Students interested in public administration commonly ask, what is an MPA degree? A Master of Public Administration, or MPA degree, is a professional degree program that prepares students for leadership, management, and upper level careers in the public administration field. MPA programs focus on advanced topics of public administration and topics include roles and principles of public administration, public policy management, organizational management, administrative law, government and public administration, and professional ethics. Students commonly have the ability to specialize in a certain area such as health care, international affairs, environment, education, urban policy, and criminal justice. Individuals who pursue this degree often enjoy various benefits including a variety of career options and competitive salary. The programs typically take two years of full-time study to complete and online MPA programs are available.
Featured Schools
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has locations nationwide, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal and sooner than you might think.
Programs:
- Master of Public Admin
- M.B.A.
Kaplan University is focused on recognizing the achievements of military and veteran students and offers the flexibility of an online education. Eligible students can receive college credit for prior military experience and coursework—up to 75 percent of the credit needed for a Kaplan University undergraduate degree.*
Programs:
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Public Administration - Governmental Management
- Master of Public Administration - Health Care Management
- And more...
At Post University, we believe you shouldn’t have to put your life on hold to further your education. That’s why we offer a wide range of quality Certificate, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a highly interactive online format that emphasizes flexibility, convenience, and support. Whichever program you choose, you can take classes in 8-week modules, six times a year from faculty members with advanced degrees and extensive real-world experience. You’ll also enjoy access to a full array of academic support services, including advising, tutoring, writing center assistance, and our virtual library at no additional charge.
Programs:
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Business Administration - Multidisciplinary
- And more...
Programs:
- M.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership & Executive Management - Public Management & Leadership
- Master of Public Administration -Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities
- Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)-General Program
- And more...
Pursue what's next without putting your career and personal life on hold. In a master's degree program from Rutgers Online, you'll enjoy all the advantages of an on-campus education – same small classes, same one-on-one attention, same world-renowned professors – plus the convenience and flexibility of learning from anywhere, anytime.
Earn your Master of Library & Information Science, Ed. M. in Learning, Cognition & Development, or Master of Arts for Teachers in Spanish. Learn more about these top-ranked programs.
Programs:
- Master of Public Administration
Programs:
- Master's-Public Administration
- Master's-Business Administration
- Graduate Certificate-Business Administration
One of the world’s leading private research institutions, the University of Southern California (USC) was founded in 1880. What began as an academic institution of just 53 students has now grown to more than 38,000. Today USC continues to uphold its tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, fostering a vibrant culture of public service and encouraging students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.
Programs:
- Master of Public Administration
Continue your education with Strayer University. We offer convenient degree options designed with the working adult in mind — study online, on campus in the evening and weekends, or through a combination of both.
Programs:
- Masters: Public Administration
- MBA: Public Administration
- MBA: Professional Studies
- And more...
Earn your graduate degree online with Northcentral University. We offer online programs focused on doctoral and master's degrees in the schools of business and technology management, education, and behavioral and health sciences.
Programs:
- Public Administration - MBA
- General Business - MBA
- Management - MBA
Programs:
- Public Administration (MPA)
- Business Administration (MBA)
- 12-Month MBA (MBA)
How To Find The Top MPA Programs
When searching for top MPA programs it is important to consider a variety of factors that may make some programs better than others such as if an institution is accredited, tuition costs, faculty, curriculum, and distance learning classes. A great place to start is looking at the rankings of colleges and universities that offer campus-based and online MPA Programs. The U.S. World and News Report reports rankings of many different institutions that offer Masters in Public Administration programs. Examples of the best MPA programs include Syracuse University, Indiana University, and the University of Georgia. Syracuse University was the first in the nation to offer a graduate public administration degree and it offers various other undergraduate and graduate public administration majors. Walden University offers one of the best online MPA programs. Students should conduct extensive research on programs and contact admissions offices and faculty of prospective programs. Considering the type of specialization, core curriculum and electives, thesis requirement, timeframe, and internship opportunities are also important factors.
Careers and Salaries For Individuals With MPA Degrees
Individuals with an MPA degree have a wide variety of career opportunities and MPA salaries are very competitive. The degree also offers working professional career development to move up in their current organizations. Graduates are prepared to pursue leadership and management opportunities in local, state, and federal government organizations as well as nonprofit agencies and non-government organizations (NGO). Many choose to pursue public management positions such as a city manager. The salary for city managers ranges from $43,669 to $153,823 depending on employer, experience, and location. Other possible options and salary ranges include management analysts $43,750 to $56,163, human resources director $79,525 to $97,750, and executive director of a non-profit organization $34,000 to $66,500.
