MPH Programs · Verified September 2026

MPH Programs That Don't Require the GRE

263verified programs
242at CEPH-accredited schools
130offered online
$995median tuition per credit

Which Online MPH Programs Don't Require the GRE?

Most online MPH programs no longer require the GRE, including CEPH-accredited options at UAB, the University of Arizona, George Washington and Colorado. This site lists 263 MPH programs that don't require the GRE, 130 of them with an online version. Across all 488 MPH programs here, only 3 list the GRE as required.

Researched and edited by · Updated

A woman in a cream sweater takes notes from open books at a library table lined with archive drawers
Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels

The GRE has mostly disappeared from MPH admissions. Across all 488 MPH programs on this site, 187 say the GRE isn’t required, 59 make it optional, 17 let you waive it and only 3 list it as required.

This page covers the 263 MPH programs with a no-GRE, optional or waivable policy, at 148 schools in 43 states. They aren’t a lower tier. 242 are at CEPH-accredited schools, and they include large schools of public health such as UAB, Colorado and George Washington.

Not Required, Optional or Waivable: What Each Means

Programs use three labels, and they don’t mean the same thing.

Policy What it means for you Programs here Examples
Not required Apply without a score. 187 UAB MPH, University of Arizona Online, San Diego State
Optional Apply with or without one; a score you send becomes part of your file. 59 UTHealth Houston, University of Nevada, Reno, Baylor
Waivable Required unless you qualify for the program’s waiver. 17 Loma Linda, Nova Southeastern

“Waivable” is the one to read closely. You’ll need to request the waiver and meet the program’s conditions, so budget time for that step.

15 Most Affordable Online MPH Programs With No GRE

How this list is ranked: lowest estimated tuition first. Estimated tuition is the school's lowest published per-credit rate times the credits it requires, before fees, for CEPH-accredited programs that publish both figures (one program per school). Rates were read on each school's site in September 2026. Only programs whose own pages say the GRE is not required, optional or waivable are included.

  1. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: Master of Public HealthMaster of Public Health

    $12,915estimated tuition

    The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Houston, TX, public) offers this on campus, hybrid and online program in 45 credits (18-24 months full time (most students)). At $287 per credit, estimated tuition is $12,915 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. GRE optional; applications go through SOPHAS. Concentration areas include epidemiology, health policy and management, environmental and occupational health and community health and health promotion. CEPH accredited, next review 7/1/2027.

    School's tuition wording: $287 per semester credit hour (Texas resident); $1,124 per semester credit hour (non-resident); plus $85 per credit hour academic and technology resource fee (2026-27)

    Total cost of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston MPH with loans · Both programs at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

  2. University of Nevada-Las Vegas: Master of Public HealthMaster of Public Health

    $18,013estimated tuition

    University of Nevada-Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV, public) offers this on campus and online program in 47 credits (2 years full time). At $383 per credit, estimated tuition is $18,013 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. GRE optional; you apply directly to the school. Concentration areas include epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management and global health. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2031.

    School's tuition wording: $383.25 per graduate credit plus fees (resident); nonresident graduate students taking 7 or more credits pay $10,094.50 plus $383.25 per credit plus fees

    Can 2026 federal loans cover the University of Nevada-Las Vegas MPH?

  3. Georgia State University: Master of Public HealthMaster of Public Health

    $19,488estimated tuition

    Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA, public) offers this on campus and online program in 42 credits (approximately two years). At $464 per credit, estimated tuition is $19,488 before fees. No GRE required; applications go through SOPHAS. Concentration areas include epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management and environmental and occupational health. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2028.

    School's tuition wording: $464 per credit hour for fully online students (residency-neutral), plus a $660 per-semester online learning fee

    Monthly payment on the Georgia State University MPH

  4. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville: Accelerated Online Master of Public HealthAccelerated Online Master of Public Health

    $20,962estimated tuition

    Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Edwardsville, IL, public) offers this online program in 42 credits (16-22 months). At $499 per credit, estimated tuition is $20,962 before fees. GRE optional; you apply directly to the school. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2027.

    School's tuition wording: $499.10 per credit hour (same for in-state and out-of-state; includes all fees)

    Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville MPH cost with fees and living costs · Both programs at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

  5. USF: Online Master of Public HealthOnline Master of Public Health

    $22,050estimated tuition

    USF (Tampa, FL, public) offers this online program in 42 credits (epidemiology concentration can be completed in as little as 21 months). At $525 per credit, estimated tuition is $22,050 before fees. GRE optional; applications go through SOPHAS. Concentration areas include epidemiology, global health, environmental and occupational health and community health and health promotion. CEPH accredited, next review 7/1/2026.

