The 6 Top MPH Programs in Minnesota for 2027
Choosing among the many MPH programs in Minnesota can feel overwhelming. Each university has unique specializations and formats with different completion timelines. Your decision will shape your career trajectory in public health, so understanding your options is critical.
Most MPH programs require around 2 years to complete, but flexibility exists. Programs like St. Catherine University require 44 credits over 2-3 years, while Saint Mary’s University requires 36 credits. The UMN MPH program stands out as a top-ranked option. Some schools outside Minnesota offer 1 year Master of Public Health programs, to name just one example, that allow accelerated learning.
What follows breaks down the 6 best MPH programs in Minnesota to help you make your choice.
1. University of Minnesota Master of Public Health (UMN MPH)
The University of Minnesota School of Public Health delivers MPH programs in nine concentration areas. Community Health Promotion trains students in social and behavioral science methods to design program and policy interventions. Environmental Health addresses occupational health concerns with emphasis areas that include Environmental Infectious Diseases and Food Safety.
Epidemiology offers the foundational science of public health with infectious disease and general concentration options. Maternal and Child Health focuses on improving health outcomes for mothers, children and families through flexible online, in-person or hybrid formats. Public Health Data Science gives students advanced techniques to improve public health practice around the world.
The Public Health Administration and Policy program focuses on skills for leadership in population health management and policy. This concentration offers three completion routes: traditional residential (44 credits), fully online (44 credits) and executive (42 credits) for working professionals. Public Health Nutrition promotes disease prevention through healthy food choices at individual and community levels.
Executive programs blend online coursework with intensive in-person courses. The Public Health Practice program was made for professionals with advanced degrees who want career advancement through flexible scheduling.
Accreditation and Rankings
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) first accredited UMN School of Public Health on October 16, 1946. U.S. News & World Report ranks the school #14 in Public Health. Specific specialty rankings include #11 in Biostatistics, #13 in Environmental Health Sciences, #12 in Epidemiology and #13 in Health Policy and Management.
Admission Requirements
UMN does not require the GRE for any MPH programs. The preferred minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA is 3.0. Applicants submit applications through SOPHAS, the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health.
Required materials include a statement of purpose (2-3 pages, double-spaced), resume or CV, official transcripts from all institutions attended and three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references. International students must provide WES credential evaluation of foreign academic transcripts.
The Distance Public Health Administration and Policy program has specific deadlines: November 15 for January start and July 15 for September start. Other programs follow general deadlines: April 1 for May/Summer Term, August 1 for Fall Term and December 1 for Spring Term.
International students must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL scores with a preferred minimum of 100. The Executive Public Health Practice program requires applicants to possess an advanced degree (MS, MD, DDS, DVM, PharmD or PhD) or a Public Health Core Concepts certificate with minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, plus work experience in health or human services.
Tuition and Financial Aid
MPH tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is charged per credit. Residents pay $1,231 per credit for Fall and Spring semesters, while non-residents pay $1,619 per credit. Summer tuition rates are $1,231 per credit for both residents and non-residents. The Public Health Practice MPH charges $1,231 per credit whatever your residency status.
Students who complete SOPHAS applications by December 1 are considered for first-round school-wide scholarships. U.S. citizens and permanent residents complete the FAFSA to access federal loans. Graduate students receive two types of federal loans: unsubsidized loans and Grad Plus loans.
The SPH Applied Practice Scholarship supports MPH students completing their Applied Practice experience and opens twice yearly in Fall and Spring semesters. The SPH Current Student Scholarship provides financial support for currently enrolled students, with preference for those approaching degree completion.
Program Format and Duration
Most MPH programs require two years to complete. The Epidemiology MPH Standard Program requires 48 credits over 24 months (38 credits required coursework, 10 credits electives). The Accelerated Epidemiology Program requires 42 credits (34 credits required coursework, 8 credits electives) for students with MD, DDS, DVM or PhD in related fields.
Environmental Health students complete at least 42 credits that include 14 credits of public health core requirements, 8-16 credits of Environmental Health Sciences courses and 12-18 credits of electives. Students can choose formats ranging from entirely online to entirely in-person, or combine both approaches. All MPH programs require an Applied Practice Experience in a real-life setting.
2. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota MPH Program
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota roots its MPH program in Lasallian values and weaves a spirit of service to underserved communities throughout the curriculum. The 36-credit, 12-course online program builds foundational public health knowledge while teaching you to translate research evidence into practice, policy, and public health improvements.
Public health experts collaborated to create the curriculum, which emphasizes cultural competence, health disparities, and social justice. Core topics include Principles of Public Health, Foundations of Biostatistics, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health, Principles of Epidemiology, and Environmental Determinants of Health. The program transitions from foundational knowledge to ground application and prepares you for leadership opportunities through the development of cultural competency, ethical decision-making, and communication skills.
