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Best Online MPA Programs – Thinking about going to graduate school to earn an MPA? It’s an exciting prospect! An MPA—a Master’s in Public Administration—is a degree that opens up careers in so many different fields. Students who earn their MPA go on to pursue careers in sectors such as: 

• Urban planning
• Emergency management
• Transportation 
• Public health 
• Economic development
• Community development 
• Non-profit management 
• Environmental policy 
• Cultural policy 
• International affairs
• Criminal justice, and many more! 

The MPA is often seen as the public-sector equivalent of the MBA. It really prepares students to operate in a variety of organizational and managerial roles that, very simply, serve the public.

Famous MPA Recipients 

You’ll find MPA recipients in important roles at the local, regional, national, and international level. You might be surprised to know that the following folks are MPA degree-holders: 

• Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong 
• Nobel Prize laureate and former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos 
• Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 
• Three former presidents of Mexico: Felipe Calderón, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, and Miguel de la Madrid 
• Former Canadian Prime Minister Elliott Trudeau 
• Former President of Bolivia Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé
• Former CIA Director David Petraeus 
• Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and so many more. 

If your career goals align with public service, and you’ve found that further study might elevate you to the next level in your career, then an MPA might be the right route for you. 

What’s the difference between an MPA and MPP? 

You might also be considering a Master’s in Public Policy, or MPP. What’s the difference between an MPA and an MPP? 

As the names might imply, the MPP focuses more on policy research, design, and evaluation. MPP degree-holders might also find themselves in roles of policy implementation, but the focus really is on public policy. 

The MPA, by contrast, is about that administrative element. So, MPAs are really focusing on administering public-facing projects and programs rather than sitting back in analysis. Of course there is overlap between these two arenas, but you can think of the distinction as one between more analytical work that investigates the nature and creation of policy and more implementary work that puts policy into practice and interacts directly with the public. 

Thinking about other grad degrees? 

Check out our other lists of the best graduate degrees: 

• The Best Online MBAs
• Best Master’s in Sustainability
• 24 Best Master’s in Psychology
• 15 Best Online Master’s in Data Science  

The 25 Best Online MPA Programs

1) 

Executive Master of Public Administration (Executive MPA)

• The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is the #1-ranked school for graduate education in public affairs, according to U.S. News & World Report
• There are 10 sub-specialities in critical topic areas, including: public management and leadership, nonprofit management, and public finance and budgeting 
• Scholarships are available for incoming students

2) 

Online Master of Public Affairs

• Indiana’s MPA was ranked #1 among public universities and #2 among public and private universities by U.S. News & World Report  
• 100% of IU MPA students are considered for financial aid 
• Students can choose to complete the MPA 100% online, as a hybrid option, or in residence, to suit their specific needs

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

3)

Online MPAP – Master of Public Administration and Policy

• AU’s program combines its nationally recognized and NASPAA-accredited master’s in public administration and master’s in public policy degrees into a single, foundational, highly marketable credential 
• Students work with award-winning faculty in the nation’s capital 
• Ranked as #4 in the Top Public Management and Leadership programs and #13 in the Best Public Affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report 

4) 

Online Master of Public Administration

• Students have the option of completing the degree requirements entirely online or taking some classes in person at either the Arlington, Blacksburg, or Richmond campuses 
• The online MPA is identical in content, requirements, and workload as the in-person degree program and can be taken full-time or part-time  
• The same faculty teach online and in-person and students in both programs can interact in-person and/or virtually

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

5) 

Master of Arts in Public Management

• Johns Hopkins’ program has been named one of the best public affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report 
• Students can choose between three areas of focus: public administration and leadership; public policy evaluation; or public financial management and budgeting 
• Alumni have gone onto careers at the White House, Department of Treasury, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, FEMA, and many more

6) 

Executive Masters of Public Administration

• The Cornell Executive MPA offers distance, online, low-residency, and hybrid options to give students the learning situation that serves them best 
• The program is designed for working professionals who want to enhance their career prospects 
• The program lasts 18 months and is taught by the same Cornell faculty who teach on campus

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

7) 

Master of Public Administration 

• Penn State’s MPA is a NASPAA-accredited program offered by the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs 
• The program blends theoretical and applied concepts while covering organizational governance, finance, and administration 
• Students can earn additional graduate certificates along the way, entirely online

8) 

Master of Public Administration

• With rolling admissions, students can start at any time in the semester and graduate in as few as two years 
• The comprehensive curriculum covers public policy, financial management, and organizational leadership 
• Courses are offered in an asynchronous online format in back-to-back, seven-week sessions

9) 

Online Master of Public Administration

• • Rutgers online MPA is a 100% asynchronous program designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals 
  • Students can choose a foundation in either public management or nonprofit management, shaping their degrees around interests and career goals 
  • Students can earn specialized certification in topic areas, including: budgeting and financial management, healthcare administration, leadership of public organizations, and more 

10) 

Online Master in Public Administration

• In just 15 hours per week, students can complete their online MPA with Purdue Global in an average of 1.5 years 
• Students build expertise in public administration and management, budgeting and administration of public funds, strategic planning, and human resource management
• Purdue Global is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

