<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="3" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> UNC's Online Master of Public Health Program </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> UNC's Online MPH: Full-Time and Part-Time Options. GRE Not Required. </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Advance your public health career with UNC's online Master of Public Health program. Learn more.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-3" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-3" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinemph.unc.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UNC-MPH_GILLINGS_School_Vertical_RGB.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinemph.unc.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="4" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> MPH@Simmons </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn Your MPH Online. No GRE Required. </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>MPH@Simmons is designed to give you the real-world skills you need to positively impact public health and address health inequity on a local, national, and global level.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-4" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-4" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://online.simmons.edu/requestinfo/mph/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SC-ENT_University_MPH_Color_Stacked.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://online.simmons.edu/requestinfo/mph/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="5" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> MPH@GW: An Online MPH With Connections in Washington, D.C. </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> No GRE Required to Apply to GW's 12-Month Online MPH </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Customize Your Degree Through Electives. Accelerated One-Year Online Program!</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-5" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-5" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://fortune.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GWU_University_Stacked_RGB_COLOR_2C_900x900.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

ad_Public-health

cat_Graduate

Low Intent

ptype_Explainer

Rich Griset

<p>George Washington University became the first university in Washington, D.C., to host a school of public health when its Milken Institute School of Public Health debuted 25 years ago. This year, George Washington landed in the No. 1 spot on <em>Fortune’s</em> first-ever <a href="https://fortune.com/education/public-health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-public-health-programs/">ranking of the best online master’s of public health programs</a>. And those are but a couple of its distinctions.</p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>Milken remains the only public school located in the nation’s capital. Given its location, faculty from Milken are often called to testify in front of Congress and speak with the media about their research and public health events. And the school is home to the largest online master’s of public health program in the U.S..</p>



<p>The <a href="https://fortune.com/education/public-health/masters/rankings/george-washington-university/">MPH program at George Washington</a> has seen growing demand from students for nearly a decade. The pandemic spurred even more interest—particularly for the online program that began in 2013. </p>



<p>“We have had a huge surge. We’re up 50% in enrollment in the last couple of years,” says George Gray, associate dean of MPH programs and program director. He adds that Milken is thrilled to benefit from the so-called <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/12/07/942170588/fauci-effect-drives-record-number-of-medical-school-applications">“Fauci Effect,”</a> a term for the growing interest in public health since the pandemic took hold. “We’re really happy that we can provide the future public health infrastructure the country needs.”</p>



<p>What does it take to earn a spot at this top-ranked program? Here are four things that can help increase your chances of getting admitted.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-choose-your-desired-start-date">1. Choose your desired start date</h2>



<p>GWU’s online MPH program has four terms per year and admits students at the start of each term. The terms begin in January, April, July, and October. The admission rate for the university’s online MPH program mirrors its residential program at about 70% to 80%.</p>



<p>Gray says that the fall term sees the highest enrollment, generally in the range of 150 to 200 new students. The other terms generally take in roughly 100 students each. Just like GWU’s residential MPH program, online applications are reviewed by faculty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-highlight-what-you-ll-bring-to-the-diverse-cohort-of-students">2. Highlight what you’ll bring to the diverse cohort of students</h2>



<p>George Washinton’s online master’s program attracts a diverse cohort of students—they’re typically older than the average age of students in the residential program, and students pursue the master’s degree with the goal of moving up at their current organizations or looking for career change.</p>



<p>“A lot of them are people in careers, in places where they want to do a master’s of public health, but they’re far from a school for public health,” Gray says.</p>



<p>GWU’s online MPH program pulls students from around the nation and the world, with roughly 30% coming from the DMV—a term for the DC, Maryland, and Virginia metro area. It also sees a high number of students from more populous states like California, Texas, and Florida. “We have students from every state but Montana,” Gray says. “Why we don’t have Montana, I don’t know.”</p>



<p>The Miliken school has been able to accommodate the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/04/21/how-the-pandemic-changed-masters-degree-programs-in-public-health/">pandemic-related surge in applications</a> by offering additional live sessions—and without sacrificing on quality, according to Gray. “We can make sure they get a great, personalized education.” </p>



<p>Still, no matter their age, career goals or where in the country they live, students in the online program have one thing in common: they’re passionate about public health. “The person we’re looking for is someone who’s excited about public health,” Gray says. “We also look for someone who has undergraduate experience with at least some of the courses that are going to be relevant to public health.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-prepare-for-a-program-that-s-both-immersive-and-intimate">3. Prepare for a program that’s both immersive and intimate</h2>



