Cost / Tuition Rate for 2026-2027
Tuition at WSPH for the 2026-2027 academic year is $1,841 per credit hour for all degree programs — master's, doctoral, online, and certificates alike. There is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, so you can take coursework at whatever pace works for you, without any financial drawback.
Additional fees apply per semester (academic support, student activity, technology). Note that Campus Health and Reily Recreation Center fees are not charged to online students, though online students and living nearby may opt into these services.
Graduate education is an investment in your future, and the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine provides a high-quality education in the top tier of public health schools at a tuition rate that is lower than many of our peers. A 45-credit MPH from Tulane costs almost 15% less than the average private out-of-state tuition and fees at a top 10 U.S. News & World Report-ranked school of public health.
The value of a Tulane public health degree is evident in the 99.7% of our graduates who find jobs or continue their education within a year of graduation. Learn more about school-wide and department graduate outcomes.
What is the cost of living in New Orleans
New Orleans offers a lower cost of living compared to many major U.S. cities, making it an appealing choice for graduate students.
Our cost of attendance worksheet is based on the assumption of taking 24 credits per academic year and includes estimates for transportation, room and board, parking, and other expenses (for 2025-2026 academic year).
Scholarship / Funding
Can my scholarship be increased?
No - scholarships are determined during the admissions process, and any scholarship offer will be included in your letter of admission. There is no separate application or appeal process for scholarship increases.
Are there assistantships available?
We do have many assistantship positions available for students, both online and on campus. You can submit a request to access Handshake, which is where all student positions are posted, after you accept your offer of admission, paid the enrollment deposit, and set up your Tulane email address. Our Career Services department usually approves new account requests once a week. Assistantships at Tulane do not come with a tuition waiver, but are positions that are paid either hourly or as a monthly stipend.
External scholarships that you recommend?
The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is a useful resource for options on financing your degree. The ASPPH website on financing your degree has many resources and links to external scholarship search engine.
Are there funding options for international students?
Domestic and international applicants are considered for the same funding opportunities for doctoral programs. Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine For master's programs, international students are equally eligible for merit-based scholarships when applying by the priority deadline. Please visit our Tuition & Financial Aid page for full details.
Students may apply for a wide range of graduate, research, and teaching assistantships based in academic departments, research institutes, the dean's office, and in conjunction with faculty research. Students may also apply for positions throughout Tulane University via the Workforce Management Office's job board and Handshake.
Student Experience
How do current students like the program?
The best way to get an honest answer to this question is to hear directly from someone who has been there! We encourage you to connect with one of our student ambassadors — current students who are happy to share their experience and answer your questions.
Find a student ambassador from your program
If there isn't currently an ambassador from your specific program, reach out to your department directly — they can connect you with a current student who can speak to your experience.
How is the culture within the School of Public Health?
Our students describe a community that is welcoming, collaborative, and genuinely invested in each other's success.
The best thing about being a student at WSPH is the supportive community — from approachable faculty to diverse classmates who bring global perspectives. Plus, the real-world learning opportunities in New Orleans make public health feel practical and impactful every day.
— Student Ambassador Sneha Kannan, MPH in International Health & Sustainable Development student
The school fosters an inclusive and supportive environment where students are encouraged to engage with each other and with faculty members.
— Student Ambassador Subashini MuthaiahMSPH in Biostatistics student
New Orleans itself is part of the culture. With its unique public health history and rich community fabric, the city becomes an extension of the classroom — and a place students consistently say they love being part of.
Is it easy to build community and manage stress?
Graduate school is demanding, and we won't pretend otherwise. But at WSPH, you won't navigate it alone. From day one, you'll find yourself surrounded by classmates who come from all over the world and are working toward the same mission as you.
The best thing about being a student at WSPH is the combination of friends and professors from different parts of the world. I get to learn so much about different cultures. It has made me grow so much as an individual.
— Vridhika Khatri, Epidemiology
It truly feels like a place where everyone wants you to succeed.
— Student Ambassador Kwame Asamoah Senyah, MHA student
Beyond the people, the Office of Student Experience (OSE) has built a real support infrastructure around students: academic advising, peer mentors, student organizations, or a Food for Thought Pantry. The OSE team is there to help when the academic load feels heavy.
And then there's New Orleans. With a festival nearly every weekend, world-famous food, and a neighborhood to explore around every corner, the city itself becomes part of how students decompress and recharge.
Life in New Orleans
What is the experience of living in New Orleans?
