MPH Programs in Idaho
If you are looking for an MPH in Idaho, then you are in luck! There’s…one. Idaho State University has the state’s only MPH progranm, although there are nearby programs in Washington and online programs that give Idaho State some competition.
Environmental Health is a big topic in Idaho, and the MPH here will prepare you to work in this aspect of public health. The program is over 20 years old and has had CEPH accreditation since 2002. You can look at the different options, both in Idaho and online, at our list below. If you are interested in looking at programs in nearby Washington, check out our list of Washington programs.
Idaho State University Master of Public Health
Idaho State University offers one of the best public health programs in the region. The program has held CEPH accreditation continuously since 2002. A well-laid-out 42-credit curriculum delivers content designed around Public Health Foundational Competencies that all CEPH-accredited programs require. Students complete coursework covering biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, and environmental health sciences. The program also addresses cross-cutting and emerging public health areas.
Program Overview and Format
The Idaho State MPH operates online with both synchronous and asynchronous classes. Working professionals and people in rural areas who need schedule flexibility benefit from this format. Students can start in Fall, Spring, or Summer terms through rolling admissions.
Applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA based on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work to gain admission. Those who hold a graduate degree must submit transcripts, but the undergraduate GPA requirement does not apply. You must provide two letters of recommendation from non-relative people familiar with your academic or professional abilities. A typed essay of one to two pages describing your interest in the program and career goals is also required.
This online program does not support F1 student visa applications for study in the United States, which creates a specific limitation for international students. Applications require submission through both SOPHAS (the centralized application service for public health) and the ISU Graduate School application. Review begins only after both applications are complete.
The 42-credit curriculum has 36 credits of core coursework and 6 credits of elective coursework, which can be a thesis or capstone project. Core courses comprise Research and Writing in Health I (1 credit), Rural Health Systems (3 credits), Applications in Epidemiology (3 credits), Biostatistics (3 credits), Social and Cultural Perspectives in Public Health (3 credits), Leadership Policy and Administration (3 credits), Environmental and Occupational Health (3 credits), Seminar in Public and Community Health (3 credits), Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credits), Research and Writing in Health 2 (2 credits), and Behavior Change Theory and Applications (3 credits). Approved electives make up the remaining 12 credits.
Core Features and Career Support
Academic standards at ISU remain rigorous. You must keep a 3.0 GPA or better for any graduate degree. A grade below B- counts as failing at the graduate level. Students earning a grade below B- in a core course must retake that course. Those earning grades below B- in two courses face dismissal from the program.
The Program Director assigns an advisor who provides support with requirements, program approval, graduation procedures, and other areas once your application receives approval. You can request a change of advisor at any time. Meeting with your assigned advisor upon acceptance and keeping regular meetings throughout the program contributes to success.
All MPH students must complete a graduate thesis or project to meet graduation requirements. You need permission through the Idaho State University Human Subjects Committee before any data collection occurs. Students choosing the capstone/project track undergo examinations conducted through the department. Those choosing a thesis require a Graduate Faculty Representative and must follow ISU Graduate School policies for theses.
The Career Path Internship program provides employment opportunities both on and off-campus in positions related to academic and professional interests. Over 3,600 students have gained professional, real-life experience in their field of study through this program since its establishment in 2011. Master’s students in CPI positions earn $15.00 per hour and gain hands-on experience while enhancing job readiness skills.
Faculty keep regular office hours and remain available to assist students in person or through video conference. Students access faculty through the personal learning environment. Faculty members participate in research, professional activities, and community service. This creates research opportunities for students to assist with existing projects or develop their own through thesis projects.
The program prepares graduates for employment in non-profits, government agencies, hospitals, community clinics, and academia. Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Certified in Public Health (CPH) certification receives strong recommendation, if not outright requirement, for employment in many public health career opportunities.
