Masters in Public Health (MPH) in USA is a 1 to 2-year degree offered with various specializations including epidemiology, microbial diseases, health policy, etc. Approximately 3.3% of international students are pursuing public health degrees from USA universities. Among the overseas students, over 2.9% are from India. Each year, approximately 17,000 students are admitted into MPH programs at various accredited universities throughout the USA.

Annual tuition fees for Masters in Public Health in USA are around 11,000 USD to 82,000 USD. Indian students can expect annual expenses of around 9 lakhs to 67 lakhs INR to study the program. Students are required to have a bachelor's degree with a minimum overall aggregate of 85% along with GRE scores to apply for MPH universities in USA. The course ensures a satisfactory ROI and on average, graduates of MPH programs in USA earn around 70,000 USD (57 lakhs INR) per annum in USA.

Masters in Public Health in USA: Highlights

Courses Available Master of Public Health
Course Type Full-time | Part-time
Program Duration 2 years
Eligibility Criteria Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 85% aggregate/ 3.0 out of 4 GPA or above
English Proficiency Requirements IELTS: 6.5 to 7.0 I TOEFL iBT: 90 to 100 overall 
Entrance Exam GRE: 153 Quantitative and 144 Verbal
Annual Tuition Fees 11,000 USD to 82,000 USD (9 lakhs to 67 lakhs INR)
Annual Salary Range 70,000 USD (57 lakhs INR)

Top Universities for Masters Public Health in USA

Following are the top-ranking universities offering the best MPH programs in USA, according to QS Rankings 2023: 

University Program Offered  Application Deadlines Tuition Fee (USD)
Harvard University Master of Public Health December 15, 2022 (applications closed) | New applications open from September 2023 69,300
University of Chicago Master of Public Health March 15, 2023 82,485
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Master of Public Health April 15, 2023 65,156
Yale University  Master of Public Health December 15, 2022 (applications closed) 50,261
Columbia University Master of Public Health January 15, 2023 (applications closed) 43,476
Cornell University Master of Health Administration April 15, 2023 81,776
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Master of Public Health January 15, 2023 (applications closed) 26,542
Johns Hopkins University Master of Public Health December 15, 2022 (applications closed) | New applications open from August 2023 79,260
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) Master of Public Health March 1, 2023 11,700
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Master of Public Health December 1, 2022 (applications closed)  11,700

Why Study Masters in Public Health in USA?

Some of the key factors attracting international students to study MPH programs in USA are:

  • Once the students complete their post-graduation in public health, they can earn an average annual salary of 70,000 USD (57 lakhs INR), which can go as high as 90,000 USD (73 lakhs INR)
  • According to the Labour Statistics of the US, the healthcare industry is estimated to experience a 13% increase in employment opportunities between 2021 and 2031, which is significantly higher than the average growth rate of other professions. This growth is anticipated to generate approximately 2 million fresh job openings in the next ten years.
  • The job outlook for health education specialists and community health workers is favorable, with an estimated 12% growth rate between 2021 and 2031, which is significantly higher than the average for other professions. This growth is expected to generate an average of 16,000 job openings annually for health education specialists and community health workers over the decade.
  • The medical universities in the USA serve the best educational services to the students. Hence, over the years, the USA becomes the prime attraction to readers. 
  • The academic standards of the USA have been growing vigorously. Hence, both domestic and international students get the opportunity to make a wonderful career. 
  • Scholars can choose their preferable MS degree from 2,000 varieties of public health programs.
  • As of December 2022, the unemployment rate in the USA stands at a low 3.7%, suggesting that there are many employment prospects available for recent graduates.

Course Details of MPH Programs in USA

Masters in Public Health in USA is a part of the healthcare management program aimed at imparting advanced knowledge and multidisciplinary training in solving health problems. Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) regulates the education of this program in the USA. Some of the specializations you will study in USA while pursuing an MPH degree are:

  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Social and Behavioural Determinants of Health
  • Management Sciences
  • Public Health Problem Solving
  • Environmental Health
  • Biological Sciences
  • Public Health Policy

Admission Process of Masters in Public Health in USA

Students with a 3-year bachelor's degree preferably in the medical field can apply for MPH programs in USA. GRE tests scores are also a compulsory requirement in many universities. 

How to Apply for MPH Programs in USA

To apply for USA universities, first of all, go to the university’s website and fill the online application form as instructed. Then, download the application form and sent it to the university’s address along with required documents either via mail or post. 

