MPH in US: Admissions 2026, Top Universities, Fees, Job Opportunities

Masters in Public Health in USA commonly referred to as MPH in USA or MS in Public Health in USA is a STEM-designated course. MPH course in USA is offered across 50+ US universities. We have discussed everything about Master's in Public Health in the US in this article. 

Master in Public Health in USA for international students is a roughly 2-year long course. To study in USA the MPH degree is offered both full-time and part-time. More than 200+ US universities offer the MPH program to international students. MPH in USA is not a clinical medicine course in US, so after completing the degree, applicants do not become licensed doctors. In order to become a doctor, applicants will have to pursue a DPH or Doctor of Public Health in USA.

For international medical graduates (IMGs), an MPH is often used to gain research experience, build a network, and improve chances of matching into a US residency, but it does not enable them to work as a doctor on its own. But no matter what, MPH in USA is a popular STEM course for international students. Applicants interested in knowing about what is MPH, the admission requirements for MPH courses in the USA along with their fees and salaries can check out this article for all major details.

MPH in USA Highlights

What is MPH in the USA?

To answer the question of what is MPH in the USA, here is what it means - MPH is a specialised 2-year-long master's course offered across a variety of specialisations in countries abroad and popularly opted in the USA. Students who opt for this course learn about public health and look at how strategies can be implemented to improve public health across communities in the USA. Applicants learn from a variety of topics of recent concerns for public health and understand the repercussions correspondingly while pursuing an MPH course in US universities.  

After graduating with an MPH course from the USA, applicants can get opportunities to work across:

• Government sectors
• Non-profit sectors - industry, or academia
• Parting health education
• Working in emergency management, or
• Be a part of the policy analysis and implementation   

Top 10 Universities for MPH in USA 2025-26

The following is a list of 10 top MPH universities in USA for international students based on US News Rankings 2025 for ‘Best Public Health Programs in USA’:

The ranking data is dynamic and can change over the years. Thus, applicants solely relying on MPH rankings for MPH admissions in the USA can check out the recent data of rankings. 

MPH Course in USA: Broad Details

MPH course in USA is an 11-month to 2 years long course depending on the US university chosen. The MPH degree in USA is a designated STEM course, then the applicants will get the benefit of a years OPT option as well. Check out the MPH course in USA details in the following sections.  

MPH in USA Specializations

Any one of the following specializations can opted by international applicants applying for a master’s in Public Health in USA:

Please note, that the specializations given above may vary with the US university in question. Thus, applicants must check before applying for the MPH course in USA based on the choice of specialization.

STEM MPH Courses in USA

The following are considered STEM MPH programs in the USA along with the universities for international students:

• Johns Hopkins University
• New York University 
• Drexel University
• Long Island University
• University of Cincinnati
• University of New Haven
• University of Illinois Chicago
• University of Michigan

MPH at the University of New Haven was the first university to have had its MPH course - STEM designated in the country. 

MPH Fees in USA 2026

The MPH fee in USA varies based on the university the applicant is applying to. Check out the first year MPH fee for best universities for MPH in USA:

It is advised that applicants check the MPH fee in USA before making up their minds to apply for admission. These are just first year fee, may vary for different intakes as well. 

There are also fully funded MPH programs in USA for international students. These cover full tuition fee of MPH for international students or offer teaching assistantships (TA). Fully funded MPH programs in USA for international students are offered across:

• Boston University
• Drexel University
• Yale University
• University of Colorado

MPH in USA for International Students Requirements

Admission requirements may vary for MPH in USA for international students but there are a few common requirements which must be fulfilled when applying for MPH degree in USA. These requirements are as follows:

• Transcripts 
• GPA of bachelor’s 
• SOP
• 2-3 LORs
• Resume
• Work experience level if any 
• GRE scores
• IELTS or TOEFL to prove English language proficiency 
• Financial documents

There can be additional requirements like interviews and other additional documentation requirements for admission to the Masters in Public Health course in the USA. 

Salary of MPH in USA

On average hourly salary after MPH in the USA is USD 28.11 for graduates practising in US itself. The average salary range of MPH grads in USA along with the salary range are as follows based on the PayScale report:

Admission selectivity for MPH degree in USA is tough because there is high competition. Applicants applying for admission to the MPH course in the USA should apply on the designated deadlines and decide beforehand.

If you have admission-related queries, you can sign up for free Shiksha Abroad Counselling. Or you can write to us in the comments below.