2016-09-29

The Students Before Profits Award was created to promote nonprofit universities and colleges that offer degrees that put education before the bottom line and students before profits.  For our ranking of the 2017 Online Bachelor’s in Public Health / Health Sciences award winners, we chose online programs from nonprofit colleges and universities, accredited by recognized accreditation boards, with lower than average tuition costs, and have ranked them by affordability.

The field of Public Health is a growing field of study, as well as a promising job market for graduates to enter into.  To begin a career in this field, students must pursue a degree in Public Health or more commonly Health Sciences.  Understanding the realities of the modern student, most would like to enroll in a program that is not only affordable but is also online to allow the flexibility to start a career or to work while taking classes.

A Bachelor’s in Health Sciences / Public Health will provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the organization, structure, and function of modern healthcare systems and healthcare organizations.  This degree focuses on the understanding of public health issues and public health policy, while teaching the analytical skills needed to assess, plan, and implement improved disease prevention strategies and health promotion campaigns.  The Bachelor’s in Health Sciences / Public Health degree is an incredibly flexible degree that allows students many paths to pursue within the growing field of health or to continue their studies further.   Students can immediately enter the workforce working on the local, state, or national level in healthcare organizations or they can continue their education by pursuing a Master’s of Public Health or potentially even a Doctorate of Public Health.

Note that tuition rates listed below are based on cost per credit and individual programs may have additional fees.

#1. West Texas A&M University



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One of the first state-funded schools in Texas,  West Texas A&M University held its first classes in the year in 1910, when the school was still named the West Texas State Normal College.  It wasn’t until 1990 that the school changed its name to West Texas A&M University when it joined the Texas A&M University System.  Located in Canyon, a small city just outside the city of Amarillo, Texas A&M University enrolls nearly 10,000 students across its suburban campus.  The university offers fifty-eight undergraduate programs, and thirty-nine master’s programs currently.  West Texas A&M University is a public institution.

Program Overview

At West Texas A&M University, the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program is offered online through the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.   Through this program students will gain the knowledge needed to begin a career within the field of public health or give them the foundational knowledge to pursue graduate studies in public health.  The curriculum focuses on the planning, administering and evaluation of community-based health services, the conducting of research on the effects of disease across large populations, the design and creation of disease prevention strategies, as well as the creation and implementation of public health campaigns.  This program is offered entirely online and requires no campus visits.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: West Texas A&M University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $34,116

#2. Southern New Hampshire University



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In 1932, husband and wife, Harry and Gertrude Shapiro, opened the the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science, laying the foundation of what would eventually become Southern New Hampshire University.  Once located in downtown Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University relocated along the Merrimack River on the border of Manchester and Hooksett.  Offering hundreds of degree programs,  Southern New Hampshire University currently enrolls over 3,000 students on its physical campus, and enrolls an additional 60,000 students in its massive, online school.   Southern New Hampshire University is a private institution.

Program Overview

Providing a broad foundation in biological and social sciences, Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program prepares its students to enter the workforce as a public health professional.  Through this program students will learn the skills to assess, plan, and evaluate health programs as well as learning strategies for preventing disease and improving the health of health populations.  Offered entirely online, this degree program does not require any campus visits and students do not need prior college credits to enter the program.  A minimum 0f 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $38,400

#3. University of South Dakota

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In 1862, Dakota Territorial Legislature established the University at Vermillion, the foundation that eventually became the University of South Dakota.  This early date of establishment makes the University of South Dakota one of the oldest postsecondary education institutions in both South and North Dakota. It is also the oldest public university in the state. Still located on its initial campus in the small South Dakota town of Vermillion, University of South Dakota has grown to become an integral pillar of the community.   South Dakota’s only law and medical school, as well as the only accredited business school in the state, the University of South Dakota enrolls almost 10,000 students and offers almost 270 degree programs.  The University of South Dakota is a public institution.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree offered through the University of South Dakota’s USD Online program is a interdisciplinary degree program that teaches the variety of skills and subjects needed for a successful career in the field of public health. Upon completion of this program students will be ready to enter the workforce as a health professional or can continue their education through public health graduate studies.  Offered entirely online this program does not require any visits to campus.  Students are also not required to enter the program with prior college credits.    A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: University of South Dakota’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by  the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $46,762

#4. Bellevue University

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Opened as Bellevue College in 1966 with the mission to provide adult education to working adults, Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska.  As the course offerings grew beyond the initial offerings, the school was renamed to Bellevue University to reflect the now larger selection of courses.  Bellevue, Nebraska lies just outside of the city of Omaha, affording students the ability to quickly travel to the city so they choose.  Enrolling over 10,000 students, Bellevue University offers dozens of degree programs through it’s on-campus and online colleges.  Bellevue University is a private institution.

