Top 4 North Dakota MPH Programs

If you’re considering MPH Programs in North Dakota, the numbers speak volumes. Graduates from these programs enjoy a 100% employment rate in health-related careers. Recent graduates see 96% full-time employment, and the median annual salary for health education specialists is $63,000. North Dakota public health programs combine rigorous academics with practical training. They offer both online and on-campus options. Whether you’re seeking the best online MPH degree or a traditional format, this piece covers the top four programs. You’ll find details on their specializations and costs, plus admission requirements and career outcomes to help you decide.

1. University of North Dakota (UND) Master of Public Health Program

The University of North Dakota houses its Master of Public Health program within the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the state’s only medical school founded in 1905. The program operates at Grand Forks in North Dakota’s oldest and largest university. The environment is rich with resources supporting excellence in public health research, service and education.

The MPH program holds full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation followed an intensive three-year review process that will give a quality and value of education students receive and the degrees awarded. Accreditation expands opportunities for graduates. Some jobs and fellowships accept graduates from CEPH-accredited programs only. Graduation from an accredited program makes you eligible to become certified in public health through the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

The program requires successful completion of at least 42 credits of coursework. Full-time students can complete the program in one and a half to two years. Part-time students finish within three to seven years. The core curriculum covers all competencies and areas of foundational knowledge required for CEPH-accredited public health programs. These areas are evidence-based approaches to public health, public health and health care systems, planning and management to promote health, health policy, leadership and systems thinking.

A distinguishing feature involves personalized attention given to each student by faculty members who work to instruct and create opportunities in and out of the classroom. The program welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. These are social and behavioral sciences, biomedical sciences, mathematics, statistics, computer science and humanities.

MPH Specializations Offered

UND offers three distinct specializations, each requiring 12-13 credits as part of the overall degree requirements.

• Indigenous Health Specialization (12 credits) provides you with critical understanding of determinants of Indigenous health and solutions to health disparities. You’ll get into Indigenous populations, histories, cultures, societies, traditional healing systems, food sources, patterns and colonization’s effect. The curriculum reviews historical and ongoing traumas associated with colonization and colonialism’s effect. It also about how Indigenous concepts of health and healing and blends new approaches toward health equity in a culturally relevant manner. UND’s Indigenous Health specialization is the only 100% online Indigenous Health program in the United States. The program works together with the Indians Into Medicine Program (INMED) at UND. This offers academic support, career advisement, tutorial services, networking opportunities and cultural events.
• Population Health Research & Analytics Specialization (13 credits) prepares you to produce convincing and scientifically sound information about population health. You’ll review intervention effectiveness and provide the basis for improving health policies and programs. The course of study has training in research methods, biostatistics, informatics and communication of scientific results. You’ll learn how to design outcomes studies, collect and analyze population health data, and work with large data sets. This specialization is classified as STEM-eligible. International students on an F-1 visa can apply for two years of additional Optional Practical Training in the United States after graduation if they meet required criteria. An emerging area within this specialization involves application of system dynamics to population health improvement through a joint venture with the University of Bergen in Norway. Applicants to this specialization must submit evidence of analytic and quantitative abilities. This can be through academic background in health with a math or science GPA of 3.0 or better, written product demonstrating analytic skill, or recommendation letters with specific examples of quantitative abilities.
• Health Management & Policy Specialization (12 credits) equips you with skills needed to manage health care and public health systems. You’ll analyze and review health policies and communicate to effect improvements. The curriculum is offered in partnership with the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. This adds depth to faculty expertise and course offerings. You’ll gain skills needed for the current environment shaped by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and targeted initiatives improving patient safety or advancing medical informatics.

Students don’t need to choose a specialization at application time. You can make this decision during your first year or before completing core coursework. The program maintains a process for students in good academic standing to change specializations after consultation with faculty advisors.

UND also offers dual degree options. The Accelerated BS/MPH program allows you to earn both degrees in five years. You’ll complete 12 graduate-level credits that count toward both degrees. The JD/MPH program enables completion of both degrees in four years rather than five, with 81 law credit hours and 33 MPH credit hours required. The MPH portion can be done online while the JD portion must be completed in person at UND’s School of Law. Doctor of Medicine students can earn their MPH and MD in five years as already enrolled MD students.

