4 Best MPH Programs in Arkansas for 2027

If you are looking for a great career path in the state of Arkansas, then look no further than Public Health. In addition, if you are looking for a career that won’t be negatively impacted by AI, then Public Health is a great choice. To get your start in this field, you’ll have to earn a master’s degree, and luckily for you, Arkansas has great MPH programs.

Arkansas ranks as the second least healthy state in the United States and faces high obesity rates along with low healthcare professional availability. Due to this, Forbes magazine has recognized public health as the sixth best master’s degree you can earn to get jobs, with projected employment growth exceeding 30% over the next decade.

Our review looks at four quality programs. These include options at University of Arkansas Public Health and institutions offering a master’s degree in health promotion. Take a look at our list and see if any of these programs can help you meet your goals.

1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health

The Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is the state’s premier institution for graduate-level public health education. The college offers a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for leadership roles in community health improvement.

Students in the Master of Public Health program at UAMS must complete 42 credit hours structured around four core components. The curriculum has foundational courses common to all concentrations for a total of 27 credit hours, concentration-specific courses making up 9 credit hours, an applied practice experience worth 3 credit hours, and a capstone integrative learning experience contributing the final 3 credit hours.

Foundational coursework gives students skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, health behavior, and health communications. Core classes extend into health policy, health systems, and social determinants of health. This builds a complete base for public health practice. Research methodology and statistical analysis courses round out the required curriculum and give graduates analytical capabilities needed for evidence-based decision making.

Hands-on learning sets this program apart through the applied practice experience. Students must complete a minimum of 200 clock hours of work in a public health-related activity. A qualified specialist in public health practice and a COPH faculty member supervise this work together. This preceptorship gives direct exposure to real-life public health challenges and solutions.

The Integrative Learning Experience serves as the program’s capstone requirement. Students blend knowledge gained throughout their coursework and apply theoretical principles to practical public health scenarios. Acceptable culminating projects include manuscripts prepared for publication, health policy proposals, and research proposals for submission. The Integrative Learning Experience Project Advisory Committee made up of COPH faculty members must approve equivalent work.

Students must complete all degree requirements within 8 consecutive calendar years from first registration. Classes must begin within 1 calendar year after acceptance to the COPH. Courses require a grade of C or better to count toward degree requirements.

MPH Specializations and Concentrations

UAMS offers six distinct concentration tracks. A specific department within the college runs each track. Students must declare their chosen concentration when applying to the program. The administering department assigns an academic advisor upon admission.

• The Epidemiology concentration gives in-depth training in epidemiologic research and practice. Students focus on theory and methods and apply these skills during preceptorship and culminating experience projects. The curriculum has Epidemiology I, II, and III courses, advanced biostatistics, and elective options covering chronic diseases, infectious diseases, public health surveillance, cancer epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, and genomics.
• The Health Policy and Management concentration develops competencies in theories, methods, and skills relevant to policy and managerial decision-making within health systems. The curriculum focuses on generating and disseminating evidence-based research to inform development, organization, and implementation of health services and policies.
• The Health Behavior and Health Education concentration trains students in program planning, implementation, management, and evaluation. Didactics and preceptorship experiences develop abilities to select and apply culturally-responsive behavioral and social change strategies. These strategies boost health within communities and at-risk populations.
• The Climate, Rural, and Global Public Health concentration tackles urgent and complex public health issues in populations living and working in rural areas nationally or internationally. The curriculum looks at how anthropogenic climate change affects vulnerable communities. Students gain knowledge to develop climate resiliency strategies alongside affected communities.

Environmental and Occupational Health and additional specialized tracks complete the six concentration options. Dedicated departmental faculty and resources support each track.

Tuition and Program Costs

Tuition rates differ between Arkansas residents and non-residents:

Students enrolled in on-campus programs pay mandatory institutional fees each fall and spring semester beyond base tuition. These include a Student Health Fee of $145.00, Student Transportation Fee of $78.00, Technology Fee of $124.00, University Services Fee of $500.00, and Student Activity Fee of $25.00. A one-time Graduation Fee of $70.00 applies when students complete their degree requirements.

Students enrolled in 100% online programs receive reduced or waived fees for certain categories. The college maintains a limited number of graduate assistantships offering in-state and out-of-state tuition waivers plus competitive monthly stipends. These 12-month, 50% appointments require graduate assistants to give support through course teaching or research assistance.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must meet Graduate School admission standards and have an undergraduate degree. The program prefers applicants with public health or related undergraduate degrees. Those with non-health backgrounds receive consideration provided they state in their personal statement how prior coursework and experiences led to interest in getting an MPH.

