Public Health Schools and MPH Programs in Georgia

Georgia is home to one of the world’s most influential public health organizations: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. There are several public health schools in Georgia that prepare students to work for similar public health organizations.

The University of Georgia is among the oldest in the country, and it and several other schools in the state offer master of public health (MPH) programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) on campus, online and in hybrid formats. 

Students who complete an on-campus or online MPH in Georgia may go on to continue working in public health for a state organization. With a variety of MPH concentrations to choose from, you can look for a program that matches your career goals.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Programs in Georgia

Here’s a list of CEPH-accredited MPH programs offered throughout the state of Georgia.

Most CEPH-accredited MPH programs in Georgia require students to be on campus, but there are some hybrid and fully online options available. MPH students in Georgia may choose generalist public health tracks or concentrations such as biostatistics, environmental health and health informatics. Many of these concentrations have curriculums that match in-demand public health professions found in the state of Georgia. 

Public Health Schools and Highlights in Georgia

The state of Georgia has seven CEPH-accredited universities and colleges with Master of Public Health programs. With a variety of on-campus and online offerings, there are dozens of concentrations you can choose from if you attend an MPH program in Georgia. Learn about the colleges’ histories and public health programs to see which appeals to you.  

Augusta University

1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Augusta University’s roots date back to 1828. The Board of Regents defines the university as Georgia’s health/medical/sciences college. The university offers more than 150 areas of study across 10 colleges. Augusta University offers several certificates and degrees related to public health, including a bachelor of science in health information administration, a certificate in healthcare information security and a graduate certificate in public health.

Email: vkislam@augusta.edu 

Emory University – Rollins School of Public Health

1518 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322

Emory University was founded in 1836. It launched the Rollins School of Public Health in 1990, which the university reports quickly ascended to the top five among public health schools. The Rollins School of Public Health offers a variety of public health degree programs, including a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) and dual degrees such as DPT/MPH, JD/MPH, MD/MPH, MSN/MPH and PhD/MPH. Emory University is also home to the Emory University Hospital and the Whitehead Research building, the first in the Southeast to achieve certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Email: sphadmissions@emory.edu 

Georgia Southern University – Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Armstrong campus: 11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419

Statesboro campus: 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458

Georgia Southern University’s history dates back to 1906. Today, it’s the state’s largest center of higher education south of 1-20, with approximately 27,000 students and three campuses in Georgia. The university has a student-to-faculty ratio of 21:1. The Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health offers several degrees and programs, including a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), a certificate in public health and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH).

Email: jphcoph@georgiasouthern.edu 

Georgia State University

140 Decatur Street, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30303

Georgia State University, founded in 1913, is home to 84 research centers. The school has more than 54,000 students spread across six campuses in 12 colleges and schools. With more than 250 degree programs in 100 fields of study, Georgia State University offers the widest variety in the state. The university’s public health offerings include a Bachelor of Science in public health, an Online Graduate Certificate in public health and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). The CDC is a top employer of the university’s alumni. 

Email: sphadmissions@gsu.edu 

Mercer University

3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, GA 30341

Mercer University was founded in 1833 and has locations in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah and Columbus. Mercer University’s Master of Public Health program debuted in 1998 and is now part of the school’s College of Health Professionals, which was established in 2013. The university also offers a Bachelor of Science in public health (BSPH) and dual degrees including DPT/MPH, PharmD/MPH and MMSc/MPH.

Email: mph@mercer.edu 

Morehouse School of Medicine

720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA 30310

The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) was founded in 1975 as the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College, a historically black private men’s college. In 1981, the Morehouse School of Medicine became an independent institution. In addition to the MPH program, the coed MSM offers an Executive Master of Public Health (eMPH), which is an 18-month online degree program.

Email: mphadmissions@msm.edu

University of Georgia – College of Public Health

Rhodes Hall, 105 Spear Road, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602

The College of Public Health at the University of Georgia was founded in 2005 as a response to the state’s need to address important health concerns in Georgia, after the university’s founding in 1785 as the first state-supported university. The college includes four academic departments and four research institutes. In addition to the main MPH programs, the University of Georgia College of Public Health offers graduate dual degree options including an MPA-MPH, a JD-MPH, an MD-MPH and a PharmD-MPH.

