Many accredited online MPH programs have dropped the GRE entirely, not as a temporary waiver but as a permanent policy change. These programs use holistic review instead, weighing work experience, GPA, and personal statements. This guide covers seven partner programs with confirmed no-GRE policies, including CEPH-accredited options from nationally recognized public health schools.
The GRE has been quietly removed from MPH admissions at some of the country’s most recognized programs. The University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, which consistently ranks among the top programs in the nation, explains the decision plainly in its admissions FAQ: the GRE requirement was dropped to make admissions more equitable. George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health did the same, and the pattern has spread across accredited programs of all sizes. These weren’t pandemic stopgap measures. They’re permanent policy changes, and more programs have followed since.
If you’re planning to apply for an online MPH to advance your public health career and don’t want to spend months preparing for a standardized test, that’s no longer the barrier it used to be. This guide covers seven accredited online programs that do not require GRE scores for admission. Before the list, there’s a short section clarifying what “no GRE required” actually means, because the language varies and the distinctions matter for your application strategy. Program policies and accreditation statuses in this guide were verified in June 2026 and are subject to change, so confirm current requirements directly with each school before applying.
What “No GRE Required” Actually Means
Three different policies get grouped under the “no GRE” umbrella, and they’re not the same thing. Knowing which type of program a program uses helps you plan your application correctly.
Three GRE Policy Types, Defined
No GRE Required means the program has removed test scores as an admissions requirement. Within this category, policies vary: some programs don’t accept scores at all, while others review them if submitted voluntarily but don’t require or expect them. George Washington University’s program, for example, states clearly that no GRE is required, but will accept optional scores if an applicant believes they strengthen the application. The common thread across all programs in this guide is the same: you will not be rejected for failing to submit a GRE score. The
GRE Optional typically refers to programs that explicitly invite score submission as part of a holistic review, weighing it alongside other materials without penalizing applicants who don’t submit. If your scores are strong, they may help. If they’re average or below, skipping the submission is typically the right move.
Conditional Waiver means the GRE requirement is dropped only if you meet specific criteria, such as a minimum undergraduate GPA or a set number of years of professional experience. If you don’t meet those conditions, the GRE is still required. Always read the waiver conditions before assuming you qualify.
None of the seven programs in this guide requires GRE scores for admission. Six out of seven don’t use scores in their review unless voluntarily submitted. GW accepts optional scores. Nonetheless, they are required as a condition of application.
Why MPH Programs Have Dropped the GRE
Multiple factors drove the shift. Research has consistently found that GRE scores correlate more strongly with race, gender, and socioeconomic status than with research performance metrics or degree completion in graduate school. A 2021 peer-reviewed review in Education Sciences (Roberts et al.) documented this pattern specifically in the context of graduate admissions equity. For public health programs in particular, that’s a problem. Public health as a field is built on equity and community access. An admissions process that screens heavily on standardized test performance tends to screen out exactly the kinds of candidates the field needs more of.
The pandemic accelerated what was already happening. According to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), in the 2021 admissions cycle, 59% of SOPHAS-participating schools and programs did not require GRE scores for MPH admission, up from 16% the year prior. A 2022 study from Boston University’s School of Public Health analyzed three admissions cycles before and after the elimination of the GRE from its MPH program. Required-course pass rates were 93.5% before GRE removal and 94.5% after. Employment within six months of graduation was 93.1% before and 93.8% after. The researchers concluded there was no decline in quality and recommended that other programs consider the same change.
How These Programs Were Selected
To appear in this guide, each program had to meet four criteria. First, active enrollment in an online MPH or equivalent public health master’s program. Second, a confirmed no-GRE policy, not optional and not conditional on meeting a GPA threshold. Third, fully or primarily online delivery to serve working professionals and students without access to residential programs. Fourth, partner status with PublicHealthOnline.org, meaning the school has been reviewed for inclusion.
One additional note: Liberty University is included in this guide even though it doesn’t offer a branded Master of Public Health. Its graduate programs in healthcare management, public administration in health, and related fields serve public health career paths, and the no-GRE policy is institution-wide. The Liberty profile below explains which credentials those programs align with and when an accredited MPH may be the better choice.
Online Public Health and Healthcare Master’s Programs Without the GRE
The seven profiles below cover CEPH-accredited MPH programs and, in Liberty University’s case, healthcare-related master’s degrees. All programs are online and accept applications without GRE scores. The Liberty profile notes where an accredited MPH may be the better credential choice for specific career goals.
