Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees

A ranking of the most affordable online bachelor's in public health degrees. Programs ranked by affordability, flexibility, and academic quality.

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When researching the most affordable online bachelors in public health, advocacy and human welfare are some of the common themes that arise.

A degree in public health is perfect for those wishing to immerse themselves into their local community or government and fight for issues surrounding health.

While public health is a wide field, major specialty areas include epidemiology, health education, environmental health, etc. As issues surrounding healthcare and healthy living are becoming more well-known, society will need educated leaders to help others make smart decisions regarding their well-being. Also, consider College Choice's Most Affordable Online Colleges.

What kind of Public Health degree should you get?

There are many merits to an online degree in public health versus a traditional setting (here is a list of College Choice’s best traditional Bachelors in Public Health programs). Other than the typical pros of being able to complete assignments according to one’s own schedule, the U.S. Department of Education has found that online learning actually produces stronger student learning outcomes than traditional learning settings.

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Of course, due to the nature of public health being a discipline with the goal of interacting with the community, students who undertake an online degree should have access to real-life experience in the health industry. In addition, because some employers may be biased towards an online degree, students should specifically look for programs that are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

How much money do people with a Bachelors in Public Health make?

Although salaries range depending on specialty, the median annual wage for epidemiologists was $69,450 and $51,960 for health educators in May 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In fact, the BLS reports that jobs for epidemiologists are expected to grow faster than other occupations from 2014 to 2024. Currently, the highest paid careers within the field of public health are: health and safety engineer, environmental scientist, healthcare administrator, biostatistician, epidemiologist, and those that hold doctorate degrees.

What can you do with a degree in Public Health?

Majoring in public health opens up a vast array of careers within the health-science field. In general, jobs relating to immediate community outreach and education only require a bachelor’s, but jobs related to more analytical and data collection require master’s. Students with higher education open themselves up for more career advancement and higher pay.

 
 

What are the requirements for a degree in Public Health?

While most degree programs do not require any extra requirements upon acceptance into the school, some schools require that students meet minimum GPA requirements before declaring as a public health major and taking upper division classes. After completion, different occupations require certain licensing, training, etc.

For example, health educators must be registered with the state and have a license to begin working. Students should plan with a career counselor before graduation which qualifications are necessary depending on the desired field.

What are the most affordable online bachelors in public health?

Below is a list of College Choice’s most affordable online bachelors in public health programs. Schools have been chosen based on a variety of factors, such as endowment size, return on investment, financial aid, tuition, etc. Data was compiled from the National Center for Education Statistics' IPEDS database, Payscale, the U.S. News & World Report, and individual college websites.

Rankings

See our rankings methodology page.

#1 Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees

Brigham Young University-Idaho

  • Rexburg, ID
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A private institution, Brigham Young University-Idaho provides flexible educational opportunities to all kinds of degree-seekers. The school offers its 27,540 distance learners 12 remote bachelor's programs from its campus in Rexburg, Idaho. Many people interested in a public health-related career find that the school's highly rated public health program meets their needs.

Enrolled students connect with distinguished faculty members and a supportive student body. Degree-seekers do classwork and projects to advance their personal and professional goals in an online classroom space. Some learners participate in internships, externships, or faculty-led research projects. Enrollees work with advisors to tailor the program to their needs and interests with individualized coursework and hand-picked electives.

An education at the institution is made less expensive through the many different internal and external funding opportunities available. Scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial aid benefit students who meet the eligibility requirements. The university reports that 61% of all enrollees receive some form of aid to offset educational expenses.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$4,208
Out-of-state
$4,208
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Not provided
Out-of-state
Not provided
Retention Rate
70%
Acceptance Rate
96%
Students Enrolled
39,145
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
70% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

#2 Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

  • Greensboro, NC
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A public institution, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro provides flexible learning opportunities to degree-seekers from all walks of life. Virtual learners nationwide select from 11 remote bachelor's programs at the Greensboro, North Carolina, school. Of these, the top-ranking BS in public health education attracts people interested in a public health-related career.

