The 5 Best MPH Programs in Maryland

Maryland’s public health sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with epidemiologist positions projected to increase by 34% over the next decade. So pursuing your master’s degree in this field positions you for strong career prospects. Maryland’s population of over 6 million residents means we just need more skilled public health professionals.

Whether you’re learning about public health schools in Maryland or researching the University of Maryland Masters in Public Health, you’ll find several strong MPH programs in Maryland. Here are the five best accredited programs to consider for your graduate education.

1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health MPH Program

Program Overview and Flexibility

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is the oldest and largest school of public health worldwide, founded in 1916. The MPH program gives you exceptional flexibility in how you complete your degree. You can choose from multiple formats: fully online, fully onsite, or a combination of both approaches.

The program duration ranges from 11 months to 4 years, depending on your chosen format. Full-time students complete the degree in one academic year from July to May. Five eight-week terms allow completion of 80 credits within this timeframe. Part-time students have up to 4 years to finish the program at their own pace.

Online courses feature pre-recorded lectures, discussion boards and live chats. You can arrange study around your personal schedule. The Online Plus option requires a minimum onsite requirement of four credits for those seeking some campus experience. The program begins with a one-day orientation on campus. A one or two-week on-campus Problem Solving in Public Health course follows.

You can personalize half of your curriculum, which is a defining feature of this program. Core coursework has approximately 45-50 credits of the 80 credits required to graduate. The remaining credits are available to customize based on your interests and professional goals. You’ll complete a practicum experience of at least 100 hours that aligns with your career goals. A capstone project that combines skills acquired throughout the program is also required.

The full-time MPH program carries STEM designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This applies to students graduating in May 2023 and after. Students with F-1 visas who are hired after graduation become eligible for up to two additional years of Optional Practical Training (OPT) beyond the standard one year.

Concentrations and Specializations

The program features 13 multidisciplinary concentration areas designed for students seeking a guided curriculum. These concentrations provide opportunities to interact with others sharing similar academic interests. Concentration options include:

• Aging and Public Health
• Child and Adolescent Health
• Epidemiologic and Biostatistical Methods for Public Health and Clinical Research
• Food, Nutrition and Health
• Food Systems
• Global Environmental Sustainability and Health
• Health Leadership and Management
• Health Systems and Policy
• Humanitarian Health
• Indigenous Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
• Women’s and Reproductive Health

Students electing a concentration complete the core MPH requirements. They then fulfill concentration-required courses that have approximately 20 credits as specified by the concentration curriculum. You’ll choose elective courses for the remaining 10-17 credits. Both full-time and part-time/online students are eligible to elect a concentration, though only one concentration area may be selected. The concentration appears on your academic transcript once complete.

The Food Systems Concentration includes a minimum of 18 credits of coursework, as an example. Some courses incorporate field trips and experiential learning. Others can be taken online with interactive sessions and recorded presentations from experts in a variety of fields.

Admission Requirements

The program requires at least two years of post-baccalaureate, health-related work experience or a doctoral degree in a field underlying public health. You can apply before reaching the two-year mark, provided you fulfill this requirement by matriculation. Many students are physicians, but various backgrounds qualify. These include health-related Peace Corps work, managing a research lab, or covering health policy as a journalist.

This work experience requirement is waived for medical students who completed two years of U.S. medical school curriculum and those who finished medical school outside the U.S. All dual-degree program applicants except MPH/MBA candidates also receive this waiver. MPH/MBA candidates must have the two-year work experience.

You must have completed specific courses for academic credit and letter grade at an accredited institution by matriculation:

• One math course (Calculus, Algebra, or Statistics)
• One introductory general biology course
• One health-related science (Microbiology, Nutrition, or Anatomy and Physiology) OR a second biology course

Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT) are optional for the MPH program. The admissions committee makes no assumptions if you omit a standardized test score. They will require evidence of quantitative and analytical ability through other application components such as academic transcripts and supplemental questions. Applications undergo holistic review based on all components.

You’ll need to submit three letters of recommendation. The review committee prefers at least one professional and one academic letter, though this isn’t required. You can include only professional letters if more relevant.