Eligibility Criteria for MPH Programs in USA

To study Masters in public Health in USA, students require strong academic achievements along with standardized test scores. Following are the approximate prerequisites for admission to the top MPH programs in USA:

  • 3-year bachelors degree from a recognized institute
  • 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or 83-86% at the undergraduate level
  • Minimum one year course in calculus, algebra, general or human biology (depends upon specialization and university)
  • GRE test score (varies with the university)
  • Proof of English proficiency

Documents Required for MPH Programs in USA 

The commonly required documents for admission to Masters in Public Health program USA are listed below: 

  • Official transcripts of a bachelors degree and all other institutes previously attended
  • English translation of non-English transcripts by an accredited agency
  • Credit by credit evaluation of foreign transcripts by a university-approved authority
  • Two to five LOR.
  • Updated Resume
  • Objectives of doing Masters in Public Health in USA stated in an SOP, essay, or other supporting documents
  • Work experience of 2-5 years

Also Check: 

If you are from a country where English was not the primary language, then you must submit IELTS, TOEFL or other equivalent test scores to demonstrate proficiency in the same. Minimum scores needed for tests required to study in USA are:

Cost of Studying Masters in Public Health in USA

Pursuing a masters in public health in USA can cost you like crazy. The overall expense will include application fees, student visa fees, tuition fees, and cost of living in the USA. Detailed below are some of these major expenses. 

Annual tuition fees for Masters in Public Health in USA range between 11,000 USD to 82,000 USD (9 lakhs to 67 lakhs INR). Mentioned below are the annual tuition fees of some of the best MPH programs in USA:

Tuition fee for MPH Programs in USA

University Tuition Fee (USD) Tuition Fee (INR)
Harvard University 69,300 56 lakhs
University of Chicago 82,485 67 lakhs
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) 65,156 53 lakhs
Yale University  50,261 41 lakhs
Columbia University 43,476 35 lakhs
Cornell University 81,776 67 lakhs
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor 26,542 21 lakhs
Johns Hopkins University 79,260 65 lakhs
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) 11,700 9 lakhs
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 11,700 9 lakhs

Cost of living in USA

It is predicted that an international student's estimated expenditure and cost of living in USA is around 2,448 USD (equivalent to 2 lakhs INR). The expenses vary based on room rent, food habits. Apart from this, the transportation cost, the cost of entertainment and clothing are the same for everybody.  The subsequent table presents the average monthly expenses that an international student is likely to incur while studying in the USA.

Expense Type Cost Per Month (USD) Monthly Cost Equivalent (INR)
On-campus Accommodation 2,450 to 2,775 1.99 to 2.26 Lakhs
Books and stationary 500 to 1,000 40,600 to 81,300
Food  2,500 2 Lakhs
Clothes 500 40,600
Public Transport 500 to 1,200 40,600 to 97,600
Miscellaneous 2,000 1.63 Lakhs

Cost of Living in USA

Masters in Public Health in USA with Scholarships

Following are some of the scholarships in USA for international students pursuing a Masters in Public Health program: 

Scholarship Awarding Institute Eligibility Criteria Amount (in USD)
Harvard Chan Grant Harvard University Enrolled in MPH | Academic merit | Work experience Financial need Variable
Interschool Fellowships Columbia University Need-based 1,000-5,000
Sloan Scholarships Cornell University Academic merit Variable
Sommer Scholars Program Johns Hopkins  Enrolled in MPH Program Full tuition and a stipend
Gates Millennium Scholars Program US Government Academic achievement | Financial need | Community service Variable
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships US Government Citizen of a country with Rotary clubs | 2 years of college course work or equivalent Up to 25,000 USD
Fulbright Scholarships for Indians US Government Indian citizen | Academic excellence | English proficiency Monthly stipend, Tuition and cost of attendance coverage
Inlaks Scholarship US Government Indian citizen | Minimum 65-75% marks 100,000 USD
AAUW International Fellowship US Government Non US based women pursuing master’s and doctoral programs in USA 20,000-50,000 USD
JN Tata Endowment Fund (loan) US Government Indian citizens | Bachelor’s degree | Minimum 60% marks 1,00,000-10,00,000 INR

To know more about scholarships in USA, click here

Loans Available for International Students

Education loans are the most reliable source of arranging financial funds for studying MS from the USA. However, the loan takers need to meet the financial eligibility criteria. They need to confirm the bank balance of their parents, the source of loan repayment, guarantor, ITR and financial credibility. Nowadays, international students can apply to study loans without a cosigner. 