Enrolled students connect with distinguished faculty members and a supportive student body. In a virtual classroom space, degree-seekers complete coursework and projects that advance their personal and professional goals. Learners can participate in faculty-driven research, internships, and externships. Enrollees tailor the program to their needs and interests with electives and individualized coursework chosen with the help of an academic advisor.

An education at the school is made less expensive through the many different internal and external funding opportunities available. Students who qualify benefit from fellowships, scholarships, and other types of financial assistance. Lowering educational expenses is easier for the 88% of enrollees who receive some kind of financial aid.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$4,422
Out-of-state
$19,581
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$5,219
Out-of-state
$18,937
Retention Rate
75%
Acceptance Rate
82%
Students Enrolled
20,196
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
51% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#3 Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees

American Public University System

  • Charles Town, WV
  • 4 years
  • Online

A private institution, American Public University provides flexible educational opportunities to all kinds of degree-seekers. Of these, the top-choice bachelor's in public health suits individuals planning to go into public health or a related field.

After enrolling, public health students connect with top faculty and supportive members of the student community. The online learning environment includes classwork and projects relevant to degree-seekers' personal and professional goals. Many learners get involved with internships, externships, or research projects led by faculty members. Faculty advisors help enrollees mold the program to their needs and interests by letting them pick electives and select individualized coursework.

Since the price of an education can be high, the university features a variety of internal and external opportunities for financial assistance. Students meeting eligibility requirements benefit from different kinds of financial aid, including scholarships and fellowships. The cost of an education at the college shrinks for all enrollees, with 100% of the student body receiving some kind of financial assistance.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$6,804
Out-of-state
$6,804
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$6,615
Out-of-state
$6,615
Retention Rate
87%
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Students Enrolled
45,249
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
Not provided
Accreditation
Yes Higher Learning Commission

#4 Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees

The University of West Florida

  • Pensacola, FL
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A Pensacola school, The University of West Florida offers premier online degrees for students looking for a competitive program. The public institution's 10 online bachelor's programs enroll 8,296 remote learners. The rigorous, industry-relevant education provided by the BS in public health appeals to degree-seekers interested in public health careers.

Students in the public health program benefit from a supportive learning remote community, connecting with classmates and faculty through a virtual classroom environment. Enrollees gain relevant knowledge for their future public health careers in classes covering the foundational and advanced topics in the field. The hands-on practice that students get during experiential learning opportunities like internships and research projects helps them advance their competency for a future public health job. Academic advising and career counseling are just some of the resources the institution provides degree-seekers to support their success.

Funding opportunities found by working with a financial aid officer can lower the costs of a public health degree. The school offers many fellowship, scholarship, and federal aid opportunities. Of all enrollees, 90% receive some kind of financial aid.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$3,735
Out-of-state
$16,004
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$7,088
Out-of-state
$22,166
Retention Rate
81%
Acceptance Rate
31%
Students Enrolled
12,557
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
66% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#5 Most Affordable Online Public Health Degrees

University of South Florida

  • Tampa, FL
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

The University of South Florida offers premier online degrees for students looking for a competitive program from its campus in Tampa. The public institution supports 24,241 distance learners across five online bachelor’s degree programs. The bachelor of science in public health provides a rigorous, industry-related education to degree-seekers interested in careers in the field.

Students in the public health program benefit from a supportive remote learning community, connecting with classmates and faculty through a virtual classroom environment. Enrollees take classes on foundational and advanced topics to gain relevant knowledge for a future career in public health. The hands-on practice learners get during internships, research projects, and other experiential learning opportunities builds their competency for a future profession in public health. Career counseling, academic advising, and other institutional resources focused on student success are available to degree-seekers during the program.

Financial aid officers can alert learners to funding opportunities that may help defray the costs of a public health degree. The university features many different scholarships, fellowships, and federal financial aid options. Some form of financial aid is awarded to 93% of the institution's enrollees.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$4,559
Out-of-state
$15,473
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$8,350
Out-of-state
$19,048
Retention Rate
91%
Acceptance Rate
48%
Students Enrolled
44,246
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
55% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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