Best Online MPH Programs in Georgia (GA)

If you’re a Georgia resident interested in a career in public health, you live in the right place. As the headquarters for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and home for private organizations like Doctors for Global Health and world-class research universities, Georgia is a public health hotspot for students and professionals alike.

One of the most accessible ways to begin or advance a career in public health is through an accredited online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. This STEPS guide will explore some of the best MPH programs in Georgia and dig into the details of what they have in store.

Author: Holly Riddle
Editor: Grace Butler
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Let’s say you want to earn your MPH so you can further your career in public health, but you aren’t a fan of moving to campus or trying to fit a commute into your schedule. Whether you’re looking to save money or have family or professional responsibilities that make relocating to campus a challenge, you might be a good candidate for an online MPH program.

Studying your MPH online allows you to earn your degree with greater convenience and flexibility. Luckily, there are several popular MPH programs in Georgia with 100% online coursework.

Whichever one you choose, your MPH program will have you studying advanced courses pertaining to public health administration and informatics, preparing you to enter the field with competitive knowledge and expertise. Below are some examples of online MPH programs you can attend as a Georgia resident.

Master of Public Health — University of Georgia (UGA)

As the flagship institution in Georgia’s state university system, UGA has a wide range of online degree offerings, including an online MPH program. This 44-credit degree, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), includes traditional lecture courses to be completed online in a cohort model and a required internship that can take place in your local community.

To apply for the online MPH at UGA, you should have a 3.0 minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA), as well as a current resume, letters of recommendation, and an online application. Online MPH tuition is a set rate regardless of residency status. Applications are open once per year for an annual autumn start date.

Duration: Two to three years

Mode: Fully online

Cost: $697 per credit hour

Curriculum:

  • Professional Seminar for Public Health Practitioners I & II
  • Foundations of Epidemiology
  • Foundations of Health Policy and Management
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Biostatistics Bootcamp
  • Foundations of Health Promotion
  • Applied Biostatistics in Health Promotion
  • Program Evaluation in Health Promotion
  • Fundamentals of Environmental Health Science
  • Applied Biostatistics in Environmental Health Science
  • Early Influences on Aging
  • Public Health Crises and Disaster Management
  • Management of Public Health Organizations
  • Fundamentals of Chemical and Microbial Risk Assessment
  • Diversity and Social Justice in Public Health

Morehouse School of Medicine

Morehouse School of Medicine is a private, historically Black university located in Atlanta that specializes in healthcare and health sciences. Its online MPH degree program (eMPH) is designed for working professionals with some experience and has a community health policy-focused approach. Although students must attend an orientation session at the program start, coursework is delivered completely online.

To apply for this program, you need to have earned an accredited bachelor’s degree and have a minimum of five years’ work experience in healthcare. You should also have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and have successfully completed at least one college-level math or statistics course.

Duration: Two years

Mode: Fully online

Cost: $1,000 per credit hour

Curriculum:

  • Biostatistics
  • Introduction to Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Administration Management & Policy
  • Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health
  • Fundamentals of Public Health
  • Community Health Assessment & Improvement
  • Health Program Planning & Evaluation
  • Strategic Planning in Health Administration
  • Principles of Public Health Leadership
  • Public Health Ethics
  • Public Health Law
  • Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management
  • The Politics of Health Care Policy

Georgia Southern University (GSU)

GSU’s online MPH is offered through its Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. In this program, you can choose between two different specializations: applied public health and public health informatics. Either way, the coursework is entirely online, in addition to hands-on field experiences through your integrated capstone project and your practicum courses. Classes are flexible so you can work while you study.

Students new to online learning may benefit from Georgia Southern’s online student support system. Georgia Southern does not require Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores for applicants to the online MPH program. Courses start every fall, and priority admission deadlines increase your odds of acceptance.

Duration: Two years

Mode: Online with an in-person practicum

Cost: $408 per credit hour (residency dependent)

Curriculum:

  • Introduction to Public Health
  • Cultural Competency for Public Health
  • Quantitative Methods for Evidence-Based Public Health
  • Environment, Population, and Health
  • Health Systems, Policy, and Leadership
  • Public Health Practice Trends
  • Health Data Analytics
  • Public Health and Healthcare Information Systems
  • Managing Projects in Public Health
  • Health Leadership and Strategic Planning
  • Applied Planning and Evaluation for Public Health Promotion
  • Public Health Practice Trends
  • Public Health Preparedness
  • Social Marketing for Public Health Communication

Georgia MPH Student FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Do you need an MPH to work in public health in Georgia?

You don’t necessarily need an MPH to enter this field. There are many pathways to working in public health, and many public health roles in Georgia do not require an MPH. You may consider an alternative online public health degree, including a certificate in public health or a bachelor’s in public health.

Where can you work in Georgia after getting an MPH?

Georgia is a great place to work as an MPH graduate. Options include the Georgia Department of Public Health, as well as the many health organizations that call the state home, such as the Center for Disease Control and Doctors for Global Health.

You may also find a rewarding career in one of Georgia’s many hospitals and hospital systems as a registered nurse or healthcare administrator. Alternatively, you may choose to focus on the health of your local community and work as an epidemiologist or perform outreach as a social and community service manager.

