Anchorage, Alaska
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NWCCU
15
Beaumont, Texas
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
16
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
17
San Marcos, Texas
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
18
Livonia, Michigan
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
19
Lynchburg, Virginia
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
20
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
21
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NEASC
22
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
23
Type:
Private for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
24
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
25
Dekalb, Illinois
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
26
Bronx, New York
Type:
Private for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation MSCHE
27
San Diego, California
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation WSCUC
28
Chicago, Illinois
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
29
Brockport, New York
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation MSCHE
30
Nashua, New Hampshire
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
31
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
32
Augusta, Georgia
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
33
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
34
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
35
Terre Haute, Indiana
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
36
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
37
Vermillion, South Dakota
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
38
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
39
Norfolk, Virginia
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
40
Boston, Massachusetts
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
41
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
42
Columbia, Missouri
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
43
Riverside, California
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation WSCUC
44
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
45
Memphis, Tennessee
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation SACSCOC
46
Flagstaff, Arizona
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
47
Manchester, New Hampshire
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NECHE
48
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC
49
Missoula, Montana
Type:
Public
Cost:
$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation NWCCU
50
University Center, Michigan
Type:
Public
Cost:
$$

School Services & Accreditation

Career Services Yes
Academic Counseling Yes
Accreditation HLC

Admissions: How to Get Into a No-GRE Online MPH Program

Whichever online MPH, no-GRE programs you’re interested in, you’ll probably apply to through SOPHAS, a centralized application service used by most U.S. public health schools. SOPHAS makes it easy to apply to one or several MPH programs by allowing you to submit your information and supporting materials only once. You’ll still need to meet the specific application and admissions requirements for each individual MPH program, but you’ll find that most programs share several requirements the same as or similar to the following:

  • Previously Earned Degree

  • To be eligible for any no-GRE online MPH program, the applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or its international equivalent, as determined by the program. While some schools may require a prior degree in a public health-related major, most programs accept applicants regardless of their previous field of study. However, applicants without a public health degree may need to complete one or more undergraduate courses in public health to meet admission requirements.

  • Undergrad Grade Point Average (GPA)

  • Almost all no-GRE MPH online program admissions requirements include a minimum cumulative grade point average for the applicant’s undergraduate coursework. The minimum varies by program, but the most common is a 3.0 GPA. It’s important to note that many programs accommodate applicants with a lower undergrad GPA providing they meet other requirements. For example, applicants to the IUPUI program must submit GRE scores in lieu of the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. Other programs, such as the University of Florida program spotlighted above, may waive the minimum GPA requirement at the admissions committee’s discretion.

  • Letters of Recommendation

  • A minimum of three letters of recommendation submitted directly to SOPHAS are required. Don’t underestimate the importance of good letters of recommendation, as they’re often the determining factor for acceptance into the program you want. Be sure to have a clear understanding of the specific letter requirements for each program you apply to. Programs may mandate or recommend specific qualifications for your letter writers (employers or work supervisors, faculty members or academic advisors in the public health field, mentors from a public-health-related professional or volunteer experience, etc.). An effective letter of recommendation is written by someone who knows you well and can speak specifically about your positive academic and professional qualities.

  • Written Statements

  • Effective oral and written communications skills are important for students in no-GRE online MPH programs. Most programs require applicants to provide one or more written statements with their applications. These statements are often described as personal statements, statements of purpose and objectives, or reflective essays. Like letters of recommendation, it’s crucial that you have a clear understanding of the precise elements each individual program is looking for in your written statements. Common elements include your interest in public health, career goals, education, work and volunteer experiences. As with letters of recommendation, don’t underestimate the value of quality written statements. Admissions committees take them very seriously in their student selections.

  • Additional Application Requirements

  • Other application components typically required by admission committees for no-GRE online MPH programs include a current CV/resume, biographic information, a detailed description of your academic history, and official academic transcripts. For a detailed look at all SOPHAS application information and documentation requirements, visit Filling Out Your SOPHAS Application. Keep in mind, though, that each program may have variations of the SOPHAS application requirements, so be sure to have a clear understanding of all specific requirements before you apply.

    For more useful information and advice for getting into the no-GRE online MPH program of your choice, visit How to Get into Grad School: Guide for New Master’s Students.

Frequently Asked Questions About No-GRE Online MPH Programs

Are there CEPH-accredited online MPH programs that don’t require the GRE?

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.

How much do no-GRE online MPH programs cost?

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.

How quickly can I complete my no-GRE MPH program?

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.

For online MPH programs that do need GRE scores, is there any way to get the requirement waived?

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.

Is it worth submitting my GRE scores even if an MPH program doesn’t require them?

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.