Program Cost and Financial Aid
Tuition rates differ by a lot based on residency status. Graduate part-time resident students pay $498.13 per credit. Non-resident part-time students pay $1,198.13 per credit. To name just one example, a student registered for 6 credits faces total tuition and consolidated fees of $3,552.00 as a resident or $7,752.00 as a non-resident. Pharmacy/MPH students receive undergraduate tuition rates for all credits plus partial graduate tuition of $137.25 per credit for MPH credits.
Financial assistance comes through multiple channels. Dr. Galen Louis, an alumnus and former program director, created a scholarship fund upon retirement that awards $100,000 for the Spring semester to an MPH student demonstrating scholarship, leadership, and vision for the future of public health.
Graduate Assistantships depend on funding availability. Both prospective and current students are eligible to apply. Full-time GAs work up to 19.5 hours per week and earn an hourly wage and tuition compensation. You must earn at least nine graduate credit hours per semester and keep a 3.0 GPA to retain financial support, though some departments impose additional requirements. International graduate assistants whose first language is not English may need to pass an English-speaking proficiency test. Non-resident students receiving Graduate Assistantships get a Graduate Non-Resident Tuition Waiver as part of their award.
The Bengal Online Scholarship System (BOSS) provides additional scholarship opportunities once you gain admission to ISU. Much of the scholarships in BOSS become available during Spring months for awards in the next academic year.
Non-resident students can pursue Graduate Non-Resident Tuition Waivers through four pathways. Your application for admission to the ISU Graduate School serves as your scholarship application for the NRTW. All NRTWs are awarded on a competitive first-come, first-served basis. Requirements are a minimum 3.0 GPA for newly admitted or current/former ISU Graduate Students, with GPA requirements potentially higher based on availability. You cannot be in an Oversubscribed Program, which currently are Speech Pathology, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Full-time non-resident graduate status requires 9 graduate credits or greater. Graduate student NRTWs are nonrenewable awards. Eligible students are considered each year/semester based on availability.
Students from WICHE region states qualify for the Western Regional Graduate Program. The first 10 WICHE region applicants to Graduate Certificate programs in Rural Health, Public Health, and Addiction Studies receive waived application fees.
Need-based awards require completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate year. Students should submit the FAFSA as early as possible. Those receiving financial aid must also meet progress criteria set by the Financial Aid Office to remain eligible.
Best For
This program suits working professionals seeking schedule flexibility through its online format. The focus on rural health systems makes it relevant for those planning to serve underserved communities. Students interested in combining public health with pharmacy practice can explore the DO/MPH concurrent program. The strong emphasis on community health and practical experience through the Career Path Internship benefits those who value hands-on learning and academic study. Idaho residents gain substantial cost advantages, making this program an economical choice for in-state students pursuing public health careers.
Online MPH Programs Available to Idaho Students
If you are in Idaho, you can still take advantage of fully online programs from accredited universities nationwide. These programs deliver the same rigorous curriculum as on-campus offerings while accommodating work schedules and geographic constraints.
Some Online Options
The University of Colorado Anschutz has an online MPH program that provides flexibility for working professionals and out-of-state residents unable to relocate for school. The program does not run on a cohort model. You can adjust coursework on a semester-by-semester basis to accommodate your schedule. Fall and spring courses last 16 weeks, while summer courses run approximately 11 weeks long. You can complete the MPH in two years by taking 9-12 credit hours per semester. The student-to-faculty ratio stands at 5:1 and provides personalized attention in small classes.
CU Anschutz requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution for admission. The school maintains a preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 but does not discourage students from applying for any reason. An integrated admissions process considers GPA as only one factor. GRE test scores are not required or expected for admission into MPH, DrPH, or certificate programs, though you may opt to submit them during the application process.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has both fully online and hybrid options. The Online Only option serves students who wish to take all courses online without traveling to Baltimore. The Online Plus option requires a minimum onsite requirement of four credits. Online courses feature pre-recorded lectures, discussion boards and live chats. You can arrange study around personal schedules. Intensive onsite institute courses provide opportunities for onsite networking and interactions. The Online/Part-time program can be completed at a full-time pace of one year or a part-time pace for up to four years.
