If you have an interest in shaping policy and health initiatives for a broader community on a large scale, a public health degree could be the right fit for you. Public health schools in Washington, D.C., are centrally located so students have access to resources that students who live elsewhere do not. For example, many public health organizations are based in D.C., and the National Institute of Health is just a short car ride away.

The Association of Schools of Public Health indicates that 250,000 more public health workers will be needed by 2020. With the current growing demand for public health professionals, now is the time to earn a Master of Public Health.

In 2000, there were 50,000 fewer public health professionals than in 1980. When you combine the high demand for this degree with the potential to positively shape communities on a broad scale, it’s easy to see why people choose to pursue a Master of Public Health degree.

Students from all over the globe choose public health programs in D.C. because of the accessibility to real-world experiences, public health settings and organizations, and the range of employers seeking public health professionals.

Full-time professionals from all types of backgrounds often choose to go back to school to pursue a Master of Public Health degree. Online MPH programs are becoming increasingly popular, as they allow students to work and complete an MPH degree at the same time. Both of these universities in D.C. offer an online or hybrid MPH program, which provides greater scheduling flexibility at an oftentimes reduced cost.

Additionally, there are online MPH programs that have a fast track, which allows students to complete the curriculum in less time than a traditional program would require. Some programs take as little as 18 months to complete, as opposed to a traditional two-year program.

Two important questions to consider before pursuing any graduate degree: “What are my career prospects?” and “What’s the earning potential?” Below is a closer look at both.

The salary range for professionals with a Master’s of Public Health varies depending on which career you choose. The State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Washington, D.C., from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics offers more information: In 2018, an epidemiologist made an annual mean wage of $106,740, while a health educator earned an average annual salary of $88,060.

Washington, D.C., is in close proximity to organizations such as the American Public Health Association and government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Center for Environmental Research and Office of Water. In D.C., there are unique opportunities to kickstart a career with a public health degree.

Driven by increasing health care costs and a critical need to raise awareness of preventable diseases, job growth for many public health careers is projected to steadily rise from 2018 to 2028:

Washington, D.C., is the top-paying state for public health educators, with a mean annual salary of $88,060 in 2018. Many of the largest and highest-paying employers in this area include federal agencies, general medical and surgical hospitals, clinics and private health care organizations.

There are nearly 800 health care companies in the D.C. area. Many of these companies are top employers for MPH professionals in D.C., along with federal agencies, health care policy think tanks and nonprofit organizations. Jobs at these workplaces often require specialization within the public health field.

Because of the expansive nature of the public health industry, it is common for students to declare a public health specialization. This helps them narrow down the skills they hone for their selected concentrations.

While there is high demand in general for public health professionals, certain public health specializations are particularly in demand:

As expressed, public health professionals in Washington, D.C., are provided with a variety of work settings and competitive salaries when compared to the rest of the United States. For prospective in-state students who would like to pursue a Master of Public Health while working full-time, or those outside of D.C. but hesitant to relocate, online MPH programs may be an option.

University and Program Name	Study Length	Test Requirement	Number of Credits
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Master of Public Health (MPH) info SPONSORED	As few as 20 months	No GRE Required	42
George Washington University Master of Public Health info SPONSORED	As few as 12 months	No GRE Required	45
Boston University Online Master of Public Health info SPONSORED	24 months – 5 years	No GMAT/GRE Required	42