Public Health Schools and MPH Programs in New Mexico

Public health professionals assist residents by providing education, support and programs that focus on maintaining wellness. If you want to potentially change the quality of lives for other residents in New Mexico, New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico are the two public health schools that offer Council on Education for Public Health(CEPH)-accredited Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. Concentrations range from epidemiology to health services, systems and policy, and touch on some of the needed aspects of public health in this state.

Making the decision to pursue a higher degree can be an invigorating experience. There are many options for the MPH both in traditional institutions and in an online setting. New Mexico State University offers its MPH program on campus or online, depending on concentration: health management and policy on campus, health behavior and health promotion either on campus or online. The MPH program at the University of New Mexico, on the other hand, is only available on campus. However you decide to pursue your MPH degree, know that accreditation, such as that of CEPH, is an important part to having a reliable degree with the right educational material.

Public Health Careers Outlook in New Mexico

Upon graduation from public health schools, you may be happy to find the outlook for public health careers in New Mexico is generally positive. In the job titles listed below, three of them have median salaries that are higher in New Mexico than they are nationwide, and seven job titles have greater projected job growth through 2028 in New Mexico than they do nationwide.

Additionally, fields such as epidemiology contribute quite a bit of research to preventive services and educational programs that can assist residents with avoiding the acquisition of dangerous illnesses and diseases while being involved with the community. The responsibilities of professionals in epidemiology include investigating where and how diseases are acquired and developing programs to help aid in the prevention of the spread of these diseases. If this field interests you, New Mexico has programs that are suitable for your needs. 

Within the state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that Bernalillo County experienced a 15% weekly wage increase from 2019 to 2020, 2% higher than the rest of the country. 

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

Job TitleMedian Salary in NM, 2020 (Yearly)Median Salary in U.S., 2020 (Yearly)Projected Job Growth in NM, 2018-2028Projected Job Growth in U.S., 2019-2029
Biostatisticians
$77,730
$92,270
33%
35%
Health Specialties Professors
$103,000
$99,090
24%
21%
Environmental Health Specialists
$71,060
$73,230
11%
8%
Epidemiologists
n/a*
$74,560
10%
5%
Medical and Health Services Managers /Healthcare Administrators
$103,310
$104,280
15%
32%
Health Educators
$60,310
$56,500
7%
11%
Occupational Health Specialists
$76,570
$76,340
11%
4%
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
$63,040
$51,840
9%
8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$64,500
$63,090
12%
8%
Health Informatics Specialists 
$91,840
$93,730
11%
7%

*Estimate not released/provided by ONET

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