MPH Degree

Many people justify going back to school with the fact that the education will pay for itself in just a few years. Is this true with a master of public health (MPH) degree? It depends on your current salary and future career goals, but for most people, yes, it does make sense to go back to school to get a master’s degree in this field.

The average salary you can expect with a master’s degree depends in part on the job position you take after you graduate. Public health is a broad field that covers a number of different areas, including education, disease prevention, vaccination development, food safety, clinical research, and more. Here are some of the jobs you may qualify for if you have a master’s degree in public health, along with the average salary you can expect with each of them:

• Clinical Research Coordinator: $47,997
• Epidemiologist: $48,198
• Health Educator: $43,207
• Healthcare Consultant: $67,101
• Non-Profit Organization Coordinator: $42,250
• Non-Profit Organization Executive Director: $66,616
• Research Assistant: $44,480

Along with your salary, you’ll also likely receive bonuses, and in some fields, you may have options for stock, profit sharing, and commission. In addition, these are typically full-time positions, so you’ll likely be qualified for paid vacation time and sick days, medical and dental insurance, travel reimbursement, and other benefits. The higher your degree, the more likely you are to qualify for top positions that have the best perks. With just a bachelor’s degree, even if you have decades of experience working in public health, you may only be offered bare minimum benefits packages.

A number of factors other than job title also affect average salary, and one of the most major factors is location. Typically, if you’re willing to work in a city, you’ll be paid a much higher salary than if you work in a rural area. Keep in mind that cost of living in cities is higher too, however, so you may be able to profit more from living in a less expensive location. In terms of where to find the highest-paying jobs in this industry, that once again depends on your job title. For one of the most popular positions, as a healthcare manager, the top cities are as follows, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Salinas, California: $131,500
• Lawrence/Methuen/Salem, Massachusetts/New Hampshire: $126,860
• Panama City/Lynn Haven, Florida: $125,580
• Burlington/South Burlington, Vermont: $123,290
• Seattle/Bellevue/Everett, Washington: $118,680

With a master’s degree, you can be assured to be on the high end of that spectrum, and as you can see, there are cities across the country paying top dollar for workers in the public health industry. So, although going back to school to get your degree may seem expensive, with the help of scholarships (or fellowships), employer tuition reimbursement programs, and grants, you can get an education for a low price and make a lot more money in your job once you graduate.

Top Online MPH Degree Programs

A Master of Public Health online degree will open new doors to your career in healthcare and health education. The six specializations of the public health study – administration, behavioral sciences, biostatistics, environmental sciences, epidemiology, and health promotion – are all available at the following list of the top colleges offering online MPH degree programs.

Master of Public Health MPH in Epidemiology MPH in Intl Public Health MPH in Health Management	University of Liverpool – The University of Liverpool Master of Public Health programs feature three programs, including a Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma, and a Masters degree. The university offers a modular system that provides students the flexibility of obtaining credits at partner institutions. Within the MPH program, students are able to specialize in epidemiology, international public health, and health management.
Master of Public Health	Walden University – Graduates of the Walden University Master of Public Health degree program fill the increasing need for health professionals that must understand the development of healthy individuals, organizations, and communities. The program provides core study in the public health field, uses a real-world teaching methodology, has industry leading professors, and includes a practical fieldwork practicum.
Master of Public Health MPH in Disaster Management MPH in Health Education MPH in Health Policy Dual Degree: MPH/MBA	Benedictine University – Benedictine University's Master's in Public Health program features a curriculum of public health core with a focus on the needs of today's healthcare industry. Courses feature a conceptual, factual, and skill base. Students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional setting outside the classroom. Within Benedictine's Public Health program, specializations are offered in disaster management, health education, and health policy; a dual MBA/MPH degree is also offered.
Master of Public Health MPH in Epidemiology MPH in Health Education MPH in Program Dev	Kaplan University – The Kaplan University Master of Public Health degree program readies students for health-care jobs in governmental, nonprofit, or private organizations. The online program provides students on-demand education on how to analyze and apply scientific research, prepare public health policies, develop health education programs, and review the impact of occupational and environmental factors. Within Kaplan's MPH program, specializations are offered in epidemiology, health education, and public health program development.
Master of Public Health MPH in Health Policy MPH in Behavioral Science	Capella University – Capella University's Master of Public Health program prepares graduates for careers in public health management, social welfare, or research. The curriculum includes the behavioral, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the health of populations. Courses include International Public Health, Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health, and Principles of Biostatistics. Capella also offers MPH specializations in health management & policy and social & behavioral sciences.
Master of Public Health	American Military University – The Master of Public Health online degree program from American Military University prepares its graduate students for careers in public health policy by teaching the educational and leadership development skills necessary for a career in this industry. Healthcare administration, health law, and policy are some of the courses taught through this program.
Master of Public Health MPH - Dental Health MPA in Health Administration	A.T. Still University – Developed for dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other dental industry professionals, the A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Master in Public Health Dental concentration prepares dental professionals for careers in community health centers, institutes of higher education, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal government. A.T. Still also offers a general MPH program and an MPA/MHA degree.
MS in Disaster Mgmt & Medicine	Philadelphia University – The Master of Science in Disaster Medicine and Management at Philadelphia University is focused on the study of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, hazardous materials, natural disasters, psychological effects of disasters, stress intervention, and disaster research. The masters program is a collaboration between Philadelphia University and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Albert Einstein Health Network.
MPH in Health Policy	New York Medical College – The New York Medical College School of Health Sciences & Practice and Institute of Public Health presents an MPH degree in health policy and management that is sure to prepare graduates for a successful career within the public health field. This is a 46-credit-hour program, consisting of 19 core credits, 15 MPH concentration credits, 12 elective credits, and a structured public health practice experience.
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