Public Health Schools and MPH Programs in Maryland

Maryland offers promising opportunities to students looking to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program. MPH students can choose from multiple quality degree programs at five different schools throughout the state, including Morgan State University, the University of Maryland and more. Many of these programs are available on campus, online or in both formats.

Program graduates may also enjoy plenty of public health career opportunities within the state. Maryland’s population of over 6 million residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s fact sheet, depends on community resources for care and support. The 2020 America’s Health Rankings highlighted the state’s low rate of economic hardship and low prevalence of non-medical drug use; however, high racial gaps in high school graduation, a prevalence of insufficient sleep and a high degree of residential segregation remain challenges that require attention. 

Students interested in pursuing public health degree programs in Maryland have different options available. With programs offering hybrid models, valuable research opportunities and more, the right MPH program helps prepare you for a rewarding career addressing Maryland’s public health needs.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Programs in Maryland

To start comparing programs, check this list of CEPH-accredited MPH programs offered across Maryland with concentration information:

Earning your master’s in public health helps prepare you to contribute to society. This degree program may open up many potential career paths, and you could have the chance to work with families, communities, global populations and more. 

It’s beneficial to explore all of your MPH program options. In addition to the programs listed above, some of these schools also offer dual degree programs. These dual-degree programs include MPH-MS, MPH-MD and more. Sometimes called joint programs, a dual degree program lets you focus on two areas of study while saving you time and money. 

Public Health Schools and Highlights in Maryland

Maryland is home to five universities that offer public health programs. Not only do these schools offer MPH degrees, but many also offer undergraduate and doctoral degree programs. These schools have rich histories and offer valuable educational opportunities, including research projects and internships. 

Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD

The Bloomberg School of Public Health was founded in 1916 and was the first graduate school of public health to be established. Today, the school is the largest school of public health in the world, and it has received top rankings from U.S. News & World Report since 1994. Today, the school consists of more than 80 centers and institutes, and it receives 16% of the grants and contracts that are awarded to schools of public health across the United States. 

Students can choose from 26 graduate degree programs, including master’s, doctoral and combined programs. Doctoral programs include both a doctor of philosophy and a doctor of public health. The school also offers postdoctoral training for students who wish to further explore a certain area of public health. Ten combined programs are also available, including an MPH/MBA, MSW/MPH and MSN/MPH.

Email: JHSPH.admiss@jhu.edu

Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy

1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD

Morgan State University first launched its Public Health Program in 1999, and today that program focuses on the challenges that urban communities face, including violence, obesity and infant mortality. The School of Community Health and Policy was founded in 2005. Today, the school focuses on urban communities and eliminating health disparities. It uses a practice-based service-learning framework and offers students a rigorous education. 

The School of Community Health and Policy offers both graduate and undergraduate programs in public health, nutrition and nursing. Through the Public Health Program, students may pursue MPH and DrPH degrees. The Nursing Program offers BS and MS programs, while the Nutritional Science Program offers a BS degree. 

Email: gradapply@morgan.edu

Uniformed Services University School of Medicine

4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD

The Uniformed Services University School of Medicine is an entity of the U.S. Government. The school works to educate uniformed military and U.S. public health service physicians, but students also include uniformed and civilian public health practitioners. The school consists of 19 departments, including the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics (PMB). 

The PMB department offers seven public health graduate degree programs, as well as two preventive medicine specialties. PMB faculty participate in research opportunities, and students may pursue continuing medical education through this department. 

Email: pmb@usuhs.edu

University of Maryland School of Public Health

4200 Valley Drive, Suite 2242, College Park, MD

The University of Maryland School of Public Health consists of six departments that give students the opportunity to work across multiple disciplines. Departments include the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the Department of Family Science and more. Staffed by award-winning teachers and mentors, students have access to unique research opportunities to help prepare them for careers in both research and practice. 

In addition to MPH programs, the school offers both undergraduate and doctoral degrees. Bachelor of science degrees are available in concentrations like family science and kinesiology while doctor of philosophy degrees are offered in fields like health services and maternal and child health.

Email: bsaksvig@umd.edu

University of Maryland School of Medicine

655 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD

The University of Maryland School of Medicine became the first public medical school in the country when it was chartered in 1807. The school was also the first in the country to build a teaching hospital, offer a residency program and establish a medical college library. This biomedical research facility is home to 43 academic departments, centers, institutes and programs.