Application deadlines for the 2026-27 academic year include January 3, 2026 for online/part-time students starting in June 2026 and full-time/onsite students beginning in late June/early July 2026. The September 15, 2025 deadline applies to online/part-time students with a January 2026 start.

Tuition and Financial Aid Options

Tuition costs vary by enrollment status and program length. Half-time students pay $26,244 for the 9-month period, while full-time students pay $69,984. Tuition reaches $87,480 for the 11-month full-time program. Additional costs include health insurance at $3,705, health fee at $950, and a one-time matriculation fee of $500.

All online/part-time MPH students receive the Welch Scholarship, which reduces tuition costs by a lot. This scholarship provides $318 per credit, up to 80 total credits with a maximum of 12 credits per term. The scholarship covers online, in-person, or institute courses. No additional application is required. Funding applies each term automatically.

The Bloomberg Fellows Program targets individuals working with U.S. organizations on addiction, violence, adolescent health, environmental challenges and the food system currently. Fellows receive full tuition plus a small stipend but must commit to serving at least one year with the collaborating organization after graduation. This fellowship requires an additional application with a December 1 deadline.

The Sommer Scholars Program gives full tuition plus a living stipend to 12 outstanding students with potential to become public health leaders annually. All accepted full-time MPH applicants are considered without needing an additional application automatically.

Institutional scholarships like the Wade Hampton Frost Scholarship and Lowell J. Reed Scholarship range from $10,000 to $40,000. All accepted full-time MPH applicants are considered for these awards automatically.

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers receive consideration for partial tuition scholarships of $20,000 or more. You simply select “Returned Peace Corps Volunteer” on your SOPHAS application to be considered.

Accreditation Status

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) evaluates Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health every seven years. The CEPH Board voted to renew the school’s accreditation for a seven-year term ending in June 2031 in 2024. CEPH serves as the independent accrediting agency for U.S. Schools of Public Health and public health programs.

2. University of Maryland School of Public Health MPH Program

Program Overview and Flexibility

The University of Maryland School of Public Health sits in College Park and provides a 45-credit MPH program that full-time students can complete within two years. This University of Maryland Master’s in Public Health is the only accredited school of public health at a public university in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia region and provides an affordable education with exceptional professional development opportunities.

A cohort-based learning model forms the program’s structure. You’ll take a set of core courses that total 14 credits over three semesters together with your peers. These integrated core courses provide instruction in data collection and analysis, policy, health care systems, communication, ethics and leadership. You’ll take courses in your chosen concentration area while you complete the integrated core and have opportunities to complete internships unique to the Maryland/DC national capital region.

The integrated core MPH courses are SPHL601 Core Concepts in Public Health (1 credit), SPHL602 Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (4 credits), SPHL603 Public Health Data Laboratory (1 credit), SPHL610 Program and Policy Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (5 credits), SPHL611 Public Health Ethics (1 credit), and SPHL620 Leadership, Teams, and Coalitions: Policy to Advocacy (2 credits).

The curriculum has an internship and capstone project relevant to your career goals beyond coursework. Both full-time and part-time study options are welcomed. Part-time refers to fewer than 48 units per semester (1-8 credits) while full-time status requires 48 units per semester (9-12 graduate credits). Some programs adapt more easily to part-time enrollment than others. This gives you flexibility to complete your degree at a pace that fits your schedule.

Four fully online degree programs are accessible to working professionals who need maximum flexibility: MPH in Behavioral and Community Health, MPH in Physical Activity, MPH in Public Health Practice and Policy, and Master of Health Administration. Fortune Education ranked the MPH in Public Health Practice and Policy as the #1 online Master’s in Public Health in the US for 2025.

Concentrations and Specializations

The school provides nine different MPH concentrations. Each represents a 45-credit degree program:

• Behavioral and Community Health (in-person and online)
• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Health Care Management
• Health Equity
• Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation
• Physical Activity (online)
• Public Health Practice and Policy (online)

The school’s unique configuration of departments and research centers allows special concentrations like Physical Activity and Health Equity that will set you apart in the job market. You can complete your degree through the online programs while you minimize disruption to your personal and professional life.

