Best Master’s in Public Administration Degree Programs of 2023

The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University offers a highly interactive residential Master of Public Service and Administration degree program. Accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, the program has many hands-on components, including public service, interaction with high-level public leaders, real-world consulting projects, and a summer internship. Students can choose from three tracks: Nonprofit Management, Public Management, and Public Policy Analysis. The two-year program is 48 credit hours and concludes with a capstone project. Organizations where you'll find graduates of the Bush School working include the U.S. Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Red Cross, and the World Bank. Texas A&M is a public university and its Master's of Public service and Administration is among the most affordable of its kind in the nation. All full-time students pay in-state tuition and all students receive some type of financial support regardless of income level.

Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business offers a rigorous, 58-credit-hour Master of Public Administration degree program that takes two years to complete. Students at this private school run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not permitted to hold employment during the first semester of the program so they can focus on their studies. Three degree specializations are available: Nonprofit Sector, Local Government Sector, and State and Local Government Sector. The program focuses heavily on experiential learning - for example, the Good Measure initiative, where students provide program evaluation and statistical analysis services to nonprofits in the Provo, Utah, community. Students can also participate in Grantwell, a student-run consulting program where Master of Public Administration candidates advise financial donors on their giving decisions. Additionally, students can participate in career trips to cities like Washington, D.C., to network with alumni, policymakers, and employers.

The University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs has a Master of Public Administration program that welcomes applicants with or without previous public service experience. Program values include ethical considerations, service to the public good, and the democratic principles of equity and due process. Eight degree specializations are available, including Criminal Justice, Nonprofit Administration, and Public Policy. All students are encouraged to complete 100 hours of community service during their graduate studies. The program's faculty are nationally recognized leaders, scholars, and researchers in the field. The Journal of Public Administration Education ranked Georgia's Public Administration and Policy faculty number one in the nation for research published in scholarly journals associated with the American Society for Public Administration. Georgia's program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. It takes two years of full-time study to complete the program. The University of Georgia stands out on this list for having the highest graduation rate (88%) among the public schools included.

A focus on technology, management, and analytics is a priority of Carnegie Mellon University's Master of Science in Public Policy and Management (MSPPM). Administered by the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, the program is research- and technology-driven. Among the subjects that students and faculty are researching, addressing barriers to homeownership, predicting the societal impacts of legal cannabis, and reducing homicide rates using machine learning are some of the top choices. This Pittsburgh-based master's program takes two years to complete and requires a summer internship and capstone project. Ten optional degree concentrations are available, including Smart Communities, Environmental Policy, and Cybersecurity and Management. The program has dedicated career services staff, and you can find recent graduates in organizations like Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the World Bank. Carnegie Mellon University stands out on this list for having the lowest admissions rate (17%) and highest graduation rate (88%) of the private schools included.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Master of Public Affairs degree program is geared toward professionals with 10+ years of work experience in nonprofit leadership, policy, and program analysis. Students are typically able to work full-time in this program because classes are held on evenings and weekends. A unique facet of Minnesota's program is that you design your concentration based on your interests with the help of your advisor. Past concentrations have included Disability Policy, Food Systems Policy, and Transportation Planning. The program, which is housed in the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, is highly collaborative. It features a cohort method of instruction with considerable group work and action-learning projects. Embracing diversity is also a hallmark of the program. A diversity statement is required from all applicants to share experiences and/or interests in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Part of the State University of New York, Binghamton University offers a marketable Master of Public Administration degree that is student-centered and communications-focused. Students graduate with 300 hours of practical experience - part of which comes from the school's Philanthropy Incubator, a unique hands-on program that works with local nonprofits. The 42-credit-hour program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration and typically takes two years to complete. Core courses include Foundations of Public Service, Organizational Theory, and Human Resource Management. A unique aspect of the program is that it has an advisory board of public and nonprofit employers, alumni, and community leaders who ensure the curriculum is relevant and marketable. Board members include members from the New York State Assembly, the New York City Department of Education, and the United Way. Binghamton University stands out on this list for having the most selective rate of admission (43%) of the public schools included.

The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at the Ohio State University offers a Master of Public Administration program that focuses on public policy, economics, management, and data analysis. It's a 52-credit-hour full-time program that takes two years to complete. Students can choose between four curriculum streams to focus their degree: Public Policy, Management, Economics, and Decision Support Systems. Typically, students can manage a part-time job of about 20 hours a week when in the program. Those students who need help finding a part-time job can seek assistance from the Glenn College Career Services staff. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. Undergraduate courses in microeconomics, statistics, and government are strongly recommended. All applicants to Ohio State's Master of Public Administration program are automatically considered for several fellowships and merit-based funding opportunities.

The University of Maryland's School of Public Policy offers an accelerated Master of Professional Studies in Public Administration. The 36-credit-hour program can be completed in 12 months as a full-time student or 21 months as a part-time student. Owing to the school's proximity to Washington, D.C., there are many opportunities for internships and networking events, including those offered by government agencies and organizations. Courses include Social Identity, Ethics of Public Administration, and Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy. Program faculty are both scholars and practitioners and bring real-world experiences and connections into the classroom. Faculty include the first director of the U.S. National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, a Peace Corps alumnus, and a committee member of the United Nations Environment Programme. The program concludes with a capstone project in which students tackle a complex policy or management analysis on behalf of a client, often of their choosing.

A flexible Master of Public Administration degree is offered by North Carolina State University's School of Public and International Affairs. The 42-credit-hour program focuses on efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and accountability in public service, and it takes two years of full-time study or three to five years of part-time study to complete. Classes are taught in the evening at the school's Raleigh campus to allow full-time students to participate in internships and part-time students to work. The program has no specializations, but three well-established dual-degree options are offered alongside the master's degree: a Juris Doctorate, a Master of International Studies, or a Master of Social Work degree. Among the places graduates of this program are employed are the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management.

The University of Washington's Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance offers a hands-on Master of Public Administration program on campus in Seattle. Students can choose from seven program areas to customize their degrees. These areas include Environmental Policy, Leadership and Decision Making, and Public Financial Management. The chosen area of specialization will appear on a student's final transcript but not on the diploma. The University of Washington's Master of Public Administration program requires both a capstone project and a 400-hour internship. Internship partners that regularly host the program's students include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Seattle Housing Authority, and the Washington State House of Representatives. During their second year in this master's program, students can become Student Ambassadors whose role is to answer inquiries from prospective students on the faculty, coursework, student experience, and internship experience.