All applicants must show a minimum 3.00 grade-point average on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework, excluding student teaching. Official transcripts from every institution attended must be submitted to SOPHAS. This applies whatever degree was awarded or transfer credits shown on subsequent transcripts. Foreign transcripts require translation and evaluation by World Education Services.

The application package requires a current curriculum vitae or resume and a personal statement capped at 500-700 words. The statement should address motivation behind pursuing public health, previous academic and professional experiences in health or healthcare, and career goals. Applicants should explain how the MPH degree will make it easier to achieve these objectives.

Three letters of recommendation from separate individuals who can speak to academic, professional, and public health experience complete the application requirements. The Graduate Record Examination remains optional. Applicants who completed a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution receive exemption from GRE requirements. Scores on comparable graduate tests including MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, DAT, and PCAT receive consideration in lieu of the GRE.

International applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless they hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited US institution. The college accepts applications for fall, spring, and summer semester admission. All applicants submitting completed packets by deadlines receive phone interviews and written notification of admission decisions.

Accreditation and Rankings

The Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health has accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes this independent agency to accredit schools of public health. The college received re-accreditation in June 2022 and maintains accredited status through December 31, 2029. CEPH establishes, monitors, and revises criteria by which it assesses public health schools at intervals. This ensures programs train students consistent with best standards in public health education.

The re-accreditation process occurs every seven years. The process involves preparation of a thorough self-study report, a site visit by qualified peer reviewers, and review by CEPH’s Board of Councilors. The Board makes the final determination about compliance with accreditation criteria.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health 74th among the nation’s public health programs. This makes it the only Arkansas program included in the top 100 nationally. Dean Mark Williams noted the ranking reflects the college’s dedication to education, research, and service. He emphasized that student experience and preparation to affect community health through public health practice and science remain paramount.

2. University of Arkansas – Accelerated Master of Public Health

The University of Arkansas offers a distinctive accelerated pathway allowing qualified undergraduates to earn both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health at the same time. This creates the quickest route for students committed to public health careers from their undergraduate years.

This accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program allows current University of Arkansas undergraduate students pursuing a public health degree to begin graduate-level coursework while still completing their bachelor’s requirements. The structure lets students take up to 15 hours of graduate coursework (5000 and 6000 level courses) during the last three academic regular semesters of their undergraduate degree. These credits count toward both the B.S. and M.P.H. degrees.

The program requires completion of 42 credit hours total. This breaks down into 24 semester hours of required core courses, 12 hours of concentration courses, and 6 hours of capstone work. Students take foundational courses in public health, health behavior, and health communications. Additional core courses focus on health policy and health systems, and social determinants of health. Research and statistics training is another component of the curriculum.

The applied practice experience provides hands-on learning through internships and gives you direct exposure to public health professional skills. The Integrative Learning Experience is the capstone project. It helps you become more skilled in your chosen public health discipline. You must maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0 or better for graduation and complete the capstone project successfully.

You’ll complete specific required courses at designated times during your final three undergraduate semesters. Your junior year spring semester requires PBHL 55603 in lieu of PBHL 36403. Your senior year fall semester has PBHL 56303 and PBHL 55303, replacing PBHL 32002 and PBHL 46003. Spring of your senior year requires PBHL 56503 and PBHL 5840V instead of PBHL 46403 and PBHL 40403.

You need at least a 3.0 GPA in PBHL graduate courses after completing your B.S. degree with the graduate courses. Program faculty will then accept you into the Public Health M.P.H. degree program after admittance into the University of Arkansas Graduate School.

MPH Specializations and Concentrations

You can choose between two concentration tracks. Each requires 12 credit hours of specialized coursework beyond the core curriculum.

• The Public Health Practice concentration prepares you for roles in community health settings. Required courses are PBHL 53103 (Evaluation of Public Health Programs), PBHL 55303 (Theories of Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health), and PBHL 68003 (Health Communication Theory, Research and Practice). One advisor-approved elective completes the 12-hour requirement.
• The Physical Activity concentration addresses public health through movement and exercise science. Your coursework has EXSC 53503 (Exercise Psychology), EXSC 54503 (Physical Activity and Health), and EXSC 54603 (Promoting Physical Activity in the Community), plus one advisor-approved elective.

Both concentrations share the same core courses. These are ESRM 53903 (Statistics in Education and Health Professions), PBHL 55603 (Public Health: Practices and Planning), PBHL 56503 (Social Determinants of Health), PBHL 55703 (Foundations of Public Health), PBHL 56303 (Health Administration, Organizations, and Systems), and PBHL 57503 (Evidence-Based Public Health), along with 6 hours of electives. The capstone component has PBHL 5660V (Integrative Learning Experience) and PBHL 5840V (Applied Practice Experience), each worth 3 credit hours.