One feature sets this program apart: your capstone project involves writing a grant application rather than a traditional research paper. This approach reflects the reality that grant writing forms the bread and butter of public health work. You’ll present your capstone project and review classmates’ grant applications to gain professional experience.
Full-time public health practitioners make up the program faculty and provide connections useful for fieldwork and capstone projects. All faculty members hold doctoral or master’s degrees and are selected for their combined educational and professional expertise.
Accreditation and Rankings
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits the program. The Higher Learning Commission provides institutional accreditation to Saint Mary’s University.
Princeton Review listed Saint Mary’s among 156 institutions in its “Best Midwestern” category within the 2017 Best Colleges report. Washington Monthly ranked the university 183 out of 634 on its National Universities-Master’s list and 84th of 367 in its Best Bang for the Buck Midwest category. U.S. News & World Report placed Saint Mary’s 49th among 115 schools in the Best Regional Universities of the Midwest category.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Documentation of a grade of B or higher in human biology and statistics courses completed within the last 10 academic years is required for admission. Saint Mary’s offers BPH300 Human Biology and BPH405 Measurement and Statistics for Health Professionals or GM630 Quantitative Methods to satisfy these requirements.
Application materials include:
- Completed application form
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Reflective essay covering your background, training, experience, career goals, strengths, and areas for development
- Current resume listing educational background plus volunteer and work experience
International applicants need transcripts evaluated by World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, One Earth International Credential Evaluators, or another NACES member organization. English proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or MELAB) may be required for international applicants.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition is $590 per credit. With 36 required credits, total estimated tuition reaches $21,240. A technology fee of $100 per term applies. This represents much in savings compared to the average MPH tuition of $32,854.
Saint Mary’s partners with select organizations to offer 10 percent tuition savings and waived application fees. Employers may provide tuition reimbursement and recognize the value of advanced public health skills. Financial aid options include private loans and scholarships, with additional tuition discounts available for military students. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to graduate students enrolled at least half-time.
Program Format and Duration
Courses are delivered fully online. The program is designed for completion in as few as 2.5 years across seven semesters. Saint Mary’s operates three semesters per year: fall, spring, and summer. Each term spans eight weeks, with most courses lasting one term.
The 36-credit requirement breaks down into 15 credits of core courses (five courses), 15 credits of application courses (five courses), and six credits for fieldwork and capstone (two courses). The field experience and capstone are completed together during the final semester, with both structured as two-term courses. The university maintains flexibility to help you complete the degree despite life circumstances.
3. Minnesota State University, Mankato MPH: Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Minnesota State University, Mankato removes traditional barriers to public health education by accepting students from any undergraduate background. The 43-credit program requires no prior health experience. This online, asynchronous format allows you to complete coursework on your schedule from anywhere.
The curriculum prepares you to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exams administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Your coursework covers research methods and grant writing, program planning and evaluation. You can tailor projects throughout the curriculum to meet your personal and professional goals.
You’ll develop competencies in eight responsibility areas: assessing needs and capacity for health education and promotion, planning interventions and implementing them, conducting evaluation and research, advocating for health and the profession, supporting diversity and health equity, communicating with other health professionals and consumers, leading programs and managing them, and applying ethics to practice. The program emphasizes preventive measures and social determinants of health; systems change and behavior modification strategies.
All students complete an applied practice experience that requires field-based work in settings arranged with your professional goals and interests. Graduates pursue careers in educational settings and governmental agencies, private health organizations, health care facilities, and business sectors.
Accreditation and Rankings
This program has been ranked #3 on a list of Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Public Health Education and Promotion Major in Minnesota.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 2.85, though preference goes to applicants with undergraduate GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Your application package has a personal statement suggesting your purpose and objectives for pursuing the MPH, three letters of recommendation from professors or professional colleagues (at least one must be from an academic professor, with no personal references accepted), and a resume.
Application deadlines operate on a rolling basis for U.S.-based applicants in all start terms. International applicants face specific deadlines: May 1 for fall start and September 1 for spring start. The program is offered online and does not qualify for I-20 issuance.
International applicants must submit a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 or minimum IELTS score of 6.5, plus a credential evaluation prepared by a National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service member.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The program advertises affordable tuition. Nearly 25% of graduate students receive assistantships. A full assistantship provides a stipend of at least $10,000 for the academic year and a waiver for up to nine graduate credits per semester. You must enroll in a minimum of six graduate credits per semester. Graduate assistants must reside within Minnesota for the duration of their appointment.
Program Format and Duration
The 100% asynchronous online format suits working professionals who need schedule flexibility. Courses require no set meeting times. You can access materials and complete assignments when convenient. You must maintain a 3.0 GPA minimum for all graduate work counting toward degree fulfillment and complete all work within a six-year period, approved transfer credits included.
4. Walden University Master of Public Health
Walden University operates as an online-first institution serving over 52,000 students from across the United States and 120 countries. Your MPH education has interactive and improved media simulations addressing real-life public health problems and solutions. The curriculum provides foundational public health knowledge enriched by perspectives from students worldwide.