  • When you are going to apply for a study loan, you should submit the KYC documents and the other financial proofs. In addition, the banks or the financial institutions also ask for the exam scores, VISA application, admission application from the University, acceptance letter by the University and collateral documents. 
  • The loan application process is followed by the official like immigration records, professionals and academic certificates and legal verification (For the applicants of J1, F1 and H1B VISA). 

Click here to learn more about the loans available to international students in USA

Scope of Masters in Public Health in USA

The USA government generally issues five years tenured visa for International students. On the other hand, the MPH in USA can be completed within two years. Therefore, the fellows will get ample time to boost up their career by staying over in the country for the rest of the years. 

Most of the MS in Public Health students get successful placement in psychiatry, internal medicine and pediatrics departments. Based on the research report, approximately 31.4% doctors get success in their early career, more especially once they complete their masters. Following are the jobs in USA available for public health graduates: 

Masters in Public Health in USA Jobs and Salaries

Jobs Average Salaries (USD) Salary Equivalent (INR)
Epidemiologist 63,000 51 lakhs
Program Manager, NPO 65,000 53 lakhs
Healthcare Consultant 83,000 68 lakhs
Clinical Research Coordinator 53,000 43 lakhs
Health Educator 48,000 39 lakhs
Public Health Analyst 65,000 53 lakhs
Industrial Hygienist 90,000 73 lakhs
Public Health Educator 50,000 41 lakhs
Health Policy Analyst 62,000 50 lakhs
Clinical Project Manager 88,000 72 lakhs

Masters in Public Health in USA v/s Masters in Public Health in Canada

Masters in Public Health program is not limited to the USA and is a well-liked course in various other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the UK. Consequently, this section will compare pursuing a Masters in Public Health in USA with Canada.

Parameters Masters in Public Health in Canada Masters in Public Health in USA
Degree Types MS | Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Public Health (MPH)
Course Duration 2 years 1 to 2 years
Admission requirements Bachelor’s degree in basic sciences, health sciences or related field | Overall aggregate of 83-86% Bachelors in degree in public health or relevant field
Work Experience required Optional 2-5 years
Language Proficiency IELTS: 7.0 | TOEFL: 93 IELTS: 7.0 | TOEFL: 100
Monthly Cost of Living 1,987 CAD (1.19 lakhs INR) 2,448 USD (2 lakhs INR)
Tuition Fee 15,000-57,000 CAD (9 lakhs-35 lakhs INR) 11,000 USD to 82,000 USD (9 lakhs to 67 lakhs INR)
Average Salary 68,000 CAD (42 lakhs INR) 70,000 USD (57 lakhs INR)

Some of the highly paid organizations of the USA apart from health care institutions are Kaiser Permanente, Methodist Healthcare, Fairview Hospital, and Johnson & Johnson. Their average pay-scale structure is high, and ranges between $233K and $280K (1.91 crores to 2.26 crores INR) respectively. 

It can be inferred that the demand for physicians and surgeons across the USA will be increased at least by 7% within the year 2028. Considering the other features and benefits, it can be said that Masters in Public Health from the USA over the other countries is ideal to opt. Once the aspirants complete their degree, they can flourish their career path in broad domains in the future.

FAQs

Ques: How long is a Masters in Public Health in USA?

Ans: Masters in Public Health (MPH) in USA is a one to two-year degree offered with various specializations including epidemiology, microbial diseases, health policy, etc.

Ques: Is public health a good career in USA?

Ans: Yes, public health is considered a highly rewarding and lucrative career option in the USA. Once the students complete their post-graduation in public health, they can earn an average annual salary of 70,000 USD (57 lakhs INR), which can go as high as 90,000 USD (73 lakhs INR) According to the Labour Statistics of the US, the healthcare industry is estimated to experience a 13% increase in employment opportunities between 2021 and 2031, which is significantly higher than the average growth rate of other professions. This growth is anticipated to generate approximately 2 million fresh job openings in the next ten years.

Ques. Which universities offer MPH programs in USA?

Ans.Following are the top-ranking universities offering the best MPH programs in USA, according to QS Rankings 2023: Harvard University University of Chicago University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Yale University Columbia University Cornell University University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Johns Hopkins University University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Ques. How much is Masters in Public Health in USA?

Ans. Annual tuition fees for Masters in Public Health in USA are around 11,000 USD to 82,000 USD. Indian students can expect annual expenses of around 9 lakhs to 67 lakhs INR to study the program.

Ques. Can I apply for Masters in Public Health in USA without GRE test scores?

Ans. Most of the top universities for MPH in USA require submission of GRE test scores for admission. However, some universities like Baylor University and Tufts University also accepts students without GRE test scores.