Tuition and Program Costs

The University of Arkansas assesses specific tuition rates for graduate public health students that differ from standard graduate rates:

Based on the 42-credit-hour program requirement, in-state students pay around $20,253.66 in total tuition. Out-of-state students pay around $44,962.68 for the complete degree.

The department has a limited number of graduate assistant positions available to qualified students each year. These 12-month, 50% appointments require you to provide support through course teaching or research assistance. Graduate assistant positions offer both in-state and out-of-state tuition waivers plus a competitive monthly stipend. You must enroll for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester during Fall and Spring and 3 credit hours during Summer to maintain funding.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the accelerated master’s pathway requires you to be a University of Arkansas undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Public Health (Pre-PBHLBS or PBHLBS). You must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25 when applying.

Applications are accepted during fall of your junior year (fifth semester) or during the semester when you will complete at least 75 credit hours of coursework. Application deadlines are October 15 for spring semester admission and March 15 for fall semester admission.

Admission operates on a competitive basis. The Public Health Program faculty reviews all prospective applicants using various factors that include GPA and your resume or curriculum vitae. GRE scores are not required when applying through the accelerated master’s path.

Requirements differ for students applying to the standard M.P.H. program (not through the accelerated pathway). You need a 3.00 grade-point average on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework, excluding student teaching. You must submit a resume or curriculum vitae and a personal statement limited to 500 words. The statement should address your motivation behind pursuing public health and your area of concentration. It should also cover previous academic and professional experiences in health or healthcare, and career goals with explanation of how the degree will help you achieve these objectives.

Accreditation and Rankings

The University of Arkansas Public Health program holds accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health. CEPH assures quality in public health education and training to achieve excellence in practice and research through collaboration with organizational and community partners. This accreditation status confirms the program meets standards recognized nationally for public health education and prepares students consistent with best practices in the field.

The program’s vision centers on developing positive change agents for healthier and safer communities at state, national, and global levels. The mission emphasizes promoting health and safety of communities in Arkansas and the region through professional preparation of positive change agents, novel and relevant scholarship, and engaged professional service.

3. Arkansas State University – Master of Public Health

Arkansas State University expanded its public health education offerings to meet growing workforce demands in northeastern Arkansas and surrounding regions. The university positions itself as an available option for graduate students seeking careers in community health and population health management.

Arkansas State University’s graduate programs in health sciences build upon the institution’s undergraduate public health curriculum. The university’s public health education framework covers five core disciplines: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Coursework emphasizes public health practice and management, health policy, population health, global health, program planning, and research methods.

Graduate students at A-State benefit from faculty who have worked in public health positions for top U.S. health agencies. This practical experience translates into curriculum that bridges academic theory with ground application. The program prepares students for roles in healthcare management, epidemiology, community health, health data science, and health education.

The institution addresses public health challenges unique to rural communities and provides students with specialized knowledge applicable to underserved populations throughout Arkansas and similar regions nationwide.

MPH Specializations and Concentrations

Arkansas State University structures its public health education around complete training across multiple domains based on the available program information. Students gain exposure to epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy, and behavioral sciences. The curriculum focuses on developing skills in analysis and interpretation, communication, management, and problem solving.

Program planning and evaluation components prepare students to design, implement, and assess community health interventions. Research design and methodology courses give graduates capabilities to conduct evidence-based investigations into population health issues.

Tuition and Program Costs

Arkansas State University positions itself as an affordable option among graduate programs. Graduate tuition rates are structured as follows:

The estimated annual cost for in-state graduate students reaches $30,722.00 and covers tuition, fees, books, room and board, personal expenses, and transportation. Out-of-state students add $7,896.00 to this base cost.

Base tuition may include course fees ranging from $5.00 to $255.00 per course depending on your class schedule. Online courses carry an Identity Compliance Fee and Distance Education Technology Fee, each assessed at $10.00 per credit hour.

Arkansas State offers a tuition fellowship that waives the out-of-state portion of costs for qualified non-resident students. You need a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.000 or higher to qualify and must attend A-State with 6 or more hours of graduate level courses during Fall or Spring semester, or 3 or more hours during summer terms. This fellowship applies to residents of any U.S. state other than Arkansas or any U.S. territory.

Average starting salaries for A-State master’s degree graduates reach $75,310.00 and demonstrate strong return on educational investment because of this competitive pricing.