George Washington University: Master of Public Health (MPH@GW)
Degree: Master of Public Health | School: Milken Institute School of Public Health | Accreditation: CEPH-accredited | GRE: Not required; optional scores accepted | Format: Online, typically four start dates per year (January, April, July, and September)
George Washington University’s online MPH was one of the first nationally ranked programs to make a clear, unambiguous statement: no GRE scores required. The admissions page says indirectly that applicants may still submit optional scores if they believe they strengthen their application. But the program’s holistic review is built to function without them. That matters because GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health is located within a major research university and in proximity to federal health agencies, policy organizations, and global health institutions in Washington, D.C. The program isn’t a backup option for applicants who couldn’t get their GRE scores together. It’s a deliberate policy from one of the most connected public health schools in the country.
The MPH@GW curriculum is built around CEPH’s foundational competencies with concentration options including health policy, global health, and environmental and occupational health. The program uses a cohort-based online structure, meaning students move through coursework with a defined group rather than on a fully self-paced schedule. For students without traditional STEM or health science backgrounds, the holistic admissions review weighs professional experience, writing quality, and career direction in detail. A personal statement that shows specific familiarity with a public health problem and a clear sense of how the degree fits your path can carry significant weight.
University of North Carolina: Online Master of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health | School: Gillings School of Global Public Health | Accreditation: CEPH-accredited | GRE: Not required | Format: Online
UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health is one of a small number of CEPH-accredited public health schools with a decades-long national research reputation. Its online MPH carries that reputation into a fully remote format with no campus residency requirement. The GRE removal is stated on the program site and confirmed in the admissions FAQ with direct language: the school dropped the requirement to foster a more equitable, diverse, and accessible admissions process. That context matters when evaluating what “no GRE” means at a program like this. It wasn’t a concession to enrollment pressure. It was a deliberate decision by a school with enough standing to set standards rather than follow them.
The online MPH at UNC draws on the Gillings faculty and curriculum, covering core public health competencies alongside concentration options in areas such as public health leadership, maternal and child health, and nutrition. The program is designed to be completed without disrupting a professional career, and applicants from non-traditional backgrounds are actively considered. If you’re applying from a clinical, social services, or community health background rather than a public health research role, the personal statement is your primary tool for connecting your experience to the field.
Ohio University: Online Master of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health | School: College of Health Sciences and Professions | Accreditation: CEPH-accredited | GRE: Not required (GMAT also not required) | Format: Online, three start dates per year (Spring, Summer, Fall)
Ohio University’s online MPH stands out for a practical reason beyond the no-GRE policy: three enrollment start dates per year, in the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. Most accredited MPH programs admit once annually, which can mean a six- to nine-month wait after deciding to apply. Ohio University’s model gives prospective students more control over when they begin, which matters for working professionals whose timing is driven by job changes, family schedules, or other external factors. The CEPH-accredited program doesn’t require GRE or GMAT scores, and the curriculum is framed around real-world application rather than purely research preparation.
Core coursework covers the five foundational public health disciplines: biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, and environmental health sciences. Students also complete applied practice experiences that place coursework in the context of actual community health challenges. The program tends to attract applicants from healthcare delivery, social services, and community work roles who want to move into population-level work. The admissions process weighs professional background and motivation alongside academic history, and the absence of GRE requirements is built into that framework rather than being an exception.
Benedictine University: Online Master of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health | School: Benedictine University | Accreditation: CEPH-accredited | GRE: Not required (GMAT also not required) | Format: Online | Additional: No application fee
Benedictine University removes two common application barriers at once: no GRE requirement and no application fee. For prospective students who are applying to multiple programs, application fees add up quickly. Removing that cost, along with the test requirement, makes Benedictine one of the most accessible CEPH-accredited programs to apply to, without that accessibility reflecting on program quality. CEPH accreditation is the relevant credential signal. Benedictine’s online MPH meets the same competency standards and accreditation criteria as programs at larger research universities, because the accreditation process evaluates curriculum, faculty, and outcomes rather than institutional size or prestige.
The Benedictine online MPH covers core public health competencies with a community health focus and includes an applied practice experience component. The program’s smaller cohort model means more direct faculty interaction than some of the larger online programs on this list. For prospective students who want more than a transactional course-completion experience, that cohort structure can be a meaningful differentiator. The program is designed for working adults, and the online format reflects that, with asynchronous coursework built around professional schedules.
Walden University: Online Master of Public Health
Degree: Master of Public Health | School: College of Health Sciences | Accreditation: CEPH-accredited through July 1, 2032 | GRE: Not required | Format: Online, flexible pacing
Walden University’s Master of Public Health program is CEPH-accredited and designed specifically for working adults who need flexibility in how and when they study. Walden first earned CEPH accreditation in 2019 and received continued accreditation through July 1, 2032. The program benefits from Walden’s infrastructure as one of the larger online universities in the country: robust online resources, student support services, and a network of working professionals across health and human services fields. Concentration options allow students to tailor their degree toward specific career paths rather than completing a uniform curriculum regardless of their background or goals.
