Public Health Schools and MPH Programs in Rhode Island 

Public health graduates could help create and implement public health policies. To get started, you may review public health schools and the Master of Public Health (MPH) programs available in Rhode Island. There is only one public health school offering an MPH program that is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH): Brown University. Despite this, Rhode Island can boast nine public health careers that are more rewarding than elsewhere in the United States, in that their in-state salaries are higher than the respective national average.

Choosing an MPH degree program can be an overwhelming process. Brown University’s MPH program is only available on campus in Rhode Island. With the rise in technology dependence, some people are enrolling in online degree programs to savor their free time. These programs are equal in quality, duration and application to standard degree programs. Some programs use the same teachers for both online and traditional courses. CEPH- accredited programs can be found online, just like in traditional learning environments. CEPH accreditation ensures that your degree program is relevant and sticks to the topics required in your line of work.

Public Health Career Outlook in Rhode Island

Students in public health-related disciplines may have a strong desire to improve the communities in which they live. This concern for others is what makes public health professionals so important to the development of helpful awareness and prevention plans.

In the field of public health, Rhode Island employs professionals at hospitals, state agencies, and private businesses that provide consultations to interested organizations. The outlook for public health careers in Rhode Island is bright. Seven of the eight of the public health-related job titles for which there is state-specific information in the table below earn more in Rhode Island than the national average. Employment in five of the jobs listed below is expected to grow in Rhode Island at the same pace or faster than across the country. Within Rhode Island, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Providence led the state in weekly wage growth from 2019 to 2020.

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

Job TitleMedian Salary in RI, 2020 (Yearly)Median Salary in U.S., 2020 (Yearly)Projected Job Growth in RI, 2018-2028Projected Job Growth in U.S., 2019-2029
Biostatisticians
$99,710
$92,270
33%
35%
Health Specialties Professors
n/a*
$99,090
21%
21%
Environmental Health Specialists
$83,140
$73,230
10%
8%
Epidemiologists
n/a*
$74,560
n/a*
5%
Medical and Health Services Managers/Healthcare Administrators
$116,020
$104,280
9%
32%
Health Educators
$77,480
$56,500
4%
11%
Occupational Health Specialist
$96,820
$76,340
10%
4%
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
$53,780
$51,840
1%
8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$61,490
$63,090
8%
8%
Health Informatics Specialists 
$98,410
$93,730
8%
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 July 2021