Online and On-Campus Learning Options

Distance learning is an integral part of UND’s MPH program. All core courses are offered on campus, synchronous online or in an asynchronous online format. The Indigenous Health specialization is offered online, on-campus and in hybrid format. Population Health Research & Analytics is available via hybrid asynchronous and synchronous online or on-campus formats. Health Management & Policy is offered 100% online, on-campus and in hybrid format.

All online programs hold full accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are similar to on-campus students. You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end semesters with campus students, and complete the same classes. Over a third of UND’s student population studies online. More take combinations of online and on-campus classes.

Classes are broadcast live to satellite sites at the SMHS’s Southwest Campus in Bismarck, Northwest Campus in Minot and Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. The program is designed for full-time and part-time study to accommodate the diverse backgrounds of students.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Applicants must demonstrate adequate preparation to complete graduate study through grade point average from all post-secondary schools, work experience and accomplishments, and professional references. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are admitted for fall, spring and summer matriculation. All admission decisions consider full review of all application information to ensure fairness and balance limitations of any single indicator. Strong preference is given to applicants with at least one year of public health-related work experience, either paid or unpaid. No standardized test is required for admission, the GRE included.

General admission requirements are completion of the SOPHAS online application for traditional applicants, UND School of Graduate Studies application, payment of application fees, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and an undergraduate and graduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. You must satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements.

Application requirements are a written statement describing your professional goals and motivation for seeking a degree in public health. Comment on personal qualities, characteristics and abilities you believe will enable success in achieving career goals. Limit this to two pages. You’ll submit a resume listing work experience. This should have voluntary activities, relevant accomplishments, awards and honors. Official post-secondary academic transcripts from all institutions attended are required. Three letters of recommendation from academic and professional sources who can review your academic potential and leadership potential in public health are needed. At least one must be from an academic source. The Admissions Committee may request an in-person or Zoom interview to assist in the decision process. A background check will be completed before admission is final.

Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

The cost of the MPH degree is around $32,700 for in-state residents and those eligible for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s (WICHE) Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). This does not have student fees and books. The following table shows tuition and fees breakdown:

Active-duty military members using federal Tuition Assistance are eligible for a tuition rate of $250 per credit. This is not valid for any Aerospace, Graduate, Law and Medical programs.

Financial support isn’t guaranteed with admission. The MPH Program awards a limited number of graduate assistantships and tuition waivers based on need, merit and experience. Full-time and second-year students receive priority for this financial assistance. Only on-campus students are eligible for MPH graduate assistantships and tuition waivers. One exception is made for North Dakota public health workforce members employed by local or state health departments, who are eligible for tuition waivers but not assistantships.

Assistantships are available through the SMHS, School of Graduate Studies and specific university programs. Most MPH graduate assistantships are awarded in spring semester for use in the following academic year. These positions are 10 or 20 hour per week appointments providing administrative or research support to faculty and staff. Tuition waivers are awarded independently of graduate assistantships. They range from 1 to 9 credits per semester, though students must pay mandatory fees.

UND awards more than $100 million in financial aid each year. UND students receive $13,500 in financial aid assistance on average. Several types of financial aid are scholarships as merit-based awards that don’t require repayment, grants as need-based awards that don’t require repayment, and loans that must be repaid.

Career Outcomes and Employment Rates

The MPH program maintains a 100% employment rate in health-related careers. This outcome reflects the program’s focus on preparing culturally aware public health professionals with motivation, skills and knowledge to improve population health in the diverse communities of the Northern Plains and beyond.

Graduates find employment in regional, national and international settings. These are public health and other government agencies, health care delivery organizations, health plans, non-governmental health organizations and academic institutions. Career paths are biostatisticians who analyze health data to draw meaningful insights, epidemiologists who investigate disease patterns within populations, health policy analysts who review and develop public health policies, medical scientists engaged in research and clinical trials, public health administrators who manage and coordinate programs, public health educators who design educational programs, and public health statisticians who collect and interpret health-related data.

