Public Health Schools and MPH Programs in Maine

With an aging population that’s mostly rural, Maine is faced with several public health challenges. According to America’s Health Rankings, Maine ranks 15th in the nation for access to care, 8% of the population doesn’t have health insurance, and more than 12% of citizens have avoided seeking medical care.

Additionally, 13.2% of adults in Maine suffer from three or more chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer or depression according to 2019 data. That figure for Maine is substantially higher than for the nation as a whole.

In the state of Maine, residents that are concerned with the overall state of wellness within their area may be interested in playing a role in the improvement of public health.  Many  can find degree programs that can complement their desires.

Maine has two universities with MPH degrees. Their programs focus on the public health problems specific to Maine. The University of Southern Maine runs the Maine Rural Health Research Center that studies issues related to rural health, aging, health care access and health policy that are only applicable to the state.

Both MPH programs in Maine are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Earning a master’s in public health in Maine may prepare you with the knowledge and skills you need for a career in public health. Field experience is a potential component in preparing for work in community health, so it may be useful to scrutinize the curriculum to ensure you’ll get some hands-on experience in public health before graduation.

Because both MPH programs in Maine have a generalist focus, it may be beneficial for students to determine if the required classes and available electives will provide the necessary grounding in the specific areas of public health that most interest you.

Public Health Schools and Highlights in Maine

University of New England College of Graduate and Professional Studies

11 Hills Beach Rd, Biddeford, ME

The University of New England trains more healthcare professionals than any other school in the state. The public health program at the University of New England has several research initiatives to advance knowledge and translational science research in public health. Initiatives include the Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center, the Office of Patient and Population Oriented Research and the Clinical and Translational Science Initiative.

The program also participates in training initiatives such as the Maine Geriatric Education Center and the New England Public Health Training Center

In addition to the MPH, The University of New England offers a Graduate Certificate in Public Health; an 18-credit, 100% online program. Students who complete the graduate certificate may transfer all the courses to the MPH degree program. 

Email: publich@une.edu 

University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service

409 Wishcamper, Portland, ME

In addition to housing the Master of Public Health program, the Muskie School of Public Service is a school of public policy that’s also home to the University of Southern Maine’s programs in hospitality and tourism, policy and management and geography-anthropology. The school was named in honor of Sen. Edmund Muskie in 1990.

Educational programs at the Muskie School are interdisciplinary and focus on solving problems. The school has a faculty of more than 200, and about half of them have joint teaching/research appointments. They research areas such as health policy, disability and aging and family well-being. 
The University of Southern Maine also has programs leading to a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health and Certificate of Graduate Study in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety.

Email: Erika.miller@maine.edu

Online MPH programs in Maine

Online degree programs can be an excellent choice if you want to continue working while pursuing your MPH in Maine. The University of New England offers the only CEPH-accredited online Master of Public Health in Maine, and with this program, there is no requirement to travel to campus. Courses use an asynchronous format so that you can do classwork at your convenience. The UNE MPH program is a generalist program that can prepare you for a broad range of future careers.

Students might also want to consider MPH programs in other states in the New England region, especially if they are looking for a specific concentration. Check our full list of  CEPH-accredited online MPH programs.

Public Health Careers Outlook in Maine

Maine has a handful of public health jobs that have comparable median salaries compared to the rest of the nation.  For example, there were about 480 environmental scientists and specialists in the state, including environmental health scientists, in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Those jobs had an average annual wage of $71,790. By comparison, in the United States overall, there were 84,290 jobs in that sector, with annual salaries averaging $77,940 in May 2019. For additional public health career opportunities in Maine, view the table below for salaries and projected job growth data provided by O’Net Online.

Job TitleAvg. Salary in ME (Yearly)Avg. Salary in US (Yearly)Job Growth in MEJob Growth in US
Biostatisticians
$70,170
$91,160
n/a
35%
Health Specialties Professors
$88,870
$97,320
16%
21%
Environmental Health Specialists
$55,710
$71,360
4%
8%
Epidemiologists
n/a*
$70,990
n/a*
5%
Medical and Health Services Managers /Healthcare Administrators
$89,830
$100,980
9%
32%
Health Educators
$46,870
$55,220
6%
11%
Occupational Health Specialists
$72,810
$74,100
3%
4%
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
$66,720
$49,850
5%
8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$58,380
$61,270
4%
8%
Health Informatics Specialists 
$73,330
$90,920
1%
7%

*Estimate Not Released/Provided by O*NET

Specializations to Consider in Maine

As shown above, the biggest job growth in public health careers projected for Maine are for biostatisticians, professors and healthcare administrators. Those jobs are also among the highest-paying public health careers in Maine, although in general, salaries in Maine lag the national average.

If you’re interested in a high-paying public health job after you complete your MPH program in Maine, it might be helpful to choose a concentration or specialization in healthcare administration, biostatistics or health specialties education.

Organizations to Work with a Public Health Degree

If you’re exploring your options for an MPH in Maine, these organizations can serve as a source of career information and help you in your search for a job.

  • Maine Department of Health and Human Services. This state agency is in charge of promoting health and safety for state residents and employs more than 3,300 workers. The website maintains a list of open positions within the department’s divisions.
  • Maine Public Health Association. Maine’s largest association for public health professionals advocates for the health of Maine residents. The organization maintains a list of open public health jobs on its website.

State Health Information

Below provides additional health information about Maine gathered by the Kaiser Family Foundation:

  • More than 8% of Maine residents had no health insurance in 2019, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. About 46.5% of residents get their insurance through their employer, Medicaid covers 20% and 19.3% are covered by Medicare. 
  • The infant mortality rate in Maine is 5.5 deaths per 1,000 births, which is slightly lower than the U.S. average of 5.7 deaths per 1,000 births, as of 2018. 

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

Information last updated January 2021