Enrollment terms vary by program. The MA in Kinesiology, PhD in Kinesiology, MPH in Public Health Practice and Policy (online), MPH in Behavioral and Community Health (online), Master of Health Administration (online), and Certificate in Global Health admit in both Fall and Spring semesters. The MPH in Physical Activity admits for summer, while all other programs only admit in the Fall semester.

Admission Requirements

You must have earned or be in the process of earning a 4-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This minimum GPA requirement applies to all graduate programs throughout the university as a UMD Graduate School requirement. A 3.0 GPA represents the baseline on the positive side, though a higher GPA may strengthen your competitiveness for specific programs.

All master’s degree programs do not require or make the GRE optional. This policy eliminates a common barrier to graduate education and allows the admissions committee to focus on other aspects of your qualifications. Master’s degree applicants face no specific undergraduate prerequisites, though the review process values experience working, volunteering, or researching topics related to public health.

You’ll submit three letters of recommendation through the SOPHAS system or TerpEngage platform. The recommenders enter their information and upload letters directly after you send them an invitation. Your statement of purpose should be two pages and double-spaced. Address your personal and professional background that led you to public health, interest in the specified graduate program and MPH concentration, public health topics of interest, and specific career goals.

Your degree program determines the application process. MPH, MHA, MS and PhD programs in Environmental Health Services, PhD Maternal and Child Health, Health Services Research, Epidemiology, and Behavioral and Community Health go through a two-part application process that involves both SOPHAS and the University of Maryland supplemental application. The SOPHAS fee costs $150, while the University of Maryland supplemental application fee costs $75.

International applicants must submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores unless they hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from English-speaking countries listed on the University of Maryland Graduate School website. U.S. citizens or permanent residents with international credentials must submit English test scores if they don’t hold a degree from exempted countries.

Tuition and Financial Aid Options

Online MPH programs assess tuition at a flat rate that doesn’t separate Maryland residents and non-residents. The cost is $1,077 per credit. The program requires 45 credits, so the estimated total for the master’s degree reaches $48,465.

International students are charged out-of-state tuition plus an additional International Student fee per semester. Location, delivery type, and semester determine how mandatory fees are assessed.

The School of Public Health welcomes AmeriCorps alumni who wish to further their education by becoming public health professionals. The school provides up to four eligible AmeriCorps alumni a one-time scholarship of $10,000 to applicants admitted to one of the MPH programs in recognition of AmeriCorps service. You must indicate AmeriCorps Service Member/Alumni status on both the SOPHAS and UMD TerpEngage application to qualify. You must also be admitted to an MPH degree program during the 2024 admissions cycle or later and have completed full-time service with AmeriCorps before you begin your degree program.

Graduate assistantships may be accessible through research centers. These assistantships won’t cover the full cost of tuition for MPH students, but they will discount the tuition rate steeply. Exceptional PhD applicants receive limited funding packages that usually consist of base tuition costs, health insurance benefits and a small stipend in exchange for Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant positions.

Accreditation Status

The University of Maryland School of Public Health completed the reaccreditation process in 2023 and is CEPH-accredited through 2030. CEPH first accredited the school in 2010. The Council on Education for Public Health serves as the independent accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to ensure the quality of education and training in public health.

Students become eligible to take the National Board of Public Health Examiners exam to become Certified in Public Health (CPH) after they complete all core principles of public health courses within the master’s programs. This certification improves your professional credibility and employment opportunities in the field.

3. Morgan State University Public Health Program

Program Overview and Flexibility

Morgan State University’s Public Health Program holds the designation as Maryland’s Public Urban University. The program distinguishes itself through an explicit focus on urban health issues that affect minority and underserved populations. Research, policy, and implementation are grounded in community engagement, collaborative leadership, cultural respect, and social justice principles.

Morgan State offers both Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degrees through its School of Community Health and Policy. The traditional MPH follows a generalist specialization approach and requires 48 graduate credit hours. This total has a public health practicum and capstone. Students must complete foundation courses across five core public health domains: environmental health, quantitative analysis and methods, health planning, policy and administration, and social and behavioral science.

The Online MPH Program with Executive Health Management concentration gives working professionals an accelerated pathway. This format requires 42 academic credit hours: 36 hours of coursework and 6 credit hours for an applied practice experience and graduate capstone project. The accelerated curriculum spans less than 18 months. It begins in August and concludes by December of the following year. The structure has three full semesters and one summer semester.

