Kentucky · Verified September 2026
MPH Programs in Kentucky
Where Can You Earn an MPH in Kentucky?
4 schools in Kentucky offer 5 MPH programs we verified, including Eastern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. 3 can be taken online. Published tuition runs from $540 to $842 per credit.
Who Hires Public Health Graduates in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH), part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, runs almost 150 programs across seven divisions, with a Commissioner’s Office that houses the Office of Health Equity and the Public Health Nursing Office. It delivers most of that work through partners: local health departments, universities and private providers.
For an MPH student, the most useful door is KDPH’s Student Internship Program. Each semester it publishes a catalog of projects across all seven divisions and the Commissioner’s Office, open to graduate students enrolled full time at a partnering Kentucky college or university. That makes it a ready-made source for the applied practice experience every CEPH-accredited MPH requires, and a way to meet state hiring managers before you graduate.
Kentucky is also one of the states that certifies community health workers. The Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers certifies CHWs who show all eight core competencies through training or work experience, for a $50 application and a $25 yearly renewal. With about 980 community health worker jobs in Kentucky, an MPH that includes program planning and evaluation prepares you to supervise and fund these teams. The pay data also shows 8,600 health services manager jobs and 2,480 environmental and occupational health specialist jobs, against about 120 for epidemiologists. See the community health worker career guide.
Kentucky MPH Schools Compared
4 schools in Kentucky offer an MPH or a related public health master's degree. 4 are on the CEPH accredited list.
| School | MPH programs | Formats | CEPH | Lowest per credit | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of KentuckyLexington · Public | 2 + 2 | Campus, Online | Accredited | $821 | 42–43 |
| Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond · Public | 1 | Online | Accredited | $540 | 42 |
| University of LouisvilleLouisville · Public | 1 + 2 | Campus | Accredited | 42 | |
| Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green · Public | 1 + 1 | Online | Accredited | 42 |
"+" counts related public health master's degrees (MS, MSPH, MHS). Per-credit rates as each school publishes them, reviewed September 2026.
10 programs in Kentucky
- MPH
Master of Public Health (in Person) at University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky · LexingtonOn campusGRE optionalSOPHAS2 concentrations- Credits
- 42
- Tuition
- $842/cr
CEPH - MPH
Master of Public Health (Online) at University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky · LexingtonOnlineGRE optionalSOPHAS2 concentrations- Credits
- 43
- Tuition
- $821/cr
CEPH Master of Science in Biostatistics (MSBST) at University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky · LexingtonOn campusNo GRESOPHAS- Credits
- 33
- Tuition
- $842/cr
CEPHMaster of Science in Epidemiology (MSEPI) at University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky · LexingtonOn campusNo GRE- Credits
- 39
- Tuition
- $842/cr
- Length
- 2 yr
CEPH- MPH
Master of Public Health at Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University · Bowling GreenOnline- Credits
- 42
CEPH Master of Science in Environmental &Amp; Occupational Health Science at Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green- Credits
- 36
CEPH- MPH
Master of Public Health at University of Louisville
University of Louisville · LouisvilleOn campusNo GRESOPHAS5 concentrations- Credits
- 42
- Tuition
- $7,652/term
CEPH Master of Science in Epidemiology (Online) at University of Louisville
University of Louisville · LouisvilleOnline- Tuition
- $850/cr
CEPHMaster of Science in Biostatistics at University of Louisville
University of Louisville · LouisvilleOn campusOnline3 concentrations- Credits
- 33
- Tuition
- $850/cr
- Length
- 3 sem
CEPH- MPH
Master of Public Health (Online) at Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University · RichmondOnline2 concentrations- Credits
- 42
- Tuition
- $540/cr
- Length
- 24 mo
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 Kentucky
3 Kentucky MPH programs publish both a per-credit rate and the credits you need, so you can estimate tuition before fees. Estimates run from $22,680 to $35,343. The median published rate in Kentucky is $821 per credit, against $842 for the 213 MPH programs nationwide that publish one.
| Program | Per credit | Credits | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky University: Master of Public Health (online)Master of Public Health (online) | $540 | 42 | $22,680 |
| University of Kentucky: Master of Public Health (online)Master of Public Health (online) | $821 | 43 | $35,303 |
| University of Kentucky: Master of Public Health (in person)Master of Public Health (in person) | $842 | 42 | $35,343 |
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 Kentucky
By public health master's degrees awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of Kentucky has Kentucky's largest program, followed by Western Kentucky University and University of Louisville. 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 |
|---|---|
| University of Kentucky | 74 |
| Western Kentucky University | 60 |
| University of Louisville | 54 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 52 |
Public Health Pay in Kentucky
Among the public health jobs an MPH leads to, statisticians earn the highest median pay in Kentucky, $112,520. Epidemiologists earn a median $78,810 (10% below u.s.), 26th of 43 states with a published figure, across 120 jobs.
