If you’re thinking about earning your master’s in public health but not looking forward to studying for and taking the GRE exam, you’ll be happy to know that more grad schools are scrapping the test as an admissions requirement, including for their online MPH programs. Colleges are realizing that the GRE, like other standardized entrance exams, isn’t an accurate indicator of student success and may unfairly rule out some students who are excellent candidates for a program otherwise. With that in mind, they’re either making GRE scores optional or doing away with them entirely.
How do you know where to find no-GRE online MPH programs that still meet quality standards at an affordable price? We’ve surveyed online MPH programs throughout the U.S. to identify ones you can apply to without the time and expense of taking the GRE, and we’ve listed the very best below. We’ve also included detailed information on the admissions requirements for no-GRE MPH degrees and answer common questions about these programs. Read on to find the no-GRE online Master of Public Health program that’s right for you.
Top 25 No-GRE Online MPH Programs in 2023
We’ve put together the following list of the top 25 online Master of Public Health degrees with no GRE requirement to help you find a quality program that can help you 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.
The Distance Public Health Administration and Policy Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota Online is designed to provide the knowledge and skills students need to succeed in leadership positions with government agencies, private health systems, nonprofit organizations, and others providing public and population health services. Content is delivered 100% online with no campus visits required, making it an excellent choice for students residing both inside and outside of Minnesota. The full-time course of study requires six semesters (fall, spring, and summer). Both fall and spring program starts are available for this online MPH with no GRE.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (3.0 or higher GPA preferred). No public health work experience is required. However, preference is given to applicants with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to population and public health through their work, school, and volunteer activities.
Program Highlights:
Distance Public Health Administration and Policy MPH
Credits: 44
Length: 21 months
Cost (est. total tuition and fees): $45,496 (in state); $59,796 (out of state)
Mode: Fully online
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (school); Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) (School of Public Health)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
The Online Master of Public Health in Population and Health Sciences program at the University of Michigan offers students the ability to customize their studies to focus on one or two areas of the public health field of particular interest. The curriculum consists of 42 credit hours of core and elective courses. For electives, students choose two complete series (11 credits each) in one or two areas of interest: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Behavior & Health Education, Health Management & Policy, or Nutritional Sciences. This online MPH program has no GRE requirement.
In the second year, all students complete an Applied Practice and Integrative Experience capstone project. They collaborate with a public health organization in their community, culminating in the development of a written product (research paper, policy brief, community needs health assessment, etc.) addressing a real-world applied health problem.
The MPH in Population and Health Sciences program begins each fall and requires two years (fall, winter, and spring/summer terms) of full-time study. Coursework is entirely online.
Program Highlights:
Online MPH in Population and Health Sciences
Credits: 42
Length: 2 years
Cost (est. total tuition and fees): $44,000 (in state); $48,000 (out of state residents)
Mode: Fully online
Accreditation: HLC (school); CEPH (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Individuals interested in careers in identifying, preventing, and controlling the outbreak of disease in populations will want to take a look at the Online Master of Public Health in Epidemiology offered by Indiana University—Purdue University Indianapolis. Earning the degree requires completion of a combination of public health core and elective courses, epidemiology concentration courses, and a two-course practical experience that includes a 240-hour public health internship and final concentration project. In addition, all MPH students are required to pass the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam prior to graduation. Both full-time and part-time study options are offered and both fall and spring starts are available.
To take advantage of the no-GRE online MPH option, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field and a GPA of 3.0 or they must have a previously earned graduate or professional degree. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 and international students may also apply but must submit GRE scores.
Program Highlights:
Online MPH in Epidemiology
Credits: 45
Length: 1.5 years (full time); 2.5 years (part time)
Cost: $546/credit (in state); $1,325/credit (out of state)
Mode: Fully online coursework with in-person internship
Accreditation: HLC (school); CEPH (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
With a per-credit tuition rate under $600 for both in-state and out-of-state students, the Online Master of Public Health offered by the University of Florida is among the most affordable no-GRE online MPH programs available today. Earning the degree requires completion of all program requirements with a minimum 3.0 GPA, including all core, concentration (Public Health Practice or Social and Behavioral Sciences), and elective coursework, and both the Applied Practice Experience and Integrative Learning Experience/Capstone.
All academic courses are presented in an online asynchronous format, allowing students to access and complete their coursework at their convenience. The Applied Practice Experience consists of 50 public health service hours and a 150-hour internship with any of dozens of program-affiliated public health agencies located in Florida and throughout the U.S. Students can start their MPH studies in either the fall or spring semester. Completion times vary depending on the student’s course load and whether they are receiving financial aid.
Program Highlights:
Online MPH
Credits: 48; 42 (health professionals with a previously earned terminal degree in their field)
Length: Varies
Cost (tuition and online fee): $585.75/credit
Mode: Fully online coursework plus Applied Practice Experience with in-person components
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (school); CEPH (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Affordability, convenience, and a customizable course of study are all major features of the Online Individualized Master of Public Health program from the University at Buffalo. The program consists of required core courses that address public health foundational knowledge and competencies along with concentration and elective courses; this MPH program is entirely online and requires no GRE. Students fulfill the concentration and elective course requirements by choosing one of two focus areas (Health Equity or Addictions) or the fully individualized curriculum option. Each student also completes a field training experience, interprofessional immersion activity, and integrative project, which are completed at off-campus locations in the student’s local area. The three-credit field training requirement may be waived entirely or in part for students with relevant public health work experience.
The program offers both full-time and part-time study formats, as well as a One-Year Accelerated MPH option. The accelerated option is available to applicants who have a terminal degree (PhD, JD, MD, etc.) or have significant post-baccalaureate work experience in the public health field.
Program Highlights:
Online Individualized MPH
Credits: 44
Length: 1 year (accelerated MPH); four semesters (full time); up to 8 semesters (part time)
Cost (tuition and online fees): $632.25/credit (in state); $726.25/credit (out of state)
Mode: Fully online coursework plus in-person field experiences
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (school); CEPH (program)
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
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:
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Previously Earned Degree
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Undergrad Grade Point Average (GPA)
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Letters of Recommendation
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Written Statements
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Additional Application Requirements
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 CEPH-accredited online MPH programs have eliminated the GRE requirement, as they recognize that the test may not accurately reflect an applicant’s potential for success in graduate school. Many of these programs have chosen to focus on a holistic review of applicants’ qualifications, including their academic and professional experience, letters of recommendation, and other application materials, instead of relying solely on standardized test scores. 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.
Accreditation status can typically be found on program or school accreditation websites. 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.