Traditional MPH students admit only in fall semester. Online students can begin in fall or spring terms. The online format delivers flexibility for those who balance career and personal demands. Each fall/spring semester consists of courses offered in two consecutive eight-week terms, and the summer semester runs as one eight-week session.

Concentrations and Specializations

The traditional MPH program delivers a generalist curriculum that prepares public health professionals. These professionals draw knowledge and skills from various disciplines to define and assess urban public health problems. Graduates develop competencies as advocates, researchers, and policy developers. Their focus centers on urban public health challenges.

The Online MPH concentration in Executive Health Management targets practicing health service professionals who want to advance to health management positions. This concentration develops competencies in health information management, financial management in health services organizations, and emergency management. The program recognizes and builds upon extensive experience from health-related careers. These careers span medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, insurance, environmental health, health education, consulting, law, management, health services administration, psychology, and social work.

Admission Requirements

The traditional MPH program requires you to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Your minimum academic grade point average must be 3.0 or above. GRE scores are required. You’ll arrange for three letters of recommendation from practicing public health professionals, faculty members from previously attended institutions, or employment supervisors.

Submit an updated professional resume and a typed 1-2 page essay. The essay should describe your work and educational experience, area of interest, career objectives, and reasons for selecting Morgan State University. At least one year of work-related experience in public health or allied health fields is preferred.

The Online MPH Program has different requirements. You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and at least three years of work-related experience in public health or allied health fields. You’ll submit a professional curriculum vitae that shows health-related work experience and prepare a statement of interest between 300-500 words. This statement should explain why you wish to enroll and how you plan to use your degree. Three letters of recommendation are required. An interview with the program Admissions Committee completes the process.

Applications require a $50 fee for the online application. Priority deadlines for fall admission are May 1st for domestic applicants and April 1st for international applicants. Spring admission deadlines fall on December 1st for domestic and November 1st for international students. The committee reviews all application elements and takes program capacity into account. Meeting minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee admission.

Tuition and Financial Aid Options

Maryland residents enrolled in graduate programs pay $10,197 in tuition and fees for off-campus students during the 2025-2026 academic year. Non-Maryland residents pay $18,567. These costs represent annual tuition for full-time enrollment status, which requires 9 or more credits per term.

The program awarded 11 master’s degrees and 5 doctoral degrees in recent years. Six credits of previously earned coursework can be accepted toward the minimum degree requirement. These credits must not have been used for a previous degree, and you must have earned grades of B- or higher.

Accreditation Status

Morgan State University’s Public Health Program holds full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for both MPH and DrPH degrees. The program was re-accredited in 2016 for seven years. CEPH conducts re-accreditation reviews not exceeding seven years, which represents the maximum accreditation period. The program went through another re-accreditation review with a site visit scheduled for April 11 and April 12, 2024.

4. University of Maryland Baltimore MPH Program

Program Overview and Flexibility

The University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Master of Public Health program operates within a major medical school and biomedical research institution. This setup creates distinctive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. This 42-credit professional degree program requires completion across four components: 24 credits of core courses, 12 credits of concentration courses, 4 credits for applied practice experience, and 2 credits for an integrated learning experience.

Core coursework covers fundamentals in eight areas: Fundamentals of Public Health Practice, Health Equity and Social Justice, Concepts in Qualitative Research for Public Health, Principles of Epidemiology, Program Planning and Evaluation, Biostatistical Methods, Public Health & Health Care Systems and Policy, and Leadership for Public Health Professionals. Each core course carries 3 credits.

The 240-contact hour fieldwork experience happens at a public health agency. A trained public health preceptor supervises the work. This practicum gives hands-on experience in dynamic urban settings. Placement opportunities exist at local, state, national and international agencies. Students must complete all degree requirements within seven consecutive calendar years of enrollment.

Joint degree opportunities exist with seven professional programs on the UMB campus: DDS/MPH, DPT/MPH, JD/MPH, MD/MPH, MS (Nursing)/MPH, MSW/MPH and PharmD/MPH. Admission to dual-degree programs depends on enrollment and good academic standing within home programs.

