District of Columbia · Verified September 2026
MPH Programs in District of Columbia
Where Can You Earn an MPH in District of Columbia?
5 schools in District of Columbia offer 4 MPH programs we verified, including American University, George Washington University and Georgetown University. 2 can be taken online.
Who Hires Public Health Graduates in DC
DC Health, the District of Columbia Department of Health, is the public health agency for the whole District, so its administrations are where most local public health jobs sit. They include the Community Health Administration, the Environmental Health Administration, the Health Systems and Preparedness Administration, the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration (HAHSTA), the Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation and the Office of Health Equity. If you want HIV, hepatitis or sexual health program work, HAHSTA is the office to watch.
DC pay is the headline. Health education specialists earn a median of $103,330 across about 680 jobs, well above the $64,070 U.S. median for the same work. Biostatisticians earn $140,670 across 550 jobs, and health services managers $155,140 across 2,010 jobs. Epidemiologists are few, about 90 jobs, at a median of $112,370. In DC, health education and data roles pay far above national levels, so check the health educator and biostatistician career guides before you rule them out.
District of Columbia MPH Schools Compared
5 schools in District of Columbia offer an MPH or a related public health master's degree. 1 is on the CEPH accredited list.
| School | MPH programs | Formats | CEPH | Lowest per credit | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington UniversityWashington · Private nonprofit | 2 + 2 | Campus, Online | Accredited | $2,000 | 45 |
| Howard UniversityWashington · Private nonprofit | 1 | Campus | 45 | ||
| Trinity Washington UniversityWashington · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | 42 | ||
| American UniversityWashington · Private nonprofit | 0 + 2 | ||||
| Georgetown UniversityWashington · Private nonprofit | 0 + 4 |
"+" counts related public health master's degrees (MS, MSPH, MHS). Per-credit rates as each school publishes them, reviewed September 2026.
12 programs in District of Columbia
- MPH
Master of Public Health (Residential) at George Washington University
George Washington University · WashingtonOn campusNo GRESOPHAS17 concentrations- Credits
- 45
- Tuition
- $18,000/term
CEPH - MPH
Master of Public Health (MPH@GW, Online) at George Washington University
George Washington University · WashingtonOnlineNo GRE4 concentrations- Credits
- 45
- Tuition
- $2,000/cr
CEPH Master of Science in Health Data Science at George Washington University
George Washington University · WashingtonOn campusNo GRESOPHAS- Credits
- 36
CEPHMaster of Science in Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases at George Washington University
George Washington University · WashingtonOn campusNo GRESOPHAS- Credits
- 36
CEPHMaster of Science in Global Health at Georgetown University
Georgetown University · WashingtonOn campusNo GRE- Credits
- 32
- Length
- 13 mo
Not CEPHMaster of Science in Global Infectious Disease at Georgetown University
Georgetown University · WashingtonOn campus2 concentrations- Credits
- 30
- Length
- 18 mo
Not CEPHMaster of Science in Climate, Environment &Amp; Health at Georgetown University
Georgetown University · WashingtonOn campusAccelerated- Credits
- 30
- Tuition
- $79,560 total
- Length
- 10 mo
Not CEPHMaster of Science in Biostatistics at Georgetown University
Georgetown University · WashingtonOn campusNo GRE- Credits
- 32
Not CEPHMA in Public Health Innovation &Amp; Practice at American University
American University · WashingtonOn campusNo GRE- Credits
- 30
- Tuition
- $2,163/cr
- Length
- 2 yr
Not CEPH- Credits
- 30
- Tuition
- $2,163/cr
- Length
- 2 yr
Not CEPH- MPH
Master of Public Health (Generalist) at Howard University
Howard University · WashingtonOn campusGRE required- Credits
- 45
- Length
- 18 mo
Not CEPH - MPH
Master of Public Health (Community Health) at Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University · WashingtonOnline- Credits
- 42
Not CEPH
No programs match these filters.
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.
What an MPH Costs in District of Columbia
One District of Columbia MPH publishes both a per-credit rate and its credits: estimated tuition at George Washington University is $90,000 before fees.
| Program | Per credit | Credits | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University: Master of Public Health (MPH@GW, online)Master of Public Health (MPH@GW, online) | $2,000 | 45 | $90,000 |
Estimated tuition is the published per-credit rate times the published credits, before fees. Public schools usually charge non-residents more. Turn any program into a full cost and loan estimate with the MPH cost and loan calculator.
Largest Public Health Programs in District of Columbia
By public health master's degrees awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), George Washington University has District of Columbia's largest program, followed by Georgetown University and American University. Size tells you how many classmates, electives and alumni to expect, not how good a program is.
| School | Public health master's awarded, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| George Washington University | 1,100 |
| Georgetown University | 102 |
| American University | 24 |
| Howard University | 24 |
| Trinity Washington University | 22 |
Public Health Pay in District of Columbia
Among the public health jobs an MPH leads to, medical and health services managers earn the highest median pay in District of Columbia, $155,140. Epidemiologists earn a median $112,370 (29% above u.s.), 2nd of 43 states with a published figure, across 90 jobs.
| Job | Median | vs U.S. median | State rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologists | $112,370 | 29% above U.S. | 2nd of 43 | 90 |
| Statisticians (including biostatisticians) | $140,670 | 33% above U.S. | 1st of 46 | 550 |
| Health education specialists | $103,330 | 61% above U.S. | 2nd of 53 | 680 |
| Community health workers | $62,510 | 21% above U.S. | 2nd of 52 | 280 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | $111,530 | 24% above U.S. | 1st of 53 | 280 |
| Health information technologists and medical registrars | $75,460 | 11% above U.S. | 16th of 51 | 80 |
| Medical and health services managers | $155,140 | 25% above U.S. | 2nd of 54 | 2,010 |
Annual wages in District of Columbia, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. A high median on few jobs describes a small market, so read pay beside the job count.
