A Masters of Public Health degree in Nursing teaches students about the community issues associated with disease prevention, epidemiology, health education campaigns and more. Instead of looking at individual people, those earning this degree learn to look at the bigger picture. This bigger picture focuses particularly on community health. Professionals holding a MPH in nursing will be well aware of the global public health challenges that are faced on a daily basis. They are also well equipped to offer solutions. These solutions are offered both in a practical manner, through nursing skills, as well as in a broader sense, through administration and leadership skills. These professionals can be employed by a variety of organizations. They could be employed by the government, by private organizations and by hospitals and other health facilities. They do the work that is required to keep modern healthy life possible. This degree program is a unique program. This is because a MPH in nursing combines a MPH degree with clinical nursing skills. Graduates of a Master’s of Public Health Nursing program have an attractive skillset. These professionals could hold a leadership administrative position in any number of agencies. Their clinical nursing skills, combined with their knowledge of public health, prepare them for almost any setting or workplace environment. Graduates with this degree could work in either a rural or an urban setting, and do so with ease and expertise.
The MPH Nursing or MSN in Public Health involves many exciting courses. Some of these courses include subjects such as epidemiology and health policy. It can be said that a MPH in nursing is a step away from bedside nursing and a step towards working in public policy or other community-based areas of focus. Professionals with an MPH in nursing may also work as nursing supervisors. The degree is designed for those with experience in nursing who wish to take their career to a new level. They are able to do this through combining their clinical nursing experience with a desire to make changes on a larger level through the arena of public health.
Many MPH Nursing programs are dual-degrees with the MSN. These programs prepare students to work as advanced practice public health nurses. These programs will also prepare them to work as policy makers. However, they usually require a longer commitment of both time and money. This is because more courses are required to graduate. Yet these dual degree options tend to be cheaper and quicker than earning each of the degrees on their own. There are various benefits to choosing a dual degree program. It is worth noting that very few of the dual degree programs are available online.
MSN degrees with a focus or a concentration in public health are also available. At times, the content of these programs can be more or less the same as the MPH in Nursing. Other programs with a public health concentration may have more of a focus on advanced nursing instead of a focus on community health. These degrees may or may not open as many doors for students as those who have the more recognizable MPH degree. Students will likely find that the curriculum in these programs may be similar to a more straightforward MSN nursing program.
Careers and Salaries for Individuals with MPH Nursing Degrees
Aside from supplementing their careers as public health nurses, there are a wide range of Masters in Public Health Nursing careers that are available to students who graduate from a program. These job options include working for organizations like the CDC, or working for government and non-profit health campaigns. Graduates of any of these programs could also get a job consulting on a variety of programs. Another job opportunity would be to work as an administrator for medical facilities. Graduates would also have the opportunity to fill a variety of roles, from researchers to administrators.
Most people with an MPH or MSN in public health do not get into the profession in order to get rich. However, they are usually paid quite a comfortable amount. Masters in Public Health Nursing salaries can and do vary widely, however, depending on where individuals wind up working. Medical and health service managers, the general description of the job field that the Masters in Public Health Nursing falls under, made an average of $101,340 in 2021. This makes a Masters in Public Health Nursing degree a great choice for individuals who wish to have a challenging and rewarding career in public health. Those who choose to pursue this career path will have the opportunity to make a decent living while making a lasting difference in many lives.
Additional Resource: Top Online Masters in Public Health Degree Programs
How to Find the Top Masters in Public Health Nursing Programs
The best Masters in Public Health Nursing degrees come from accredited schools. Accredited schools will often have well-respected programs. This does not necessarily mean that a school needs to be very prominent, but it does mean that it needs to maintain a high enough academic ranking. This degree is not extremely common, so you may find that your choices are a bit more limited than they are for other degree options. Although MPH degrees are easy to find, few schools offer master’s programs that combine nursing and public health curriculum. This robust combination makes for an exciting program. It is probable that its graduates will be highly sought after. This is because they will be equipped to fill any number of positions within the medical and public health fields. Their education and skill set will be unique. This article will highlight some of the best of these programs in the nation. These particular programs allow students to earn their master’s degree while excelling in these dual areas of nursing and public health. Nursing and public health go hand in hand, yet graduate degrees that combine the two are few and far between. Some of the best programs are listed below.
Our list of the top Master’s in Public Health Nursing degrees is based on the programs listed on collegenavigator.gov. The programs are ranked according to quality (based on college navigators graduation rate and student teacher ratio information) and affordability.
Our list of top programs is:
- Emory University
- Case Western Reserve University
- New York University
- CUNY Hunter College
- LaSalle University
- Grand Canyon University
- University of Maryland
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University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
Master of Science/Master of Public Health 
The University of Maryland offers a dual degree MPH program. Graduates of the program will earn two degrees – both an MSN from the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and an MPH from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Earning these two degrees together saves both time and money. The two degree programs can be completed in as little as three years. Graduates will be fully prepared for leadership positions in any agency or setting where the combination of nursing and public health knowledge is useful. As part of the MPH program, students must choose a concentration track. The two track options are Epidemiology or Community and Population Health. Students of the program can take advantage of the University of Maryland’s award winning nursing school. The school of nursing at University of Maryland has been listed on multiple top lists by the U.S. News and World Reports. Earning a degree from such a prestigious nursing program is a great opportunity. Scholarships and financial aid are available to students in the dual MPH/MSN program.