New Orleans is a vibrant, culturally rich city unlike anywhere else in the United States — a place where music spills onto the streets, world-class cuisine reflects centuries of cultural fusion, and festivals celebrate life year-round.
You will never be bored in New Orleans!
— Alexandra Mack, MPH in Nutrition (SBPS)
WSPH is located at 1440 Canal Street, at the edge of the CBD, across from the historic Tremé neighborhood and just blocks from the French Quarter.
Visit our Discover New Orleans page for neighborhood guides, transportation tips, and cultural highlights.
What is the cost of living in New Orleans?
New Orleans offers a lower cost of living compared to many major U.S. cities, making it an appealing choice for graduate students. Your actual costs will vary depending on your neighborhood, lifestyle, and how many credits you take per semester.
Our cost of attendance worksheet is based on the assumption of taking 24 credits per academic year and includes estimates for transportation, room and board, parking, and other expenses (for 2025-2026 academic year).
Since WSPH is located in downtown New Orleans, what are the housing options?
Downtown offers 3 graduate housing options.
- Deming Pavillion: The Bertie M. and John W. Deming Pavilion is Tulane University’s graduate housing complex. It is located on Tulane's downtown campus in the New Orleans medical district and offers furnished studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Please note the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is not able to cancel Deming Housing contracts.
- Thirteen15: Modern comfort. Exceptional convenience. Find the path to your picture-perfect Tulane lifestyle at Thirteen15, a bold new community ideally located in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, right next to the university’s Downtown campus. Select from fully furnished studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments with a stylish, midcentury vibe. Enjoy your new home’s striking modern kitchen, filled with energy-efficient GE appliances, and the community’s inviting outdoor patio and ground floor shops, where you can take in the sights and sounds of New Orleans.
- 930 Poydras: 930 Poydras is a new graduate student housing complex with 579 beds in 473 units that can accommodate health science students, faculty, and administrative staff working at LSU and other qualifying colleges, including Tulane University, Xavier University, Dillard University, and Delgado Community College.
Should you choose to live off-campus, there are so many great neighborhoods in New Orleans, and each one has its quirks and hidden gems. Most neighborhoods are accessible to WSPH via public transportation or the TU shuttle, and several are within bicycling distance. You can check out the Tulane off campus housing portal to get a sense of potential costs of rent.
New Orleans is a vibrant city with a lot to offer, and like any major urban city, it is important to be informed and take sensible precautions. Tulane University takes student safety seriously and provides a range of resources to help you navigate city life confidently.
- TUPD Presence: TUPD has a dedicated station on Tulane Avenue to increase visibility and reduce response times.
- Transportation: Free shuttles operate between downtown and uptown campuses.
- Safety Escorts: 24/7 safety escorts are available, along with the RAVE Guardian app for virtual monitoring.
- Emergency Infrastructure: Blue-light phones and, in many cases, security desk attendants in buildings.
We recommend reviewing Tulane's safety resources and connecting with current students to get an honest, on-the-ground perspective on living in the city. Our student ambassadors are a great resource for this kind of question.
Academics
Can I defer my admission to a later semester?
Our policy allows master’s students to defer admission for up to a year. You must first pay your enrollment deposit in the applicant portal before a deferral can be processed. We understand that international students may be impacted by changes to laws impacting visas, and we encourage you to connect with us at sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu if this applies to you.
Deferral requests for the DrPH are reviewed on a case by case basis. Please reach out to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu if you have questions.
It is not possible to defer admission for the PhD program. We recommend you only apply for the semester you will actually be able to start the program.
What is the quickest time that programs can be completed?
Master’s students typically complete their degree in about two years, depending on course load, concentration, and pacing. Three program start dates are available each year — August, January, and June — and program requirements range from 3642 to 45 credits.
Online programs may follow a different timeline. For example, the online MPH in Epidemiology is designed as a part-time program completable in three years, though determined students could finish faster. The DrPH are cohorted and take 3.5 years.
We advise you to check the catalog for your specific program requirements and mock schedule, or reach out to your department.
One of the advantages of studying at WSPH is our small, close-knit cohorts. The largest classes you will encounter are the foundational courses shared across programs, which typically enroll around 30 to 45 students, with a maximum class size of approximately 50.
As you move into the courses specific to your program, classes become much smaller — typically around 15 to 20 students. This allows for more direct interaction with faculty and a more personalized learning experience.
For a better sense of what to expect in your specific program, we encourage you to connect with a current student or reach out to your department directly.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio for my department?
