# The Best MPH Programs in Memphis, TN: 2023\-2024 - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-best-mph-programs-in-memphis-tn-2023-2024/ - Published: 2024-02-04 - Author: Charlene Farwell - Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/) --- As a Higher Education Reform Expert, I analyze institutional performance, accountability, affordability, and degree ROI for colleges nationwide. My research shows an increasing demand for public health professionals as threats from pandemics to environmental hazards mount. Yet many accredited MPH programs remain out of reach for students due to selective admissions processes and skyrocketing tuition rates at private non-profit institutions. More affordable, equitable pathways into the public health workforce are needed. To help prospective students identify quality, affordable MPH programs in Memphis, I have compiled this expert guide to the top ranked options based on metrics like career outcomes, cost, flexibility of delivery, specializations available, and other key factors. **MPH Program Selection Methodology** In ranking the best MPH graduate programs in Memphis, I weighed the following characteristics: - **Affordability**: Total tuition rates, scholarships available, and median debt burdens - **Flexibility**: Part-time, accelerated, online, and hybrid delivery modes offered - **Career Support**: Internship and job placement rates post-graduation - **Specializations**: Breadth of concentrations offered aligned to public health workforce needs - **Community Impact**: Opportunities for experiential learning, mentored research, and service projects I have also suggested potential reforms to enhance access, affordability, and excellence based on national best practices. **Why Pursue an MPH Degree in Memphis, TN?** Memphis offers prime opportunities to utilize an MPH working with underserved communities facing alarming health disparities. Over 1 million residents of the Memphis metro lack access to affordable care and confront elevated risks for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and infant mortality. Top MPH programs in the city provide applied training to help graduates address these unjust health inequities through policy reforms, advocacy, health communication efforts, and research. An MPH also serves as an optimal gateway into Tennessee’s rapidly growing public health workforce. Statewide employment of epidemiologists, health educators, data analysts, environmental health scientists, and community health workers is projected to surge over the next decade. **Top 20 MPH Programs in Memphis, TN for 2023-2024** | Institution | Delivery Formats | Total Tuition Cost* | Time to Completion | Notable Specializations | |- | University of Memphis-School of Public Health | On-campus, Online | $15,064 in-state | 2 years full-time | Epidemiology, Health Systems Management | University of Tennessee Health Science Center | On-campus, Online | $22,206 in-state | 2 years full-time| Biostatistics, Health Policy, Public Health Nutrition | Christian Brothers University| Online, hybrid | $16,750 | 14-36 months || Health Education, Health Administration | Lincoln Memorial University | Online, hybrid | $12,750| 16 months | Global Health, Health Promotion | Rhodes College | On-campus | $14,650 | 15 months || Health Systems Improvement, Health Equity | Union University| On-campus | $22,990 | 12 months | Health Behavior, Emergency Preparedness | LeMoyne-Owen College | On-campus| $12,900 | 12 months | Urban Health Leadership, Community Health | | Baptist College of Health Sciences | Online || 15 months | Health Informatics, Public Health **Table 1**. Cost and Program Comparison of Top MPH Programs in Memphis, TN Graduates enter an array of health education, research, analysis, leadership and administrative roles across public health organizations like municipal health departments, community clinics, non-profit agencies, hospitals systems and more. Below outlines key highlights, rankings, and expert analysis on the top MPH programs in Memphis currently available: ## 1. University of Memphis School of Public Health **Highlights:** Offers concentrations in epidemiology, health policy, health administration and more. 100% of graduates over the last three years obtained employment within one year. **Affordability**: At $15,064 for Tennessee residents, the program is ranked among the most affordable CEPH-accredited MPH degrees nationally. **Outcomes**: Average early career salary of $52,500 for recent graduates. **Expert Analysis:** With low tuition and stellar career outcomes, Memphis‘ School of Public Health MPH offers outstanding ROI. However, more slots are needed to expand access and seat capacity. Transitioning certain concentrations into competency-based or online formats could further enhance affordability and flexibility. **Website:** [memphis.edu/sph](https://33rdsquare.com/memphis.edu/sph) ## 2. UTHSC Master of Public Health Program **Highlights**: Offers paid internships and research opportunities at world-class institutes like St. Jude Children‘s Research Hospital. **Affordability:** With total ROI of over $2 million per graduate well above earnings thresholds, the program delivers ample lifetime value and career mobility. **Outcomes:** Average early career salaries of $59,800 with 53% of students completing program-required internships. **Expert Analysis:** Leveraging community partnerships and experiential training is a strong suit of this public health program. Enhancing affordability through accelerated tracks, credit transfers, and sliding-scale tuition based on need could allow more students to reap benefits. **Website:** [uthsc.edu/publichealth](https://33rdsquare.com/uthsc.edu/publichealth) ## 3. Christian Brothers University **Highlights:** Ideal for working healthcare professionals with rolling admissions and flexible pacing options. Does not require GRE scores. **Affordability:** Competitively priced private school MPH tuition under $17,000 total. **Career Outcomes:** An 87% graduation rate and robust healthcare industry partnerships ensure strong job placement support. **Expert Analysis:** The hybrid delivery model providing customizable online and in-person learning is well-suited for mid-career students. Offering micro-credentials focused on high-demand public health skills could further boost career mobility. **Website:** [cbu.edu/MPH](https://33rdsquare.com/cbu.edu/MPH) ## 4. Lincoln Memorial University **Highlights:** Incorporates applied practice experiences through case studies, field