11) 

Online MPA

• No GRE/GMAT score is required to apply
• LSU’s program was highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2022 
• 85% of LSU MPA grads credit their promotion or salary increase to earning their MPA

12) 

Online MPA

• This NASPAA-accredited online MPA “prepares socially conscious public service leaders with the skills and principles to cultivate more equitable and resilient communities” 
• Financial aid is available for qualified applicants 
• Augusta’s program is among the more affordable online MPAs; it ranks in the top 5% for increased economic mobility for low-and-moderate-income students, according to the Economic Mobility Index from the Third Way think tank

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

13) 

Online Master of Public Administration

• There is no GRE/GMAT score required for this 100% online program 
• While it is a bit more costly at $823 per credit, scholarships are available 
• Students can choose from three concentrations: public leadership and management, nonprofit management, or state and local government

14) 

MPPA Degree Online

• Northwestern’s program offers a part-time, 100% remote option, which is self-paced and designed for working professionals and can be finished in as few as two years 
• There is also an accelerated option that blends online and on-campus courses that is designed as a full-time program that can be completed in just one year 
• International students can be sponsored for their visa through the accelerated MPPA program

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

15) 

Flexible Online MPA Degree

• Villanova’s program allows for 100% remote classes, 100% in-person classes, or a hybrid mix of both to accommodate student needs 
• While the program costs $940 per credit, financial aid is available 
• Students can earn certificates in city management, nonprofit management, and public administration 

16) 

Master of Public Administration

• UNC’s online MPA promotes “aggressive career development,” preparing students to move beyond existing career positions into their dream jobs 
• The MPA program can also be completed as a BA-MPA program, which is perfect for students who need to complete an undergraduate degree, as well 
• UNC at Pembroke has been recognized as “one of the best schools for online learning”  by OnlineMastersDegrees.org

 

17) 

Master of Public Administration Online

• SDSU’s program is ranked #1 in all the California State University schools and #5 in all of California 
• The 100% online format is delivered asynchronously, meaning that students can study around their existing schedules 
• Students can graduate in as few as 16 months

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

18) 

Master of Public Administration

• 99.5% of USC online MPA graduates are employed in government, nonprofits, or the private sector 
• This NASPAA-accredited program requires two mandatory on-campus residencies: one at the beginning of the program and one at the end, to facilitate community between students, faculty, staff, and alumni 
• The program concludes with a capstone project consulting with a real-world client, conducting valuable research

19) 

The Online Master of Public Administration

• This 100% online MPA costs $407 per credit and can be completed in a few at 16 months 
• The MPA is housed within UIC’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs
• Accelerated 8-week terms allow students to complete the degree quickly while they work

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

20) 

Master of Public Administration

• The UMass online MPA offers “an interdisciplinary approach with faculty who teach in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, health sciences, education, and business departments”
• The program ends with a capstone project at a public or nonprofit agency, allowing students to use their newfound skills and knowledge while developing their professional network 
• UMass claims to have one of the most affordable tuitions in the nation, and a variety of financial aid and scholarships are available

21) 

Online Master of Public Administration

• The Cal Poly online MPA is designed with a flexible schedule to accommodate both full-and-part-time students 
• The program espouses a “learn-by-doing” pedagogical philosophy, emphasizing practical skills and learning through capstone experiences 
• Nearly half of the faculty are working professionals in the field, enabling students to develop a strong network while they study

 

22) 

Online Master of Public Administration

• ASU’s program curriculum covers leadership strategies, ethical decision-making, and effective management across various organizations 
• ASU emphasizes that military personnel looking to transition to civilian roles aligned with their values would benefit from their program 
• ASU also offers a Master of Science in program evaluation and data analytics for those more interested in policy analysis

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

23) 

Online Master of Public Administration

• In-state students can expect to pay an affordable $327 per credit hour; out-of-state students pay $1,151 per credit hour, and might find more affordable options in their home state 
• This NASPAA-accredited program is also nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the Best Graduate Public Administration programs 
• There is no GRE/GMAT score required to apply

24) 

Public Administration Credential Online

• This 100% online MPA can be completed in an average of just two years 
• There are nine required courses, including the capstone course, and students may choose one elective 
• Courses are taught by Ph.D.s, DPAs, and MPAs who are all Wake Forest faculty

Best Online MPA Programs (Continued)

25) 

MPA Public Administration

• This NASPAA-accredited program is recognized as one of the top 15% of national MPA programs 
• In-state students can expect to say $613 per credit, while out-of-state students will pay $736 per credit; students in western states outside of Colorado can participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) to save on tuition 
• Students can pursue the “standard” MPA or choose an area of concentration such as: Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Management (DHEM); Education Policy; Environmental Policy and Management; Interpersonal Violence; and more

Best Online MPA Programs – Additional Resources

• 20 Best Online Master’s in Software Engineering Programs 
• Best MBA Programs in the U.S. 
• 15 Best Online Doctoral Programs/PhD Programs