The diverse range of potential employers for those with an MPA include local, state, and federal governments, non-profits, schools, and social service agencies.
According to Payscale, the average salary for workers with an MPA is $72,000.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be 20,400 new job openings for social and community service managers by 2031.
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.
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.
Here are some questions to ask when researching MPH programs:
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.