Online MPH Options for District of Columbia Residents
You aren't limited to schools in District of Columbia: 256 online MPH programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm on the school's site that it can enroll District of Columbia residents online. These CEPH-accredited online programs have the lowest estimated tuition of any online MPH that publishes a per-credit rate and its credits:
| Program | Per credit | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: Master of Public HealthTexas | $287 | $12,915 |
| University of West Florida: Master of Public Health (online)Florida | $386 | $16,206 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas: Master of Public HealthNevada | $383 | $18,013 |
| Georgia State University: Master of Public HealthGeorgia | $464 | $19,488 |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Master of Public HealthNew York | $471 | $19,782 |
Compare every option on the online MPH programs page, or let the program matcher rank them for you.
GW Is the Only CEPH-Accredited MPH in the District
George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health dominates the local market. It awarded 1,100 public health master’s degrees in 2022-23, and it is the only DC school with a CEPH-accredited MPH. That matters for jobs in the U.S. Public Health Service and some government agencies, which can require a degree from a CEPH-accredited school or program; see the CEPH accreditation guide.
You have two ways in:
- Residential MPH. 45 credits, applied through SOPHAS, with fields ranging from biostatistics and epidemiology to physical activity, nutrition and global health program design. GW’s 2026-27 sample budget puts tuition at $18,000 per 9-credit semester, with $54 in fees across the year.
- MPH@GW online. 45 credits at $2,000 per credit, or $90,000 in estimated tuition, with concentrations in Climate Health, Global Health, Health Informatics and Women, Youth and Child Health. You apply directly, not through SOPHAS, and GW advertises a tuition scholarship of up to $15,000 for the incoming cohort.
The Other DC Options and Who They Suit
- Howard University offers an 18-month, full-time MPH through its Graduate School. It is the one DC MPH that still requires the GRE, with no waiver, and it admits for fall only. It suits you if you want a full-time cohort and can commit to the program for a year and a half.
- Trinity Washington University offers a 42-credit MPH in Community Health taught virtually on evenings and weekends, full time over five semesters or part time. Trinity is an applicant for CEPH accreditation, not yet accredited, so weigh that if you’re aiming for federal jobs.
- Georgetown has no MPH but offers MS degrees instead. The MS in Global Health is 32 credits over at least 13 months and ends with an 8-credit field research module and scholarly paper. The MS in Climate, Environment and Health lists $79,560 in program tuition for 2026-27.
- American University offers a 30-credit MS in Health Promotion that prepares you to sit for the CHES exam. On campus it costs $2,163 per credit; online it is a flat $28,000 and usually takes about 22 months.
Paying for a Private-Only Market
Every DC school here is private, so there is no in-state discount to chase. Your levers are format and degree type. American’s online MS flat rate and GW’s online scholarship are the two published price breaks. Federal borrowing also changed for new graduate students on July 1, 2026, when Grad PLUS loans ended for new borrowers, so plan funding before you apply. The MPH scholarships guide lists other sources, and the MPH vs MS guide helps if a Georgetown or American MS is tempting you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There In-State Tuition for an MPH in DC?
No. Every school with a public health master's in the District is private, so residents and non-residents pay the same rate. GW's residential MPH costs $18,000 in tuition per 9-credit semester for 2026-27, and MPH@GW charges $2,000 per credit, an estimated $90,000 for 45 credits.
Does the Howard University MPH Require the GRE?
Yes. Howard requires GRE scores taken within the last five years, with no waiver and no vouchers. The MPH is an 18-month, full-time program through the Howard University Graduate School, and it admits students for fall only.
Is Trinity Washington University's MPH Accredited?
Not yet. Trinity is an applicant for CEPH accreditation of its MPH, which is not the same as accreditation. The 42-credit MPH in Community Health meets virtually on evenings and weekends.
Can You Study Global Health in DC Without an MPH?
Yes. Georgetown's MS in Global Health is 32 credits over at least 13 months full time, including an 8-credit field research module and scholarly paper. Georgetown's MS in Climate, Environment and Health lists 2026-27 program tuition of $79,560.
How Many MPH Programs Are in District of Columbia?
We verified 4 MPH programs and 8 related public health master's degrees at 5 schools in District of Columbia; 1 of those schools are CEPH accredited.
Which District of Columbia Schools Have CEPH-Accredited Public Health Programs?
George Washington University.
Can District of Columbia Residents Earn an MPH Online?
Yes. Beyond District of Columbia's own programs, 256 online MPH programs at schools in other states are open to students nationwide; check each program's state authorization for District of Columbia residents. Online MPH programs.
How Much Do Epidemiologists and Public Health Workers Earn in District of Columbia?
Epidemiologists: median $112,370; Statisticians (including biostatisticians): median $140,670; Health education specialists: median $103,330 (BLS, May 2025).
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program pages of the 5 District of Columbia schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Council on Education for Public Health, accredited schools and programs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025