The School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health has been in existence since 1833. In addition to an MPH program, the department also offers a master of science in fields including clinical research and biostatistics. Doctor of philosophy degree programs are available in gerontology, epidemiology and additional fields. The department also offers certificates in clinical research and a Middle East research ethics training initiative.

Email: mph_program@lclemm.umaryland.edu

Online MPH Programs in Maryland

Thanks to technology investments, online MPH degree programs have become much more common. These programs offer the same quality education you would experience in a physical classroom, and they also offer benefits like convenient scheduling and the ability to pursue a degree while working full time. This can make earning your MPH more affordable since you don’t have to worry about relocating, commuting or otherwise structuring your life so that you can be in a classroom multiple times per week.

Most of the public health schools in Maryland offer online MPH options. These programs vary in their specializations and structure. If you’re considering an online degree, look into factors like whether the program is self paced and how courses are structured. 

Public Health Careers Outlook in Maryland

If you are interested in addressing public health issues in Maryland, there are plenty of career opportunities available. As shown in the career table below, public health jobs in the state of Maryland tend to expect a higher salary than the average in the field. 

As seen in the table below, many public health careers have a higher projected job growth rate in the state than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations in the United States. For instance, the job growth rates projected for occupational health specialists, medical records and health information technicians, and dietitians and nutritionists are twice as high as the U.S. average. 

For additional public health career opportunities in Maryland, view the table below for salaries and projected job growth data provided by O*Net OnLine.

Job TitleAvg. Salary in MD (Yearly)Avg. Salary in U.S. (Yearly)Projected Job Growth in MD, 2018–2028Projected Job Growth in U.S., 2019–2029
Biostatisticians
$106,670
$91,160
25%
35%
Health Specialties Professors
n/a*
$97,320
18%
21%
Environmental Health Specialists
$76,970
$71,360
13%
8%
Epidemiologists
$73,400
$70,990
13%
5%
Medical and Health Services Managers /Healthcare Administrators
$113,150
$100,980
20%
32%
Health Educators
$71,890
$55,220
13%
11%
Occupational Health Specialists
$80,520
$74,100
12%
4%
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
$80,070
$49,850
20%
8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$69,050
$61,270
22%
8%
Health Informatics Specialists 
$95,780
$90,920
13%
7%

*Estimate not released/provided by O*NET

Specializations to Consider in Maryland

When pursuing an MPH degree in Maryland, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of specializations offered by the five public health schools. These specializations may help qualify you for certain career opportunities. Epidemiologists and medical and health services managers make higher salaries, but a career as a health educator or occupational health specialist also pays well. These MPH concentrations are offered in Maryland. 

While your career earning potential may influence your decision of which specialization to pursue, there are other important factors to consider. When you enjoy the work that you do and see that you’re able to make a positive impact on public health, you’re more likely to enjoy your career. Look for a specialization that not only offers the salary you desire but that also positions you for job opportunities that you’ll enjoy and find personally rewarding. 

Career Resources for Public Health Degree Holders

As a public health professional, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy diverse career options in Maryland. The following career resources may help you find your first job or identify new opportunities that you may wish to explore: 

  • Maryland Department of Health: The online job board highlights open and continuous recruitment opportunities, as well as current openings. You can apply online right through the website.
  • Maryland Environmental Health Network: You’ll find environmental health job positions, as well as internship, fellowship and volunteer opportunities on this site. These opportunities may be a good fit for a graduate with a concentration in environmental health sciences or related fields like epidemiology. 
  • Maryland State Department of Education: The Department of Education supports school communities and health practices. The site maintains a list of full-time and part-time education-related job opportunities available throughout the state.
  • Maryland Department of Human Services: A provider of social services, preventive services and more. The Department of Human Services job database features available public services opportunities, and the department also maintains a list of opportunities for veterans.
  • Association of Public Health Laboratories: Find open lab job opportunities throughout the country with the APHL Job Center.
  • American Statistical Association JobWeb: Graduates with degrees in biostatistics or related fields may find job opportunities on this online job board.

Additional State Information About Maryland

Maryland’s total area of 10,460 square miles makes it one of the geographically smallest states in the country, in turn making it one of the most densely populated states (PDF, 8.6 MB). According to United States Census Bureau data, Maryland’s population was 6,045,680 as of July 1, 2019. People ages 65 and over make up 15.9% of the state’s population while 22.1% of the population consists of people under age 18. Of the state residents under age 65, 7.5% have a disability, and 6.9% do not have health insurance.

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