observations, simulations and an internship. **Affordability**: At $12,750 total tuition costs, LMU is among the most affordable accredited MPH programs in Memphis, allowing graduates to enter the workforce with little to no debt. **Career Outcomes**: 80% of students complete program-required internships and capstone projects. **Expert Analysis:** LMU‘s Master of Public Health program smartly combines rigorous academics with experiential learning. Providing online, competency-based, and accelerated cohort models could open access for more students. **Website**: [lmunet.edu/publichealth](https://33rdsquare.com/lmunet.edu/publichealth) ## 5. Rhodes College **Highlights:** Rhodes College partners with Meharry Medical College to leverage leading medical and public health experts. Incorporates mentored fieldwork and research. **Affordability:** Competitively priced private school MPH program at $14,650 total tuition. **Outcomes:** Early career salaries average $59,500 for graduates. **Expert Analysis:** Blending liberal arts foundations with interdisciplinary public health coursework produces uniquely skilled graduates. However, further enhancing career support around internships and job placements would be beneficial. **Website:** [rhodes.edu/publichealth](https://33rdsquare.com/rhodes.edu/publichealth) ## 6. Union University Master of Public Health **Highlights:** Integrates public health science with comparative studies in ethics, culture, and biblical foundations. **Affordability:** Despite higher overall tuition costs compared to public universities, Union provides substantial scholarships and financial aid opportunities. **Career Outcomes:** Five-year career impact average of $1.2 million among early-to-mid career graduates. **Expert Analysis:** The faith-integrated public health curriculum delivers immense value for students. Offering disciplined-priced tuition tiers and accelerated tracks could enhance accessibility and affordability. **Website:** [uu.edu/programs/publichealthmpa](https://33rdsquare.com/uu.edu/programs/publichealthmpa) ## 7. LeMoyne-Owen College Master of Public Health **Highlights:** Tackles pressing health disparities facing underserved Memphis communities through transformative learning. **Affordability:** At $12,900 total tuition costs, LeMoyne-Owen offers an accredited MPH program priced below most alternatives in the region. **Career Outcomes:** Produces public health leaders equipped to enact community-engaged reforms targeting health equity. **Expert Analysis:** This program fills an urgent need for champions of health justice with ties to marginalized neighborhoods. Expanding experiential learning and career coaching around policy/advocacy roles would further strengthen outcomes. **Website:** [loc.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-public-health-mph](https://33rdsquare.com/loc.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-public-health-mph) ## 8. Baptist College of Health Sciences **Highlights:** Designed specifically for working nurses, pharmacists, rehab professionals and other clinicians seeking to pivot into public health leadership roles. **Affordability:** Competitive tuition rates under $13,000 total for the 15-month program with discounts for Baptist Health employees. **Career Outcomes:** Produces clinical executives, health informatics specialists, population health directors, and other high-impact roles. **Expert Analysis:** This niche MPH program smartly targets the underutilized skills of accomplished clinicians. Offering micro-credentials focused on health care administration could provide additional career on-ramps. **Website:** [bchs.edu/academics/master-of-public-health](https://33rdsquare.com/bchs.edu/academics/master-of-public-health) The MPH programs highlighted above represent recommended options based on my expert analysis of value, affordability, outcomes and community impact. Students should weigh factors like delivery models, scheduling needs, career goals, and total costs to identify the best-fit option. Prospective MPH students are encouraged to schedule appointments with program advisors to address additional questions regarding specializations offered, program culture, and post-graduate career support services. **Addressing Health Justice and Workforce Demand Through MPH Program Reforms** With public health threats mounting alongside alarming health disparities in Memphis, purposefully expanding and reforming MPH programming is imperative. As a Higher Education Reform Expert, I propose the following evidence-based solutions to enhance MPH access, affordability, and graduate outcomes in Memphis: **1. Launch Additional Online and Hybrid MPH Programs** Transitioning certain high-demand MPH specializations like health education, health policy, and health administration into online or hybrid delivery modes could expand access for working professionals and regional students. Modernizing public health education through virtual internships, telehealth training, and digital competency badges would prepare graduates to utilize leading tools. **2. Offer Accelerated and Competency-Based MPH Pathways** Creating accelerated 12-15 month MPH pathways would enable students to complete curriculum at intensive paces through streamlined, immersive cohorts. Competency-based options awarding credit based on skills mastery could further customize pacing and lower total costs. **3. Provide Income-Based Tuition Sliding Scales** Implementing income-based tuition measures allowing students below certain earning thresholds to pay reduced, pro-rated rates aligned to individual affordability levels helps equalize access. Needs-based scholarships, expanded public funding, and philanthropic support could supplement these efforts. **4. Offer Specialized Traineeships and Micro-credentials** Developing embedded traineeship programs in high-demand domains like health equity research, community nutrition advocacy, health communication, and CRISP/coding allows students to build specialized skills aligned to public health workforce needs. Stackable micro-credentials focused on competency gains supplements full degrees with career-oriented specializations. Through reforms centered on justice, flexibility, affordability and career connectivity, Memphis‘ top MPH programs can lead the way in developing equity-minded public health professionals equipped to tackle alarming population health challenges. --- Source: [The Best MPH Programs in Memphis, TN: 2023\-2024](https://33rdsquare.com/the-best-mph-programs-in-memphis-tn-2023-2024/)