    School's tuition wording: $525 x 42 credits (online MPH); $30 per credit Distance Learning Fee not included

    USF MPH debt next to what the job pays · Compare USF's other programs

  6. American Public University System: Online Master of Public HealthOnline Master of Public Health

    $22,090estimated tuition

    American Public University System (Charles Town, WV, private for-profit) offers this online program in 47 credits (8- to 16-week courses; monthly starts). At $470 per credit, estimated tuition is $22,090 before fees. No GRE required; you apply directly to the school. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2029.

    School's tuition wording: $470 per credit (standard master's rate); $250 Preferred Military Rate; grants reduce the rate to $399.50 or $423 for eligible students; technology and graduation fees extra

    Total cost of the American Public University System MPH with loans

  7. UAB: Master of Public HealthMaster of Public Health

    $22,092estimated tuition

    UAB (Birmingham, AL, public) offers this online and on campus program in 42 credits (epidemiology concentration: typically five semesters (20 months) full time; part time at least six to eight semesters). At $526 per credit, estimated tuition is $22,092 before fees. No GRE required; applications go through SOPHAS. Concentration areas include epidemiology, health policy and management, environmental and occupational health and community health and health promotion. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2030.

    School's tuition wording: $526 per semester hour in-state, $1,284 per semester hour out-of-state (School of Public Health on-campus rates); $624 per semester hour for School of Public Health online courses (2026-27)

    Can 2026 federal loans cover the UAB MPH? · All 5 programs at UAB

  8. Utah State University: Master of Public Health in Health Education and PromotionMaster of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion

    $24,120estimated tuition

    Utah State University (Logan, UT, public) offers this online program in 45 credits. At $536 per credit, estimated tuition is $24,120 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. No GRE required; you apply directly to the school. Concentration areas include community health and health promotion. CEPH accredited, next review 7/1/2030.

    School's tuition wording: USU Online graduate tuition: out-of-state students living outside Utah pay a flat $536 per credit; Utah residents are estimated at $2,866 for 6 credits per semester; plus a $15 per credit online course fee

    Monthly payment on the Utah State University MPH · Compare Utah State University's other programs

  9. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania: Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Community HealthMaster of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Community Health

    $25,284estimated tuition

    East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (East Stroudsburg, PA, public) offers this online and on campus program in 42 credits (12-month accelerated track; two academic years full time; part-time available). At $602 per credit, estimated tuition is $25,284 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. GRE can be waived. Concentration areas include community health and health promotion. CEPH accredited, next review 7/1/2028.

    School's tuition wording: $602 per credit (PA resident); $886 per credit non-resident; $568 per credit non-resident in Distance Education Approved Programs (2026-27)

    East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania MPH cost with fees and living costs

  10. Chamberlain University-Illinois: Master of Public Health (Online)Master of Public Health (Online)

    $25,370estimated tuition

    Chamberlain University-Illinois (Addison, IL, private for-profit) offers this online program in 43 credits (as few as 14 months (accelerated study)). At $590 per credit, estimated tuition is $25,370 before fees. No GRE required; you apply directly to the school. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2026.

    School's tuition wording: $590 per credit hour (43 credit hours)

    Chamberlain University-Illinois MPH debt next to what the job pays

  11. University of Massachusetts-Lowell: Master of Public HealthMaster of Public Health

    $25,620estimated tuition

    University of Massachusetts-Lowell (Lowell, MA, public) offers this online and hybrid program in 42 credits. At $610 per credit, estimated tuition is $25,620 before fees. No GRE required; you apply directly to the school. Concentration areas include epidemiology, health policy and management, community health and health promotion and nutrition. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2028.

    School's tuition wording: $610 per credit online (plus $30 term registration fee); on-campus rates on a separate page

    Total cost of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell MPH with loans

  12. CUNY Graduate School and University Center: MPH in Sexual and Reproductive Justice &Amp; HealthMPH in Sexual and Reproductive Justice &Amp; Health

    $26,040estimated tuition

    CUNY Graduate School and University Center (New York, NY, public) offers this hybrid and online program in 42 credits. At $620 per credit, estimated tuition is $26,040 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. GRE optional; applications go through SOPHAS. Concentration areas include maternal and child health. CEPH accredited, next review 7/1/2032.

