Mississippi · Verified September 2026
MPH Programs in Mississippi
Where Can You Earn an MPH in Mississippi?
5 schools in Mississippi offer 5 MPH programs we verified, including Jackson State University, Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi Valley State University. 3 can be taken online. Published tuition runs from $498 to $594 per credit.
Who Hires Public Health Graduates in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the state health department is the local health department. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) runs county health departments across the state, books appointments at any of those clinics through one statewide line and groups them into public health regions. So a county health department job in Mississippi is an MSDH job, not a post with a separate county employer.
That concentrates a wide range of work in one agency. MSDH’s own list of operations covers disease surveillance and outbreak management, the public health laboratory, drinking water testing and restaurant inspections, on-site wastewater regulation, chronic disease and injury prevention, licensing of child care and health care facilities, immunizations, WIC, vital records and emergency preparedness. MPH graduates fit most naturally into the surveillance, environmental health, chronic disease and preparedness sides.
MSDH also trains the state’s community health workers. Its Office of Community Health Workers runs a free 160-hour core competency course over 6 to 8 weeks, half classroom and half an approved practicum, and keeps a statewide directory of CHWs who finish it. If you’re heading into program management, that pipeline is the workforce you’d likely supervise.
Mississippi MPH Schools Compared
5 schools in Mississippi offer an MPH or a related public health master's degree. 2 are on the CEPH accredited list.
| School | MPH programs | Formats | CEPH | Lowest per credit | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg · Public | 2 | Campus, Online | Accredited | $594 | |
| Jackson State UniversityJackson · Public | 1 | Accredited | 45 | ||
| Mississippi University for WomenColumbus · Public | 1 | Online | Applicant | $498 | 42 |
| University of MississippiUniversity · Public | 1 | Campus, Online | Applicant | 42 | |
| Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta Bena · Public | 0 + 1 |
"+" counts related public health master's degrees (MS, MSPH, MHS). Per-credit rates as each school publishes them, reviewed September 2026.
6 programs in Mississippi
- MPH
Master of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of Southern Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi · HattiesburgOn campus- Tuition
- $594/cr
CEPH - MPH
Master of Public Health (Online) at University of Southern Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi · HattiesburgOnline2 concentrations- Tuition
- $594/cr
CEPH - MPH
Master of Public Health at Jackson State University
Jackson State University · Jackson5 concentrations- Credits
- 45
CEPH - MPH
Master of Public Health at University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi · UniversityOn campusOnline3 concentrations- Credits
- 42
CEPH applicant - MPH
Master of Public Health in Public Health at Mississippi University for Women
Mississippi University for Women · ColumbusOnline- Credits
- 42
- Tuition
- $498/cr
CEPH applicant Master of Science in Environmental Public Health at Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University · Itta BenaGRE required4 concentrations- Credits
- 39
- Tuition
- $456/cr
- Length
- 24 mo
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 Mississippi
One Mississippi MPH publishes both a per-credit rate and its credits: estimated tuition at Mississippi University for Women is $20,935 before fees. The median published rate in Mississippi is $594 per credit, against $842 for the 213 MPH programs nationwide that publish one.
| Program | Per credit | Credits | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi University for Women: Master of Public Health in Public HealthMaster of Public Health in Public Health | $498 | 42 | $20,935 |
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 Mississippi
By public health master's degrees awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of Southern Mississippi has Mississippi's largest program, followed by Jackson State University and University of Mississippi. 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 Southern Mississippi | 132 |
| Jackson State University | 56 |
| University of Mississippi | 30 |
| Mississippi University for Women | 16 |
| Mississippi Valley State University | 4 |
Public Health Pay in Mississippi
Among the public health jobs an MPH leads to, medical and health services managers earn the highest median pay in Mississippi, $98,160. Epidemiologists earn a median $56,930 (35% below u.s.), 42nd of 43 states with a published figure, across 40 jobs.
| Job | Median | vs U.S. median | State rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologists | $56,930 | 35% below U.S. | 42nd of 43 | 40 |
| Statisticians (including biostatisticians) | $64,670 | 39% below U.S. | 45th of 46 | 80 |
| Health education specialists | $51,020 | 20% below U.S. | 50th of 53 | 410 |
| Community health workers | $39,520 | 24% below U.S. | 50th of 52 | 410 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | $84,490 | 6% below U.S. | 39th of 53 | 1,140 |
| Health information technologists and medical registrars | $47,000 | 31% below U.S. | 46th of 51 | 120 |
| Medical and health services managers | $98,160 | 21% below U.S. | 50th of 54 | 4,280 |
Annual wages in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi Residents
You aren't limited to schools in Mississippi: 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 Mississippi 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.