<p>Like many other online MPH programs, GWU offers a “flipped classroom” model, meaning students watch pre-recorded lectures, guest interviews, and roundtables asynchronously, then convene online to deepen their understanding of <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/04/20/what-youll-learn-in-a-masters-of-public-health-program/">what they’ve learned</a>. Because live sessions are kept small, Gray says students get to know each other as well as their instructors. </p>



<p>“Once a week, they get together with an instructor and 15 other students—the same group—for discussion, for exercises, for role plays, practice,” Gray says. “Our instructors are really great. It’s both our regular faculty and people from around D.C. with great Washington experience—people who work in federal agencies doing public health, people who work in NGOs doing public health.”</p>



<p>Gray stresses the intimate nature of the program.</p>



<p>“I know the students well enough that I write them letters of recommendation for medical school or law school,” he says.</p>



<p>As students can watch the pre-recorded material whenever they wish, they can work full-time jobs while still attending class. Students sign up for live teaching modules in the lunchtime or the evening. As an example of what these live sessions look like, Gray says students might engage in a role play about the correct way to deal with mosquitos carrying the Zika virus. </p>



<p>“They do these exercises that allow them to use the material that they’ve learned in those pre-recorded sessions,” Gray says.</p>



<p>GWU’s online MPH program also assigns a dedicated admissions counselor when a prospective student reaches out—and the counselor is available via phone, text, or email. This counselor can walk through the application process, help with understanding the time commitment required of the program and the role of electives, and help students obtain letters of recommendation and undergrad transcripts. </p>



<p>Prospective students are not required to submit GRE scores to be admitted. In the next upcoming cohort, GWU’s MPH@ program is guaranteeing a tuition scholarship of $10,000 to students who are accepted and enrolled.</p>



<p>An online MPH at GWU can be completed in a year if students attend all four terms. “That requires some dedication and pretty much a full-time commitment,” Gray says, adding that students can take as long as three years to complete their degree, if they enroll in one or two classes each term.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-identify-your-goals-for-obtaining-a-master-s-of-public-health-degree">4. Identify your goals for obtaining a master’s of public health degree</h2>



<p>The online MPH program has electives that allow students to tailor their interests to topics like global health and the environment. GWU currently offers one concentration: health informatics and analytics. This fall, GWU plans to add three new concentrations: climate and health, global health, and maternal and child.</p>



<p>And GWU has been able to provide a scholarship to every admitted online MPH student for roughly the past two years. “It is something that makes it a little more accessible, we hope, for our online students,” Gray says.</p>



<p>Finally, you’ll want to consider your <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/04/20/who-should-get-an-online-masters-degree-in-public-health/">post-graduation goals</a> even before your first class. As you might expect from an MPH program located in the nation’s capital, many graduates are looking to get involved with governmental work. </p>



<p>“Our school knows a lot about health policy,” Gray says. “We have people who are involved with Congress and the executive branch identifying, writing and executing health policy.”</p>



<p>And Gray says Milken is happy to facilitate those connections.</p>



<p>“The thing that we have that’s special is our relationships with government agencies and NGOs,” he says. “We can help students find a place to go.”</p>



<p><em>See how the schools you’re considering landed in Fortune’s rankings of the best <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/public-health/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-public-health-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener">master’s in public health programs</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business-analytics/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-business-analytics/" rel="noreferrer noopener">business analytics programs</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/data-science/masters/rankings/best-online-masters-in-data-science/" rel="noreferrer noopener">data science programs</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-parttime-mba-programs-in-2022/" rel="noreferrer noopener">part-time</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-executive-mba-programs-in-2021/" rel="noreferrer noopener">executive</a>,<a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-mba-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener"> full-time</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-online-mba-programs/" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> MBA programs.</em></p>



<div class="wp-block-group pro-tip-box-widget"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading pro-tip-box-heading">Read more</h3>



<li>If you want to find great resources to become a health coach, check out the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-health-coach-certifications/">best health coach certifications</a>.</li>
<li>Interested in a psychology degree? Here are some of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-masters-in-psychology-degree-programs/">best online masters in psychology programs</a> you can find.</li>
<li>Want a more flexible way to earn an online master’s degree in nursing? Explore our list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-msn-nurse-practitioner-programs/%22">best online MSN nurse practitioner programs</a>.</li>
<li>Choose one of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-masters-in-public-health-programs/">best online masters in public health programs</a> to help you find the right school for you.</li>
<li>Our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/best-online-masters-in-nursing/">best online masters in nursing programs</a> can be a useful tool in your search for advanced online learning.</li>
<li>Many universities offer <a href="https://fortune.com/education/health/most-affordable-online-msn-nurse-practitioner-programs/">affordable online MSN nurse practitioner programs</a>.</li>
<li>For those looking to learn the basics of nutrition, one of the programs in our list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-nutritionist-certifications/">best nutritionist certifications</a> is a great first step.</li>
<li>Fulfill your ambitions of being a personal trainer with one of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/best-personal-trainer-certifications/">best personal trainer certification</a> programs. </li>
</div></div>
</div>

George Washington landed No. 1 on Fortune’s ranking of the best online master’s of public health programs. How to boost your chances of being accepted.

