Help: SDSU MPH vs. USC MPH

[jenucdc]

Just recently got my acceptance letter to SDSU (for Management & Policy) and I'm planning on applying to USC soon. I've seen a lot of people say SDSU and USC are pretty evenly matched in terms of their Pros and Cons. Currently I don't know which school I would rather attend so I would love more input from you all on the matter and would be really grateful for advice!!

USC:

• Pros: prestige, close to home = living at home to save money, better networking opportunities, WHO
• Cons: high tuition, classes not on main campus, only MPH program NOT school

SDSU:

• Pros: cheaper tuition, ranked + great overall program, MPH School
• Cons: living expenses, not as recognized as USC, ? networking opportunities

Congrats to everyone getting their acceptances and good luck to the rest who are still waiting!

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[an2592]

I've done some research over at USC and I'm attending a Cal State, so (for what it's worth) I wouldn't dream of spending the kind of tuition USC's asking. I suppose you could apply and see what aid they offer, but I wouldn't consider spending the nearly $75,000 tuition to attend (that doesn't even consider cost of attendance, like rent and books). USC's program is more fragmented too. It's not a school of public health, it's a Department of Preventive Medicine (very epidemiological and health behavior focused, albeit with great research opportunities in those fields).

All of that may be worth it to you, but what catches my eye is your concentration. The health policy management (HPM) training you'll get at SDSU is nothing like the broader MPH training you'll get at USC. Yeah, USC's MPH has a "health policy track", but to get any significant research you'll be competing with the MPP students who'll have a stronger connection with the policy faculty (and who are coming from a much more well-respected and selective program in the field of public policy). And if you're looking for health management work, USC is nowhere near the right choice. The do have a great MHA program (though it's also a tad expensive for my taste), but that, still, is in the Price School of Public Policy not the Department of Preventive Medicine. Lastly, I would way rather go to school in San Diego than Boyle Heights (but that's totally personal).

Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions. I, admittedly, don't know as much about the SDSU program as I do about USC, but I'm somewhat familiar with HPM as that's what I've been applying for.

 

[jenucdc]

Thank you so much for the input!! It was definitely very helpful because I also noticed that USC didn't have as specific focuses such as SDSU's. What I didn't know was that I would have to be competing with MPP students so that was really informative. I'll message you in the future if I have anymore questions 🙂