Accredited Now Versus Applying
Mississippi’s five public health master’s programs fall into three accreditation groups, and that should drive your shortlist.
- CEPH accredited: The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg is the state’s largest program, with 132 public health master’s degrees awarded in 2022-23. It offers a campus MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and an online MPH with concentrations in health promotion and health behavior or health policy and administration. Jackson State University in Jackson awarded 56 and is the only school in the state with public health doctoral programs, including a DrPH in epidemiology.
- CEPH applicants: The University of Mississippi and Mississippi University for Women are in CEPH’s applicant stage. CEPH says that stage typically lasts about three years and doesn’t guarantee accreditation, so weigh whether you’d graduate before a decision.
- Outside CEPH: Mississippi Valley State’s MS in Environmental Public Health isn’t an MPH and isn’t on CEPH’s list. It’s the only program in the state that requires the GRE, with concentrations in environmental quality control, water resources management and natural disasters.
The CEPH accreditation guide explains which employers care about the difference.
What Residents and Non-Residents Pay
The out-of-state premium at Mississippi’s public universities is small. At Southern Miss, 2026-27 graduate tuition is $594.00 per credit hour for 1 to 8 hours, or a flat $5,342.00 per term for 9 to 13 hours. Non-residents add $112.00 per credit hour part time or $1,000.00 per term full time, and that surcharge is waived in summer, so taking courses in summer lowers an out-of-state student’s bill.
Mississippi University for Women’s online MPH runs 42 semester hours at $498.45 per credit hour part time, for estimated tuition of $20,935. Its out-of-state fee is $55.56 per credit hour, capped at $500 per semester. Mississippi Valley State charges no out-of-state fee at all on its $456.08 per-credit graduate rate.
Choosing a Mississippi Program
If you want a CEPH-accredited degree without relocating, Southern Miss online is the direct route, with the state’s largest alumni base. If you live near Jackson and want epidemiology or biostatistics with a path to doctoral study, Jackson State is the fit. MUW suits you if the lowest online price matters most and you accept its applicant status. Compare these with accredited online programs from other states on the online MPH programs page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Community Health Worker Training Program in Mississippi?
Yes. The MSDH Office of Community Health Workers offers a free 160-hour core competency course over 6 to 8 weeks, split into 80 classroom hours and an 80-hour approved practicum, with a certificate on completion.
What Does CEPH Applicant Status Mean for Ole Miss and MUW?
It means the program has cleared CEPH's initial review but isn't accredited yet. CEPH says applicant status doesn't guarantee accreditation and that the typical time from applicant to decision is about three years.
How Much Extra Do Out-of-State Students Pay at Southern Miss?
For 2026-27, graduate non-residents pay an additional $112.00 per credit hour for 1 to 8 hours, or $1,000.00 per term for 9 to 13 hours. The non-resident charge is waived in summer.
How Many MPH Programs Are in Mississippi?
We verified 5 MPH programs and 1 related public health master's degrees at 5 schools in Mississippi; 2 of those schools are CEPH accredited.
Which Mississippi Schools Have CEPH-Accredited Public Health Programs?
Jackson State University and University of Southern Mississippi.
Can Mississippi Residents Earn an MPH Online?
Yes. Beyond Mississippi's own programs, 255 online MPH programs at schools in other states are open to students nationwide; check each program's state authorization for Mississippi residents. Online MPH programs.
How Much Do Epidemiologists and Public Health Workers Earn in Mississippi?
Epidemiologists: median $56,930; Statisticians (including biostatisticians): median $64,670; Health education specialists: median $51,020 (BLS, May 2025).
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program pages of the 5 Mississippi schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Council on Education for Public Health, accredited schools and programs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025