The admissions process evaluates academic history and professional background rather than test performance. For career changers entering public health from nursing, social work, clinical care, or community health roles, the no-GRE policy removes a barrier that research suggests doesn’t predict graduate success anyway. The program’s CEPH accreditation means its graduates meet the same foundational competency standards as MPH holders from programs at traditional research universities.
Southern New Hampshire University: Master of Public Health
Degrees: Master of Public Health (MPH) and MPH in Global Health | School: Southern New Hampshire University | Accreditation: CEPH-accredited through December 31, 2028 (general and global health concentrations) | GRE: Not required for any online master’s program | Format: Online | Additional: No application fee
Southern New Hampshire University’s approach is university-wide rather than program-specific: GRE and GMAT scores are not required for admission to any of its online master’s programs, which include both MPH tracks. This isn’t a single-program carveout. It’s a system-level policy built around access. SNHU also charges no application fee, removing two of the most common early barriers to applying. Both the standard MPH and the Global Health concentration are CEPH-accredited, a distinction that matters to employers and credentialing bodies that specifically recognize CEPH credentials.
The Global Health concentration is worth considering for students interested in international public health work, cross-border disease surveillance, or global health policy. Having two distinct CEPH-accredited MPH tracks at the same institution with the same no-GRE and no-fee policy is uncommon. SNHU also publishes clear tuition information, which matters for students comparing programs in terms of admissions accessibility and total cost. At 42 credits, SNHU’s MPH is on the shorter end of the credit-hour range for accredited programs.
Liberty University: Online Master’s Degrees in Healthcare and Public Health
Degrees: Healthcare Management; Public Administration in Health; Health Informatics; Healthcare Administration (graduate level) | School: Liberty University | GRE: Not required for any online master’s program | Format: Online, multiple start dates
Liberty University doesn’t offer a program branded as a Master of Public Health. Still, its graduate programs in healthcare management, public administration in health, health informatics, and healthcare administration serve public health career goals for students working in or transitioning into administrative, policy, or informatics roles. The no-GRE policy applies across all of Liberty’s online master’s programs as a university-wide standard, and multiple start dates give students flexibility on timing. Liberty is one of the largest online universities in the country, and its scale translates into substantial support infrastructure and a wide alum network in healthcare fields.
A note for students specifically targeting roles that list a Master of Public Health as a preferred credential: review job descriptions carefully before choosing a healthcare administration or management degree over a traditional MPH. The two degrees serve overlapping but distinct purposes in the public health job market. For roles in healthcare operations, hospital administration, health informatics systems, or policy administration, Liberty’s programs are a strong fit. For roles at public health departments, CDC or NIH positions, or programs requiring CEPH-recognized degrees, an accredited MPH from another program on this list is likely the stronger choice.
The table below summarizes each program’s degree name and accreditation status as verified in June 2026. All seven programs confirmed that there is no GRE requirement at the time of publication. Verify current policies directly with each school before applying.
School
Degree
Accreditation
George Washington University
Master of Public Health (MPH)
CEPH-accredited
University of North Carolina
Master of Public Health (MPH)
CEPH-accredited
Ohio University
Master of Public Health (MPH)
CEPH-accredited
Benedictine University
Master of Public Health (MPH)
CEPH-accredited
Walden University
Master of Public Health (MPH)
CEPH-accredited
Southern New Hampshire University
MPH / MPH in Global Health
CEPH-accredited
Liberty University
Healthcare master’s programs
Regionally accredited
How to Choose the Right Program for You
Without GRE scores as a sorting mechanism, the decision shifts to factors that matter more in the long run anyway.
Accreditation. CEPH accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health is the primary quality signal for MPH programs. CEPH-accredited programs are built around defined national competency standards and are widely recognized by public health employers, government agencies, and licensing bodies. If you’re targeting roles at state or local health departments, federal agencies, or international organizations, a CEPH-accredited degree is typically the preferred credential. As of June 2026, six of the seven programs in this guide hold CEPH accreditation for their MPH programs: GW, UNC Gillings, Ohio University, Benedictine University, Walden University, and SNHU. Liberty University’s programs are regionally accredited, but are not MPH programs and do not hold the CEPH designation.
Format and pacing. All seven programs here are online, but they differ in how courses are delivered. Cohort-based programs move students through a set sequence with scheduled deadlines and built-in peer interaction. Self-paced programs let you work on your own schedule, which suits professionals with irregular hours or high-demand jobs. Think honestly about which structure will keep you on track before choosing.
Concentration alignment. MPH programs offer concentrations ranging from epidemiology and health policy to global health and maternal and child health. The concentration you choose shapes the skills you graduate with and the types of roles you’re positioned for. A health policy concentration fits government and nonprofit policy roles. Global health concentrations are relevant for international work, NGO positions, or careers in global disease surveillance. Match the concentration to the work you want to do, not just the school’s name.