Tufts University has an online MPH with synchronous and asynchronous learning integrated for flexibility. Each week has 90 to 120 minutes of live sessions and 60 to 90 minutes of self-paced activities. This totals approximately three hours of direct instruction weekly, plus additional time for readings, assignments and preparation. Tufts has an accelerated option for both on-campus and online MPH learning formats. You enroll in courses starting the first session of the summer semester and finish in the first half of the following summer (June-May). The accelerated options maintain an ever-changing, intensive schedule with a heavy course load.
The University of Washington Online MPH program has both a full-time track and a part-time option to complete the degree in 2-3 years. The program is designed with working professionals’ schedules in mind. The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health in the UW School of Public Health offers it. This is one of the leading public graduate schools in the United States. The program maintains accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
San Jose State University’s CEPH-accredited MPH program has an online 42-unit, 24-month Online Education option. The format uses state-of-the-art web conferencing that has two-way audio, multi-point video, interactive whiteboard, application and desktop sharing, virtual breakout rooms and session recording. Online students participate with professors and peers as if they were in a traditional classroom, but in the convenience of their home or work office. Courses are delivered online. Students meet once a year for 4-5 days in San José. Course length varies from five to seven weeks for online students, taught sequentially rather than concurrently, with some overlap during the practicum.
Core Features and Career Support
The hands-on coursework at CU Anschutz has a capstone project, which is an independent project completed in partnership with an organization, and a 120-hour practicum that can be completed in person in your community or virtually/remotely. The employment outcomes prove strong, with 99% of CU Anschutz MPH alumni going on to employment or continuing education in the year after graduation. MPH graduates pursue careers in epidemiology, biostatistics, research, health policy and education.
Johns Hopkins allows students to personalize half of the curriculum, a defining feature of the Bloomberg School’s MPH degree program. The core coursework remains the same for both full-time and online/part-time MPH students. All students have the freedom to customize elective coursework based on interests and professional goals, supported by faculty advisers. Summer internship placements have included Booz Allen Hamilton, Gates Foundation in Seattle, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Johnson & Johnson) in New Jersey, Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, UNICEF in Kenya, USAID Africa Bureau in Washington DC and World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
USC’s online MPH program, accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), features rigorous coursework and a high level of personalized support. You’ll learn from renowned public health professionals who have served as advisors for government agencies and private organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) throughout the program. You’ll participate in Practicum and use knowledge and skills gained through hands-on experience as part of the core curriculum. You’ll select a public health agency, domestic or international, that lines up with your career goals to complete the practicum requirement.
UW Online MPH alumni work as public health practitioners, researchers and leaders in health care, government agencies and community organizations. The program explored different ways that institutions, employers, health insurance and health care systems breed health inequities, and how to change conversations in health care toward addressing these problems, as one alumna noted about bringing that knowledge to her organization’s equity and social justice committee.
Program Cost and Financial Aid
Idaho residents accessing online MPH programs from out-of-state institutions may qualify for reduced tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). You may qualify for resident tuition rates through the WRGP when enrolling in select master’s, doctoral or graduate certificate programs if you’re a resident of a WICHE member state. Students who are residents of WRGP member states and territories may qualify for in-state tuition at participating institutions. This helps students access graduate education outside their home state without paying the high price tag of an out-of-state education.
Financial aid is accessible to students who qualify at CU Anschutz, managed and awarded through the University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Office of Financial Aid. The Colorado School of Public Health has a limited number of scholarships for incoming and current students. The school considers incoming students for merit scholarships based on information presented within their application automatically.
Idaho-specific scholarship opportunities provide additional funding sources. The IPHA Student Excellence Scholarship gives financial assistance to student members of the Idaho Public Health Association (IPHA) working on an undergraduate or graduate degree in public health. It offers up to $500. Applicants must submit 200-word essays describing their goals and how those contribute to public health in Idaho, explaining how this award would affect their ability to pursue academic goals, describing current experience with IPHA and public health, and explaining how they see themselves contributing to IPHA in the future. The selection process does not consider financial need.