    School's tuition wording: 2026-27: NYS residents $7,365 per semester full time or $620 per credit part time/online; non-residents $1,005 per credit (hybrid) or $745 per credit (online degree program)

    Can 2026 federal loans cover the CUNY Graduate School and University Center MPH? · CUNY Graduate School and University Center school profile and CEPH status

  13. UF: Online Master of Public HealthOnline Master of Public Health

    $26,400estimated tuition

    UF (Gainesville, FL, public) offers this online program in 48 credits. At $550 per credit, estimated tuition is $26,400 before fees. No GRE required; applications go through SOPHAS. Concentration areas include health policy and management and community health and health promotion. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2028.

    School's tuition wording: $550.00 per credit for all residency statuses, plus $35.67 per credit in fees (2026-27)

    Monthly payment on the UF MPH · All 5 programs at UF

  14. University of Hawaii at Manoa: Master of Public Health - Distance EducationMaster of Public Health - Distance Education

    $27,300estimated tuition

    University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu, HI, public) offers this online program in 42 credits (21 months). At $650 per credit, estimated tuition is $27,300 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. GRE optional; you apply directly to the school. Concentration areas include health policy and management. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2030.

    School's tuition wording: $650 per credit for distance education, for residents and non-residents; the asynchronous online MPH accepts no tuition waivers (2026-27)

    University of Hawaii at Manoa MPH cost with fees and living costs · Compare University of Hawaii at Manoa's other programs

  15. Southern New Hampshire University: Online Master of Public Health (MPH)Online Master of Public Health (MPH)

    $27,678estimated tuition

    Southern New Hampshire University (Manchester, NH, private nonprofit) offers this online program in 42 credits (10-week terms). At $659 per credit, estimated tuition is $27,678 before fees. No GRE required; you apply directly to the school. Concentration areas include global health. CEPH accredited, next review 12/31/2028.

    School's tuition wording: $659 per credit

    Southern New Hampshire University MPH debt next to what the job pays

263 MPH programs

Program facts come from each school's own program pages, reviewed September 2026. Tuition is the school's published figure with its basis; per-credit sorting uses programs that publish a per-credit rate. CEPH status comes from the CEPH accredited list.

Online MPH Programs With No GRE

130 of the no-GRE programs have an online version, and 86 are online only. These CEPH-accredited online MPH programs say the GRE isn’t required:

Program Rate Credits Application
UAB MPH $624 per credit (online courses) 42 to 44 SOPHAS
Chamberlain University MPH $590 per credit 43 Direct
National University MPH $644 per credit 48 Direct
CSUN Online MPH, Community Health Education $857 per unit 42 Direct
University of Arizona Online MPH $950 per credit 42 SOPHAS
Fairfield University Online MPH $960 per credit 42 Direct
Colorado School of Public Health Online MPH $995 per credit (resident), plus $100 per online course 42 to 45 SOPHAS
Touro University California MPH $1,070 per credit 42 SOPHAS
George Washington MPH@GW $2,000 per credit 45 Direct

Loma Linda’s online MPH options in Epidemiology, Population Medicine, and Health Education and Wellness Coaching list the GRE as waivable, and Fresno State’s online MPH lists it as optional. Compare formats and schedules across all online MPH programs.

No-GRE MPH Programs on Campus

152 of the no-GRE programs have a campus version, and the choice is wide. They’re concentrated where public health schools are: New York has the most (38), then California (21), Pennsylvania (16) and Texas (14). Most are public, 167 of the 263, against 90 private nonprofits and 6 for-profit schools.

Several well-known campus programs publish a clear no-GRE policy alongside their price. San Diego State’s campus MPH lists $5,745 per semester for full-time California residents, campus fees included. Cal State Fullerton lists $8,548 in tuition for 2026-27 plus $1,678 in campus fees for full-time residents, with fall admission only. USC’s campus MPH and the University of Arizona’s campus MPH also say the GRE isn’t required, and Loma Linda’s campus MPH programs list it as waivable.

Fast and Part-Time MPH Programs Without the GRE

Skipping the test pairs well with a fast start. 26 no-GRE programs are accelerated. Emory’s Accelerated MPH takes 12 or 15 months in person or online at $28,986 per semester. Sacred Heart offers a one-year full-time track at $750 per credit. Chamberlain’s online MPH can take as few as 14 months, and Nova Southeastern, where the GRE is waivable, lists a minimum of 11 months. Colorado State describes an accelerated 15-month path.

If you’re working, 40 no-GRE programs have a hybrid version. The University of San Francisco MPH meets one evening a week, alternating in person and online, at $1,555 per unit. See accelerated MPH programs and hybrid and executive programs for the full lists.

What Admissions Committees Look at Instead

Dropping the GRE doesn’t make admission automatic. It moves the weight onto your transcript, your writing and your experience. Two published requirements show what that looks like.