UND Public Health alumni have secured positions with Altru Health System, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Health Partners Institute, Mayo Clinic and Sanford Research. JD-MPH graduates find employment developing policy, working as lawyers specializing in health care delivery, insurance or compliance, serving as general counsel in public or private hospitals, or working as experts within advocacy organizations devising legal responses to public health challenges.

The program requires completion of a 135-hour practicum with a public health organization. This provides real-world experience. Students also complete a Practice & Culminating Experience specialization (6 credits) that has an Applied Practice Experience providing planned, supervised and reviewed practice to apply public health competencies acquired through coursework. The Integrative Learning Experience component requires students to complete a project demonstrating synthesis and application of knowledge acquired through coursework and other public health learning experiences.

2. North Dakota State University (NDSU) Master of Public Health Program

The Department of Public Health at North Dakota State University operates within the College of Health and Human Sciences in Fargo. Interprofessional relationships with the School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy boost student learning there. The program received full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in December 2022 for a seven-year term extending through June 2030. Graduates from December 2014 to present fall within the accredited program timeframe.

The MPH degree requires completion of 42 credits. Students benefit from small class sizes and chances to work with faculty on research projects closely. Strong relationships with entities like the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Sanford Health, and many local public health units offer practicum sites and final project chances. The program houses state-of-the-art facilities in the Aldevron Tower, a 74,000 square foot, six-story building that has shared interprofessional learning space for interdisciplinary education and hands-on learning for students in pharmacy, nursing, respiratory care, medical lab sciences, radiologic sciences, and public health. The Tower provides open study spaces, huddle rooms, and conference rooms designed to support academic success.

Graduates from CEPH-accredited programs become eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Graduates of the Community Health Sciences specialization receive training using academic requirements that make them eligible for CHES and MCHES credentials, which confirm skills and academic requirements in health education scientifically.

MPH Specializations Offered

NDSU structures public health education through two primary specializations, each offering focused subplan options. The Community Health Sciences specialization provides general community health sciences training along with concentrated tracks in Management of Infectious Diseases and Maternal and Child Health. This specialization requires 18 credits focused on preventing and managing chronic illness, integrating primary care and public health, applied community health, and promoting health through policy, system, and environment changes.

The Epidemiology specialization offers general epidemiology training with subplan options in Management of Infectious Diseases and Maternal and Child Health similarly. NDSU provides a tailored Master of Public Health in Epidemiology degree with emphasis on disease surveillance and outbreak investigation, epidemiologic methods, and health survey research for those seeking deeper expertise. Students cooperate with advisors to develop unique programs of study meeting specific interests.

NDSU also offers a dual MPH/PharmD degree in partnership with the School of Pharmacy. Several graduate certificates complement the MPH programs and have Infection Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, and General Public Health. Undergraduate students can pursue a Public Health minor.

The program builds a strong foundation through combined coursework in STEM and social sciences. This provides better understanding of multiple factors contributing to health and health disparities. Students participate in cutting-edge research that has ongoing work in the Mental Disorder Epidemiology Research Program.

Online and On-Campus Learning Options

NDSU delivers the best online MPH degree options and traditional on-campus instruction through distance learning technology. The program offers flexibility to complete MPH coursework part-time or full-time and fully online synchronous or via evening classes to accommodate working professionals. Many courses are accessible online asynchronously.

Distance education requires synchronous participation where students videoconference into live courses in real-time. Classes are made accessible via Zoom, which unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, and group messaging into one platform. Distance students must videoconference in live and participate via video and audio in every class. Zoom sessions open approximately 10 minutes prior to each class start time.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Applications receive review on a rolling basis for admission to fall, spring, or summer terms. Specific deadlines apply: Fall admission requires submission by May 1 for international applicants and July 1 for domestic applicants; Spring admission closes October 1 for international applicants and December 1 for domestic applicants; Summer admission closes April 1 for domestic applicants.

Applicants must complete both the SOPHAS application and NDSU Graduate School application. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university is required. An undergraduate and graduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 is expected, with undergraduate coursework in fields related to public health exceeding a GPA of 3.00 generally.