You’ll complete a two-quarter practicum requiring hands-on experience in an approved public health setting arranged with your academic and professional goals. This field experience allows you to make immediate impacts on your career and community. The program prepares you for roles as public health policymakers, administrators, researchers and educators.
Walden accepts students from a variety of backgrounds including healthcare, government, nonprofit and social work. The MPH represents the first formal instruction in public health for many students.
Accreditation and Rankings
The Council on Education for Public Health granted accreditation to Walden’s MPH program in September 2019. Then you gain eligibility to sit for the Certified in Public Health exam administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners without needing five years of public health work experience after earning your bachelor’s degree.
Walden holds membership in the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), making you eligible to apply for ASPPH fellowships. Some employers, such as the U.S. Public Health Service, require MPH-level positions be filled by graduates of CEPH-accredited programs.
Admission Requirements
Walden streamlines admissions with no application fee, no essay requirement and no GRE scores needed. You need a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution with accreditation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or U.S. Department of Education. Your application requires only completed forms and transcripts.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs $545 per quarter credit hour. The 64-credit program totals $34,880. A program fee of $185 per quarter also applies. Books and materials cost between $1,000 and $1,400.
Walden accepts up to 30 transfer credits. The Believe & Achieve Scholarship offers savings opportunities for qualifying applicants. Federal and state grants provide additional funding options. Various tuition reductions exist for military members, veterans and alumni.
Program Format and Duration
The program requires 64 quarter credits designed for completion in eight quarters or two years. You have up to seven years to complete all requirements. The online format allows you to apply learning in your current job while earning your degree. Tuition reflects minimum completion time and varies based on individual progress and accepted transfer credits.
5. Capella University MPH Program
Capella University structures its MPH degree as a 60 quarter credit program divided into 12 core courses, two practicum courses, and one capstone. The competency-based curriculum will give you the abilities to develop, implement, and review public health programs designed to protect community well-being. You’ll participate in an 80-hour practicum completed over two quarters under supervision of public health professionals in a health setting within your community.
The program uses Vila Health™, an interactive simulated healthcare environment featuring video lectures, hands-on data analysis, and real-life case studies to develop communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Your capstone course focuses on applying knowledge acquired during the program. You will demonstrate proficiency in evidence-based strategies, interpret biostatistical results, and analyze determinants affecting community health.
Accreditation and Rankings
The program operates without CEPH accreditation. Capella’s MPH is accredited through the institution’s Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation but lacks professional accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health. This difference matters because some employers, particularly state agencies and federal positions, require CEPH-accredited degrees for public health roles.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Your application requires official bachelor’s transcripts and a valid government-issued photo identification. No GRE or GMAT scores are needed to gain admission. After admission, you must complete a background check through CastleBranch before enrolling in courses.
Tuition and Financial Aid
GuidedPath tuition costs $530 per credit. Your program tuition reaches $31,800 with 60 total quarter credits, plus a $125 resource kit and $32 background check with $2.99 CastleBranch service fee. FlexPath format offers an alternative pricing structure where fastest students complete master’s degrees in 15 months under $18,000. Financial aid has Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans. More than 700 healthcare organizations partner with Capella to offer tuition savings.
Program Format and Duration
The GuidedPath format operates on 10-week quarters with one to three courses per quarter. Capella sets structured weekly deadlines while providing 24/7 courseroom access. Three-week breaks separate quarters. You can transfer up to 16 quarter credits from other accredited institutions.
6. Concordia University, St. Paul MPH Program
Concordia University, St. Paul delivers a fully online MPH designed to address modern public health challenges through CEPH-aligned curriculum standards. The program covers core competencies in epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health. Expert faculty with ground industry experience guide you through coursework focused on leadership and project management roles.
Accreditation and Rankings
The Higher Learning Commission accredited Concordia University, St. Paul in 1967, with reaccreditation granted in 2018. The MPH curriculum lines up with CEPH accreditation standards and ensures your education meets industry standards.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. International applicants submit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or DUOLINGO scores to demonstrate English proficiency. Admission decisions arrive within 24-48 business hours after you submit all required materials.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Total program tuition reaches $18,150. Graduate students access Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans. Military members qualify for reduced tuition at $350 per credit.
Program Format and Duration
The 100% online format provides maximum flexibility. You’ll complete the program in 2 years and meet the minimum 30 semester credits required for master’s degrees at Concordia.
Find Your Program Today
Choosing the right MPH program depends on your priorities. The UMN MPH program stands out for rankings and specializations, while Saint Mary’s and Concordia offer affordable tuition. You’ll need to weigh CEPH accreditation as well, since some employers require it to get public health positions.
Start by identifying your budget constraints and preferred learning format. Next, verify whether CEPH accreditation matters for your career goals. Once you’ve narrowed your options, reach out to admissions counselors and discuss program specifics.
Your choice will substantially affect your public health career trajectory, so invest time in research before committing.