Which Colleges Offer Epidemiology Degree Programs?

A degree in epidemiology will help you understand the nature of diseases and the way they spread. Learn how to choose a great program; get info on three top-ranked schools and explore the epidemiology degrees you could pursue.

<h2 id="section---WhatShouldILookForInACollegeOfferingEpidemiologyDegreePrograms">What Should I Look For in a College Offering Epidemiology Degree Programs?</h2> <p>Epidemiology investigates a variety of factors related to the spread of disease and how to prevent outbreaks through awareness and the distribution of medicine. When you're trying to decide on a school geared toward this educational pathway, you'll want to be certain the college has a proven track record of research excellence and faculty who are both knowledgeable in terms of experience and teaching proficiency. Your own ability to conduct effective research through the school's institutes and technological resources will prove crucial as you begin your own investigations. </p> <h2 id="section---ThreeTopSchoolsForEpidemiologyDegrees">Three Top Schools For Epidemiology Degrees</h2> <h3 id="section---StanfordUniversitySUInStanfordCA">Stanford University (SU) in Stanford, CA</h3> <p>As of 2019, Stanford University was ranked for seventh place among the nation's best universities; the school's biological sciences graduate programs were tied for first place in the country according to rankings from <i>U.S. News and World Report</i>. The school's Division of Epidemiology is part of SU's Department of Health Research and Policy and offers two degree programs. The master's program centers around patient-oriented clinical research; the doctoral program provides advanced instruction in the various tools used to conduct epidemiological research. Students conduct research and gain hands-on training in the Stanford Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection. In January 2015, the Stanford Human Systems Immunology Center was established to speed up vaccine development against the world's deadliest infectious diseases. The epidemiology degrees offered are: </p> <ul><li>MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research </li><li>PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfMinnesotaTwinCitiesUOfMInMinneapolis">University of Minnesota--Twin Cities (U of M) in Minneapolis</h3> <p>The <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> ranked the university's public health graduate program tenth in the nation in 2019; U of M took 30th place among the top public schools in the country per the publication's 2016 rankings. The University of Minnesota has grown as a leader in the field of epidemiology ever since an investigative endeavor known as the Seven Countries Study emerged from a group of researchers in 1958, challenging thoughts about diet, exercise and disease across cultures. Through the school's Epidemiology Clinical Research Center, you'll be able to participate in various studies analyzing the nature of diseases and strategies for prevention. Programs offered include: </p> <ul><li>MPH in Epidemiology </li><li>MS in Epidemiology </li><li>PhD in Epidemiology </li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfPennsylvaniaPennInPhiladelphia">University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia</h3> <p>The University of Pennsylvania ranked 8th among top universities in the country for 2019; Penn's graduate programs in public health ranked 23rd best in the nation, according to the <i>U.S. News &amp; World Report</i>. At the school, you'll be able to connect with the university's many research endeavors in the field, including those in the Clinical Epidemiology Unit of the Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The school offers four epidemiology degree programs including two joint programs combining a doctorate in epidemiology with either a doctorate of medicine or a doctorate of veterinary medicine. Degrees offered are: </p> <ul><li>MS in Clinical Epidemiology </li><li>PhD in Epidemiology </li><li>MD/PhD in Epidemiology </li><li>VMD/PhD in Epidemiology </li></ul><h2 id="section---MoreTopSchoolsWithEpidemiologyPrograms">More Top Schools with Epidemiology Programs</h2> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition*</th></tr> <tr><td>University of Arizona</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Tucson, AZ</td><td>$13,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of California, Berkeley</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Berkeley, CA</td><td>$14,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Colorado Denver</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Denver, CO</td><td>$8,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Yale University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>New Haven, CT</td><td>$42,000</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Florida</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Gainesville, FL</td><td>$13,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Johns Hopkins University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Baltimore, MD</td><td>$56,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Boston University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Boston, MA</td><td>$53,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Harvard University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Cambridge, MA</td><td>$47,000</td></tr> <tr><td>Columbia University in the City of New York</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>New York, NY</td><td>$48,000</td></tr> </table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>