Compare CEPH-accredited Kansas MPH programs by tuition, concentrations, GRE requirements, and career outcomes for public health professionals.
Kansas employs roughly 2,000 public health workers across its state health department, 100 county and multi-county health districts, tribal health programs, and hospital systems, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has flagged persistent workforce gaps in epidemiology, health education, and rural community health. A CEPH-accredited MPH is the standard credential for filling those roles, serving as the eligibility requirement for both the CPH and CHES exams.
Three Kansas institutions offer MPH-level graduate work with online or hybrid delivery: the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas State University, and Fort Hays State University. Tuition structures, concentration mixes, and GRE policies differ meaningfully across the three, and program-level earnings data remain unavailable at all three schools because completion counts fall below federal disclosure thresholds.
These are the strongest online-eligible public health master's options for Kansas residents, from a fully online administration degree to hybrid MPH tracks anchored in the state's major universities. Graduation rates shown with each school are institution-wide figures, not program-specific outcomes.
Lawrence, KS · $12,000 – $30,000/yr
Best for: Aspiring epidemiologists wanting hybrid Kansas study
The University of Kansas offers a 42-credit Master of Public Health through the KU Medical Center in Kansas City and Wichita. Students can concentrate in Epidemiology, Public Health Practice, or the Online Generalist track, and the program supports both full-time and part-time study. Reported in-state tuition is about $10,968 per year, with out-of-state tuition around $29,298. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 69%.
Manhattan, KS · $11,000 – $29,000/yr
Best for: Agriculture and food systems professionals seeking online MPH
Kansas State University's Master of Public Health is a 42-credit program built for practicing professionals and career changers. The four concentrations include food safety and biosecurity, infectious diseases and zoonoses, public health nutrition, and public health physical activity, with online, on-campus, and hybrid formats available. Reported in-state tuition is about $10,243 per year, and out-of-state tuition is about $27,590. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 71%.
Hays, KS · ~$13,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Administration-focused professionals seeking affordable online degree
Fort Hays State University offers a fully online Master of Professional Studies in Public Health Administration, a 30-credit degree designed for working professionals. Students can specialize in healthcare management, health policy, or data analysis while completing service-learning projects and internships tied to Kansas health organizations. Reported in-state tuition is about $4,704 per year, with out-of-state tuition around $16,522. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 48%. This is a professional studies degree rather than a traditional MPH, but it offers a direct route into public health administration roles.
Tuition varies significantly across the three Kansas institutions offering MPH or MPH-related graduate programs, and understanding total program cost requires looking beyond headline per-credit rates. The table below compares published tuition figures, estimated total program costs, and available debt data. Note that the institution-wide average net price figures shown are campus-level estimates drawn from federal data and do not reflect the cost of any specific graduate program.
| School | Delivery Format | Credit Hours Required | In-State Tuition (Published Annual) | Out-of-State Tuition (Published Annual) | Flat Online Rate? | Estimated In-State Total | Estimated Out-of-State Total | Institution-Wide Average Net Price (Federal Data) | Median Debt at Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hays State University | Online | 30 | $4,949 | $12,745 | Not confirmed, but online rate listed at approximately $348.78 per credit hour | Approximately $10,463 | Approximately $10,463 (if flat online rate applies) | $12,569 | N/A |
| University of Kansas | Hybrid and Online | 42 | $11,971 | $27,146 | Yes, for online courses: $571.40 per credit hour (no in-state/out-of-state distinction). Generalist concentration offered at a fixed $700 per credit hour for a 12-credit track. | Approximately $23,999 (at $571.40 per credit) or $8,400 (12-credit Generalist track at $700 per credit) | Same as in-state for online delivery | $18,059 | N/A |
| Kansas State University | Hybrid | 42 | $12,089 | $25,824 | Not confirmed from official sources | Approximately $12,089 per year (annual rate shown) | Approximately $25,824 per year (annual rate shown) | $19,406 | N/A |
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools and programs of public health. When a Master of Public Health program holds CEPH accreditation, it means the curriculum, faculty, and student support have been rigorously reviewed and meet national quality standards. For students, this accreditation unlocks critical benefits: eligibility to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam without additional review, recognition by employers (a standard shared by online MHA programs in Kansas), and access to federal financial aid programs, much like online MPA programs in Kansas.
