New York has over 220 Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited public health programs at 17 different universities. Most of the CEPH-accredited public health degrees offered in New York are master’s-level programs, but the state does have 10+ bachelor’s level and 30+ doctorate level programs that are CEPH-accredited as well. 

With many master’s in public health options in New York state, you can be sure to find the right program in New York that suits your interests and needs. Continue to read the list of MPH programs in NY and public health career opportunities across the state.

Most master’s level programs will take about two years to complete. Master’s programs are typically formatted as either Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Health Administration (MHA), or Master of Science (MS) programs. Any one of these program types will give you the relevant knowledge and skills expected from professionals in the field. All of the MPH programs in New York listed in the table above are CEPH-accredited.

Public health professionals in the state of New York are responsible for maintaining safe living, working, and social environments for its residents. This is a profound duty for people within this field, considering the state has over 19.4 million residents, 13.6 percent of which are living in poverty and 6.3 percent of residents under the age of 65 with no health insurance, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The best way to avert the spread of infectious diseases, minimize prevalence, and stop injury among the general public is through effective public health initiatives, community programs, and public educational programs. 

New York’s public health initiatives include a five-year health improvement plan and a redesign of the state’s Medicaid program. The New York State Department of Public Health is responsible for driving forward these initiatives. They also coordinate with local health departments to promote safe health practices throughout the state by doing the following:

There are many prominent universities in New York offering multiple public health degrees covering areas like biostatistics theory & methods, molecular epidemiology, and environmental health policy. Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health has the most specialization options and is one of the more prestigious institutions for New Yorkers. New York University’s School of Global Public Health is also a competitive option that offers a wide variety of public health concentrations.

New York City is particularly serious about public health since it is the most populous city in the country. Major educational institutions such as the University at Albany School of Public Health (UA-SPH) demonstrate their commitment to public health with free certificate training offerings. This initiative is funded by a state grant. Online courses from UA-SPH include:

These free education programs do not substitute a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree. Instead, they provide additional knowledge and allow you to earn continuing education credit.

Select schools may offer scholarships and grants for students in public health programs. Be sure to research financial aid opportunities while reviewing program choices. The Association for Schools and Programs of Public Health also provides information on scholarships on their website. Also, there are other public health scholarships available specifically to graduate students.  

Online MPH programs are an excellent way for you to obtain your public health degree without having to change the way that you are currently living your life. The state of New York has several options for students wanting to pursue the online route. New York Medical College, New York University, and the University at Albany provide CEPH-accredited online MPH programs with concentrations including Behavioral Sciences & Health Promotion, Environmental Health Science, Health Policy & Management, Public Health Practice, and MPH/MD joint degree programs. Columbia University has an executive format MPH in Healthcare Management that meets for one long weekend per month to accommodate full-time working professionals.

As you search for the right program for your future, consider the flexibility of online programs alongside proper CEPH accreditation. Having the seal of approval from accreditation agencies can help to ensure that you are receiving the best possible education during your graduate experience.

With a master’s degree in public health, you can go after a variety of public health careers in New York and across the country. Possible job titles include community engagement and risk communications specialist, health educator, epidemiologist, and medical and healthcare services manager, just to name a few. 

National demand for medical and health services managers is expected to grow 18 percent by 2028. That’s more than three times the average growth rate for all occupations, and New York has the third highest employment level and second highest mean salary for health services managers. The New York City metropolitan area is the fourth highest paying metro area for epidemiologists. New York state and New York City both have the highest employment levels of community health workers among states and metropolitan areas respectively.

New York is a hotspot people that are looking to settle in a place with multiple professional opportunities. Taking this into consideration, the need for public health is always a primary concern. Epidemiologists are a main component in protecting the public from dangerous illnesses, potentially harmful environmental conditions, and the transmission of disease. Epidemiologists work in hospitals, research facilities, and even for privately-owned organizations. If you are interested in this career path, degree programs are available throughout the state of New York. Consider some important statistics for the epidemiologist occupation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2019): $70,990
Salary Range: Less than $44,000 to more than $119,290
People employed in New York: 260

Medical and healthcare services managers plan, direct, and coordinate medical services. They may work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. Their job is to manage finances, scheduling, physical facilities, personnel, and other administrative tasks so that patient care staff can do their jobs. This career is in high demand and can be very lucrative. Consider some important statistics for medical and healthcare services manager occupation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2019): $100,980
Salary Range: Less than $58,820 to more than $189,000
People Employed in New York: 25,740

When you earn your degree in public health, you can become an important member of your community in New York. Whether you choose to work in policy advocacy, health education, administration, prevention, or the administering of treatment, New York has organizations and agencies in all these areas for graduates to consider for employment.

When you complete your master’s degree in public health in New York, you can qualify for work in several types of businesses and organizations. 

The New York State Department of Health employs many people in roles requiring an MPH, such as nursing home directors, public health educators, and epidemiologists. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is one of the largest public health agencies in the country with over 6,000 employees and an annual budget of $1.6 billion. They hire many roles such as community program analysts, site coordinators, and community engagement coordinators. 

The Fund for Public Health in New York City is an independent nonprofit that connects the New York City Health Department with private sector partners and the philanthropic community. FPHNYC lists many grant-funded positions that MPH holders would be qualified for, such as health educators, community health workers, program coordinators, and project managers.

To qualify for most master’s programs in public health in New York, you should expect to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited academic institution, take the GRE or MCAT, and submit letters of recommendation, a professional resume, a personal statement that tells your story and intentions for your career in public health, as well as your official transcripts.

There are a variety of public health resources in New York for the general public as well as those interested in the career field. Here are a few:

Information last updated May 2020

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University and Program Name	Study Length	Test Requirement	Number of Credits
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