Louisiana has one of the most complex public health landscapes in the country. The state consistently ranks among the nation’s highest in rates of chronic disease, obesity, and premature death, and its coastal geography makes it uniquely vulnerable to environmental and climate-related health threats. Many professionals working to change those numbers, from epidemiologists at the Louisiana Office of Public Health to program directors at the Louisiana Public Health Institute, hold Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees or related graduate credentials. If you’re weighing a graduate degree in public health, here’s what the MPH covers in Louisiana, where it leads, and which programs are CEPH-accredited.
Earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Louisiana
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the standard graduate credential for public health practice. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits MPH programs nationally. It verifies that graduates leave with a shared foundation across the five core disciplines: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Employers and public health agencies widely recognize CEPH accreditation as an important quality standard for MPH education.
Most CEPH-accredited MPH programs require 42 to 60 credit hours and take about two years to finish full-time. Nearly every program also includes a practicum or field placement, typically a semester-long supervised experience at a public health agency, hospital system, or community organization. This hands-on component is where students apply their coursework to a real-world project and build the professional contacts that often lead to their first jobs.
Program formats available:
- Traditional two-year MPH: On-campus study over four semesters, covering core coursework, concentration electives, and a practicum or capstone project.
- Online and hybrid programs: Several accredited programs offer fully online or hybrid options, designed for working professionals who need flexibility without sacrificing accreditation.
- Accelerated programs: Compress the same curriculum into one year instead of two. The pace is demanding, but the credentials are identical.
- Executive MPH programs: Structured around part-time schedules and weekend formats for mid-career professionals with existing public health experience.
Admission Requirements
Admission to an MPH program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Undergraduate majors vary widely. Some programs recommend or prefer prior coursework in math, biology, or the natural and social sciences. Common examples include a statistics or algebra course, a biology course, and a health-related science course such as anatomy or physiology.
Most programs also require letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a minimum undergraduate GPA. Some programs, particularly executive tracks, require relevant work experience. GRE requirements vary by institution and have been dropped entirely by some Louisiana programs in recent years.
CEPH-Accredited MPH Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana has three MPH programs accredited by CEPH, the national standard for public health education quality. All three offer concentrations aligned with the five core MPH competency areas, and each has a different geographic focus and delivery format.
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (New Orleans): One of the oldest schools of public health in the country, with concentrations spanning all five core areas. Tulane is widely recognized for strengths in global health, tropical medicine, and health policy research, with partnerships that extend to sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
- LSU Health Sciences Center School of Public Health (New Orleans and Baton Rouge): LSUHSC’s school of public health recently expanded to the Baton Rouge campus, offering an MPH in Epidemiology and Population Health. The program focuses on equipping graduates to address Louisiana’s specific burden of chronic disease, infectious disease, and health disparities.
- LSUS/LSUHS Master of Public Health (Shreveport): A joint program between Louisiana State University Shreveport and LSU Health Shreveport. Available both on-campus in the evenings and fully online. No GRE required. The program emphasizes community-based practice and hands-on learning with regional public health organizations.
If you’re open to online programs from out-of-state institutions, many CEPH-accredited options are available and recognized equally by Louisiana employers. The credential matters more than the state in which the program is based.
MPH Concentrations and Focus Areas
Most programs let you add 10 to 15 credit hours of concentration coursework to your degree, tailoring the MPH to a specific career track. The concentrations available vary by school, but several appear consistently across Louisiana’s accredited programs.
Health Policy: Professionals in this track research, analyze, and help implement health policy at the organizational, state, and federal levels. In Louisiana, this has included work on the statewide Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living, a comprehensive tobacco control program funded by a state excise tax, where policy analysts help evaluate program effectiveness and track legislative changes.
Health Communication: These professionals use evidence-based communications and social marketing to change health behaviors at the population level. Graduates may work with organizations involved in statewide HIV/AIDS prevention and community health initiatives, including programs run through the Louisiana Public Health Institute.
Global Health: Students in this concentration focus on international health systems, cross-border disease control, and global health equity. Graduates pursue roles at organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the CDC’s Global Health Center, and global health-focused nonprofits.
