Best Online DrPH Programs: 2024 Rankings
To further your public health career, pursuing an online Doctor of Public Health degree can be a great option for professionals already in the field. The first step towards achieving this goal is finding a school that meets your requirements. To help you with this process, we have compiled a list of some of the best accredited online DrPH programs in the United States. Check out which schools with online DrPH programs stand out for 2024.
College Ranking Methodology
Generate List of Eligible Schools and Programs
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Career placement and academic counseling services.
Assign Weightings
After generating the list of eligible schools, the STEPS data team then assigned weights and ranked schools based on their performance in a variety of key categories. Affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings, followed by online learning and academic quality metrics (equally weighted).
Online Learning
- Number of online programs in subject area self-reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education.
- Percentage of graduate students at the school taking at least one class online.
Affordability
- Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on in-state tuition for graduate students per academic year.
Academic Quality
- Student-to-faculty ratio: Schools with lower ratios ranked higher.
- Percentage of students admitted. More selective schools ranked higher.
About Our Data
All STEPS rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: August 2023
Accreditation Glossary
ABHE: Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation
ABHES: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
ACCJC: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
ACCSC: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
DEAC: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
HLC: Higher Learning Commission
MSCHE: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
NECHE: New England Commission of Higher Education
NWCCU: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SACSCOC: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
TRACS: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Commission
WSCUC: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
1
Tampa, Florida
The University of South Florida's doctorate in public health (DrPH) program prepares students to lead in practice-based public health environments, including nonprofit organizations, local health departments, community-based groups, and international agencies. The program focuses on how public health professionals develop, implement, and evaluate programs using evidence-based tenets of the field that have been developed through years of industry research. The department offers a public health and clinical laboratory science and practice concentration that prepares students to become leaders in public health laboratories, while the advanced practice leadership in public health concentration is designed to help students become managers in other public health environments.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Public Health
- Credits: 46
- Length: 3 years
- Cost: $347.91/credit in-state; $431.43/credit out-of-state
- Mode: 100% online
- Accreditation: CEPH
2
Radford, Virginia
Radford University's health sciences doctoral degree, which is offered entirely online, gives you the flexibility to take courses at the speed that works best for you. Although students typically take two courses per semester, the school allows them to enroll in fewer classes if that works better for their busy schedules. Additionally, Radford University doesn't have any on-campus requirements, so you have the flexibility to juggle your studies with other responsibilities without worrying about traveling to campus. In addition to online classes, you'll be required to complete an intensive capstone course, which culminates in a research project where you'll become familiar with how studies are conducted at academic institutions.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Health Sciences
- Credits: 42
- Length: 3 years
- Cost: $394/credit in-state; $770/credit out-of-state
- Mode: 100% online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
3
Chicago, Illinois
If you're a mid-career public health professional looking for ways to upskill for advancement, the University of Illinois Chicago's Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) leadership program emphasizes adaptive techniques that will best prepare you for the challenges those running public health workplaces face. You'll learn to solve complex problems in a public health organization when a technical solution may not be the best choice, or may not even be available to solve the problem. The curriculum focuses on public health leadership, epidemiology principles, biostatistics, and personal leadership development. In addition, students learn how public health can be administered in an equitable way by coursework that includes information on how social and structural determinants of health impact the extent to which people in underserved communities have access to care.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Public Health in Leadership
- Credits: 96
- Length: 5 years
- Cost: $991/credit
- Mode: 100% online
- Accreditation: CEPH
4
Macon, Georgia
5
Baltimore, Maryland
6
Greenville, North Carolina
7
Birmingham, Alabama
Earning Your Doctor of Public Health Online
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree is designed for professionals in the field who have established careers and are seeking to become leaders in the health community. Unlike the more research-focused Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health, the DrPH is geared towards developing skills and knowledge that can be applied directly in patient-oriented environments. Graduates of DrPH programs typically advance their careers as health policy analysts, public health advisors or directors, or executives at non-profit organizations or private businesses. Fortunately, colleges and universities now offer hybrid and online programs that make it more convenient to earn a DrPH. In this guide, we will examine how online DrPH programs operate and help you determine if this higher educational path is right for you.
Is the Online DrPH Right for Me?
Earning an online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree can provide a significant boost to your career and enable you to give back to your local community. However, the question remains: would a PhD be a better fit for your professional aspirations? Moreover, should you consider a traditional on-campus program before exploring hybrid or online alternatives? Every individual has unique preferences and career goals, but here are three factors to consider before deciding if online DrPH programs are the right choice for you.
Professional experience. Typically, online DrPH programs attract public health professionals with a minimum of three years of leadership experience. These programs are designed to refine existing skills and equip graduates with the knowledge and tools needed to better address community health needs both medically and administratively. Coursework may cover topics such as public policy, the development and management of public health campaigns, and effective communication with diverse populations. If you believe that these skills align with your career objectives and personal growth goals in public health, then pursuing a DrPH may be a wise decision.
Career objectives. If you are considering an online DrPH program, start by assessing your long-term career aspirations in the field. If your goal is to secure a leadership position such as public health information officer, community health director, or research analyst, an online Doctor of Public Health degree could be the ideal path for you. However, if you are drawn to research and academia, pursuing a PhD may be the more appropriate choice.
