Best Online Master’s in Public Administration Programs of 2023

The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill is the flagship school of the state's public higher education system. Founded in 1789, it's one of the country's oldest and most prestigious public universities. UNC-Chapel Hill offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in-person and online, including an online Master of Public Administration (MPA). Administered by the university's School of Government, the 45-credit online degree program culminates in a real-world experience in a public service role. This highly hands-on and collaborative program boasts a 96% job placement rate within six months of graduation. While prior public service experience is not required to apply, all applicants must have a bachelor's degree and show prior evidence of leadership. UNC-Chapel Hill stands out on this list for having the most selective rate of admission (25%) and the highest rate of graduation (90%). Many scholarships are available for online MPA students, including those for merit and military service.

A private research university in Los Angeles, California, the University of Southern California (USC) is the oldest private university in the state. Its online Master of Public Administration (MPA) was created for working professionals and can be completed in 24 months or less. Online classes are taught live by the same faculty members who teach on-campus at the esteemed Sol Price School of Public Policy. Students can customize USC's online MPA degree by adding a certificate in Public Policy or City and County management. Adding a certificate does not increase the length of the program. The top fields of employment for graduates of USC's online MPA program are government administration, education administration, consulting, nonprofit organizational management, and philanthropy. USC stands out on this list for having the most selective admissions rate (16%) and the highest private school graduation rate (93%).

Villanova University is a private Augustinian Catholic school located in Pennsylvania. Its College of Arts and Sciences offers a 39-credit-hour Master of Public Administration (MPA) that can be completed online. The goal of Villanova's innovative and practical program is to create ethical, creative, inclusive, and intelligent leaders in the public service sector. Three-start times are available during the calendar year for incoming students. Villanova offers three different certificate options to customize your MPA: Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, and City Management. Additionally, MPA students can earn a second master's degree simultaneously in history, theology, theatre, or political science. Merit-based funding is available for full-time students via scholarships and graduate assistantships. Several full-tuition graduate fellowships are also available each year to College of Arts and Sciences students.

Part of the State University System of Florida, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is the largest public institution in the nation, with 71,000 students. Students take classes in person at one of nine regional campuses or online. The school offers an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) through its Community Innovation and Education College. This 42-hour online MPA focuses on strategic planning, public policy, organizational management, and financial management. Courses include Public Budgeting, Public Organization Management, and Public Administration in the Policy Process. There is also an option for MPA students to earn an online Master of Nonprofit Management simultaneously. No GRE scores are required to apply for the online MPA program and start times are available twice a year. Among the job titles of recent graduates are city planner, director of education, program analyst, and non-profit manager.

Over 10,000 Arkansas State University's 100,000 alum have earned their undergraduate and graduate degrees online. The school, whose physical location is in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is the state's flagship research university. It offers an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) designed for adults working in entry-level law enforcement and public sector positions to move up the ranks to management or executive positions. The program is 36-credit hours and can be completed in 18 months or less. Courses include Public Budgeting and Finance, Grant Writing and Administration, and Administrative Ethics. An optional public management track is also available. All of the program's courses are taught by the same professional faculty members who teach on campus. Admissions requirements include a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA, and tuition is a flat, affordable rate of $331 per credit hour, regardless of state residency.

Florida International University offers an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) through its Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. It's a highly customizable program that invites students to specialize in Human Resources Management, Public Management, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Nonprofit and Community Development, Comparative and International Public Administration, or Urban Policy Innovations. A unique aspect of the program is that it has a dedicated Career Development Coordinator. It also allows students the opportunity to complete a 300-hour public service internship to strengthen their resume and hands-on experience. The program is highly selective and prefers students who have completed at least 18 credits of graduate-level coursework or have substantial work experience in the public or nonprofit sector.

Part of the University of Illinois system, the University of Illinois Chicago is a large public research institution with 34,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Its College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs administers a fifty-four-credit hour online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program that is highly multidisciplinary in the curriculum. The program's full-time faculty is made up of specialists in law, management, political science, statistics, sociology, economics, business, human resources, finance, and information technology. Four areas of concentration are offered: Public Management, Nonprofit Management, Financial Management, and Urban Governance and Management. Additionally, the program offers two optional interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women's Studies and Survey Research Methodology.

Valdosta State is part of the public University System of Georgia. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in-person at its campuses in Valdosta and Moody Air Force Base, as well as online. Its online Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a 36-hour credit program that does not require a thesis. Students can choose a concentration in Public Sector Management, Public Sector Human Resource Management, or Public Policy. The Program has no required check-in times, and courses are available 24/7. While a bachelor's degree is required, GPAs are looked at individually without a required or recommended cutoff. Graduates of this program have gone on to pursue careers in law enforcement, parks and recreation management, and city planning. Valdosta State is a designated Military Friendly School. It offers many military outreach programs and perks through its Veteran Resource Center, like complimentary service honor cords for veterans and service members to wear during commencement.

Southern Utah University, located in Cedar City, offers nineteen graduate programs, including an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) that can be completed in as little as twelve months. The 36-hour credit program was designed with working professionals in mind and is focused on the practical and theoretical concepts of public administration. It's an asynchronous program that features 24/7 online course delivery and several start dates each year. Required courses include Public Sector Economics, Administrative Law, and Critical Thinking and Ethics in the Public Sector. Graduates of the program now hold titles such as city manager, urban planner, and higher education administrator. A bachelor's degree and a GPA of at least 3.0 are required for admission. Additionally, out-of-state applicants must have at least one year of professional work experience.

Liberty University is a pioneer in distance education. In 1985, the Virginia-based Christian university launched one of the nation's first distance-learning programs by mailing VHS tapes to students. Today, its distance-learning program - Liberty University Online - offers 289 programs, including a Master of Public Administration (MPA). On average, the thirty-six-credit hour program takes 18 months to complete and features instructors with real-world experience in the field. Liberty's program stands out for having seven different MPA specializations available beyond the general option - the highest number of all the schools on this list. Specializations are Business and Government, Fire Administration, Healthcare, Disaster Management, Law and Public Policy, Public and Nonprofit Management, and Urban Planning. Liberty University Online offers tuition discounts for first responders, current and former military members, and their spouses.