Admission Requirements

You must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution for unconditional admission to graduate programs at Arkansas State University. The university requires a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, or a 3.00 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework.

You need to submit official transcripts from each college or university you attended. The Registrar must send these directly to The Graduate School. Applications must include a nonrefundable application fee submitted online during the application process. You should submit all materials at least 30 days before registration to avoid processing delays, preferably no later than six weeks before the semester begins.

Conditional admission status is available for applicants who achieve a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale, or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework. You cannot earn a grade of C or lower in any graduate-level course while under conditional admission status. You will be removed from conditional status upon completion of 9 hours in the program of study with a grade of B or better for each course.

Accreditation and Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranked Arkansas State University in 5 programs and 7 specialties at the graduate level. The university achieved a tie for #177 in Best Public Affairs Programs and reflects the institution’s commitment to preparing professionals for careers in health policy, community development, and public administration.

Arkansas State maintains regional accreditation and ensures credits transfer and degrees receive recognition from employers and other educational institutions nationwide. The institution’s focus on affordable and available graduate education serves working professionals throughout the region.

4. University of Central Arkansas – Master Degree in Health Promotion

University of Central Arkansas distinguishes itself through a fully online Master of Science degree in Health Promotion that prepares graduates for leadership positions in community health settings and offers flexibility for working professionals throughout Arkansas and beyond.

The graduate program at UCA offers a Master of Science degree in Health Promotion, formerly called Master of Science degree in Health Sciences. This degree program delivers 100% online and removes geographic barriers for students across the state. You can complete the program in one calendar year if you gain admission and receive advising the semester before starting courses. Early admission will give you access to all required courses throughout your accelerated timeline.

The program offers individualized scheduling options ranging from part-time to full-time student status and accommodates your personal and professional commitments. Graduates assume leadership and supervisory roles in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating health education programs across community, school, medical care and worksite settings. Many students utilize the degree to move up within their current organizations.

The curriculum centers on Areas of Responsibility outlined by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. You become eligible to sit for the CHES or MCHES national certification exam after graduation and can earn credentials as a Certified Health Education Specialist or Master Certified Health Education Specialist. Certain employers in health promotion and health education require this certification.

MPH Specializations and Concentrations

UCA structures the program around two distinct pathways based on your academic and career objectives.

The Non-Thesis Option requires 36 total hours. You complete 18 hours of Health Promotion core requirements including HLTH 5370, HLTH 6321, HLTH 6330 (or EXSS 6316), HLTH 6331, HLTH 6361, and HLTH 6379. Students lacking an undergraduate course in statistics must complete an additional graduate-level statistics course prior to HLTH 6330 or EXSS 6316 and use it as an elective within the program. The remaining 18 hours consist of electives selected with graduate coordinator approval.

The Thesis Option totals 33 hours. You complete similar core requirements (18 hours) and follow them with 6 hours of thesis research in Health Promotion through HLTH 6380 and 6390. Nine elective hours, selected with graduate coordinator approval and including no more than 3 hours from an allied area, round out this track.

Tuition and Program Costs

UCA establishes graduate costs as follows:

Out-of-state students add $5,791.00 to institutional tuition. UCA charges $308.00 per credit hour to in-state students or $615.00 to out-of-state students.

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study in the Master of Science degree in Health Promotion is selective. You must gain admission into the Graduate School at UCA and maintain a minimum 2.7 overall undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 in the last 60 hours.

Graduate Record Exam scores less than five years old that indicate a score of 3.0 or higher on the writing section fulfill testing requirements. Exceptions to this GRE requirement include a comparable standardized graduate exam with writing section score equivalent to 3.0 on the GRE, CHES or MCHES certification, completion of a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. accredited institution, or an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher from a U.S. accredited institution.

You must complete a detailed examination or present evidence of current CHES/MCHES certification. The detailed exam requires permission from the graduate coordinator or department chair after completing required core courses.

Accreditation and Rankings

University of Central Arkansas maintains regional accreditation and ensures your degree receives recognition from employers and educational institutions nationwide. The institution focuses on available graduate education serving working professionals throughout central Arkansas and surrounding regions.

Start Your MPH Journey in Arkansas

Arkansas may not have as many programs as other states, but the ones it does offer are of supreme quality. You can choose from a traditional MPH, or something a little more innovative like a degree in health promotion. The MPH programs at state schools offer competitive and affordable pricing, and you can graduate in as little as two years and begin your career as soon as you are finished.

With Community Health Workers expected to grow at a rate of 11 percent over the next decade, and Epidemiologists expected to grow at a rate of 16 percent, no matter where you are in the field, you are in for a career with solid growth.