Best Online Master’s in Public Policy Programs of 2023

Liberty University's online master's in public policy program is the best choice for students interested in pursuing a career in public administration, government, and politics. Throughout the course, students will strengthen their critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of modern society's critical issues. The program is 100% online and consists of 36 credit hours, and Liberty University ranks among Niche.com's top 3 online schools in America. Students can choose from several specializations, including Chinese affairs, international affairs, leadership, and policy studies. A general track also gives students the freedom to select a large number of electives and create a personalized degree program.

Oregon State University's College of Liberal Arts offers a fully online master of public policy program designed specifically for early and mid-career professionals in the public and nonprofit sectors who want to advance their careers. The program is also suitable for professionals interested in transitioning from the private sector to a public service career. Oregon State's public policy degree program offers several concentrations that reflect its focus on nonprofit and public sector work, including energy, environmental, rural, and social policy. Students can also work with their advisers to create personalized degree programs tailored to their interests and career goals. Oregon State University offers several graduate certificate programs that students can use to expand their concentration options, including certificates in business analytics, urban forestry, public health, and wildlife management.

Indiana University, Bloomington, offers a top-ranked master of public affairs program through its O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. This program is the best choice for students that aren't sure of their career goals and want to explore a variety of concentrations, including community and economic development, energy, information systems, nonprofit management, and public management. Students can also create a personalized degree program to accommodate their ideals. The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing data- and evidence-based problem-solving, social equity and justice, and leadership. To finish the program, students must complete a capstone project, which includes an option for an immersive international experience working with global clients.

The University of Missouri, Columbia's Harry S. Truman School of Government and Public Affairs offers an online master of public affairs program that serves as a career stepping stone for individuals interested in ethical leadership. The program takes about two years to complete and teaches students important topics and skills, including policy processes, management principles, critical thinking, and data analytics. The program consists of 36 credits for students with fewer than three to five years of relevant work experience and 30 credits for students with a minimum of three years of relevant experience. The University of Missouri stands out as an excellent option for students interested in earning a dual master's degree. Students can take the master of public affairs program alongside the master of library and information science program or the master of public health program.

The University of Nebraska, Omaha, is the only option on our rankings to offer an optional specialization in criminology and criminal justice, making it the best choice for students interested in entering this field. Students can also choose from several concentrations, including emergency management, local government, nonprofit management, and public policy. According to U.S. News and World Report, UNO's master of public administration degree is ranked in the top 15% in the United States, and 33% of the program's faculty are fellows in the prestigious National Academy of Public Administration. Students have the opportunity to earn a dual master's degree by completing the master of social work or master of managing information systems programs alongside the public administration program.

Students interested in pursuing public policy with an emphasis in government law should have Regent University at the top of their list. The master of arts in government - law and public policy program is designed to help students expand their knowledge of policy, competitive politics, and law to make lasting, impactful changes in their communities. The program can be completed online or on campus and requires 33 total credit hours. The core curriculum features courses like Issues in Media, Law and Ethics, Constitutional Law and Policy, Healthcare Law, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Students may choose from two concentrations: American government or international relations.

Johns Hopkins University's master of arts in public management is the best choice for students that want to enhance their education by earning complementary credentials. While completing the master's program, students may also earn certificates in data analytics and policy, intelligence, and nonprofit management, allowing them to tailor their educational focus to their career goals and interests. By combining a certificate with a master's degree, students can earn these credentials more quickly than if they pursued them separately. This program also offers three concentrations: public administration and leadership, public financial management and budgeting, and public policy evaluation. Students will learn from instructors with extensive experience as government officials, policy analysts, and attorneys, and the program director served under two presidential administrations.

Individuals that want the flexibility of an online program and the structure of a traditional program will benefit from the University of Northern Iowa's online master of public policy program. Unlike self-paced online programs, this program is entirely online, with live classes on Tuesday evenings, allowing students to interact with their peers and instructors regularly. Students can also attend an online orientation if they cannot attend orientation on the UNI campus. UNI uses a cohort structure, so students will study with the same group of professionals over two years as they complete the master's program. The university offers several student support services designed to help distance learners succeed, including personalized advising, career support services, tutoring opportunities, and technical support assistance.

The University of Texas at Arlington's online master of public policy program is ideal for students interested in shaping urban policy. The core curriculum emphasizes key topics like economics, political science, and sociology, and students will learn to analyze data to assess problems that impact major metropolitan regions. The program is focused on a selection of public policy issues that affect economic development, environmental challenges, and healthcare challenges in urban areas. Students must complete core courses like Theories of Urban Society and Urban Public Finance in addition to research and analysis courses. The 39- to 42-hour curriculum offers three concentrations, allowing students to tailor their experience around healthcare policy, environmental policy, or economic and community development policy.

Students seeking an affordable master's program should consider Eastern Illinois University. At $329.26 per credit, the school's master of arts in political science with a concentration in public administration and public policy is more affordable than the other programs we ranked. This flexible, fully-online program prepares students for careers in government, nonprofit management, public policy research, and human resource management. A student who wants to earn their degree as quickly as possible can complete the program in two semesters and one summer term. Online students receive the same career and mentoring services as on-campus students, and students that live near the campus can choose to create a hybrid program if they prefer to interact directly with their instructors.