How to earn a spot at George Washington's online master's of public health program

F-Search

Education

Education Articles

Jasmine Suarez

Health and Wellness

How to boost your chances of being accepted to the top-ranked online master's of public health program.

How to earn a spot at George Washington’s online master’s of public health program

Fortune earns a commission for purchases made from affiliate partners via some links on our site; other links are not affiliate partner links. <a href='/affiliate-disclosure/'>Click here</a> to read the full Fortune advertiser disclosure and how we earn commissions.

We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.

Fortune Editors

Fortune Education is designed to be your guide to navigating this new, rich and somewhat overwhelming world of education. Our team of experienced editors is committed to scouring the universe of online offerings in order to rank, rate, provide comparisons and recommend the right solutions for you and your career.

Fortune Education

Uncategorized

homepage

articles

Articles Hub

By Region

By State

By Cost

Business

Career Hub

Tech

EDUCATION

EDUCATION ARTICLES

HOW TO EARN A SPOT AT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ONLINE MASTER'S OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM

How to earn a spot at George Washington's online master's of public health program | Fortune Education

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

https://fortune.com/education/articles/free-data-analytics-courses/?itm_source=parsely-api

Preston Fore

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

https://fortune.com/education/articles/real-estate-school-review-aceableagent/?itm_source=parsely-api

‘Democratizing AI education’: How Mark Cuban is helping teach students to disrupt industries with AI skills

https://fortune.com/education/articles/mark-cuban-foundation-ai-bootcamps/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brit Morse

A law associate making $300,000 a year at Skadden Arps quit over the firm’s deal with Donald Trump

/article/rachel-cohen-making-300k-year-law-associate-skadden-arps-quit-protest-firms-deal-trump/

Get ready to pay more than $2,000 for a new iPhone: Experts say Trump’s 125% tariff on China is a ‘complete disaster for Apple’ akin to ‘Armageddon’

/2025/04/10/apple-iphone-16-price-complete-disaster-china-trump-tariffs/

It’s about to get a lot harder for job seekers as tariffs are set to make the hiring landscape even more daunting

/2025/04/07/trump-tariffs-labor-market-more-challenging-job-seekers-economists-say/

This company does peer performance reviews—And then lets everyone read each other’s evaluations

/2025/03/24/performance-review-process-company-allows-all-workers-read-garner-health-workplace-culture/

2024 health coach certification review: Catalyst Coaching Institute

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-catalyst-coaching-institute/

A guide to a nurse’s salary: Broken down by all 50 states and industry type

/education/careers/nurse-salary/

2024 health coach certification review: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-institute-for-integrative-nutrition/

10 high-paying public health jobs right now

/education/careers/public-health-jobs/

Jason Del Rey

Is eBay actually sexy again as the ecommerce old-timer’s stock surges to an all-time high?

/2025/07/31/ebay-earnings-live-sports-cards-trading-pokemon/

Erik German

Meet the CIA-backed venture fund behind Palantir, Anduril—and a spy tool that might be on your phone

/2025/07/29/in-q-tel-cia-venture-capital-palantir-anduril/

Dana Hull

Kiel Porter

Bloomberg

Tesla engineering VP Moravy says company in ‘big swing moment’

/2025/07/27/tesla-engineering-vp-lars-moravy-big-swing-moment-musk-robotaxi-optimus-semi/

Christiaan Hetzner

Volkswagen seeks audience with Trump, dangling more than $10 billion in U.S. investments in exchange for tariff exemptions

/2025/07/25/volkswagen-trump-tariffs-exemptions/

Whether you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree or you are a professional with years of experience, Fortune is here to guide you on the next step of your educational journey.

How to earn a spot at George Washington’s online master’s of public health program

About the Contributors

Top Articles

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

‘Democratizing AI education’: How Mark Cuban is helping teach students to disrupt industries with AI skills

MPH@GW: An Online MPH With Connections in Washington, D.C.