Both public universities in Kansas that offer an MPH hold active CEPH accreditation, but as public health programs rather than schools of public health.1 The University of Kansas MPH Program has been continuously accredited since October 1998. Its most recent formal site visit took place in June 2018, and the current accreditation term extends through December 31, 2032.2 Kansas State University's MPH Program received initial accreditation in 2014. CEPH adopted a reaccreditation decision in September 2019, with full accreditation now in effect through December 31, 2026.3
Both programs have met CEPH's detailed criteria covering instructional quality, research, service, and student outcomes. Students can enroll confident that the education they receive aligns with the competencies demanded by public health employers.
CEPH grants accreditation to either a "school of public health" or a "public health program." A school of public health typically includes multiple degree levels and departments, often offering several doctoral programs and research centers. A public health program is a defined unit within a larger university, focused primarily on delivering the MPH and perhaps a few additional degrees. In Kansas, neither the University of Kansas nor Kansas State University houses a CEPH-accredited school of public health; both operate under the "public health program" designation. This distinction has no bearing on the quality of the MPH degree or the eligibility to sit for the CPH exam, but it may influence the breadth of elective offerings or research opportunities, similar to what you'll find in online MPP programs for Kansas students.
CEPH accreditation directly supports the eligibility of graduates to pursue the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) requires that applicants hold a degree from a program that includes specific health education competencies. Because CEPH-accredited MPH programs incorporate these foundational public health competencies, graduates from KU and K-State satisfy the coursework prerequisite for CHES certification without needing a separate transcript review. This pathway will be detailed later in the certification section.
Kansas's three MPH-level programs each carve out distinct niches that reflect the state's workforce needs. The matrix below maps every available concentration to its home institution, notes whether it can be completed fully online, and connects each track to the kinds of Kansas employers most likely to recruit graduates with that expertise. Students who prefer broad preparation rather than a narrow specialty should look at the generalist or public health practice options offered by the University of Kansas and Fort Hays State University.
| Concentration | School | Delivery Format | Kansas Employer Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiology | University of Kansas | Hybrid (Kansas City and Wichita campuses) | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), hospital systems such as the University of Kansas Health System, and county health departments conducting disease surveillance |
| Public Health Practice (Generalist) | University of Kansas | Available fully online | Broad preparation for roles across local health departments, community health centers, nonprofits, and state agencies |
| Food Safety and Biosecurity | Kansas State University | Hybrid | Kansas's large agricultural and food processing sector, USDA field offices, and state food safety inspection programs |
| Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses | Kansas State University | Hybrid | KDHE, veterinary public health programs, and research labs affiliated with the Biosecurity Research Institute |
| Public Health Human Nutrition | Kansas State University | Hybrid | WIC programs, school nutrition services, cooperative extension offices, and community health centers serving rural Kansas |
| Public Health Physical Activity | Kansas State University | Hybrid | Community wellness programs, hospital wellness divisions, and county parks and recreation departments |
| Public Health Administration | Fort Hays State University | Fully online | Public health leadership roles in rural health districts, federally qualified health centers, and Kansas county or regional health offices |
Do Kansas MPH programs still require the GRE in 2026? For both the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, current program information indicates the answer is no12, though prospective applicants should confirm directly with each admissions office before assembling their materials, since older program documents still circulating online reference legacy GRE requirements that appear to have been retired.
KU's current MPH admissions materials indicate the GRE is not required for 2025-2026 or 2026-2027 admission cycles.1 This aligns with a broader trend among CEPH-accredited programs, and it means applicants can focus their preparation on the qualitative elements of the file rather than standardized test scores. That said, older KU program PDFs and third-party directories still list GRE requirements with limited waivers (for example, for applicants holding a doctoral degree or with substitute exam scores from the MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, or USMLE).3 Those documents predate the current policy and should be disregarded, but their continued presence online is exactly why verifying with KU's admissions office in writing is worth the ten minutes it takes.
