Online MPA

Find the best masters in public administration online degrees

Most Popular MPA Degrees

A Master's in Public Administration or MPA can be just what you needed for advanced or placement in a public sector job. Governmental planning and organization is an essential function to the government running smoothly. Be a knowledge leader by starting your Online MPA today.

University of Southern California — University of Southern California is a highly-regarded educator with years of excellence in service to their students and alumni. Students will learn core competencies for the primary roles of public administrators like communication, human interaction, time management, and task prioritization. USC has a Masters of Public Administration available through accredited, online courses.
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Northwestern University — The Northwestern University Master of Arts in Public Policy & Administration features four areas of specialization: Health Services Policy, Public Policy, Public Safety and Security, and Urban Policy and Administration. Graduates obtain work throughout the government and non-profit world.
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George Washington University — George Washington University Masters of Political Management degree is accredited and available through online courses. GWU has worked with industry professionals to ensure the course material reflect the the modern political environment and follows the industry’s standards and best practices. Upon graduation, students can apply their education to real-world situations.
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Walden University — The Walden University Master of Public Administration, MPA in law & public policy, MPA in nonprofit management, MPA in health policy, MPA in homeland security policy, MPA in policy analysis, MPA in local government management, and MPA in interdisciplinary policy studies are all degrees that empower your future in policy development.
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University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix MPA and MM in Public Administration degree programs offer students the ability to expand their public policy skillet. Through exciting courses taught by dedicated professors, students achieve the knowledge required for jobs in government, nonprofit, and business.
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Post University — Post University offers an accredited online program for its Masters of Public Administration degree. This program enables students to pursue high-level and leadership positions in private, public, and even military sectors. Post University uses modern methodologies and best practices to develop relevant curriculum that has practical applications outside the classroom. The program is focused on helping students gain organizational, managerial, communication, and financial-planning skills.
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Kaplan University — The Master of Public Administration from Kaplan University teaches students the art of public policy and how to administer governmental bodies to ensure effective management. Graduates are successful throughout the government, nonprofit, business, and academic sectors.
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Duquesne University — As one of the top educators in the nation, Duquesne University has recently added an accredited Masters in Community Leadership online programs to its course catalog in response to current trends and increased interest. Online courses can be completed at your own pace from your home computer, school, the library, or even on the go.
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Grand Canyon University — The Grand Canyon University MPA in government & policy and MPA in healthcare management define what it means to offer excellence in the fields of government and healthcare. These degrees, which feature many exciting courses, help propel graduates into careers with leading government institutions and healthcare facilities.
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Capella University — The Master of Public Administration from Capella University features a curriculum that prepares students for the exciting world of public policy. Courses draw on experienced faculty who passion for teaching is reflected in their dynamic lessons.
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Bellevue University — Offered both in class and online, the Bellevue University Master of Public Administration prepares graduates to become leaders in the public sector. Courses teach the management, organizational, and financial issues specific to government, nonprofit, and other public organizations.
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Regis University — For students who want a quick way to accelerate their careers, Regis University has a Masters in Nonprofit Management that can be completed in as little as eighteen (18) months. This field is ever-growing and still has a high demand for skilled individuals. This course can be complete from any computer and requires no special software in order to work on assignments.
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Ashford University — The Master of Public Administration, MBA in public administration, MA/OM in public administration, MA in education & public policy from Ashford University empower graduates to embrace their love of public policy and take it to the next level. Graduates are found throughout the government, nonprofit, business, and academic sectors.
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Strayer University — The Master of Public Administration and MBA in public administration from Strayer University are two fantastic methods to accelerate your career into the fascinating world of government administration. Graduates seek employment at major local, state, or federal government agencies.
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Argosy University — Argosy University's MPA in state & local government, MPA in emergency response and MPA in homeland security all offer excellent advanced skills in the topics that will define public sector management in the 21st century. In this new world, it is important that graduates have the experience provided by these programs.
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Upper Iowa University — The Upper Iowa University Master of Public Administration, MPA in nonprofit organizations, and MPA in public personnel management features courses on such topics as organizations, ethics, policy, research methods, health and human services, public personnel management, and nonprofit organizations.
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South University — South University's Master of Public Administration, MPA in information technology, MPA in public policy, MPA in criminal justice; and MPA in nonprofit management feature specializations in Non-Profit Management, Public Policy, Criminal Justice, and Information Technology in addition to the core coursework.
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Northcentral University — Northcentral University offers an online MBA degree program in public administration, suitable for individuals looking for a business background in managing public agencies. Managers will be ready to succeed in a variety of careers upon graduation from this highly rated program.
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Keller Graduate School of Management — The Keller Graduate School of Management Master of Public Administration program teaches students how to lead the government and non-profit sector. In today's rapidly changing environment, governments and non-profits are in demand of proven leaders that can lead transformational change. Graduates work throughout the nation, in cities, states, the federal government, and non-profits.
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Explanation of an Online MPA Degree

