Public Health Schools and MPH Programs in Mississippi 

Public health professionals work for private agencies, hospitals, specialty clinics, consultation agencies, and even the government. If you think you would be a great fit for this field, choosing a Master of Public Health (MPH) program to go alongside your undergraduate public health degree or a related bachelor’s program might be a good option.

There are only two public health schools in Mississippi that offer MPH programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). These are Jackson State University in Jackson and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Schools in Mississippi, such as Jackson State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, have eight CEPH-accredited MPH programs for up and coming public health professionals. These programs center around the importance of health-consciousness and disease/illness/injury prevention for people in all sectors of society. For most of the MPH concentrations offered, students can attend on campus, except the health policy and administration focus, which is delivered in an online format. For students in Mississippi who are looking for more options in pursuing an online education, please see online MPH programs in other states.

Public Health Career Outlook in Mississippi

Public health has a variety of occupations. Your interests could take you down many different paths, since there is so much available for graduates to pursue in public health. 

Scientific fields, such as epidemiology, are focused on preventing or stopping widespread illness and disease. This can be achieved by better understanding the disease or by investigating previous instances in which the disease spread. Professionals in this line of work offer insights useful in providing prevention and treatment programs for the public and can sometimes be used by hospitals that are especially susceptible to widespread illness.

The outlook for public health careers in Mississippi is generally positive. Jobs for health specialties professors, medical and health services managers or health care administrators, health educators, occupational health specialists, medical records and health information technicians, dietitians and nutritionists, and health informatics specialists are projected to increase through 2028. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Harris County had the greatest increase in average weekly wages for 2019 through 2020 in Mississippi.

The table below reflects the demand and earning potential for public health careers in Mississippi, based on data provided by O*NET OnLine.

Job TitleMedian Salary in MS, 2020 (Yearly)Median Salary in U.S., 2020 (Yearly)Projected Job Growth in MS, 2018-2028Projected Job Growth in U.S., 2019–2029
Biostatisticians
n/a*
$92,270
n/a*
35%
Health Specialties Professors
$122,200
$99,090
7%
21%
Environmental Health Specialists
$41,830
$73,230
0%
8%
Epidemiologists
$40,580
$74,560
n/a*
5%
Medical and Health Services Managers /Healthcare Administrators
$87,960
$104,280
7%
32%
Health Educators
$36,350
$56,50
6%
11%
Occupational Health Specialists
$72,000
$76,340
2%
4%
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
$34,640
$51,840
7%
8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$50,630
$63,090
6%
8%
Health Informatics Specialists 
$61,970
$93,730
3%
7%

*Estimate not released/provided by O*NET

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 June 2021