Program Planning and Evaluation: This track builds skills in designing, implementing, and measuring the impact of public health programs. In Louisiana, program planners have worked on large-scale initiatives funded by federal and private sources, managing multi-partner projects across communities affected by oil spills, flooding, and chronic disease.
Salaries and Job Growth for Louisiana Public Health Professionals
The BLS projects strong demand across public health-related occupations through 2034. Careers in epidemiology are growing the fastest in the group, with projected growth of 16 percent over the decade, driven by sustained investment in pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, and chronic disease research. The table below shows national median wages, top-10% wages, and projected job growth for occupations commonly held by MPH graduates.
| Occupation |
Projected Growth (2024–2034) |
Median Annual Wage |
Top 10% Annual Wage |
| Epidemiologists |
16% |
$83,980 |
$134,860 |
| Statisticians |
8% |
$103,300 |
$170,700 |
| Social and Community Service Managers |
6% |
$78,240 |
$129,820 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors |
1% |
$46,110 |
$77,200 |
Actual salaries in Louisiana will vary by employer, sector, and experience. State and local government positions tend to offer stable pay with strong benefits. Nonprofit roles often pay less but come with meaningful work in underserved communities. Federal public health positions may offer higher compensation ranges depending on role, location, and experience.
Career Opportunities for Louisiana Public Health Professionals
Louisiana’s public health sector spans state and local government agencies, academic medical centers, federally funded research programs, and a well-established nonprofit sector. The Louisiana Office of Public Health is one of the state’s largest public health employers, with positions in disease surveillance, environmental health, chronic disease management, and health services administration. The Louisiana Public Health Institute, a nonprofit intermediary that manages population-level health programs, is another major employer for graduates in program planning, health communications, and policy.
Roles that appear regularly in Louisiana public health job listings for MPH graduates include epidemiologist, health policy analyst, community health program manager, disease intervention specialist, and health education coordinator. Academic medical centers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport also hire MPH graduates for research coordination, data analysis, and population health management roles. For graduates interested in federal careers, Louisiana public health professionals may collaborate with federal agencies, including the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Indian Health Service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to complete an MPH program in Louisiana?
Most full-time MPH programs at Louisiana’s CEPH-accredited schools take two years to complete. Accelerated programs can compress that to one year. Part-time students typically take three to four years. All programs require a practicum or capstone, usually completed in the final year of study.
What CEPH-accredited MPH programs are available in Louisiana?
Louisiana has three CEPH-accredited programs: Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LSU Health Sciences Center School of Public Health in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and the LSUS/LSUHS joint MPH program in Shreveport, which offers a fully online option.
Do Louisiana MPH programs require the GRE?
It depends on the program. LSUS/LSUHS does not require the GRE. Tulane and LSUHSC have their own admissions requirements, and policies can change. Check directly with each program you’re applying to for the most current admissions criteria.
What can you do with an MPH degree in Louisiana?
MPH graduates in Louisiana work across epidemiology, health policy, program planning, community health management, and health communications. Major employers include the Louisiana Office of Public Health, the Louisiana Public Health Institute, Tulane and LSU’s health sciences centers, and federally funded programs operating throughout the state.
Do Louisiana public health employers recognize online MPH degrees?
Yes. For many employers, CEPH accreditation is more important than whether the degree was completed online or on campus. Louisiana’s LSUS/LSUHS program offers a fully CEPH-accredited online option, and many accredited out-of-state online programs carry the same recognition with Louisiana employers and agencies.
Key Takeaways
- Louisiana has three CEPH-accredited MPH programs at Tulane, LSUHSC, and LSUS/LSUHS, with campus-based and fully online options available.
- Most MPH programs take two years full-time and require 42 to 60 credit hours, plus a practicum or field placement.
- Epidemiologists are the fastest-growing occupation for MPH graduates, with 16% projected job growth from 2024 to 2034, according to BLS projections.
- The Louisiana Office of Public Health and the Louisiana Public Health Institute are among the state’s largest employers of MPH graduates across epidemiology, program planning, and community health roles.
Comparing accredited MPH programs in Louisiana? Browse programs by location, format, and concentration to find options that fit your goals.
Find Schools Near You
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
May 2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and 2024–2034 job growth projections for Epidemiologists, Statisticians, Social and Community Service Managers, and Rehabilitation Counselors represent national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