Core requirements at KU include:
KU does not publish a formal minimum of professional experience, but competitive applicants often bring healthcare, community health, research, or policy exposure that clarifies their public health direction.1
K-State states unambiguously on its current admissions page that GRE scores are not required.2 This is the cleanest no-GRE signal of the two Kansas programs and makes K-State a natural fit for applicants specifically searching for a no-GRE MPH option in Kansas. Legacy K-State FAQs referenced expected GRE scores with waivers for graduate degree holders, but that policy has been superseded.4
K-State admits students into three cohorts each year:
Because K-State's domestic deadlines are recommended rather than hard cutoffs, late applicants can sometimes still be considered, but earlier submission gives the admissions committee more room to evaluate practicum fit and, where relevant, graduate assistantship opportunities.2
Standard K-State requirements include a bachelor's degree, letters of recommendation, a statement of objectives, transcripts, and a resume detailing any public health, healthcare, veterinary, or community service experience.2 K-State's interdisciplinary MPH draws applicants from human medicine, veterinary medicine, nutrition, and the social sciences, so the admissions committee weighs prerequisite coursework and professional exposure in the context of the concentration you select.2
Neither Kansas program publishes a rigid list of undergraduate prerequisites in the way a clinical program might. Applicants without a health or science background can still be competitive, particularly if they bring relevant work experience or coursework in statistics, biology, or the social sciences. If you're transitioning from an unrelated field, address that trajectory directly in your statement of purpose and lean on your recommenders to speak to your analytical and communication skills.
The Applied Practice Experience, often called a practicum or internship, is the hands-on fieldwork component that every CEPH-accredited MPH program requires before graduation. It places students in real public health settings where they apply classroom knowledge to community problems, build professional networks, and produce deliverables that demonstrate competency. For Kansas residents and online students studying from within the state, the practicum is also the best opportunity to connect with the agencies and health systems that drive public health practice across the region.
The two Kansas-based MPH programs differ in their hour requirements and curricular details.
Both programs list health departments, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations as acceptable site types. Kansas offers a strong network of potential hosts that online students living in the state can tap into:
No competitor resource currently maps these Kansas-specific practicum sites for prospective MPH students, so contacting program coordinators early in the admissions process is especially worthwhile if a particular placement interests you.
Neither KU nor K-State publishes a distinct placement process exclusively for online learners. In practice, most programs expect students to identify potential sites in their own communities and then work with their faculty advisor or practicum coordinator to confirm the site meets program standards. K-State's process is explicit: the host must execute an Affiliation Agreement and receive instructor approval before work begins. KU similarly requires coordination through its internship course.
If you are studying online from within Kansas, the agencies and health systems listed above are natural starting points. Reach out to your program's practicum office at least one semester before you plan to begin fieldwork. Confirm whether the site has an existing agreement with your university, and if not, allow extra time for the paperwork. Students who plan ahead typically have a wider selection of projects and supervisors to choose from, and they avoid last-minute scrambles that can delay graduation.
Program-level earnings data for Kansas MPH graduates are not yet available through federal reporting for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, or Fort Hays State University. Because completion counts at these programs fall below federal disclosure thresholds, median earnings at one, two, and four years after graduation, along with employment share and poverty-threshold metrics, have not been published. Kansas employers, including KDHE, county health departments, hospital systems, and community health nonprofits, continue to report significant workforce gaps: 73 of 105 counties are designated primary care shortage areas, hospital vacancy rates remain at 11.8 percent statewide, and mental health shortage designations cover 100 of 105 counties. These conditions point to strong demand for MPH-prepared professionals even as program-specific outcome data catches up.
What salary can you realistically expect after completing an MPH program in Kansas, and which employers are actively hiring public health professionals in the state?
