Public health is one of the fundamental fields of study that helps improve and prolong the quality of human life. Because its work is crucial to human survival and well-being, it makes sense to pursue this area of study at an institution with strong academic standards.
The United States has some of the world’s best universities, providing top-notch education. Besides academic standards, leading universities for public health in the United States offer students advanced information in this study area. Their programs help students study pressing health issues, learn from current research, and prepare for careers that address public health challenges. In this article, let us take a look at the best public health universities in the United States!
Top Schools Offering Public Health Programs in the USA
1. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is a private university in Baltimore, Maryland, and is among the top schools for public health in the world. Founded in 1876, the university is known as America’s first research university and for integrating teaching and research. Today, Johns Hopkins has academic divisions and campuses in Baltimore and Washington, DC, along with additional facilities in China and Italy.
Through the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Krieger School’s undergraduate Public Health Studies program, the university offers public health study at multiple levels. The undergraduate Public Health Studies major leads to a Bachelor of Arts and includes applied experience. JHU undergraduates may also pursue combined bachelor’s/master’s pathways, with early acceptance available for select Bloomberg master’s programs.
Students looking to pursue a master’s in public health have several options. They can study the Master of Public Health, which can be completed onsite, online, or in a combination of both, and in as little as 11 months or up to four years. They can also choose focused offerings such as the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). Graduates can also pursue research and teaching through Ph.D. programs, while the Doctor of Public Health degree is designed for experienced public health professionals seeking advanced leadership roles.
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also known as UNC-Chapel Hill, was chartered in 1789, making it the first public university in the United States. Students arrived in 1795, and UNC was the only public university to award degrees in the 18th century.
UNC-Chapel Hill offers public health programs through the Gillings School of Global Public Health. The school offers Bachelor of Science in Public Health majors in biostatistics, community and global public health, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and nutrition.
The school also offers the Master of Public Health program, which students can pursue through residential or online options, depending on their concentration. Students can explore public health through areas such as biostatistics, environmental sciences and engineering, epidemiology, health behavior, health policy and management, maternal and child health, nutrition, and public health leadership and practice. For doctoral study, the school offers Ph.D. programs in specific areas, including biostatistics, health behavior, and maternal and child health.
3. Yale University
The Yale School of Public Health offers MPH, MS, and Ph.D. programs for students committed to improving population health. Its MPH curriculum includes courses such as Social Justice and Health Equity, Foundations of Epidemiology and Public Health, and Health Policy and Health Care Systems. As doctoral candidate Gul Saeed describes, the university is a place where students can “work at the systems level to address structural gaps in care through community-engaged research that centers lived experiences.” This focus on real-world impact and on elevating the voices of marginalized groups makes Yale a strong environment for students with a passion for social and behavioral health.
The university’s curriculum and research environment support work in health equity, health disparities, and social and behavioral sciences. Yale offers specializations in areas such as biostatistics, chronic disease epidemiology, environmental health sciences, epidemiology of microbial diseases, health policy, health management, and social and behavioral sciences. According to Gul, her academic work at Yale is “deeply shaped by a commitment to elevating the voices of those with lived experience of mental illness and a drive to challenge dominant narratives that silence or pathologize their realities.” This demonstrates Yale’s emphasis on equipping students with the knowledge and skills to conduct meaningful research with practical implications.
4. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan was founded in 1817 and is a major public research university in Ann Arbor. The School of Public Health offers education across undergraduate, master’s, online master’s, dual-degree, certificate, and doctoral options.
The school offers two bachelor’s programs in public health: a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Global Public Health. It also offers an option to pursue a dual degree with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with students applying independently to both degree programs.
Michigan Public Health offers four master’s degrees, along with dual-degree, hybrid, joined master’s, and fully online options, including an online Master of Public Health in Population and Health Sciences. Doctoral students can pursue Ph.D. programs in all six departments; these programs typically require six terms beyond a master’s degree and culminate in original research and a dissertation.
5. Columbia University
Columbia University was established in 1754 under its former name, King’s College, by royal charter of King George II. Because it was founded before the Declaration of Independence, the university is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.
The university offers public health degrees through the Mailman School of Public Health. Its degree options include the Master of Public Health, Master of Health Administration, Master of Science, Ph.D., and Doctor of Public Health, along with dual-degree, executive, accelerated, in-person, and online formats. Mailman also offers 4+1 BA/MPH tracks in partnership with Columbia undergraduate schools and Vassar College.
Through these 4+1 BA/MPH pathways, eligible students can earn an undergraduate degree and a Master of Public Health in five years; however, this should not be described as an automatic transition from a bachelor’s degree in public health. For doctoral programs, Columbia offers both a Ph.D. and a Doctor of Public Health. The Ph.D. is research-oriented, while the DrPH is geared toward advanced public health leadership, practice, and applied work.
6. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is another excellent school for public health in the United States. Established in 1868, Berkeley offers more than 300 degree programs across its schools and colleges. The university offers public health through Berkeley Public Health, including a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and a summer Minor in Global Public Health. Students complete coursework and a required senior capstone, while eligible students may also pursue an honors thesis.
For graduate programs, students can choose from MPH options and other graduate degree pathways in areas such as health policy and management, infectious diseases and vaccinology, community health sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, and interdisciplinary public health. Berkeley Public Health also offers doctoral study, including Ph.D. options in specific academic areas and a Doctor of Public Health.
7. Emory University
Emory University stands out as a leading institution for public health through the Rollins School of Public Health. Rollins offers degree programs including the MPH, MSPH, Ph.D., and DrPH. The MPH is available full time or part time, online or in person, while the MSPH is research-focused. In addition, 4+1 pathways allow eligible undergraduates to earn an undergraduate degree and an MPH or MSPH from Rollins in five years.
Rollins attracts students and professionals dedicated to community service. Lina Mairet Solano Carrillo, a professional from Colombia, is a fellow at Emory studying public health policy and management. She highlights that her “long professional career working for vulnerable populations” and her “vocation for social service” were key parts of her journey, demonstrating the university’s focus on attracting individuals who have a profound commitment to public service and community well-being.
The university’s public health programs are designed to provide students and professionals with the knowledge and tools to deepen their impact. Lina’s experience in her home country taught her the “importance of listening before offering solutions” and that “progress and development come from collective work and community-building, where everyone has a role to play.” This philosophy of community-centered and collaborative work is a core part of the education at Emory, preparing students to return to their communities and create lasting, positive change through well-informed public health policy and management.
Studying public health at top universities in the United States can help you gain advanced knowledge in addressing crucial global health issues and prepare for a future in public health. Make the most of your future by choosing one of the universities on this list as your potential school for public health!
We hope that this article on the best universities for public health in the United States was helpful. Check out the Guide to Studying in the USA and Available Courses for International Students!