Email: mph@uga.edu 

Online MPH Programs in Georgia

If you want to get an online MPH in Georgia, the state has several options. The MPH programs at Augusta University consists of 90% online classes, with the remainder of the program requiring on-campus attendance. Emory University also offers hybrid options for three specialized MPH tracks, with online MPH coursework in addition to two on-campus sessions per semester.

The Applied Public Health MPH at Georgia Southern University is a completely online MPH option in the state. Students can study at this school wherever they happen to be located in the world without having to complete any on-campus training.

Public Health Careers Outlook in Georgia

Based on the chart below, most public health careers in Georgia have a projected job growth outlook that is higher compared to the rest of the country, according to 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia, area also comes in 3rd out of metropolitan areas with the highest employment level of epidemiologists. Considering the CDC headquarters are in Atlanta, the demand for that profession makes sense.

Two areas in Georgia—the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area and the Augusta-Richmond County area rank in the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest employment level of occupational health and safety technicians. Georgia is in the top-five highest paying states for these occupations. Georgia is also the second-highest paying state for health education specialists.

The table below reflects the high demand and career potential for public health professions in Georgia, as well, based on data provided by O*NET OnLine.

Job TitleMedian Annual Salary in GA, 2020Median Annual Salary in U.S., 2020Projected Job Growth in GA, 2018-2028Projected Job Growth in U.S., 2019-2029
Biostatisticians
$108,940
$92,270
38%
35%
Health Specialties Professors
$96,870
$99,090
46%
21%
Environmental Health Specialists
$64,840
$73,230
16%
8%
Epidemiologists
$55,440
$74,560
7%
5%
Medical and Health Services Managers /Healthcare Administrators
$92,780
$104,280
27%
32%
Health Educators
$99,340
$56,500
10%
11%
Occupational Health Specialists
$74,680
$76,340
12%
4%
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
$43,070
$51,840
19%
8%
Dietitians and Nutritionists
$51,530
$63,090
18%
8%
Health Informatics Specialists 
$90,330
$93,730
11%
7%

Specializations to Consider in Georgia

Using the information above, biostatisticians and health educators in Georgia have a higher average salary compared to the average salary for those professionals working throughout the United States.

There are many public health jobs that are expected to have higher-than-average job growth in Georgia compared to the rest of the country. These positions include dietitians and nutritionists, health informatics specialists, medical records and health information technicians, occupational health specialists, epidemiologists, environmental health specialists, biostatisticians and health specialties professors.

With the job growth for public health positions outpacing the rest of the United States in most fields, and the abundance of MPH programs in Georgia, the state provides a lot of opportunities if you’re interested in a public health career.

Organizations to Work for With a Public Health Degree

There is ample opportunity for those with an MPH degree in Georgia. The following organizations offer various career opportunities for those looking to enter the field.

  • AID Atlanta: Based in the Atlanta metro area, AID Atlanta treats those affected by HIV and AIDS and provides HIV and STI testing as well as education.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): This national health protection organization focuses on protecting citizens from health, security and safety threats in the United States and abroad.
  • Georgia Department of Public Health: The organization works to prevent disability, disease and injury, promote well-being and health, and prepare for and respond to disasters in Georgia communities.
  • Georgia Global Health Alliance (GGHA): Based in Atlanta, GGHA creates strategic global and national healthcare partnerships to advance health opportunities and outcomes. 
  • Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC): GHPC develops public health programs, provides evidence-based research and recommends policy guidance on national, state and local levels. The organization is based in Atlanta and contributes to public health initiatives in all 50 states.
  • Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA): The GPHA promotes excellence in public health and advocates for the development of impactful public health policies. 
  • Georgia Rural Health Association (GRHA): The longest-standing state rural health association in the United States, GRHA promotes the improvement of healthcare outcomes for rural Georgia communities.

State Health Information

There’s a lot of potential for public health workers to make a difference in Georgia communities. According to a 2019 report from Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 4.8% of Georgia adults reported their healthcare as poor, while just over 15% reported it as fair. KFF also found that more than 13% of the Georgia population had no healthcare insurance. According to the Census Bureau, Georgia’s poverty rate in 2019 was 13.3%, which is higher than the national average of 12.3%. 

Georgia has some of the highest healthcare rates in the country.  The state has higher medical costs than most others, and the Atlanta metro area is pricier than most other cities for healthcare costs. For master’s in public health graduates who want to affect change in these areas, Georgia may offer many opportunities to make a difference. 

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

Last updated March 2021