Unfortunately, program-level earnings data for Kansas MPH graduates is not yet available through federal reporting systems. This means we cannot provide direct comparisons of median salaries one, two, or four years after graduation for University of Kansas, Kansas State University, or Fort Hays State University MPH programs. However, we can contextualize career outcomes through the lens of Kansas employer demand and broader workforce trends.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment stands as the primary state-level employer for MPH graduates, with roles spanning epidemiology, health promotion, environmental health, and public health administration. County and local health departments across Kansas, from Johnson County in the Kansas City metro area to rural districts in western Kansas, consistently seek professionals with graduate-level public health training for positions in disease surveillance, community health assessment, and emergency preparedness.
Hospital systems throughout the state offer another significant employment pathway. Major health networks including the University of Kansas Health System, Ascension Via Christi, and Stormont Vail Health employ MPH graduates in population health management, quality improvement, infection prevention, and community benefit programming. These positions often carry salaries competitive with clinical administration roles.
Federally Qualified Health Centers represent a growing sector for Kansas MPH graduates. Organizations like GraceMed Health Clinic in Wichita, Hunter Health Clinic, and Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas hire public health professionals for program coordination, grant management, and community outreach. These roles align particularly well with concentrations in public health practice and community health.
When evaluating return on investment, the tuition differences outlined in the cost comparison section become especially relevant. Fort Hays State University's online program carries the lowest in-state tuition at approximately $4,949, while University of Kansas and Kansas State University range from roughly $11,971 to $12,089 for in-state students. Lower upfront costs translate to reduced debt burdens, which improves financial flexibility in early career years when public health salaries may be modest compared to private-sector alternatives.
Graduates entering roles at county health departments or community health centers should anticipate starting salaries in the mid-$40,000 to low-$60,000 range, based on Kansas public sector wage scales. Hospital system positions and state-level epidemiology roles often command higher compensation, particularly for those with specialized training in areas like biostatistics or health informatics.
While specific employment share data for these programs is not currently reported, public health remains a stable employment sector in Kansas. The state's ongoing investments in public health infrastructure following recent national health emergencies have created sustained demand for trained professionals. Graduates with applied practice experience completed through Kansas-based placements often transition directly into permanent positions with their practicum host organizations.
In Kansas, public health practitioners are not required to hold a state-issued license1. Instead, two national certifications have become the standard benchmarks of professional competency: the Certified in Public Health (CPH) and the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Both credentials are voluntary, but they carry significant weight with employers and can accelerate career advancement for graduates of online MPH programs.
The CPH is administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). Graduates of CEPH-accredited MPH programs meet the CPH eligibility requirements to sit for the exam without any additional work experience. In fact, students may take the exam before they graduate, provided they have completed or are enrolled in all core public health courses. Those who pass receive provisional certification until their degree is conferred and, if the program was an applicant for accreditation, until full CEPH accreditation is achieved1.
The exam is a computer-based, 200 multiple-choice question assessment covering 12 domain areas, including biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, and program planning2. It is offered year-round at test centers and via online proctoring2, giving Kansas students flexibility. CPH credential-holders must recertify every two years by earning 50 continuing education credits1, ensuring their knowledge stays current.
For MPH graduates focused on community health, health promotion, or health education, the CHES credential from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) is a natural fit. Eligibility is tied to coursework that aligns with NCHEC's Seven Areas of Responsibility. Most CEPH-accredited MPH programs with a health education concentration provide the required 25 semester hours of health education coursework, making graduates directly eligible to sit for the CHES exam.
The CHES exam consists of approximately 150 multiple-choice questions that test practical application of the Seven Areas, such as assessing needs, planning programs, and conducting evaluation2. Like the CPH, it is computer-based and offered during set testing windows. CHES holders must complete 75 hours of continuing education every five years to maintain their certification2.
Since Kansas does not have a separate public health practitioner license1, these national certifications serve as portable credentials that validate your expertise. They can differentiate your application when competing for roles in state health departments, hospital systems, or community organizations. While not mandatory, holding a CPH or CHES demonstrates a commitment to the field that many employers recognize and reward.
Choosing an online MPH program in Kansas means weighing accreditation, cost, admissions policies, and career fit. Below are answers to the questions prospective students ask most often, drawn from details covered throughout this guide.