Program Overview

The Bellevue University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences degree affords students an entry way into the ever-expanding field of healthcare and public health.  Following Bellevue University’s history of adult-education, this degree program is designed to teach on-the-job, practical healthcare knowledge.   Students will study health, illness, and prevention strategies for health populations across various communities.  This program is offered entirely online and does not require prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Bellevue University’s Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $52,070

#5. Kent State University

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Eventually being renamed to the simpler Kent State University, the Ohio State Normal College at Kent was established in 1910.  Over one-hundred years later, Kent State University has grown beyond the confines of its initial Kent, Ohio campus to to seven other regional campuses in Ashtabula, Burton, East Liverpool, Jackson Township, New Philadelphia, Sale, and Warren.  Named after William S. Kent, son of Marvin Kent who founded the city, Kent State is located in the Kent, Ohio – a small city north of Akron that lies along the Cuyahoga River.  Kent State University now enrolls a student body of over 41,000 degree programs.   The school also maintains campuses in Florence, New York City, and Shanghai.  Kent State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered through Kent State’s College of Public Health, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Health Promotion and Education degree program teaches students health promotion and education in order to help populations achieve their optimal health level through education and encouragement of adoption of healthy behaviors.  Students in the program will learn prevention strategies that work on the community level that will best help to promote healthy habits and behaviors. This program is made available entirely online and does not require prior college credits. A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Kent State University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Health Promotion and Education is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $54,720

#6. Northeastern University

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Opened as the Evening Institute for Younger Men in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern University’s history dates back to the year 1898.  Renamed in the year 1923, Northeastern University has remained in the city of Boston since its founding.  Northeastern University has also established satellite campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina; Seattle, Washington; and Silicon Valley, California.  Carnegie Classification of Institutions of higher Education has also categorized school with its highest designation for research activity.  The school enrolls nearly 25,000 students and offers its students 190 different undergraduate and graduate programs.  Northeastern University is a private institution.

Program Overview

At Northeastern University, students can enroll in the Bachelor of Science Health Management degree through the school’s online distance education program.  This program is designed to teach future healthcare professionals the functions and processes of healthcare and healthcare systems.  Students will learn the necessary competencies required to properly manage healthcare programs, as well as understand public health issues and create intervention campaigns and strategies to deal with these issues.  This program is entirely online are does not require and prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Northeastern University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Management is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Tuition: $60,825

#7. Ohio State University

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Founded as part of the Morill Act, Ohio State University opened under the name Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1870.  Created to train students for jobs in agriculture, the school’s focus began to shift as then Governor Rutherford B. Hayes steered the school towards becoming a comprehensive university.  In 1870, the school was renamed.  Now, Ohio State University has grown to become the third largest university in the United States.  The main campus is still located in Columbus, but has expanded to the nearby cities of Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, and Wooster.  Currently enrolling almost 65,000 students, the school offers over two-hundred programs to choose from.  Ohio State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program offered through Ohio State University’s online program will learn essential skills and information to prepare them to enter the field as a health professional or prepare for continued education through graduate degree programs.  This degree program will familiarize students with the healthcare field, as well as teach them how to understand current public health trends.  This degree program is offered entirely online and requires no campus visits.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Ohio State University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $62,292

#8. Youngstown State University

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Youngstown State University’s history dates back to 1908, when a local YMCA branch opened the Youngstown Association School.  Initially only a law school, the curriculum broadened over the next fifty years until it was broad enough to qualify it for university-status, which the school received in 1967 – a long with a name change.  Locating in the Ohio city of Youngstown, the majority of the campus occupies the downtown metropolitan area.   Currently the school enrolls over 15,000 students and offers many programs of study to its student body.  Youngstown State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Part of the eYSU distance education program at Youngstown State University, the Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Public Health degree is offered in a completely online format.  Designed to be completed in just eight semesters, the program is also made available in three minors; Public Health, Community Health Planning and Promotion, and Environmental Health and Safety. This degree program will prepare students to begin a career as a health professional, or can serve as the foundation for continued graduate studies in public health.  Students who complete this program will also be eligible to become a Certified Health Education Specialist. A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Youngstown State University’s Bachelor of Science in Applied Science, Public Health is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $62,400

#9. University of Florida

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Its oldest part dating back to 1853 as the East Florida Seminary in Ocala, Florida, the University of Florida really started to resemble the institution that it is today when three other schools in the state consolidated to form the University of the State of Florida in the year 1905.  Having grown a lot since then, the University of Florida still operates out of its home in Gainesville – a central Florida college town.  Now home to nearly 53,000 students, the University of Florida ranks as the eight largest single-campus university in the nation.  The school offers almost 330 different plans of study for its massive student body to choose from.   The University of Florida is a public institution.