Flexibility. Online DrPH programs are designed to be flexible, with most interactions and collaboration taking place through online channels. Asynchronous programs offer even more flexibility, allowing you to focus on coursework outside of business hours and on days that suit your schedule. Although there may be deadlines, you can choose when and how to work toward them. Synchronous programs are less flexible but still leverage online platforms. For example, students and professors often meet during pre-set hours, with live presentations and other activities taking place in real-time. If you value flexibility in work or study schedules, pursuing a DrPH degree could be the perfect fit for you.
Are DrPH Programs Fully or Partially Online?
Depending on the program, DrPH students may be able to complete their studies entirely online, while other programs require that students complete some work online and some work on campus. In these programs, much of the curriculum can be done independently, so courses in areas such as organizational leadership, health behavior theory, epidemiology methods, health care marketing and public relations, and health policy can be taken online. However, in some cases, students are required to receive hands-on training. For example, Capella University offers an online DrPH program that requires a practicum, where students are expected to receive 100 hours of supervised training in a public health setting that has been approved by the school. During this time, students apply the skills they learned to the real-world, day-to-day issues that public health professionals face, and at the end of the practicum, they write a capstone paper that is the culmination of the competencies they gained throughout the program.
Can I Get into an Online DrPH Program?
Admissions requirements for online DrPH programs vary from one school to the next. However, prospective students are generally expected to:
- have a public health master’s degree from a school accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health
- earn a certain minimum score on the GRE
- submit writing samples
- have a 3.5 minimum grade point average
- submit letters of recommendation
- submit a statement of purpose
- submit a resume
- have work experience in the public health field
Can I Specialize When Earning my Doctor of Public Health Online?
Students who enroll in an online DrPH program can usually concentrate their studies on a more specific aspect of public health. In fact, most students apply to and enroll in programs with specific concentrations that dovetail with their current profession. The following are examples of some of the concentrations that programs may offer.
- Advanced leadership. This concentration is designed to help students hone their leadership skills and meet the challenges that come with running a public health care facility. Students who pursue this area may take coursework in organizational behavior, public health advocacy, and social media marketing.
- Cancer prevention and control. With the effect of cancer devastating the lives of so many families around the country, some public health professionals may want to dedicate their careers to addressing this problem in their community. Students who enroll in this concentration learn about the environmental factors that contribute to the development of cancer, as well as how to track, control, and prevent the disease.
- Demographic-focused studies. This specialization addresses the public health concerns of specific demographics in a community, such as women, the elderly, children, or people who are a member of a specific cultural or racial group.
- Environmental health. The curriculum of this concentration addresses the relationship between the environment and the health conditions that people may develop. Specific topics studied may include water quality, environmental chemistry and biology, toxicology, air quality, and industrial hygiene.
- Global health. Professionals who want to expand their understanding of public health issues beyond borders may enroll in a global health problem to learn about the complex issues that affect populations around the world.
- Public health policy and law. Students who want to focus their studies on how health care and law intersect can enroll in this concentration to take coursework about advocacy, drug regulations, legal analysis, and health care ethics.
What’s the Difference Between an Online DrPH and a PhD?
While both the DrPH and PhD degrees are at the doctoral level, they are not interchangeable. Understanding the differences between the two is essential for students to select the degree that aligns with their career aspirations. For those seeking a program that focuses on practical training to prepare for leadership roles in public health, a DrPH may be the better option. On the other hand, a PhD in public health is suitable for individuals interested in pursuing an academic career.
|
| DrPH | PhD in Public Health |
|---|---|---|
| Academic focus | Evidence-based | Research-based |
| Career track | Clinical/professional | Academia |
| Program type (common) | Part-time | Full-time |
| Program length | 4-5 years | 5-7 years |
| Primary students | Mid-career | Early career |
Does a PhD sound like the better fit? Read our full page about blended and online PhDs in public health.
What Is a Capstone Project? Is It Different from a Dissertation?
Capstone projects and dissertations are similar in that they require students to demonstrate their knowledge of a curriculum or academic field. However, capstone projects are designed to deliver a solution to a real-world problem and have a training component where students get hands-on experience in a public health setting. Dissertations add to the academic research of the field, and students conduct original research to an original and relevant issue.
How Much Does an Online DrPH Cost?
When DrPH hopefuls research schools, they should not only consider how the curriculum fits into their career goals, but also how the cost fits into their budgets. Since an online doctor of public health is a commitment of both time and money, students should look at the cost involved with earning this degree, as well as the financial aid that may be available to them. The following table outlines how much five different schools charge for their DrPH programs.
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capella University | 76 | $755 | $57,380 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 64 | $1,128 | $72,192 |
| Penn State College of Medicine | 60 | $898 | $53,880 |
| Indiana University | 45 | $510 | $22,950 |
| Georgia State University | 54 | $425 | $22,950 |
What Type of Accreditation Should I Look for?
As prospective online DrPH students research the schools they’re interested in, they should also add accreditation to the list of characteristics they want in a school. However, it’s important to know what kind of accreditation to look for. Regional accrediting agencies—like the Higher Learning Commission and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges—provide accreditation to the school as a whole. While important, people should also look for public health programs that have been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, which ensures the curriculum of a DrPH has been evaluated for quality by people with industry knowledge and experience.
