Why This Matters

  • WORK IN ONE OF MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES

    The diverse range of potential employers for those with an MPA include local, state, and federal governments, non-profits, schools, and social service agencies.

  • EARN OVER $70,000 PER YEAR

    According to Payscale, the average salary for workers with an MPA is $72,000.

  • 12% JOB GROWTH EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DECADE

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 20,400 new job openings for social and community service managers by 2031.

Our Research

This list features some of the best online Master’s in Public Administration programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. Many of the schools on our list have been accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of public policy-related programs.

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for online students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online Master’s in Public Administration programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The Top 53 Online Master’s in Public Administration Programs

Best Master's of Public Administration Programs 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
University of North Carolina
01
Best Private Institution
University of Southern California
01
Most Customizable
Villanova University
01
Best Public Institution
University of Central Florida
01
Most Affordable
Arkansas State University
01
Best Faculty
Florida International University
01
Best Multidisciplinary Program
University of Illinois at Chicago
01
Best for Veterans
Valdosta State University
01
Best Accelerated Program
Southern Utah University
01
Most Specializations
Liberty University
01

University of Colorado
01

Rutgers University
01

University of North Dakota
01

University of Baltimore
01

University of South Dakota
01

Eastern Kentucky University
01

Marist College
01

Kent State University
01

Jacksonville State University
01

Clemson University
01

Indiana Wesleyan University
01

University of Delaware
01

University of Miami
01

California State University at Long Beach
01

Penn State World Campus
01

The University of Texas at Arlington
01

Old Dominion University
01

Murray State University
01

Indiana State University
01

Northern Illinois University
01

DePaul University
01

California State University at San Bernardino
01

Texas A&M International University
01

Norwich University
01

California State University at Dominguez Hills
01

Florida Gulf Coast University
01

California State University at Northridge
01

Northeastern University

What You Should Know About This Degree

There are many different career paths open to graduates of MPA programs in areas like government, law, business, healthcare, education, and social services. Therefore, most MPA programs offer concentrations in non-profit management, criminal justice, public safety, policy analysis, healthcare administration, and more. It’s important to research the different sectors of public administration and have an idea of what you want to focus on when choosing a program.

Public administrators working in emergency management, social services, or government may find themselves on call or often required to work overtime. Consider whether you want a position with these demands when choosing an area of focus. Professional certifications also exist for certain jobs within public administration; these certifications may be optional or required by an employer.

Because most programs accept students of all educational backgrounds, hands-on learning experience is an essential part of their curricula, even in online programs. Specific internship requirements vary per program. It’s important to find out the setting of your internship, as well as how many hours you will need to dedicate to it, to confirm that it fits into your schedule.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching MPH programs:

  • Do I meet the admissions criteria? While most programs accept students from all educational and professional backgrounds, a few require students to have some previous public administration experience or take prerequisite coursework. Look carefully at the program’s admissions requirements to make sure you fulfill them before applying.
  • Does this program offer the concentration I want? There are many opportunities for specialization within public administration, but not all programs offer all specializations. If there is a specific area of public administration on which you want to focus, make sure the program you’re exploring offers coursework or a concentration in it.

Once you have identified the programs that interest you, research their application deadlines, processes, and requirements, including work experience and standardized tests. This information is typically available on the program’s webpage; you can also contact the program directly if you have questions.

Funding your graduate education is another important consideration. Ask the schools you are applying to about scholarship and financial aid opportunities and deadlines. For individuals already employed in the public administration field, your employer might offer tuition remission or other financial support options for earning your master’s degree.