Program Overview

As part of the University of Florida’s UF Online distance-education program, the Bachelor of Science in Health Education & Behavior degree program is meant to teach students the training needed to promote health lifestyle.  The program also focuses on health disparities and the necessary culturally appropriate education methods to overcome those disparities.  This program is offered entirely online allowing students to pursue their professional careers without interruption.  Students are not required to enter the program with prior college credits.   A minimum of 120 credit hours are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: University of Florida’s Bachelor of Science in Health Education & Behavior is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $66,314

#10. Arizona State University

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Enrolling over 82,000 students, Arizona State University’s enormous student body ranks it squarely at the top of the list of largest public universities in the United States.  Incorporating the “New American University” values,  Arizona State University prides itself not on who it excludes, but who it includes and what they can bring forth from them.  Established in Tempe, Arizona as the Territorial Normal School in 1885, the university has grown massively since its opening.  Still headquartered in the city of Tempe, the campus has expanded to five campuses across the metropolitan area of Phoenix.  Classified with “very high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, students can choose from over 350 different degree programs.  Arizona State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered entirely online, Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Health Sciences is designed for current working professionals who would like to pursue continued education in health sciences.  This degree program is designed to teach students health and wellness topics.  Students will also learn skills needed to analyze current public health issues and learn how to create and implement health promotion and disease prevention campaigns to better educate the public to to promote public health.  A minimum of 120 credit hours are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $75,000

#11. Mississippi University for Women

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In 1884, the Mississippi Legislature passed legislation that established the Mississippi University for Women and in doing so, created the first public college for women in the United States.   Opened to prepare women for employment as well as teach liberal arts, the school taught its first class of students on what had been the campus Columbus Female Institute, a no-longer operating private college.  In 1982, the school began enrolling men to the school.  Located in Columbus, Mississippi, a small, historic city on the Tombigbee River, the school enrolls just under 2,500 students.  The school offers its students over fifty different areas of study. The Mississippi University for Women is a public institution.

Program Overview

At the Mississippi University for Women, students can enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education program made available online through the school’s distance-education program.  Focusing on disease prevention strategies and health promotion techniques, students will gain a strong foundational understanding of the core competencies needed for a successful career in public health.  Students will learn how to participate in the improvement of community health through both the public and private sector.  This program is made available entirely online and students do not need any prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: Mississippi University for Women’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $79,620

#12. University of Missouri

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Often times referred to as Mizzou, the University of Missouri – Columbia enrolls over 35,000 students currently.  While the exact origin of the name clipping “Mizzou” is unknown, the name clipping dates back to at least 1905.  The University of Missouri – Columbia was founded in 1839 when the Geyer Act was passed by Missouri Legislature, making the school the first public university west of the Mississippi River.  Now, the school has grown to become the largest school in the entire state, offering its student body over 300 different degree programs to choose from of which almost ninety are made available online.  The beautifully landscaped University of Missouri – Columbia is located in the heart of the busy college town of Columbia, Missouri. University of Missouri – Columbia is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered through the University of Missouri’s Mizzou Online distance-education program, the Health Sciences: Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion program was created to let students who are currently working to complete a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.   Students in this program will learn health sciences principles that can be applied to a future career in public health or further studying in the field of Public through graduate-level pursuits. This program is a degree-completion program and requires that students enter with prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program; this program requires 90 credits hours of transfer credits.

Accreditation: University of Missouri’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Committee (HLC).

Tuition: $10,641*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 30 credit hours and requires an additional 90 credit hours of transfer credits.

#13. Pacific University

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Originally named Tualatin Academy,  Pacific University was established in 1849.  Founded in Forest Grove, a small city just outside of Portland, Oregon, Pacific University has remained in this city since its creation, while having expanded out to other campuses to accommodate growth.    Pacific University was founded by the United Church of Christ but has since operated independently of the church, while still maintaining a close relationship to the church.  Now, the school is home to over 3,500 students.  Offering more than fifty fields of study to choose from, Pacific University focuses on liberal arts education across its Forest Grove, Eugene, and Woodburn campuses.  Pacific University is a private institution.