If you’re a practicing or aspiring administrator in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors, or organizations that have public-interest linkages, you may want an MPA degree. The Online MPA, or Master of Public Administration program, is an advanced graduate degree. It prepares students for leadership roles in public organizations. The MPA emphasizes the critical areas of political institutions and processes, managerial and leadership concepts and skills, and analytical skills and techniques. It focuses both in the theory and application of MPA concepts, and provides an educational foundation for a career in management and leadership. If you’re already an administrator or manager of a public organization then this advanced degree can help refine, update, and improve your career potential. It can also help add value to your current career performance.

MPA degrees are unique in that they have a multidisciplinary focus in addition to a public management base. The core disciplines of most online MPA programs are political science and public administration. Additional disciplines include business administration, criminal justice, computer science, economics, and health administration. Additionally, most programs have concentrations or specializations. These may include criminal justice, emergency management, management, health administration, and more. Some programs even let you create a custom concentration of elective courses of your choosing.

What is the Difference Between an Online MPA and MPP Degree?

Those who desire to acquire a leadership role in public organizations and are wanting a master’s degree may become confused between the MPA and MPP degrees. The MPP is a Master of Public Policy, whereas the MPA is a Master of Public Administration. They’re both professional degrees in the public service field and will assist you in working for a nonprofit, at any level of government or in an international organization. Even though the degrees are very similar, there are a few differences:

Who are these degrees for?: The MPA is for people who want a public service career in managing, running, or deciding. It will aid in developing skills and techniques used by leaders and managers to implement policies and programs that resolve important societal problems. Those with an MPA will also address organizational, human resource, and budgetary challenges within organizations. The MPP is a degree that emphasizes analyzing and evaluating information to solve policy problems. MPP graduates typically become analysts, thinkers, and researchers. They often work with quantitative and qualitative information and data to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to current issues.

What are the coursework differences between an MPA and MPP degree?: Both MPA and MPP candidates have core courses in addition to a concentration or specialization within the field. Core course for MPA students include consulting, budgeting and financial processes, information systems, policy and program formulation, implementation and evaluation, decision-making and problem solving, political and legal institutions and processes, economic and social institutions and processes, organization and management concepts and behavior, and ethics. MPP core courses differ slightly and include statistics and data analysis, public finance, microeconomics and macroeconomics, research design, program evaluation, public policy, organization and management concepts and behavior, and ethics.

What specializations or concentrations are offered for the MPA and MPP degree?: Both MPA and MPP candidates should know what they would like to specialize in before selecting a program of study. If you do not know your concentration beforehand then you may select a program that doesn’t offer the concentration of your interest. Specializations and concentrations offered for MPA candidates include nonprofit management, health care management, environmental management, criminal justice, and urban affairs, as well as such diverse topics as election administration, aviation security, and philanthropic development. MPP candidates on the other hand have specializations and concentrations in policy areas like environment, education, health, transportation, economic development, international development, urban affairs, and criminal justice.

