Did you know there are master’s in public health (MPH) programs with no GRE requirements? More universities, including Baylor, are waiving the need to submit GRE scores to gain admission to their MPH programs. 

Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences offers an MPH online with no GRE requirement in Texas. Instead, competitive applicants to Baylor’s MPH online program may present three years of relevant work experience or a previously earned master’s degree. If you do not have these credentials, however, a GRE is recommended. With or without a GRE, applicants must also hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent training at a foreign university. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred.

MPH programs that don’t require a GRE score, like Baylor University, may do so due to the growing belief that GRE scores may be connected to a student’s socioeconomic status rather than their intellectual capacity. Abandoning the GRE requirement also advances the nation’s communities by broadening the types of students who graduate from public health programs and become the next generation of health professionals who make a difference.

Baylor takes a holistic approach to reviewing applicants, using a detailed rubric that considers a student’s career goals, their baseline knowledge of public health and any relevant career experience. 

Learn More About Baylor MPH Admissions Requirements 

The number of public health programs waiving the GRE has increased 350 percent as of August 2020, according to research published in Frontiers in Public Health. This trend is guided by findings that the standardized test may not predict academic success. In fact, the research shows the correlation between top GRE scores and academic success is “weak at best.” The Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health also found no correlation between GRE scores and final GPA after public health degree completion (PDF ​​87.7 KB) at several of its member schools.

Just sitting for the test costs $205 in the United States and sending scores costs $27 for each recipient. This may cause some students to avoid retaking the test to improve their score or limit the number of schools to which they apply. Additionally, to prepare for the test some students opt to take GRE prep courses, which can cost hundreds of dollars. These costs unintentionally bias the student population taking the test toward those with a higher socioeconomic status. Moreover, preparation for the GRE can take months of studying and the test itself is several hours long. This puts a unique burden on potential students who have full-time jobs. By not requiring a GRE, Baylor University’s MPH program levels the field and takes into account work experience, previous master’s degrees and personal statements when considering applicants. 

Baylor University’s MPH online program is designed for compassionate, aspiring public health advocates who wish to specialize in community health. Find out more and request information about Baylor’s MPH program.