Admissions FAQs

When is the application deadline for Fall 2026 admission?

Our Fall 2026 application deadlines are:

Priority Deadline - Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Standard Deadline - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Do I have to submit both the SOPHAS and the UC San Diego Graduate Division applications?

You are only required to submit an application through UC San Diego’s Graduate Division application portal. We are not using SOPHAS at this time.

Do I have to choose an area of concentration to apply to?

You must pick a concentration when applying to our program.

Is the GRE required?

As of 2022, applicants are no longer required to submit scores for either the GRE General or Subject Tests.

My undergraduate degree is not in public health, am I still eligible to apply?

Yes. We admit students from a wide variety of disciplines.

Can I enroll as a part-time student in the MPH program?

Our program will not admit part-time students for the 2026-2027 academic year.

How can I apply for an application fee waiver?

Please visit UC San Diego's Graduate Division website for information about applying for an application fee waiver.

What is the estimated cost of tuition?

Program fees are assessed on a per-unit basis. California residents will qualify for a California Resident Fellowship, which will reduce per-unit costs.

The following are projected per-unit costs for the 2025-2026 academic year:

Non-California Resident per-unit cost: $1136
California Resident per-unit effective cost: $695

These costs do not include student fees, student health insurance, housing, parking, course materials, or other costs of attendance.

Also, please note that these projected costs are based on 2025-2026 academic year UC tuition and fees rates. Actual per-unit cost is subject to change based on rates approved by the Regents of the University of California, the President of the University of California, or UC San Diego. Accordingly, final per-unit costs for the 2026-2027 academic year may differ from the amounts shown.

Can I submit my application even if my recommenders have not yet completed the recommendation letters?

Yes. Submit your application by the deadline. The letters of recommendation may be uploaded by the recommender after your submission, preferably within two weeks of the deadline. Please note that the admissions committee may not review the application until all letters have been received.

Does the MPH program offer any funding opportunities for students?

Our department has a smaller number of Teaching Assistant positions that MPH students can apply for. Outside of these opportunities, we encourage students to apply for Teaching Assistant opportunities in other departments, as well as fellowships and other funding they may be eligible for.

How many students are in a cohort?

Our current cohorts is around 50 students, however, this may increase as our program grows.

What times are MPH classes offered?

Our classes are offered throughout the day from Monday to Friday.

Is UC San Diego's Master of Public Health (MPH) program CEPH accredited?

UC San Diego is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the regional accrediting agency serving higher education institutions in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Region. The MPH program will be applying for CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health) accreditation as part of the School of Public Health. The curriculum for the MPH program is designed to be fully compliant with CEPH guidelines. The timeline for the accreditation process is dependent on many factors outside of our control.

There are some jobs and fellowships that may require graduation from a CEPH accredited program but we have not seen this impact students finding jobs or other opportunities (research, internships, fellowships, etc.). We encourage you to also do your own research regarding the requirements for the government jobs or other opportunities you are interested in applying to.