Do you need a bachelor’s degree to get into an MPH program in Georgia?

For most of Georgia’s online MPH programs, you will need to have acquired a bachelor’s degree to qualify for admission. This is the case at both the University of Georgia’s MPH program and the Morehouse School of Medicine’s MPH program.

Your bachelor’s degree does not necessarily need to be related to public health, but you should check program requirements for specific coursework that needs to be completed prior to entry. If you are just getting started in your MPH education, you can explore options for online MPH bachelor’s degrees instead.

How much does an online MPH cost in Georgia?

It entirely depends on the MPH program you choose. For example, to complete the full University of Georgia MPH program, you will pay around $30,000 before financial aid. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern University’s tuition is estimated at $7,000 per year for the same degree.

Generally speaking, you will pay less for tuition as an in-state resident than as an out-of-state student, although some graduate programs charge a flat rate regardless of your status. Research your various options, as well as financial aid opportunities, to decide which program is within your budget.

Are there financial aid options for online MPH students in Georgia?

In Georgia, financial aid may include grants and loans funded or supported by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. However, you should also look into private scholarship opportunities, particularly industry-specific public health scholarships and those sponsored by charitable foundations or professional organizations.

Additionally, be sure to check out your chosen school’s financial aid options and any school-specific scholarships, fellowships, and research or teaching assistantships for which you may be eligible. However, you should note that many assistantships are only for on-campus students. Beyond that, look into outside funding opportunities, including filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline to secure any federally-subsidized grants or loans for which you might qualify.

MPH Graduate Salaries in Georgia

Area Occupation 10th Percentile 90th Percentile Median
U.S. Epidemiologists $54,950 $132,230 $81,390
Georgia Epidemiologists $45,080 $106,410 $66,160
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Epidemiologists $47,470 $107,600 $68,680

Source: Epidemiologists, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.


Area Occupation Curr. Jobs Proj. Jobs New Jobs Growth %
United States Epidemiologists 10,000 12,700 2,700 27.00%
Georgia Epidemiologists 380 510 130 34.20%

Source: Projections Central

Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.

The Help You Need: Resources for Georgia’s MPH Students & Professionals

As a public health professional, building your network and connecting with others in your field can help you to overcome the challenges of your profession. You don’t have to wait, as you can start this process as a student. Georgia has a wealth of public and private organizations geared to help you make connections and find professional opportunities.

  • Georgia Department of Public Health The Georgia Department of Public Health is a state government entity that promotes public health through efforts including disease prevention initiatives, emergency preparedness and response, and immunization and child health. The department also collaborates with 159 county health departments across the state.
  • Georgia Global Health Alliance Headquartered in Atlanta, the Georgia Global Health Alliance seeks collaboration with the many world-class health institutions in the state. The alliance is a membership group for Georgia’s health organizations and has been growing for decades. It promotes cross-organizational teamwork, including workshops and initiatives for public-private partnerships.
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting the health of Georgia citizens and advocating for best practices in the state’s public health policy. The association hosts regular meetings, as well as an annual conference where you can connect with fellow members and learn about plans for the year.
  • Georgia Society for Public Health Education (GA SOPHE) As a membership organization, GA SOPHE works with students, professionals, and other community partners to advance public health education across the state. The society promotes professional development, as well as advocacy for health equity, and hosts networking and continuing education events around Georgia.
  • Task Force for Global Health Founded in 1984, the Task Force for Global Health, originally named the Task Force for Child Survival, was initially an organization to promote childhood immunizations in underserved areas. It has since expanded to a more general vision of fostering global health initiatives. Today, it funds initiatives such as vaccination programs and health research.

Best Online MPH Programs in Georgia

Now that you’ve gathered all of this information about Georgia’s online MPH programs, your next step will be to choose the one that’s right for you. This STEPS online MPH program ranking includes only quality programs at accredited universities that are offered partially or fully online.

Factors that went into our ranking include career placement and academic counseling services, affordability, number of online programs, student outcomes, and more. For more information, you can review the “About the Rankings” section below and find out for yourself what makes an MPH program stand out.

1

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Private

Online ProgramsOnline ProgramsOnline Programs

2

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia

Public

Online ProgramsOnline ProgramsOnline Programs

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Holly Riddle AUTHOR

Holly Riddle is a freelance lifestyle and business journalist, ghostwriter and content marketer, with more than a decade of experience and hundreds of articles published thus far. She frequently covers career-related topics, including education and gig work guides, as well as developing soft skills in the workplace. You can find her byline in a range of print and digital national publications, and her clients include organizations within the education, consulting and insurance industries, among others. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2014 with a BA in English literature and creative writing.

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Grace Butler EDITOR

"Grace E. Butler is an accomplished editor and writer with a strong background in literary publishing, content creation, and academic instruction. With a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The University of South Carolina, she has honed her expertise in editorial leadership, fiction editing, and content development. Grace has extensive experience working with literary journals and digital publications. Her background includes writing and editing for print and digital media, producing feature articles, news pieces, and cultural analysis. Beyond editorial work, she has instructed first-year English and creative writing at the university level, helping students refine their craft through critical feedback and mentorship. Grace has also worked as a writing tutor, supporting undergraduate and graduate students in developing strong, effective written communication."

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