Concentrations and Specializations

Three academic concentrations structure the curriculum at University of Maryland Baltimore:

Community and Population Health provides skills to design, implement and evaluate public health programs for diverse communities. Fieldwork in community settings is part of this concentration. Required courses are Community-Based Engagement Methods, Urban Health, Health Communication for Behavior Change, and Health Survey Research Methods.

Epidemiology develops quantitative research skills in study design and data analysis. The concentration has Applied Epidemiology, Observational Studies in Epidemiology, Statistical Methods in Epidemiology, and Clinical Trials/Experimental Epidemiology.

Global Health addresses social and political factors that affect global health. Fieldwork must address public health problems either overseas or with immigrant/refugee populations in the United States. Courses cover contemporary global health problems, Global Burden of Disease, Critical Problems in Global Health, and Dissemination and Implementation Science.

Admission Requirements

You’ll submit both a SOPHAS application and supplemental application to be considered. Applications are accepted with a priority deadline of January 15th and final deadline of May 1st.

The GRE waiver applies to Fall 2026 applicants. Alternative standardized test scores accepted are MCAT, LSAT, PCAT, DAT, or VCAT. Three recommendations from persons who can comment on your potential for academic and career success in public health are needed.

Your application undergoes holistic review. The committee considers your rationale for applying, commitment to public health, career goals, work or volunteer experience in public health-related areas, and undergraduate coursework. Courses in science, social science, and quantitative skills come recommended.

International applicants must submit course-by-course evaluations from World Education Services for post-secondary credentials from institutions outside the U.S.. TOEFL (Institution code 5688) or IELTS scores are needed unless you’ve earned a degree from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction.

The supplemental application requires a $50 fee. Fee waivers are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who receive SOPHAS fee waivers, with an April 15 request deadline.

Tuition and Financial Aid Options

Maryland residents pay $20,812 in tuition plus $6,809 in mandatory university fees for the 2025-2026 academic year. Non-residents pay $36,806 in tuition with the same mandatory fees. Total cost of attendance reaches $65,379 for residents and $82,079 for non-residents when books, living expenses, transportation, and loan fees are included.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore offers scholarships to students who demonstrate strong academic achievements and community leadership. The MPH Program offers specific scholarship and award opportunities after admission, though these don’t cover the full cost of tuition or fees.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans provide up to $20,500 per year. Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans cover remaining costs up to the full cost of attendance.

Accreditation Status

The Council on Education for Public Health accredits the University of Maryland School of Medicine Master of Public Health program through July 1, 2030. CEPH is an independent agency that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes to accredit schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health.

5. Uniformed Services University MPH Program

Program Overview and Flexibility

This military-focused MPH program operates from Bethesda and requires a minimum of 60 quarter credit hours. The program is sequenced to be completed within 12 months. We designed the curriculum for those who have doctoral degrees and plan careers in Preventive Medicine and Public Health within the Uniformed Services. The curriculum emphasizes quantitative skills and requires 35 credit hours in core courses covering epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. Students must complete an independent project and practicum experience as part of the core curriculum. Full-time students carry a minimum credit load of 12 per quarter, with a maximum of 22. Typical loads range from 16-18 credits.

Concentrations and Specializations

Seven concentration areas guide specialized training: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Administration, Health Policy, General Preventive Public Health, Global Health, and Tropical Public Health.

Admission Requirements

Active-duty uniformed officers possessing doctoral degrees in medical, dental, or veterinary fields receive priority for admission. Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution before matriculation. Active-duty applicants must provide evidence of service support.

Tuition and Financial Aid Options

All students receive waived tuition. Most students purchase their own books.

Accreditation Status

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits the university.

Make Your Choice Today

Maryland has exceptional MPH programs tailored to diverse career goals and schedules. Johns Hopkins stands out for its flexibility and global reputation. The University of Maryland College Park provides affordable education with specialized concentrations like Physical Activity. Morgan State focuses on urban health and underserved populations, and UMB delivers strong clinical integration. Uniformed Services University provides tuition-free education to military professionals.

Your ideal program depends on your career objectives and financial situation. Take the time to research each program’s unique strengths and connect with admissions teams. Assess which concentration lines up best with your public health aspirations. Your investment in graduate education positions you for Maryland’s growing public health sector.