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Cornell University

Public Health

Sustainability. Equity. Engagement.

FAQs

Admissions

Does the Cornell MPH Program use the SOPHAS application portal?

Yes, you must apply to the Cornell MPH Program via the SOPHAS application portal AND complete the Cornell University Graduate School Quick Application 

What is the application fee?

The SOPHAS application fee is $140 for your first program selection + $50 for each additional one. The Cornell Graduate School Quick Application fee is $40.

What are the GPA requirements for admission into the program?

An undergraduate degree from an accredited university with GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred.

Is the GRE required for admission into the program?

The GRE is not required.

Is the MPH Program STEM-eligible for international students?

As of Fall 2021, our Program is STEM-eligible.

I am an international student; am I required to demonstrate English language proficiency to apply to the MPH Program?

With very few exceptions, international applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores to the Graduate School. Minimum scores must be met to meet the Cornell Graduate School enrollment requirements.

The minimum scores are as follows:

TOEFL

  • Speaking: 22
  • Reading: 20
  • Listening: 15
  • Writing: 20

IELTS

Overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS Academic exam.

For additional information, please visit the English Language Requirements page.

Funding

What types of funding resources are available to assist me if I decide to come to Cornell?

For more information, please visit our funding page.

Does the MPH Program offer fully funded assistantships or scholarships?

No, we do not have fully funded assistantships available, and our scholarship, if awarded, is a partial scholarship to offset some of the tuition costs.

How can I apply for a scholarship through the MPH Program?

Admitted students can apply for an MPH scholarship by emailing cornellmph@cornell.edu to request a scholarship application. The application requires a one-page essay (maximum) on at least one of the following:

  • Detailing their financial situation to include the following: how you are currently paying for college; difficulties that you have in meeting your financial needs; impact a scholarship would have on your education; and/or any special circumstances.
  • Explaining that they have: lived and worked (paid or volunteer) in an under-served area (U.S. or international); developed an understanding of inequity and privilege through experience; and developed an appetite for inquiry and a desire to better understand the intersection of sustainability and equity, particularly the social and environmental determinants of health.
  • Showing how they have been impacted by one or more of the following criteria: having to overcome disadvantage and/or being a member of any other priority population, including: 
    • Under-served or underrepresented racial and ethnic populations
    • Those from lower-income households
    • First-generation college students
    • Military veterans
    • Single parents
    • Persons who self-identify as having disabilities
    • Persons who self-identify as LGBTQ
    • International students, representative of under-served global communities including refugee populations
    • Rural residents; representative of under-served local communities
    • Students from New York State, particular central and upstate New York
Does the MPH Program offer research assistantships?

As a professional degree program, we do not offer research opportunities at the program level. Research assistantships would typically go through the faculty member conducting the research. These are found by working with the faculty directly.

Degree Options

How do I qualify for the Accelerated Program?

Our accelerated, 12-month program is open to those who hold an advanced health-related degree (MD, DVM, DDS, etc.) or substantial (2+ years) public health field experience. This program has a Summer starting term only. It is recommended that applicants contact the program prior to applying.

How many concentrations (tracks) are in Cornell’s MPH program?
How many credit hours is the full-time MPH degree?

This is a 52 credit hour MPH program.

Can I transfer credits from another MPH graduate program?

Per the Cornell University Graduate School Code of Legislation, master’s degree students may not count study in other graduate schools toward the registration requirements of their program.

Does Cornell University offer a Public Health PhD program?

At this time, Cornell University does not offer a Public Health PhD program.

Curriculum

Why does the Cornell MPH Program have a One Health/Planetary Health focus?

The nature of our ever-changing global community — including both people and animals within the environment — requires a comprehensive systems approach to public health to prevent disease, promote health, and improve the quality of life of the planet’s population as a whole. We want our graduates to be equipped to practice public health using these foci. Learn more here.

Will this curriculum teach me what I need to know to be a competitive candidate upon graduation?

Yes. Students graduate from this MPH Program with strong public health knowledge and a toolbox of skills and abilities to be immediately effective in the public health workforce upon graduation, across various sectors, disciplines and fields. Our students work directly with organizations on real-world projects throughout their time with the MPH Program. Our graduates are employed at major public health organizations across the country, and around the world.

Offers of Admission

When should I reply to the acceptance letter?

Students are encouraged to accept the admission offer as soon as possible.

How many students will be accepted into the program?

We expect a cohort of 40 students, approximately 20 in each concentration.

When is new student orientation?

New student orientation will be held from Wednesday, August 16th to Friday, August 18th.

Accreditation

Is the Cornell MPH Program accredited?

Yes, the Cornell MPH Program received accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health in March, 2020 and that accreditation is retroactive to 2017 to include all MPH cohorts past and present.

For further questions, please contact:  cornellmph@cornell.edu, 607.253.4390.