| Job | Median | vs U.S. median | State rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologists | $78,810 | 10% below U.S. | 26th of 43 | 120 |
| Statisticians (including biostatisticians) | $112,520 | 7% above U.S. | 10th of 46 | 80 |
| Health education specialists | $65,370 | 2% above U.S. | 18th of 53 | 760 |
| Community health workers | $48,230 | 7% below U.S. | 36th of 52 | 980 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | $83,730 | 7% below U.S. | 42nd of 53 | 2,480 |
| Health information technologists and medical registrars | $49,330 | 27% below U.S. | 45th of 51 | 1,320 |
| Medical and health services managers | $103,450 | 16% below U.S. | 46th of 54 | 8,600 |
Annual wages in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky Residents
You aren't limited to schools in Kentucky: 255 online MPH programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm on the school's site that it can enroll Kentucky 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.
Four Accredited Programs, Four Different Fits
Every Kentucky school with an MPH is public and CEPH accredited, so pick by format and focus.
University of Kentucky: Two Formats, Four Concentrations
The UK College of Public Health in Lexington has held school accreditation since 2005. It splits its MPH by format: the in-person MPH offers Environmental Health and Epidemiology, and the online MPH offers Health Management and Policy, and Program Planning, Management and Evaluation, over 43 credits at $821 per credit. Both apply through SOPHAS, and the GRE is optional. Pick UK online if you want a management career while you keep working; pick in person if you want epidemiology or environmental health.
University of Louisville: The Widest Campus Menu
The UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences runs a campus MPH with five concentrations: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Policy, Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and Public Health Research. It suits you if you want a campus program and the most concentration choices in the state. Its online offerings are MS degrees, including a 100% online MS in Epidemiology.
Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky: Online Practice Degrees
Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green has held CEPH accreditation since 2002, and from Fall 2026 its 42-credit MPH is fully online, ending in a practice-based internship and a capstone defense. It admits applicants with a 2.75 GPA if they have three years of professional public health experience, which helps career changers already in the field.
Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond offers a 100% online, 42-credit MPH in Health Promotion or Environmental/Occupational Health and Sustainability at $540 per credit hour, the lowest published rate among Kentucky MPHs.
What Residency Costs at UofL
At the University of Louisville, full-time graduate tuition for 2026-27 is $7,767 per semester for Kentucky residents and $15,787 for non-residents, for 9 or more credit hours. Part-time students pay $863 per credit hour as residents and $1,755 as non-residents. Online courses taken within a campus program are billed at the same residency-based rate, while students in a 100% online degree through UofL Online Learning pay the online program rate instead.
That is why the online programs at UK, WKU and EKU matter for anyone moving to Kentucky or studying from outside it. Compare them against the online MPH programs in other states, and read the CEPH accreditation guide to see what accreditation means for federal and state jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kentucky Certify Community Health Workers?
Yes. The Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers issues official certification to CHWs who demonstrate all eight core competencies through qualified training or related work experience. The application fee is $50, and certified CHWs renew each year between August 1 and October 31 for $25.
Can MPH Students Intern With the Kentucky Department for Public Health?
Yes. The department's Student Internship Program posts projects across its seven divisions and the Commissioner's Office each semester for graduate and undergraduate students. Applicants must be full-time students at a partnering Kentucky college or university.
Is Western Kentucky University's MPH Online Now?
Yes. Beginning Fall 2026, WKU offers its 42-credit-hour, CEPH-accredited MPH only in a fully online format. Students complete a practice-based internship and defend a capstone project.
How Many MPH Programs Are in Kentucky?
We verified 5 MPH programs and 5 related public health master's degrees at 4 schools in Kentucky; 4 of those schools are CEPH accredited.
Which Kentucky Schools Have CEPH-Accredited Public Health Programs?
Eastern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University.
Can Kentucky Residents Earn an MPH Online?
Yes. Beyond Kentucky's own programs, 255 online MPH programs at schools in other states are open to students nationwide; check each program's state authorization for Kentucky residents. Online MPH programs.
How Much Do Epidemiologists and Public Health Workers Earn in Kentucky?
Epidemiologists: median $78,810; Statisticians (including biostatisticians): median $112,520; Health education specialists: median $65,370 (BLS, May 2025).
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program pages of the 4 Kentucky schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Council on Education for Public Health, accredited schools and programs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025