If you are considering public health as a primary degree focus, Hawaii might be a good place to find degree programs at local universities. There are two public health schools with Master of Public Health (MPH) programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in Hawaii: Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Hawaii. There are also public health careers in Hawaii that are projected to experience double-digit growth in employment through 2028, providing public health graduates with multiple career opportunities to explore. Read on to learn more about the MPH programs in Hawaii and promising public health careers.

The two universities with CEPH-accredited MPH programs are in Honolulu. Hawaii Pacific University offers an MPH program that can be completed online. The only concentration available is generalist, which connects students to a multifaceted field and teaches them how to improve the well-being of individuals, families, communities and nations. The University of Hawaii offers more MPH concentrations to cater toward students’ different interests. All of them are delivered on campus. Students looking for more concentration options may look into online MPH programs in other states.

Although Hawaii is smaller than other states in terms of population, many tourists and visitors come from other regions. With this movement of people in and out of the state, the need for disease prevention and awareness is at an all-time high. People in these islands rely on health care professionals to ensure their health and wellness while living in this area. 

Five public health careers in Hawaii are expected to see double-digit employment growth through 2028: biostatisticians, health specialities professors, medical and health services managers or health care administrators, health educators, and dieticians and nutritionists. Of these careers, health specialties professors earn the highest median salary, at $146,750 a year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Hawaiian counties with the largest increase in wages are Maui and Kalawao.

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

*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 June 2021

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