Why This Matters
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33% OF EPIDEMIOLOGIST JOBS REQUIRE AT LEAST A DOCTORAL DEGREE
You’ll need a doctorate for 11% of epidemiologist jobs, and an additional 22% require post-doctoral training as well.
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27% INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS BY 2032
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects that there will be 2,700 more jobs for epidemiologists in 2032 than there were in 2022.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN MORE THAN $123,430
While the average salary for epidemiologists is $78,520 per year, the top 10% of workers in this field make over $123,430.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online doctorate in public health degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education. Many of the programs on our list have been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of public health-related programs.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online doctorate in public health degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Public Health degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 62 hours to write this article
- 56 universities and colleges we assessed
- 99 education programs we compared
Best 8 Online Doctorate in Public Health Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Intelligent Score: 99.36In-state: $88,976
Out-of-state: $88,976
In-state: $91,435
Out-of-state: $91,435
SAT: 1520-1560
ACT: 34-35
$1,321
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
64
East Carolina University
Intelligent Score: 97.01In-state: $4,452
Out-of-state: $20,729
In-state: $4,749
Out-of-state: $4,749
SAT: 1020-1170
ACT: 19-24
In-State: $422
Out-of-State: $1,153
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
50-74
University of Illinois Chicago
Intelligent Score: 96.7In-state: $14,317
Out-of-state: $33,824
In-state: $15,016
Out-of-state: $15,016
SAT: 1200-1460
ACT: 27-33
$890 - $991
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
96
Indiana University
Intelligent Score: 94.45In-state: $9,815
Out-of-state: $36,194
In-state: $9,786
Out-of-state: $9,786
SAT: 1120-1350
ACT: 24-31
In-State: $690
Out-of-State: $1,500
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
45
Loma Linda University
Intelligent Score: 92.57In-state: $37,332
Out-of-state: $37,332
In-state: $45,790
Out-of-state: $45,790
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
$995
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
62-65
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Intelligent Score: 92.1In-state: $7,019
Out-of-state: $34,198
In-state: $10,552
Out-of-state: $10,552
SAT: 1280-1490
ACT: 28-33
In-State: $912
Out-of-State: $1,886
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
45-51
Nebraska Methodist College
Intelligent Score: 90.98In-state: $33,309
Out-of-state: $33,309
In-state: $37,225
Out-of-state: $37,225
SAT: 1140
ACT: 22
$817
Online
Higher Learning Commission
44
University of Minnesota
Intelligent Score: 90.54In-state: $13,318
Out-of-state: $31,616
In-state: $17,580
Out-of-state: $17,580
SAT: 1240-1460
ACT: 25-31
In-State: $1,539
Out-of-State: $2,381
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
72-82
What You Should Know About This Degree
When researching programs for an online doctorate in public health, it’s important to check that the school you select is accredited by a legitimate organization. You can check a school’s accreditation status using the Department of Education’s Database of Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
The outlook for graduates of these programs is bright. Career options include epidemiologist, health department director, community health manager, and public health consultant. You may also want to consider a career in education by joining the faculty of a postsecondary institution or providing guest lectures.
Before obtaining a doctorate, some programs might require you to have a master’s degree, but others may accept you with just a bachelor’s degree. Prior to applying for a program, make sure you understand its prerequisites.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online doctorate in public health programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Every online doctorate in public health program has different requirements, and it’s important to make sure you have all the prerequisites before you apply. For example, some programs may require you to have a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a field related to public health, such as biology or public policy.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? Most online doctorate in public health programs take about three years to complete.
- What financial aid opportunities are available? With the help of grants, fellowships, and other resources, you may even be able to earn your doctorate for free.
It’s important to take note of application deadlines and processes for every program that you’re interested in. Most schools make this information readily available on their website.
If you require financing for your degree, it’s also important to keep track of financial aid application deadlines, as well as any scholarships, grants, or fellowships you plan on applying for.