All classes are held in the evening, three days a week (no classes on Friday).

The program does not offer a hybrid option—all classes are in-person only.

Currently the MPH program is not able to accept applications from international students. However, we are working with UCR’s International Students and Scholars Office to assess the feasibility of admission of international students for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Undocumented students are welcome to apply to the MPH Program. They are considered domestic and pay the domestic application fee.

The UCR MPH is not a STEM-designated degree. 

We will consider applications from individuals with undergraduate GPAs below 3.0 on a case-by-case basis. Our holistic admissions process considers the following criteria: 

• Academic performance as reflected in the applicant’s GPA, relevant coursework, Resume/CV, and GRE (optional). 
• Commitment to serving Inland Southern California and/or other medically 
  underserved areas and to promoting health equity. as reflected in the applicant’s personal statement, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and/or resume/CV.
• Insight on and/or experience in working with communities as reflected in the 
  applicant’s personal statement, letters of recommendation, and/or resume/CV.
• Interest in and career goals related to public health as reflected in work, volunteer, and life experiences described in the application, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and/or resume/CV. 

The Admissions Committee will carefully evaluate each applicant’s academic abilities and their potential contributions to the public health workforce, particularly in improving the health of individuals in underserved communities.
 

We recommend that you have at least one letter of recommendation from an academic and at least two from individuals who can evaluate your professional experience. For students who completed their bachelor’s or equivalent degree several years ago, MPH program staff can work with applicants to identify appropriate letters of recommendation based on their educational background and work experience.

The program does not require an interview. 

Please visit the MPH Program Costs page for the most current information related to tuition and fees. 

• Professional fees, which will be charged in future years (estimated at $7000), will be waived for the 2024-2025 academic year (see MPH Program Costs).
• You may qualify for scholarships offered by outside organizations (please see 
  Fellowship Opportunities Outside of UCR at https://graduate.ucr.edu/funding).
• You may have opportunities to serve as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) (see https://graduate.ucr.edu/funding). The Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health anticipates having up to three GSR positions available in the 2024-2025 academic year.
• You may have opportunities to serve as a Teaching Assistant in other degree programs at UCR (see https://graduate.ucr.edu/funding). 
• If you are currently employed, your employer may offer a partial tuition reimbursement program. 
• UCR offers a tuition discount for certain current employees (see #11, below). 

UCR’s Office of Financial Aid (2106 Student Services Building, Riverside, CA 92521, (951) 827-3878) assists students in determining how to handle educational expenses they cannot afford from personal resources. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for need-based loans.

As part of UC benefits, regular-status employees who meet the admission requirements of the university are eligible for a two-thirds reduction of both the systemwide tuition and student services fee when enrolled in regular session courses of up to nine units or three courses per quarter or semester, whichever provides the greater benefit. For more information, please reference the University of California, Riverside − Local Procedure 51: Reduced Fee Enrollment.
 

As a newly established program, the UCR MPH is not yet accredited. Before a program can apply for accreditation, at least one cohort of students must have completed the program. Accreditation, once granted, is retroactive. Our expectation is that retroactive accreditation will apply to the inaugural cohort of MPH students at UCR (i.e., the class entering in the 2024-2025 academic year). 

The program does not reserve slots for UCR students. 

The program does not offer any dual degree options at this time.

Yes! UCR offers a variety of support services for students with disabilities. These include the Academic Resources Center and the Student Disability Resource Center. Students are encouraged to seek these resources early in their academic journey to better understand and accommodate their needs.

The program offers rolling admissions for the Fall of 2024. Students who applied before the priority deadline of April 9th will receive notifications in late spring. Students who apply after April 9th but by the May 17th deadline will be notified early summer.