The GRE remains optional, not required, for admission consideration. The admissions committee encourages standardized exam scores if accessible, accepting GRE General Test, MCAT, GMAT, DAT, LSAT, PCAT, and USMLE. Strong preference for admission goes to applicants with at least one year of practical experience in their field and practical field experience gained within an academic program.

Required supporting documentation has a two-page written statement describing reasons for pursuing an MPH, public health interest areas, and career goals. You’ll describe education, skills, or relevant experience that prepared you for graduate education in public health and highlight personal qualities enabling success in achieving career goals. A resume or curriculum vitae, official post-secondary academic transcripts from all institutions, and two letters of recommendation from individuals most qualified to assess your academic achievement, professional experiences, or leadership potential in public health complete the application package.

English language proficiency must be demonstrated through a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Australia, New Zealand, or English-Speaking Canada, or through minimum scores: 6.5 on Academic Module IELTS, 90 on Internet-based TOEFL, 115 on Duolingo, or completion of English Language Service Language Center’s Intensive Level 112.

Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

Public Health students are assessed differential tuition on all credits. Graduate tuition is charged on a per-credit basis. The differential tuition rate replaces the base rate at the point you are accepted into the program. The following table shows approximate tuition rates:

NDSU offers assistantships, scholarships, and financial aid to support MPH students. Graduate assistantships provide employment chances for current, typically full-time, graduate students. These positions offer professional development through rigorous work with faculty and staff, varying in length depending on funding availability.

Several scholarships target public health students. The Public Health Scholarship varies in amount and requires full-time enrollment at NDSU pursuing a major within the Department of Public Health. The Gilsdorf Public Health Scholarship Endowment provides around $2,500 for full or part-time MPH graduate students. The Chelsey Matter Public Health Scholarship offers around $1,000 with preference for students planning careers in North Dakota or Minnesota. The Endowed Scholarship in American Indian Public Health awards four scholarships at $10,000 each and requires a two-year commitment to American Indian-serving health programs following graduation.

Career Outcomes and Employment Rates

NDSU graduates demonstrate exceptional career success. The 2023 Career Outcomes Report indicates recent graduates achieved a 94% success rate, with 74% gaining employment six months after graduation and another 20% continuing their education. The median starting salary reached $56,750. These outcomes have improved year after year.

Geographic retention remains strong, with 80% of North Dakota residents remaining in North Dakota after graduation. Similarly, 40% of Minnesota residents who attend NDSU also stay in North Dakota. Top employers are Sanford Health, Doosan Bobcat, Fargo Public Schools, Aldevron, Essentia Health, John Deere, Bell Bank, Collins Aerospace, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Applied Engineering Inc, Eide Bailly LLP, Open Systems International Inc, and United Health Groups.

The program requires a 240-hour practicum (PH 794, 3 credits) providing a chance to apply knowledge in practice settings. Practicum settings are tailored to assure competence in general MPH and specialization-specific skills individually. Most full-time students complete the practicum in summer between first and second academic years, though eligibility begins after completing 14 MPH credits successfully. Students also complete an Integrated Learning Experience (PH 789, 1 credit) in their last semester and demonstrate synthesis of foundational and specialization competencies selected based on educational and professional goals.

3. UND Accelerated BS/MPH Dual Degree Program

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) 4+1 program allows exceptional undergraduate students at UND to complete requirements for both the Bachelor in Public Health Education and Master of Public Health degrees at an accelerated pace. You can earn both degrees in just five years rather than the typical six years required for separate programs. The program lets you double count up to 12 graduate-level credits toward requirements for both degrees.

The MPH portion of this dual degree holds full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) through 2028. Graduates from CEPH-accredited programs become eligible to become certified in public health through the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

Program Structure and Timeline

This accelerated pathway requires completion of 150 total credit hours. All requirements for both degrees must be met, with 12 graduate-level credits counted toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. You must get your Master of Public Health degree within 12 months of completing the Bachelor of Public Health Education degree, provided the degree requirements can be completed in that timeframe.

