At a Glance
A public health degree in North Dakota opens doors to careers in epidemiology, health policy, biostatistics, and community health. The University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University both offer CEPH-accredited Master of Public Health (MPH) programs on campus and fully online, with no GRE required at UND as of the 2025 admissions cycle.
North Dakota faces public health challenges that require a trained, local workforce. Rural communities throughout the state struggle with healthcare access, and Indigenous populations in the Northern Plains experience some of the highest rates of chronic disease and health disparities in the nation. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services employs epidemiologists, health educators, and program managers who work directly on these problems, and many leadership and research roles in those agencies require a graduate degree. If you’re considering a public health career in the state, understanding your degree options and the job market is the right place to start.
Earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) in North Dakota
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the primary professional credential for leadership roles in public health. It’s a graduate-level degree built around five core knowledge areas: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences, as defined by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the national accrediting body for MPH programs.
Two universities in North Dakota offer CEPH-accredited MPH programs: the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks and North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo. Both programs are available online, making them accessible to working professionals across the state and region.
UND’s MPH is a 42-credit degree offered in three specializations: Health Management and Policy, Indigenous Health, and Population Health Research and Analytics. The Indigenous Health specialization is one of the few fully online Indigenous Health MPH specializations in the United States, a meaningful distinction given the state’s large Native American population and the health equity work being done across tribal communities. The Population Health Research and Analytics track carries a STEM designation, which expands eligibility for optional practical training for international students. UND does not require GRE scores for admission.
NDSU’s MPH program prepares students for careers in community health, epidemiology, and health management, with a practicum requirement that connects students directly to public health organizations in the region. Both programs admit students with undergraduate degrees from a wide range of fields, including healthcare, social work, business, education, and others that transfer well into public health graduate study.
MPH Admission Requirements in North Dakota
Requirements vary by institution, but most MPH programs in North Dakota expect the following from applicants:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- A written statement of purpose describing professional goals and motivation
- Two to three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
UND applicants to the traditional MPH program apply through SOPHAS, the centralized application service for schools of public health, in addition to a UND School of Graduate Studies supplemental application. Applicants to the accelerated BS/MPH or joint JD/MPH tracks apply directly through UND’s Graduate Studies office. Neither track requires a GRE score.
MPH Specializations and What They Lead To
Choosing a specialization shapes both your coursework and your career options after graduation. Here’s how the most relevant tracks align with public health work in North Dakota.
Health Management and Policy prepares graduates to lead health programs, manage budgets, and analyze the policy decisions that shape how healthcare is delivered across communities. In North Dakota, this translates directly to roles within state and county health departments, federally qualified health centers, and tribal health organizations. Coursework typically includes health care finance, program evaluation, and public health law.
Indigenous Health addresses the social, historical, and structural factors driving health disparities among Native American and Alaska Native populations. North Dakota is home to five federally recognized tribes, and the demand for culturally competent public health professionals who understand Indigenous communities is significant. UND’s online Indigenous Health specialization is one of the few of its kind in the country.
Population Health Research and Analytics focuses on data: collecting it, analyzing it, and turning it into policy recommendations and program interventions. Graduates work as biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and health informatics specialists. This specialization is STEM-eligible at UND, a practical advantage for students who may want to work in research institutions or federal agencies after graduation.
Community Health and Epidemiology tracks, available through NDSU, train students to investigate disease patterns, design health promotion programs, and measure the effectiveness of public health interventions. These roles are in consistent demand at state and local health departments, particularly in states like North Dakota with significant rural health and chronic disease challenges.
Both UND and NDSU offer fully online MPH programs, which matters considerably in a state as geographically spread out as North Dakota. Working professionals in Bismarck, Minot, or rural communities can complete their degrees without relocating to Grand Forks or Fargo.
UND also offers an accelerated BS/MPH program that allows students to earn both a bachelor’s in Public Health Education and a master’s degree in five years, entirely online. For students already in the UND system, this path reduces the overall time and cost of reaching the MPH credential. A joint JD/MPH program is available for students who want to combine public health practice with legal training, a combination well-suited to health policy and regulatory work.