Where do people with these degrees work: Both MPA and MPP graduates work in a wide variety of public service fields. These include all levels of government (local, state, regional, and federal), nonprofits, International organizations, and the private sector. Both programs offer a broad-based training in subjects such as economics, policy analysis, management (including financial management) and professional communications.

How does Coursework Differ for Online MPA Programs?

Online MPA programs offer the same course as on-campus programs. The only difference is that you take your courses entirely online rather than sitting in a classroom. Professional teachers and faculty will help guide you through your online coursework. You’ll still be able to stay in contact with your instructors, participate in classroom activities, and complete the same work as students who study an MPA on campus. You’ll have deadline requirements, but you’ll do all the work at home, including taking tests.

Usually online delivery includes various interactive Internet-based learning applications. Videorecorded lectures are a common way of delivering class material. Additionally, chat rooms and instant video chat are available for students and professors to communicate. Many MPA graduates of online programs prefer this style of learning. They feel more obliged to share their opinion or ideas with the rest of the class. Also, through online chat groups or discussion boards students are forced to answer questions and participate in discussions. In classroom learning, there are often students who do not participate in the discussions.

Online MPA programs are also more flexible than on-campus programs. There aren’t required times that you must access your courses. Instead you can access them whenever and from wherever you would like. You also aren’t obligated to stay in one location for school. You’re able to travel or go on vacations while still attending class. As long as you have Internet connection you should be able to access your courses and communicate with professors and classmates.

The major components of online MPA programs are required core courses, required concentration or specialization courses, elective courses, the capstone or final professional paper, and MPA fieldwork. The length of a program will depend on the school’s unique program requirements. Typically MPA programs are 40 credit hours of study, in addition to the time spent in fieldwork and a capstone project. The final project is usually a paper that’s guided by an MPA professor. Students must design the paper within their area of concentration. Sometimes papers or projects require an on-campus oral presentation. It’s good to know these details before selecting your online MPA program.

What are Admission Standards for Online MPA Programs?

Typically, to be considered for admission into an online MPA program you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Students with strong verbal, analytical, and quantitative skills are usually desired for these programs. Often there isn’t an undergraduate major required, although sometimes programs prefer students with backgrounds in public administration, political science, economics, business administration, or other social sciences. Core courses should build-upon prior coursework in those subjects, but also provide a "catch-up" for those students who don’t have social science backgrounds.

Other application guidelines may include:

  • Online application and non-refundable fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
  • Satisfactory undergraduate academic record sand meet minimum GPA requirements
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) report or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
  • Recommendations are often required from college/university faculty and from employers or supervisors
  • A personal essay describing academics and professional preparation and the reasons why you’re seeking admission to an MPA program

What are Common Careers for Online MPA Graduates?

There are a wide variety of positions and organizations that serve the public interest. Graduates of online MPA programs work at the global, national, state, and local level. A typical graduate enters their professional career as a mid or upper level public manager or/and analyst. Areas that MPA graduates work in include, but are not limited to:

  • Regional and urban planning
  • Private sector regulation
  • Fiscal policy
  • Macroeconomic policy
  • Labor markets
  • Poverty reduction & development
  • Social policy
  • Global policy
  • Health policy
  • Urban and regional planning
  • Education policy
  • Human rights and good governance
  • Space exploration

Some typical job positions for MPA graduates include, but are not limited to:

  • Fiscal management (budgeting, revenue & expenditure management)
  • Policy analysis (social, economic, political and feasibility analysis of policies, programs & reforms)
  • Policy research
  • Program development, planning and evaluation
  • Consulting for the public sector
  • Public management & accountability
  • Social investment & public relations
  • Foreign service
  • Information technology
  • Human resources
  • Relief and development related work
  • Emergency management
  • Institutional development & organizational restructuring
  • Change management
  • Social work
  • Security issues

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