Idaho LAUNCH provides eligible Idaho high school graduates with up to 80% of tuition and fees (up to $8,000) for in-demand career programs starting the fall after graduation. The Idaho Opportunity Adult Learners program works with students with at least 24 college credits and a break in enrollment. It requires a minimum 2.5 unweighted cumulative GPA and remains accessible year-round.
Federal financial aid requires completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Most students begin the funding process by filling out and submitting a FAFSA. Schools provide an offer detailing accessible financial aid types after this. The best options are funding types that don’t just need repayment. These are scholarships, fellowships and grants from universities or private organizations. Some online graduate students may cover a portion of educational expenses through teaching assistantships or other work-study programs. Many students will also be eligible for federal or private loans, though these are less desirable due to interest that must be paid back.
Best For
Online MPH programs work for working professionals who just need to maintain current employment while pursuing advanced education. The asynchronous components let you complete coursework during evenings and weekends. You can fit study around existing commitments. These programs work well for Idaho residents in rural areas where geographic distance from campus creates barriers to traditional attendance.
Students seeking specialized concentrations not accessible in Idaho get from the broader range of options from national online programs. The ability to choose from concentrations in biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, environmental health or Indigenous health expands your career preparation beyond what local programs have.
Idaho residents can use state-specific scholarships while accessing out-of-state programs. This creates financial advantages when combined with WRGP benefits. The combination of reduced tuition through WRGP and Idaho-based scholarships makes these programs financially competitive with in-state options. Students planning to work in public health organizations in Idaho after graduation can build networks during virtual practicums with local agencies while gaining credentials from nationally recognized institutions.
Those seeking accelerated timelines value programs with one-year completion options. These condense the same rigorous curriculum into an intensive format. The flexibility to choose between part-time and full-time enrollment lets you adjust your pace based on work demands and personal circumstances. Some programs have completion timelines ranging from one to four years.
Idaho State MPH DO/MPH Combined Program
Idaho State University partners with the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine to deliver a combined DO/MPH program that merges osteopathic medical training with public health education. This dual degree option allows ICOM students to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health at the same time and complete both programs within five years.
Program Overview and Format
ICOM students in good academic standing become eligible to apply after they complete their first semester of medical school. The Idaho State MPH program maintains eight admission slots every academic year for ICOM applicants. Faculty from both institutions review these applications. The MPH curriculum requires 42 credit hours to complete. It focuses learners in social and behavioral science and prepares graduates to assess behavioral, social, and cultural factors that affect population health behaviors and health outcomes.
Students meet with the Assistant Dean of Learner Outcomes and Assessment and an assigned faculty mentor. Together they establish success oversight for the required course sequence and create an individualized training and curriculum timeline. This structure integrates osteopathic training, skillsets, and viewpoints of comprehensive, people-centered medical care. The result is professionals suited for leadership in modifying health behaviors and improving knowledge through health policy development.
Core Features and Career Support
The combined curriculum prepares osteopathic physicians with expanded competencies in disease prevention through research and promotion of healthy lifestyles. They gain skills in implementing educational programming, developing policy, and administering health systems and services. Graduates develop skills in providing service and consultation to public health agencies and organizations at local, state, national and international levels. The goal is to improve population health.
Program Cost and Financial Aid
Tuition and financial aid follow the same structure as the standalone Idaho State MPH program. Graduate assistantships, scholarships through BOSS, and the Dr. Galen Louis scholarship are available to eligible students.
Best For
This program serves medical students committed to addressing health disparities and population health alongside clinical practice. The combined degree benefits those planning careers in preventative medicine, community health leadership, or policy development. Both clinical expertise and public health knowledge create competitive advantages in these fields.
Start Your Idaho MPH Today
Finding the right MPH program might be right outside your door, or you might need to expand your horizons and look beyond Idaho to online programs. Many of these programs offer the same tuition to in-state and out-of-state students, so be sure to check for that. Public health is a necessary and growing career, and is referred to by some as an AI-proof career, so no matter what program you pick, you will be set up for a nice future.