Planning on becoming an epidemiologist, biostatistician, public health educator, disaster specialist, or public health inspector? All great ideas. As Forbes reported in a forecast on 2019 healthcare trends, we’re anticipating this industry to stay the on forefront of political, social, and economic agendas. Specifically, affordability and access to healthcare. It’s something that we’re hearing about on news platforms and from political platforms every day! In addition, emerging technology will continue to advance in the out-of-hospital direction, through digital health management tools that are patient-administered and monitored. What does health outside of the hospital call to mind? Public health!

By pursuing the right Master’s in Public Health (MPH) program, you can become qualified and prepared for any of these valuable, in-demand careers. The question is, where do you begin? Find out what the best MPH programs have in common, and which program will be best for you.

Maximum Flexibility
Finding a program with flexibility is top-of-mind for many graduate students. Why is this? It’s because students at the master’s level know that they deserve for their program to be efficient. Believe it or not, the most efficient programs are online. But what if you’ve never tried online learning? Could it be for you? To find out, simply ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I ready for my program to be accelerated?
• Do I want to work from the comfort of my own home, on my own time?
• Can I socially network?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, you might be ready to trade in the traditional classroom experience. A flexible, online MPH program means that you won’t waste any time or money in getting to, from, or being in class physically. Remove all of those structural restrictions, and you have a program that is perfectly catered to your schedule! Flexibility is something that the most discerning students seek in the best MPH programs. You could have your Master’s in Public Health in as few as 16 months, full-time!

Affordability
Think you can’t find a cost-effective way of earning a master’s degree? Think again! The best MPH programs can also be affordable. Tuition at Goodwin College, for example, is competitive with other private, non-profit colleges in Connecticut. The best part is, your investment is respected. You’ll understand what it will cost to earn your Master’s in Public Health, before you even begin. At $750 per credit, the total estimated cost for your MPH degree is $24,750.

It’s important to not look at that number and think immediately about paying out-of-pocket. Most students take out a mixture of student loans, grants or scholarships, and work-study opportunities. You can learn more by reading about the transparent ways that students fund their education with financial aid.

Earning Potential
If you’re a smart investor, which we know you are, you’ve jumped right ahead to consider the ROI on this degree. Probably the best way to do that is to look at what your earning potential will be on this career path, partnered with what the availability of jobs will be.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, sanitarians and epidemiologists make around $70k, and these roles are growing as fast as average (at an 8-9% rate). Biostatisticians make an impressive $88k, and this job is exploding with growth, with employment expected to grow 33% in the coming years. Want to make around $100k annually, in a fast-growing field? The health service manager role is growing at a 20% rate! It’s sort of like you can’t make a bad career choice with a Master’s in Public Health. At a $24k investment, the return is impressive.

Competitive Coursework
If you’re going into the public health field, you should look for a program that will push you to the upper limits of learning. After all, you’re passionate about this field, and want to excel in your career. We want you to, as well! The best MPH programs offer not only important, core classes like Biostatistics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Public Health Policy, and Foundations, but also a capstone program where you can dive deeply into a topic that most interests you. Engage with a curriculum that covers the bases and more.

Support System
Goodwin College takes career preparedness seriously – not just in the rigor of the coursework, but in making sure that you’re supported all the way from your time as a student, until you land the job of your dreams. There are so many resources available through Goodwin’s career services portal, including one-on-one, customized assessments and support, interview prep, and job search help, among other services.

Understanding what to look for in a program is half the battle as you weigh your options. Looking for the best MPH program? Search no further than one that is flexible, affordable, competitive, and lets you put your best foot forward into a career in public health. Find out more about the Goodwin advantage by calling 800-889-3282 or visiting us online today.