20 Best Mph Programs In Raleigh, NC (2023 Updated)
Raleigh is the bustling capital of North Carolina, offering a thriving job market in healthcare, technology, research, and more. With a diverse population and economy, it‘s an attractive area for professionals looking to advance their education and career opportunities.
An MPH (Masters of Public Health) degree equips students with skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, health education, environmental health, and more to take on leadership roles addressing population health challenges.
Raleigh itself only houses a couple of MPH programs, but its central East Coast location provides easy access to numerous other excellent MPH options in North Carolina and beyond. We’ve compiled this updated 2023 guide to the 20 best MPH programs accessible from the Raleigh area to help you find the right fit.
1. University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health
Location: Chapel Hill, NC; 2hr 20min drive from Raleigh
The #1 ranked public school of public health, UNC Gillings provides world-class training in public health disciplines through a variety of renowned on-campus and online programs:
- MPH in Public Health Leadership – Top 5 program focusing on management, leadership, policy analysis, etc.
- MPH in Health Care and Prevention – Prepare for roles addressing healthcare access, community prevention, etc.
- MPH in Nutrition – #1 ranked nutrition program aligned with Raleigh’s food research industry
- Online MPH – Highly flexible option featuring live online classes in core MPH disciplines
UNC Gillings students benefit from cross-disciplinary collaboration, abundant research and internship opportunities, and expert faculty driving public health innovation. It‘s an unparalleled environment for launching leadership careers in public health.
2. Wake Forest University
Location: Winston-Salem, NC; 1hr 15min drive from Raleigh
Wake Forest University offers a highly flexible and customizable online MPH program centered around core public health knowledge and leadership skills.
Students work through asynchronous course modules on their own schedule and can optionally attend live virtual class sessions. With no set login times, it’s designed for working professionals.
The curriculum covers the five core disciplines of public health while allowing students to dive deeper into focus areas like epidemiology, health data science, maternal and child health, etc. Ongoing mentoring ensures students can shape the program to align with career goals.
With its high retention and graduation rates, Wake Forest delivers strong outcomes for online MPH students seeking career advancement opportunities.
3. Duke University
Location: Durham, NC; 20min drive from Raleigh
In addition to its prestigious campus-based program, the Duke University School of Medicine offers an innovative online MPH program catered to working professionals and remote students.
Like Wake Forest, Duke’s online MPH prioritizes self-paced learning while providing access to faculty mentors. The program focuses specifically on applying public health approaches to address urgent health system challenges like:
- Eliminating barriers to care
- Improving community health outcomes with data-driven decision making
- Developing sustainable health policies
Students gain expertise analyzing complex health issues, leading constructive change in health organizations, and advancing population health goals. Duke’s online MPH opens doors to leadership positions driving strategic transformation initiatives.
4. East Carolina University
Location: Greenville, NC; 1hr 50min drive from Raleigh
For students interested in rural and underserved community health issues, East Carolina University‘s MPH program offers unmatched experiential learning opportunities.
Through the Rural Eastern North Carolina Health Network, students participate in projects tackling health access barriers, chronic disease prevention, and environmental health in local under-resourced communities. Hands-on program highlights include:
- Planning health communication campaigns at county health departments
- Assessing lead exposure risks in small towns
- Evaluating rural food security and access
With faculty guiding students to apply classroom knowledge to real community challenges, the program delivers an impactful education in public health leadership.
5. University of North Carolina Pembroke
Location: Pembroke, NC; 2hr 30min drive from Raleigh
UNC Pembroke offers a flexible and affordable online Master of Public Health program catering to working professionals and remote students.
Spanning the five core MPH knowledge areas, the curriculum equips students with versatile public health skill sets aligned with today’s workplace demands, including:
- Research methods and data analytics
- Community needs assessment and program planning
- Policy analysis and advocacy
- Cultural competency and ethics
With predominantly asynchronous online courses, self-paced assignments, and multiple entry terms per year, UNC Pembroke’s program accommodates students balancing work, life, and education. It’s built for mid-career professionals seeking leadership development opportunities.
6. Western Carolina University
Location: Cullowhee, NC; 3hr 40min drive from Raleigh
For students interested in rural Appalachian communities, Western Carolina University’s MPH program offers targeted public health training opportunities.