We are working on updating this section with the most current data. In the meantime, here is some context that may be helpful.
WSPH has a large and diverse faculty whose roles extend well beyond the classroom. In addition to those who teach and advise students directly, many of our faculty are active researchers and grant recipients working on some of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. Others are practitioners working in the field, bringing hands-on, real-world expertise directly into your learning experience.
This breadth of faculty engagement means that as a WSPH student, you benefit from a learning environment shaped not just by academics, but by people actively doing the work of public health every day.
For more information, reach out to your department directly.
Tulane WSPH is a top-ranked school of public health, and our programs are designed to challenge and prepare you for real-world practice. As a general guideline, you should expect to dedicate around 10 hours per week for each course you are enrolled in.
Are internships and Applied Practice Experiences easy to get?
Practical experience is a core part of your education at WSPH, though the format varies depending on your program.
The APE is required for all students in professional master's programs - MPH, MSPH, and MPH&TM - including those with prior work experience. It is an opportunity to apply your classroom knowledge in a real public health work setting, and can be completed in a wide variety of settings that may align with your future career goals.
MHA students complete an administrative residency in a healthcare organization instead, where they develop professionalism and apply management skills. For online MHA students, a health-related project that incorporates skills and competencies attained during the program fulfills the experiential learning requirement — internships, fellowships, and residency work can all be used toward this.
MS students pursue an academic research degree rather than completing an APE. All MS programs require students to carry out original research and complete a master's thesis. Requirements may vary by concentration - please visit your program page in the catalog or contact your department for details.
Our Office of Public Health Practice supports MPH, MSPH, and MPH&TM students in finding and completing their APE.
For questions about your specific program's requirements, please reach out to your department directly.
What statistical software is used (SAS, R, SPSS)?
Software used in coursework varies by program and department. We recommend visiting your program page for curriculum details, and reaching out to your department directly for specifics on the tools and software you will work with.
How do I get involved in research I am interested in?
WSPH is a top-tier research institution with active faculty working across a wide range of public health topics. A great place to start is by browsing our faculty directory and research centers to identify faculty whose work aligns with your interests. From there, we encourage you to reach out to them directly — faculty are generally very open to connecting with incoming students.
On-Campus Programs
Do students tend to work while in their program?
Yes, many students work while enrolled in our graduate programs!
We have many assistantship positions available for students, both online and on campus. You can submit a request to access Handshake, which is where all student positions are posted, after you accept your offer of admission, paid the enrollment deposit, and set up your Tulane email address. Our Career Services department usually approves new account requests once a week. Assistantships at Tulane do not come with a tuition waiver, but are positions that are paid either hourly or as a monthly stipend.
Is it realistic to work while enrolled?
Yes, many of our full-time students work part-time while enrolled, and many of our online students choose to enroll part-time while they work full-time jobs.
Are there student worker positions and how to get them?
We have many assistantship positions available for students, both online and on campus. You can submit a request to access Handshake, which is where all student positions are posted, after you accept your offer of admission, paid the enrollment deposit, and set up your Tulane email address. Our Career Services department usually approves new account requests once a week. Assistantships at Tulane do not come with a tuition waiver, but are positions that are paid either hourly or as a monthly stipend.
Online Programs
Is the program synchronous or asynchronous?
Our online programs are designed to offer the best of both worlds. You will have access to live class sessions with polling, in-class chat, and breakout rooms, as well as asynchronous tools for video, audio, and text-based participation and collaboration.
Live sessions are typically held weekly. While attendance is not mandatory, we strongly encourage you to join — they are a valuable opportunity to engage with your faculty and build connections with your peers that will last well beyond graduation.
Find out more about technology requirements
What time are the classes held?
For online programs, live sessions are typically scheduled in the early morning or evening to accommodate students who are balancing coursework with work or other commitments.
Class schedules vary by program and department. You can see when each class's live session meets in the class schedule available at classschedule.tulane.edu.
Example:
International Students
Are there funding options for international students?
Domestic and international applicants are considered for the same funding opportunities for doctoral programs. Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine For master's programs, international students are equally eligible for merit-based scholarships when applying by the priority deadline. Please visit our Tuition & Financial Aid page for full details.
Students may apply for a wide range of graduate, research, and teaching assistantships based in academic departments, research institutes, the dean's office, and in conjunction with faculty research. Students may also apply for positions throughout Tulane University via the Workforce Management Office's job board and Handshake.
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