Degree in Public Health

I am struggling with whether or not it is worth it to fork out the money to do a non-online MPH. I am currently working in state level health policy. My job will pay for 80% of my masters if I continue to work full time. There is a local University (UVM) that offers an MPH program, the problem is the majority( besides the capstone project) is online. I worry that if I get an online degree it will not mean anything, but financially it is my best option.

It’s difficult to choose. Online education is in a grey area right now, where it’s becoming more respected but still isn’t viewed as fully comparable to a brick-and-mortar, in-person degree. That said, MPH degrees are very expensive, and it all depends on what you want to do and what kind of experience you’ll have. I could see a situation in which you get the Vermont MPH, stay at your job for another 2-3 years and it doesn’t really matter that you got it online - because the simple fact that you have one plus 2-3 years of post-MPH experience is really what’s important.