Tuition: Not listed
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Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona
Master of Science in Nursing with Public Health Emphasis 
Grand Canyon University offers a Master’s degree program in Nursing with an emphasis in public health. This degree program combines public health with nursing as a specialty program. The focus on the program is on population health in an effort to both prevent disease and to promote wellness. Those who graduate from the program will be prepared to identify problems in the public health realm. They will also be ready and able to treat these problems through programs and policy changes. This program is offered only online, and students can complete the entire program without needing to step foot on campus. Along with the nursing and public health courses, the program includes an evidence-based practice project. This project is chosen by the student based on their personal areas of interest within the field. Before graduating, each student will also need to complete a practicum experience in a public health setting. The program requires the completion of 40 credits.
Tuition: $21,644
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LaSalle University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Master of Science in Public Health Nursing
Master of Science in Public Health Nursing/Master of Public Health
Lasalle University offers two Master’s degree programs that combine public health and nursing. The two programs are similar to one another. One of these programs awards a single degree, and the other combines an MSN with a MPH. Both of these degree options require the completion of 62 credits. Additionally, they each require the completion of 512 clinical hours. These programs are designed to prepare nurses to meet the diverse needs of the population. This is done through community assessment, program planning, and policy development. Lasalle’s MPH nursing program places an important emphasis on health disparities within urban communities. The program site states that the most important components of the program are the strategies of consumer advocacy and resource utilization. Graduates of either of Lasalle’s two programs that combine public health and nursing will be well prepared to work in both rural and urban settings.
Tuition: $24,130
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CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York
Master of Science in Community/Public Health Nursing 
The master’s degree program at CUNY Hunter College is a hybrid program. The program combines the clinical side of nursing with a concentration in public health. Students are required to complete 42 credits. This exciting and affordable program is specifically designed to prepare advanced public health nurses to be able to take on leadership positions. These leadership positions could be in various settings, such as clinics, community based programs, and public health agencies. The program curriculum is made up of core public health, nursing, clinical, and specialization courses. Each student is also given the opportunity to choose an elective based on their area of interest. Along with an exciting curriculum, the program includes 501 hours of supervised clinical practicum experience. Students need to complete two years of full time RN experience before they are eligible for acceptance into the public health and nursing master’s program at CUNY Hunter College.
Tuition: $11,090 for in-state residents
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New York University
New York, New York
Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health 
New York University offers an exciting master’s degree program that combines nursing and public health. This program is offered in collaboration with the highly acclaimed NYU Meyers School of Nursing. This master’s degree program takes three years to complete. Program participants have the exciting opportunity to choose from eight different program tracks. Each of these options is paired with an emphasis on global health. The options for concentrations are: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Nurse-Midwifery. Graduates of this program will be very well equipped to pursue a professional career in nursing and public health. They will even be prepared to assume leadership leadership roles. Because of the Master of Science component of the degree program, graduates will also be prepared for any necessary licensure or certification tests needed in order to be considered for a job.
Tuition: $50,991
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Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health 
Case Western Reserve University offers an exciting dual degree program. This degree program is a great option for those looking to earn a Master’s degree in nursing and public health. Students in the program will have the opportunity to study at one of the top-ranked nursing and medical schools in the nation. The school offers a 9:1 student to teacher ratio. This dual degree program takes around three years to complete. The curriculum is based on core public health courses. These core courses include epidemiology, health management and policy, environmental and occupational health, as well as some electives. The program also includes a service based capstone project. This capstone project needs to be completed before graduation. Within the nursing portion of the program, students can choose between nine areas of specialization. The specialization options are: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Systems Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. The nursing portion of the program also includes clinical immersive experiences. Students have the opportunity to complete these clinical hours at renowned healthcare clinics. Students studying at Case Western will be able to take advantage of the robust network of community partners that the school has connections to. This program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Tuition: $38,166
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Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Master’s Degree in Nursing and Public Health
Emory University offers the #1 master’s degree program that combines nursing and public health. The program can be completed in just 6 to 7 semesters of full-time study. It is also available part-time for students who wish to study while continuing to work. The school offers a 9:1 student to teacher ratio. This master’s degree program is designed for students who want to use their skill set as a clinical nurse in a public health or community setting. It is considered to be a dual degree program. This exciting program is a combination of a Master’s of Science in Nursing with a Master’s of Public Health core. The curriculum also includes quite a bit of specialty content. It is a dual degree program that combines the resources of the Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Rollins School of Public Health. This combination offers a unique opportunity for students to learn, as they can take advantage of many renowned medical educational facilities. The school is also located close to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This unique location allows for more unique and exciting opportunities both for learning and for gaining practical experience. The program allows nurses to grow substantially in their knowledge of public health as well as in clinical nursing. Graduates of the program will be fully prepared to apply for any necessary nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife certifications.
MPH staff, 2023