UAB says plainly that the GRE isn’t required for its MPH. Its Fast Track MPH, for current undergraduates, asks for 60 to 90 hours of completed coursework, a minimum 3.25 GPA, two letters of recommendation, a career statement and a one-page CV, and welcomes students from any major.

UC Davis dropped the GRE for its MPH and asks for a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a B or better in one course each in math or statistics, biology, social science and introduction to public health, a statement of purpose, a personal statement, three letters and a resume. It also wants evidence of interest in public health, such as work or volunteer experience, an undergraduate research paper or AmeriCorps service.

The pattern: a prerequisite in statistics, a clear statement of why public health, and people who can vouch for you. The MPH admission requirements guide covers each piece.

SOPHAS or Direct Application

Among no-GRE programs, 179 take applications through SOPHAS and 77 through the school’s own portal. SOPHAS charges $155 for your first program and $65 for each one after that. You’ll request at least 3 recommendations and can request up to 5; some programs need 2 completed, others 3. Direct applications skip the SOPHAS fee but mean filling out each school’s form separately. The SOPHAS guide explains deadlines and verification.

Timing Your Application

Without a test date to plan around, your calendar is set by deadlines and paperwork. UC Davis, for example, has a December 1 priority deadline, a January 15 general deadline and a June 1 space-available deadline. If you need a SOPHAS fee waiver, request it before you submit: waivers are limited, go first come first served, cover only the $155 first-program fee, and give you 14 days to submit once approved.

When Sending a GRE Score Still Helps

At an optional program, a score can help if the rest of your file is thin on numbers. That matters most for quantitative concentrations. Every CEPH MPH assesses you on analyzing data with biostatistics and software, and in this set Epidemiology is the most common concentration name (70 programs), with Biostatistics listed at 23. If your transcript has no statistics and you’re aiming at epidemiology or biostatistics, a solid quantitative score is one way to show you can handle it. Taking a statistics course before you apply is another, and it’s the prerequisite UC Davis asks for anyway.

If your grades and experience already make the case, skip it. The test costs $249 in most of the world, and extra score reports cost $40 each.

Most Affordable MPH Programs With No GRE

Estimated tuition (published per-credit rate times credits, before fees) has a median of $44,940 across 112 no-GRE programs. The lowest:

Program GRE Estimated tuition CEPH
UTHealth Houston MPH Optional $12,915 (Texas resident) Accredited
Rasmussen University MPH Not required $13,160
Lamar University Online MPH Not required $15,120
University of Nevada, Reno MPH Optional $16,097 Accredited
University of Nevada, Reno MPH in Epidemiology Optional $16,097 Accredited

A blank CEPH cell means the school isn’t on CEPH’s accredited list. For more low-cost options with any GRE policy, see affordable MPH programs.

How to Build a Strong No-GRE Application

  • Cover statistics. Take or retake an intro statistics course if your transcript doesn’t have one.
  • Write a specific statement. Name the concentration, the population and the kind of job you want.
  • Pick recommenders early. SOPHAS asks for at least 3, and one should speak to your academic work.
  • Show public health experience. Paid, volunteer or research work all count at programs like UC Davis.
  • Confirm the policy on the program page. “Optional” and “waivable” carry different obligations.
  • Price your applications. Four SOPHAS programs means one $155 fee and three $65 fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Any MPH Programs Still Require the GRE?

Very few. Of the 488 MPH programs on this site, 3 list the GRE as required. 187 say it isn't required, 59 make it optional and 17 let you waive it.

What Does GRE Optional Mean for an MPH?

You can apply without a score. If you do send one, it becomes part of your file, so send it only if it strengthens your case, for example a strong quantitative score when your math grades are weak.

How Much Does the GRE Cost?

The GRE General Test costs $249 in most of the world as of August 1, 2026, and each additional score report costs $40.

Are No-GRE MPH Programs Less Rigorous?

No. The GRE policy is an admissions choice, not an accreditation one. 242 of the 263 no-GRE programs here are at CEPH-accredited schools, and every CEPH MPH covers the same 22 foundational competencies and at least 42 semester credits.

Keep Comparing

From the Blog

Sources

  1. Official program pages of each school listed, reviewed September 2026
  2. Council on Education for Public Health, accredited schools and programs
  3. UAB Graduate Catalog: School of Public Health
  4. UC Davis: MPH prospective students
  5. SOPHAS Applicant Help Center: application fees
  6. SOPHAS Applicant Help Center: evaluations
  7. CEPH: Accreditation Criteria for Schools and Programs (2024)

Every program here was checked against the school's own website. Accreditation comes from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) list, and graduate counts from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS). Sponsored listings are labeled and never change which programs we list. How we verify programs