Program Overview

Through the distance education program at Pacific University, students can enroll in the Bachelor of Health Science program to continue their education and prepare for work or further studying in the field of public health.   Designed to accommodate the busy schedule of working adults, the program is delivered entirely online through interactive, live sessions.  The course is built around a cohort-style of class structure which creates an environment that helps students to foster working relationships.  This program is a degree-completion program and requires that students enter the program with an associate’s degree.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program; this program requires an associate’s degree.

Accreditation: Pacific University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Tuition: $18,200*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 40 credit hours and requires an additional 80 credit hours of transfer credits.

#14. University of Cincinnati

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Upon its opening in 1819, the University of Cincinnati began its legacy of being a pillar of the Ohio city from which it gets its name.  Opened as Cincinnati College. it wasn’t until 1870 that the name was changed to the University of Cincinnati.  Also, originally residing on Clifton Avenue, the school later moved to its current location within the Heights neighborhood.  Finally, in 1977 the school was made a state institution.  Now the school has a student body of over 45,000 which makes it the second largest in Ohio, and one of the fifty largest in the United States.   Designated as a NSA Cyber Operations Center of Academic Excellence, the University of Cincinnati has also been recognizes as a Tier One research university per Carnegie.  This space-grant receiving school offers its students just over 350 different programs of study.  University of Cincinnati is a public institution.

Program Overview

To prepare students for the field of public health or to continue into a graduate program in Public Health, the University of Cincinnati offers a Bachelor Science in Health Sciences – Behavior & Occupation Studies through the university’s distance-learning initiatives.   Through teaching principles of nutrition, health, and physiology as well as studies of populations behaviors students will receive the background needed to properly compete and succeed within the field of public health, as well as the necessary knowledge needed to excel in future graduate programs.  This program is a degree-completion program and requires students to enter with prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credits are needed to complete this program; this program requires 60 credits hours of transfer credits.

Accreditation: University of Cincinnati’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences – Behavior & Occupation Studies is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $28,860*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 60 credit hours and requires an additional 60 credit hours of transfer credits.

#15. University of Arizona

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Predating Arizona’s statehood, the University of Arizona was established in 1885 in what was, at the time, still just a United States Territory.   Established through the Morill Land-Grant Act, the Arizona Territory’s legislature designated its location to be in the sunny city of Tucson.  Still remaining in its initial location of Tucson, the University of Arizona has grown drastically in size and is now home to more than 42,000 students.  The University of Arizona campus has also grown to include the Banner University Medical Center Tucson.  As a premier research university, University of Arizona offers its students over 330 different programs of study.  University of Arizona is a public institution.

Program Overview

As part of the Mel & End Zuckerman College of Public Health, students enrolled in the Online Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program at the University of Arizona will have access to the same on-campus curriculum via distance-learning technologies.  In this program students will be introduced to major public health competencies needed to succeed in a public health-related career.   By applying a population-based approach to topics such as disease prevention, community education, and health disparities among populations, students will gain an understanding of public health that can prepare them to enter the workforce or continue their studies of public health.  This program is a degree-completion program and requires students to enter the program with prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credit are required to complete this program; this program requires 60 credit hours of transfer credits.

Accreditation: University of Arizona’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $32,415*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 60 credit hours and requires an additional 60 credit hours of transfer credits.

#16. University of West Florida

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Situated in a natural woodland along the Escambia River, the University of West Florida’s main campus resides just north of downtown Pensacola.  Opened in 1963, the University of West Florida is enrolls approximately 13,000 students.  The university offers forty-five undergraduate programs and twenty-five different master’s programs.  The University of Florida is also known for its incredibly robust online campus, which offers 400 different courses online and almost thirty degree programs entirely online.  University of West Florida is a public institution.

Program Overview

Offered through the University of West Florida’s online campus, the Bachelor of Sciences in Health Sciences – Public Health degree program is created for undergraduate students who are interested to pursue studies in public health and health care. To prepare students for careers as healthcare administrators and health professionals, as well as to prepare those interested in continued graduate studies in public health, students will learn the core competencies offered throughout the course.  This program is a degree-completion program and requires students to enter the program with previous college credits. A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program.

Accreditation: University of West Florida’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $38,880*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 60 credit hours and requires an additional 60 credit hours of transfer credits.