Total cost. Tuition varies significantly across these programs. Beyond the cost per credit, look at total credit hours required, financial aid availability, and whether any employer tuition assistance applies. Our guide to scholarships and financial aid for public health students covers funding options that may help offset the cost of your degree.
Building a Strong Application Without GRE Scores
With the GRE removed from the review process, admissions committees rely more heavily on other application components. Here’s what carries the most weight based on how these programs describe their holistic review criteria.
Public health work experience. Relevant professional experience consistently ranks among the most important factors. It doesn’t need to be titled “public health.” Community health workers, healthcare administrators, epidemiology assistants, policy analysts, clinical nurses, and social workers all bring directly transferable backgrounds. Be specific in your application about what you did and what population-level problem it connected to.
Undergraduate GPA. Most programs use a 3.0 GPA as a baseline threshold. If yours is below that, several of these programs allow you to address it directly in your personal statement. Recent professional performance, graduate coursework, or post-bacc credits can also offset an older GPA that doesn’t reflect your current academic capability.
Personal statement. Without GRE scores, the personal statement carries more weight than it does in traditional admissions. Programs want to understand why you’re entering public health, what you bring to the field from your current background, and where you plan to take the degree. Specific is better than general. A statement that connects your work history to a defined public health problem and articulates a clear career direction is more compelling than one that expresses general interest in helping communities.
Letters of recommendation. Strong letters from supervisors, professors, or public health professionals who can speak to your capacity for graduate-level work matter more when test scores aren’t present as a signal. A letter from someone who supervised your work on a real public health project or in a health services setting is more useful than a generic academic reference. If you’re also weighing the MPH against other graduate credentials, our comparison of the MPH vs. MSW covers how the two degrees differ in scope, career outcomes, and admission requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are MPH programs without GRE requirements less rigorous?
No. GRE requirements and program rigor are separate things. Several programs on this list, including George Washington University and UNC Gillings, are among the most academically respected MPH programs in the country. The GRE measures standardized test performance, not graduate school readiness or professional success in public health. Removing it doesn’t change the curriculum, faculty credentials, or competency standards the program uses.
Can I still submit GRE scores if I think they’ll help my application?
It depends on the specific program. Some “no GRE required” programs will still accept optional scores if you believe they strengthen your application. Others have removed GRE scores from their review process entirely and won’t consider them even if submitted. Check each program’s admissions page directly to understand its policy on unsolicited score submissions before making a decision.
What is CEPH accreditation, and why does it matter for an MPH?
The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits schools and programs of public health in the United States. Holding a degree from a CEPH-accredited program signals to employers and credentialing bodies that the curriculum met recognized national competency standards. For roles at federal agencies, state health departments, or international public health organizations, CEPH accreditation is often listed as a preferred or required credential. Verify a program’s current accreditation status directly at ceph.org before enrolling.
How long does it take to complete an online MPH program?
Most full-time online MPH programs can be completed in two years. Part-time options typically take three to four years, depending on credit load. Some programs offer accelerated tracks for students with qualifying prior graduate work or professional credentials. Total credit requirements typically range from 42 to 48 credits across CEPH-accredited programs.
What’s the difference between an MPH and a master’s in healthcare administration?
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is practice-oriented and focused on population-level health, epidemiology, health policy, and community health programs. Healthcare administration master’s programs focus on organizational management, hospital operations, and health systems leadership. The two degrees serve overlapping but distinct career paths. Roles at public health agencies, research institutions, and policy organizations typically prefer or require the MPH. Roles in hospital leadership, clinic administration, and health systems management typically align better with healthcare administration credentials.
Key Takeaways
GRE policy language matters: “no GRE required” is not the same as “GRE optional” or a conditional waiver. None of the seven programs in this guide requires GRE scores, but GW accepts optional submissions.
As of June 2026, six of the seven programs hold CEPH accreditation for their MPH programs: GW, UNC Gillings, Ohio University, Benedictine University, Walden University (through July 1, 2032), and SNHU (through December 31, 2028). Accreditation is subject to renewal. Verify current status at ceph.org before enrolling.
Programs dropped the GRE for research-backed equity reasons, not to lower standards. A 2022 Boston University School of Public Health study found no decline in student quality or employment outcomes after eliminating the GRE from its MPH program.
Without GRE scores, your personal statement and work experience carry the most weight. Specific professional experience tied to a defined public health problem is more valuable than a general interest statement.
Liberty University’s programs are in healthcare management and administration degrees, not branded MPH programs, and not CEPH-accredited. Review job descriptions carefully to confirm which credentials align with your target roles before applying.
Exploring accredited MPH programs that fit your schedule and career goals? Browse partner programs and request information from schools that match your needs.
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
