Two public health schools in Iowa offer Master of Public Health (MPH) programs that are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH): Des Moines University and the University of Iowa. Five public health careers—health specialities professors, occupational health specialists, medical records and health information technicians, dietitians and nutritionists, and health informatics specialists—are projected to be in greater demand in Iowa than they are nationwide.

Residents of the state of Iowa who wish to pursue MPH degrees have a wide range of options. Des Moines University and the University of Iowa have CEPH-accredited MPH programs that are available both on campus and online. 

An online MPH program may give students the flexibility to continue working and to keep up with their personal and family commitments. It is easier than ever to find the time to pursue dreams of obtaining a higher degree, especially for those in the public health domain. Depending on the school and format, these CEPH-accredited MPH programs offer concentrations in health administration and policy, public health practice, biostatistics and other specializations. Students in Iowa seeking other concentrations may want to look into online MPH programs elsewhere.

The outlook for public health careers in Iowa differs according to job and location. Health specialties professors and biostatisticians are tied for the careers with the greatest projected growth; both are estimated to grow by 28% through the year 2028 according to O*NET OnLine. In terms of location, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies Johnson and Polk counties as experiencing higher than average weekly wage growth for the state. 

The table below reflects the demand and earning potential for public health careers in Iowa, 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 April 2021

Sponsored Online Public Health Programs

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
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions Masters of Health Administration info SPONSORED	12-24 Months	No GMAT or GRE Required	36
University of Birmingham Master of Public Health info SPONSORED	30 months	No GRE Required	180
University of Surrey MSc Public Health info SPONSORED	24 Months	No GMAT/GRE Required	180