#17. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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In 1891, North Carolina state legislature established the State Normal and Industrial School, a women’s college, that later would eventually become the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.   It was the year 1963 in which the school changed its name to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro when it accepted its first male students.   Originally located on West Lee Street, the school expanded throughout the downtown area, and to this day the campus and downtown Greensboro remain intertwined.  Now the student body has grown to nearly 20,000 students across their sprawling downtown campus.  Students at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro can pick from over 100 different areas of study.   The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Program Overview

At University of North Carolina at Greensboro, students can enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health: Health Studies made available through the university’s distance-education program.   Designed to help students start a career within the public health job sector, students will learn principles of health promotion, disease prevention, and population health analysis.  Through their studies in this program, students will gain the insights and abilities to assess future public health crises and design information campaigns to educate the public on prevention.  This program is a degree-completion program and requires that students enter the program with prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credits are needed to complete this program; this program requires 72 credit hours of transfer credits.

Accreditation: University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $43,680*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 48 credit hours and requires an additional 72 credit hours of transfer credits.

#18. Northern Arizona University

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Having earned the remarks of “high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Northern Arizona State University is one of the premier research universities in the state of Arizona.  Established in 1899 under the name Northern Arizona Normal School, Northern Arizona State University was created to educate teachers in the state of Arizona.  Later in the year 1966, the school was granted university status by the Arizona Board of Regents and the name of the college was changed to its current name, the Northern Arizona Normal School.  The schools main campus is tucked away in the ponderosa pine forests of Flagstaff, Arizona. Home to nearly 28,000 studetns, Northern Arizona University offers over 250 different programs to choose from.  Northern Arizona University is a public institution.

Program Overview

Available through Northern Arizona University’s extended online campus, the Online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Public Health degree program prepares students with broad concepts of public health-related disciplines as well as introduces concepts integral to continued education through graduate programs.  Through this program, students will learn about health promotion, how to develop and evaluate health promotion campaigns as well as disease prevention strategies for health populations.  This curriculum also covers discussions on ethical and professional practice and conduct within the public health field, a topic of great importance due to the sensitivity of health information, as well as the importance of proper practice when discussing health.  This degree-completion program is offered entirely online but does require prior college credits to enter.  A minimum of 120 credits are required to complete this program; this program requires 64 credits hours of transfer credits.

Accreditation: Northern Arizona University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences: Public Health is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Tuition: $46,648*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 56 credit hours and requires an additional 64 credit hours of transfer credits.

#19. Appalachian State University

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Located in the beautiful and sometimes snowy mountain town of Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State was founded in the year 1889 when two brothers, Dauphin D. Dougherty and Blanford B. Dougherty, led a group of citizens to create a school to provide better education for teachers in the area.  To achieve this goal, the Dougherty brothers opened Watauga Academy that fall.  After four successful years, Watauga Academy was granted state funding and became the Appalachian Training School for Teachers.  Later, in 1967, the school was remade into a multipurpose university and renamed to Appalachian State University.  Now, the school enrolls over 19,000 students and offers over 200 different degree programs.  Appalachian State University is a public institution.

Program Overview

At Appalachian State University, the Department of Health and Exercise offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion, a degree designed to prepare students for a position in public health promotion or to prepare them to continue their education by way of a Master’s of Public Health or even a Doctorate of Public Health.  In this program students will be trained in how to address current public health issues such as obesity, smoking, and drug abuse.  By taking this program students will become prepared for jobs within public health agencies, hospitals, as well as voluntary agencies and health promotion organizations.  Offered online and only as a degree-completion program, students will need prior college credits.  A minimum of 120 credit hours are needed to complete this program; this program requires 30 transfer credits.

Accreditation: Appalachian State University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Tuition: $55,800*

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 90 credit hours and requires an additional 30 credit hours of transfer credits.

#20. National University

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In 1972, National University was established by Lieutenant Commander David Chigos to help current working adults to gain access to higher education.  Now located in La Jolla, California, National University’s first campus was located in San Diego.  Committed to its history of catering to the working professional, National University offers its classes at night and on the weekends, as well as online, to avoid as much interference with the nine-to-five work day as possible.  The second largest school in California, and the twelfth largest private, non-profit university in the nation,  National University enrolled over 24,000 students in their 130 degree programs offered.  National University is a private institution.

Program Overview

Offered through the School of Health and Health Services at National University, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is designed to help get students started on their way to becoming a successful public health professional. Students in this course will learn the basic core principles of public health, learn how to understand and determine the factors that influence population morbidity and mortality, as well as describe and assess the variables that influence the health disparities in different health populations.   Offered through their distance education program, this program is degree-completion program and requires students to enter the program with general education credits.  A minimum of 180 quarter units are required to complete this program; this program requires 45 transfer units.

Accreditation: National University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Tuition: $56,140

*This is a degree-completion program.  Transfer credits are required to complete this program.  This program is 135 units and requires an additional 45 units of transfer units.

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