Part-time enrollment is available at both institutions for students managing professional or family commitments alongside their studies. A part-time timeline typically runs three to four years to degree completion.
Job Growth for Public Health Professionals in North Dakota
Public health employment is growing nationally, and North Dakota reflects that trend. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment projections for the 2024 to 2034 period show steady to strong growth across the occupations most commonly held by MPH graduates:
- Social and Community Service Managers: 6% growth nationally (2024–2034)
- Statisticians: 8% growth nationally (2024–2034)
- Microbiologists: 4% growth nationally (2024–2034)
State-level demand for public health professionals is also shaped by North Dakota’s rural health infrastructure challenges and its ongoing work to address chronic disease rates in Indigenous communities. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, tribal health departments, Sanford Health, Altru Health System, and Mayo Clinic Health System all employ public health professionals with graduate credentials in the state.
Salaries for Public Health Professionals in North Dakota
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the following national wage figures for public health-related occupations, based on May 2024 data. These are national medians. Actual wages in North Dakota may vary by employer, region, and experience.
| Occupation |
Median Annual Wage |
| Social and Community Service Managers |
$78,240 |
| Statisticians |
$103,300 |
| Microbiologists |
$87,330 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors |
$46,110 |
Earnings vary by employer, experience, and location within the state. Rural positions may come with additional incentive pay or loan repayment programs through federal rural health initiatives. Public health professionals working in tribal health systems may also qualify for Indian Health Service loan repayment benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a public health background to apply for an MPH in North Dakota?
No. Both UND and NDSU accept applicants from a wide range of undergraduate majors, including social work, nursing, biology, business, and education. What programs typically look for is a strong GPA, relevant professional or volunteer experience, and a clear statement of why you want to work in public health.
Is a GRE required for North Dakota MPH programs?
UND does not require GRE scores for admission as of the 2025 admissions cycle. NDSU requirements may differ, so it’s worth confirming directly with the program. The trend across public health graduate programs nationally has been moving away from standardized test requirements, and both North Dakota programs reflect that shift.
Can I complete a North Dakota MPH program entirely online?
Yes. Both UND and NDSU offer fully online MPH options. UND’s online program includes all three specializations: Health Management and Policy, Indigenous Health, and Population Health Research and Analytics. The accelerated BS/MPH at UND is also available 100% online.
What jobs can I get with an MPH in North Dakota?
Common career paths include epidemiologist, health educator, biostatistician, public health program manager, health policy analyst, and community health director. In North Dakota, major employers include the state Department of Health and Human Services, tribal health departments, Sanford Health, Altru Health System, and federally qualified health centers. If social work is part of your career goals alongside an MPH, see our North Dakota social work license guide for credential requirements.
How long does it take to earn an MPH in North Dakota?
Full-time students typically complete an MPH in two years. Part-time enrollment is available at both UND and NDSU and extends the timeline to three to four years. UND’s accelerated BS/MPH program compresses both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees into a total of 5 years.
Key Takeaways
- Two CEPH-accredited programs: UND and NDSU, both offer MPH degrees on campus and fully online, with no GRE required at UND.
- Specializations built for North Dakota: UND’s Indigenous Health track is one of the few fully online Indigenous Health MPH specializations in the U.S., directly relevant to the state’s tribal public health workforce needs.
- Strong salary potential: Statisticians with an MPH earn a national median of $103,300, and social and community service managers earn $78,240, according to May 2024 BLS data.
- Growing demand: Public health occupations are projected to grow 4–8% from 2024 to 2034, with North Dakota’s rural health and Indigenous health workforce gaps creating additional local demand.
- Flexible paths to the degree: Online, part-time, accelerated BS/MPH, and joint JD/MPH options make the credential accessible for working professionals across the state.
Ready to explore public health degree programs in North Dakota? Browse accredited MPH options by specialization and format to find the right fit for your goals.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Social and Community Service Managers, Statisticians, Microbiologists, and Rehabilitation Counselors represent national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