Through the Cullowhee Mountain Resiliency Collaborative and other cross-campus initiatives, students gain hands-on experience assisting underserved local communities while developing specialized expertise in:
- Substance abuse prevention
- Environmental health justice
- Rural healthcare access and delivery
With faculty guiding students through field projects, collaborative research, and internships, this small-cohort program delivers an impactful educational experience. It readies graduates to tackle pressing public health issues facing rural communities.
7. Liberty University
Location: Lynchburg, VA; 4hr 40min drive from Raleigh
Liberty University’s Master of Public Health program offers flexible and affordable public health education aligned with Christian values and perspectives.
The curriculum covers foundational topics like epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and more while emphasizing a holistic view encompassing spiritual, social and physical health. Students also select elective topics in areas like nutrition, disaster relief, substance abuse, maternal health, global health, and public health ethics.
Offered in a convenient online format accommodating remote students, Liberty MPH graduates are equipped to pursue public health leadership roles informed by compassion and faith-driven values.
8. George Washington University
Location: Washington, DC; 4hr drive from Raleigh
The Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University is internationally recognized for its academics and influential research advancing public health policy and practice.
Their renowned on-campus MPH program is designed around interdisciplinary core courses, experiential learning opportunities, and leadership development – with focus areas including:
- Health Policy
- Health Promotion
- Global Health
- etc.
Students benefit from partnerships enabling fieldwork with major public health organizations plus access to experts driving national public health initiatives. It’s a globally-focused program readying graduates to tackle complex public health challenges.
9. Johns Hopkins University
Location: Baltimore, MD; 7hr drive from Raleigh
As the first school of public health in the world, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has an unmatched legacy Training 40% of public health faculty in the US and 20% of deans, they’ve educated many field-leading researchers and policymakers.
Their traditional MPH Program is interdisciplinary and research-focused, offering renowned education through full-time, part-time and online options spanning:
- Biostatistics
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Epidemiology
- and 20+ other majors
With abundant experiential learning and networking opportunities, Johns Hopkins graduates consistently land public health leadership positions at prominent organizations.
10. Harvard University
Location: Boston, MA; 12hr drive from Raleigh
As one of the world‘s most prestigious learning institutions, Harvard offers highly influential Public Health education opportunities.
Within the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the MPH program convenes an all-star faculty providing industry-leading education centered around:
- Translating research into policy and practice
- Tackling emerging threats through data-driven approaches
- Advancing health equity locally and globally
With flexible program options blending online and in-person learning, Harvard MPH students gain access to faculty and research driving improvements worldwide. It‘s an unmatched environment for preparing public health leaders and changemakers.
11. Appalachian State University
Location: Boone, NC; 2hr 45min drive from Raleigh
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian State University provides a supportive learning environment combined with regional experiential learning opportunities.
Through the Master of Public Health program, students engage with local communities, organizations, and health departments to gain hands-on training while addressing regional health priorities like:
- Substance abuse
- Rural healthcare delivery
- Health communication campaigns
With most students originating from North Carolina, the program emphasizes community-engaged approaches tailored to Appalachian regional needs. Graduates emerge prepared to improve local population health outcomes.
12. East Tennessee State University
Location: Johnson City, TN; 4hr 40min drive from Raleigh
The College of Public Health at ETSU offers immersive educational experiences addressing leading public health challenges in Appalachian communities through its residential and online Master of Public Health programs.
Training tomorrow‘s public health leaders with community-engaged projects, research opportunities, and internship placements, the program focuses on building capabilities in areas like:
- Rural health
- Health policy and administration
- Community health assessment
With strong ties to regional health organizations and agencies, ETSU MPH graduates emerge prepared to tackle public health issues detrimentally impacting Appalachian communities.
13. Emory University
Location: Atlanta, GA; 7hr 20min drive from Raleigh
Emory’s highly ranked Rollins School of Public Health offers premier public health education centered around societal challenges like pandemic preparedness, environmental justice, health equality, and access to care.
Their MPH Program convenes globally-renowned faculty driving progress in these areas through research and policy work. Students gain specialized expertise through majors like:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Global Health
- Health Policy
With abundant research, fieldwork, and networking opportunities in Atlanta and beyond, Emory MPH graduates consistently attain public health leadership positions working to address systemic societal health issues.