The bachelor’s program builds a strong foundation in health sciences and social sciences. You’ll complete a 12-credit internship and participate in service-learning projects. You’ll learn about five core areas: epidemiology, biostatistics, social and behavioral sciences, health policy and management, and environmental health. The MPH degree requires completion of at least 42 credits of coursework, including a 13-credit specialization in Population Health Research & Analytics or 12-credit specialization in Indigenous Health or Health Management & Policy.

Online and On-Campus Learning Options

You can earn both degrees 100% online from anywhere in the world. All degree options can be earned online through UND’s public health program. The flexibility allows you to pursue this accelerated degree while maintaining other commitments, as UND offers the best online MPH degree options among traditional on-campus formats.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Admission is a competitive process. You may apply upon completion of a minimum of 60 credits, including credits earned from advanced placement and dual credit, but must apply before completion of the undergraduate degree. You must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 at the time of admission into the ABM program.

Specific course prerequisites include current enrollment in or completion of Introduction to Public Health (PHE 101), Epidemiology in Public Health (PHE 102), Introduction to Global Health (PHE 103), and Community Health (PHE 302), with a minimum grade of B in each course. You must also submit a detailed Program of Study describing the 12 credits of double-counted courses, courses to be taken after MPH program acceptance, courses taken before Bachelor of Public Health Education graduation, and expected graduation dates for each degree. The submitted program of study requires signatures from you, your undergraduate advisor, and the Public Health Graduate Director.

Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

Tuition and fees differ depending on whether you’re enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses. The following table shows the breakdown:

Active-duty military members using federal Tuition Assistance are eligible for a tuition rate of $250 per credit. UND offers automatic scholarships for incoming freshmen based on unweighted high school GPA, ranging from $1,500 to $14,000.

Career Outcomes and Employment Rates

Graduates from UND’s MPH program maintain a 100% employment rate in health-related careers. The median annual salary for health education specialists reaches $63,000, with projected job outlook for health education specialists at 4% through 2034. Popular employment areas include biostatistician, epidemiologist, health policy analysis, public health administration, and public health education. Public Health alumni have secured positions with Altru Health System, North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services, American Indian Cancer Foundation, Mayo Clinic, and Sanford Research.

4. NDSU Master of Public Health in Epidemiology

NDSU’s Master of Public Health in Epidemiology provides specialized training in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiologic methods, and health survey research. The Department of Homeland Security’s Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has approved the MPH in Epidemiology as a STEM degree. This classification allows international students on F-1 visas to apply for two years of additional Optional Practical Training in the United States after graduation if they meet required criteria.

Curriculum and Focus Areas

The program requires 42 credits and includes foundations courses, specialization courses, and experiential learning. Core epidemiology courses include Epidemiologic Methods I and II (2 credits each), Public Health Surveillance (2 credits), and Health Survey Research (2 credits). You’ll select one of four emphasis areas requiring 10 credits: Management of Infectious Diseases, Maternal Child Health, American Indian Public Health, or general Electives.

Online and On-Campus Learning Options

Classes are offered on-campus and through distance learning technology. Synchronous videoconferencing enables immediate participation.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

The program reviews applications on a rolling basis for fall, spring, or summer admission. The GRE is optional. You’ll submit a two-page statement, resume, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation through both SOPHAS and NDSU Graduate School applications.

Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

Differential tuition applies to all public health students. The Gilsdorf Public Health Scholarship Endowment provides $2,500 to MPH graduate students. The Janice Haggart Microbiology Scholarship gives preference to students pursuing MPH degrees at NDSU.

Career Outcomes and Employment Rates

The average MPH epidemiology salary in North Dakota reaches $47.74 per hour or $99,219.96 annually as of March 2026. NDSU graduates achieved 94% employment or continued education success rates.

Get Your MPH Today

North Dakota’s MPH programs offer exceptional value with 100% employment rates and strong salary prospects. UND provides specialized tracks in Indigenous Health and Population Health Research & Analytics, while also offering Health Management & Policy. NDSU focuses on Community Health Sciences and Epidemiology programs. Both universities deliver CEPH-accredited education that prepares you for meaningful careers.

Online learning flexibility combined with hands-on practicum experiences will give you the ability to balance education with current commitments. These programs are the foundations you need to make a real effect in public health. Assess each program’s specializations, costs and format to determine which one arranges best with your career goals.