Online MPH programs with no GRE requirements

Types of Online MPH Program GRE Requirements

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test has three measures: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. According to the ETS guide to interpreting GRE scores, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores range from 130 to 170 in one-point increments, and Analytical Writing scores range from 0 to 6 in half-point increments.

The same ETS guide reports mean scores of 151.39 for Verbal Reasoning, 157.62 for Quantitative Reasoning and 3.46 for Analytical Writing among everyone who tested between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2025. ETS says General Test scores are accepted at thousands of graduate schools, but each program decides whether to ask for them.

In terms of GRE requirements, online MPH programs typically fall into three categories:

1. Programs that require GRE scores with no exceptions. If you apply to one of these programs through SOPHAS, ETS must send your official scores using that program's own SOPHAS GRE code, which is different from the school's regular GRE code.
2. Programs that offer GRE waivers. These programs ask for scores by default but let applicants who meet set criteria skip the test. The criteria differ from program to program, so confirm that you qualify before you plan your application around a waiver.
3. Programs that do not include the GRE requirement in their admissions criteria. These programs still set other minimum requirements, such as prerequisites and recommendations, which SOPHAS advises applicants to check for every program.

How to confirm a program's GRE policy before you apply

Testing policies are set program by program, so check each one before you rule a program in or out:

1. Read the program's admissions page. Look for its current testing policy, any waiver criteria and how to request a waiver.
2. Check the program's instructions in SOPHAS. If the program takes applications through SOPHAS, review its instructions in the Program Materials section, or contact the program directly if you're unsure how to report scores.
3. Confirm accreditation. Look the program up in the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) directory, described in the next section.
4. Send scores only where they count. SOPHAS posts official scores only when ETS sends them with a program's SOPHAS GRE code, and once official scores are attached to your SOPHAS application, they can't be removed.

CEPH-accredited online MPH programs without the GRE

CEPH accredits schools of public health and public health programs. Its degree search lets you filter for MPH degrees and select "Online Programs Only," so you can confirm that a program is accredited before you compare testing policies.

Accreditation also affects certification later. The National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) has a pathway to the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam for alumni who completed a master's or doctoral degree at a CEPH-accredited school or program, and one for students their CEPH-accredited school or program identifies as eligible. Students who pass under that pathway are provisionally certified until they graduate. NBPHE's standard eligibility pathway offers other routes, such as a relevant graduate degree plus at least three years of public health work experience, a bachelor's degree plus at least five years, or a certificate from a CEPH-accredited or applicant program plus at least three years. NBPHE lists the full conditions, including timing rules tied to a program's accreditation date.

What to submit when a program doesn't require the GRE

Skipping the test doesn't remove the rest of the application. For programs that use SOPHAS, applicants report every college or university they attended, request recommendations and write a statement of purpose and objectives. Official transcripts and coursework entry cover U.S. and English-Canadian schools. Schools outside the U.S., including French-language Canadian schools, follow SOPHAS's separate process for foreign transcripts: SOPHAS doesn't accept those original transcripts, says most of its programs require a foreign credential evaluation, and accepts electronic evaluations only from World Education Services (WES), ordered through the application.

Programs can view an application once it's added to their list, and SOPHAS separately verifies the materials it receives. You can submit before every transcript, recommendation or official test score arrives, but each program's deadlines still apply. SOPHAS suggests submitting at least six to eight weeks before a program's deadline, because processing times vary during the application cycle.

For a broader look at admissions requirements, see our MPH degree guide.

Why consider an online MPH without the GRE requirement?

Students interested in expediting their entry into an online MPH program may benefit from no-GRE online MPH programs, with perks such as:

• Less time spent on preparing the application
• Saving money on prep classes, tutoring, and the exam
• Reduced workload prior to the application

In the United States, ETS lists the GRE General Test test fee at $249, effective Aug. 1, 2026. The fee includes four free score recipients, and each additional score report costs $40. ETS also offers a fee reduction program; applicants who receive a voucher pay $100 to register for the General Test.

If finishing quickly matters as much as applying quickly, compare accelerated programs too.