14. University of South Carolina
Location: Columbia, SC; 3hr 20min drive from Raleigh
The Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina offers an online Master of Public Health providing flexible and affordable public health education tailored to working professionals.
Their career-oriented program equips students with versatile public health skills in areas like health administration, research methods, policy analysis, cultural competence, and communication strategy.
With predominantly asynchronous online courses accommodating busy schedules, the program is built for mid-career professionals looking to pivot into public health leadership roles or advance existing public health careers.
15. Ohio State University
Location: Columbus, OH; 9hr drive from Raleigh
For students interested in healthcare policy, administration, and leadership, the Ohio State University College of Public Health offers exceptional education opportunities.
Their MPH curriculum emphasizes public health management equipping students with globally-applicable skills spanning health economics, policy analysis, organizational leadership, community engagement, and strategic planning.
With a steady track record of public health research and partnership impact, OSU graduates are prepared to take on influential healthcare leadership and administration roles advancing community health.
16. University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, MI; 12hr drive from Raleigh
The University of Michigan School of Public Health offers top-ranked education centered around complex public health problem-solving.
Their flexible MPH Program features self-designed focus areas where students choose from 10+ specializations while building capabilities in areas like:
- Translating research into policy
- Designing community-based interventions
- Leading organizational strategy and planning
With renowned multidisciplinary faculty and abundant research opportunities, UMich MPH graduates emerge skilled at analyzing root causes of health issues while mobilizing stakeholders towards equity-driven solutions.
17. Tulane University School of Public Health
Location: New Orleans, LA; 12hr drive from Raleigh
Located in vibrant New Orleans, Tulane University’s School of Public Health convenes global health experts tackling issues like epidemic preparedness, environmental justice, health equality, and healthcare policy.
The MPH curriculum delivers hands-on public health education enabling students to directly assist vulnerable Gulf Coast populations while developing specialized expertise across:
- Tropical Medicine
- Applied Epidemiology
- Prevention Policy
With community-engaged projects, collaborative research, and global experiential learning opportunities, Tulane’s program equips graduates to lead progress addressing systemic health issues and health equity.
18. University of Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburgh, PA; 8hr drive from Raleigh
The Graduate School of Public Health at Pitt offers highly flexible and customizable public health education.
Their MPH program allows students to tailor curriculum across nine departments spanning core public health knowledge areas like biostatistics, environmental health, health economics, health policy, etc.
Self-designed programs coupled with Pitt Public Health’s expert faculty provides focused preparation for public health careers addressing today’s dynamic health landscape at global, national, and local levels.
19. Drexel University
Location: Philadelphia, PA; 8hr 20min drive from Raleigh
Drexel‘s Dornsife School of Public Health is recognized for public health training tightly integrated with experiential learning in a real-world urban context.
Students in their MPH program engage directly with the Philadelphia community through initiatives tackling challenges like housing insecurity, health literacy, gun violence, access to care, and health policy.
With research, capstone work, and practicum placements grounded in regional priorities, Drexel graduates emerge prepared to design multi-level interventions improving community health outcomes.
20. Columbia University
Location: New York City, NY; 8hr 30min drive from Raleigh
As the first standalone school of public health in the world, Columbia University‘s Mailman School of Public Health has an unparalleled legacy advancing population health through research and education.
Their MPH program prepares students through a customizable, multidisciplinary curriculum focused on building public health leadership spanning:
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Population and family health
- Environmental health sciences
- Health policy
Students benefit from New York’s immense population health challenges and resources – crafting policy solutions within leading health organizations and refining interventions assisting diverse urban communities.
Find the Best MPH Program Match in Raleigh, NC
With numerous reputable Master of Public Health options accessible from Raleigh, prospective students can find high value offerings matching individual interests and professional goals.
Wake Forest and Duke offer flexible and increasingly popular online alternatives to balance work and education, while UNC Chapel Hill provides unmatched on-campus experiential learning.
Several programs like East Carolina, Western Carolina and App State immerse students directly in regional public health challenges across underserved North Carolina communities.
And renowned institutions farther afield like Johns Hopkins, Harvard and Columbia open doors to networking amid globally influential health leaders.
We hope this guide supports Raleigh professionals and remote students in discovering MPH programs enabling them to maximize leadership potential while driving meaningful population health improvements in North Carolina and beyond!
