25 Best MPA Programs – 2025
January 1, 2025
Way back in 2017, the founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab gave a speech called “Strengthening Collaboration in a Fractured World.” Schwab, among other things, noted that digital technology is shoving us through a “fourth industrial revolution.” He said governments need to be more agile. He discussed the possibility of a universal basic income. And he spoke about the idea of a “lifelong education.” (Continue for the Best MPA Programs of 2025).
Schwab credited his own appearance on that stage with what we might call one rung on the ladder of his lifelong education. His MPA from the Kennedy School at Harvard University.
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“Nothing has influenced my life more than my year’s stay here at the Kennedy School,” Schwab said. “The Kennedy School is an essential pillar in the buildup of the WEF.”
The MPA—or, Master in Public Administration—is designed to help you do something precisely like what Schwab did. Take your passion for the public sector and help you jumpstart your career in a new direction.
What can an MPA do for you?
Getting an MPA can help you take your career in a new direction. Alternatively, it can help you take a leap from your current position into a serious management or leadership role. Getting an MPA from a solid, accredited program will prepare any student for careers in:
- Public administration
- Human resources
- Healthcare
- Local government administration
- City management
- Nonprofit management
- Consulting, and many more.
High ranking government officials from all over the world have earned their MPA, including former Canadian Prime Minister (and father to current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Former CIA Director David Petraeus. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has his MPA, as does Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.
And while your career ambitions might not lead you to head up the United Nations, an MPA can certainly guide your career in a noteworthy direction.
So, how do you choose a good program?
NASPAA Accreditation
Finding a good MPA program doesn’t have to be too difficult. If you want to stay close to home, doing your research to find a noteworthy MPA in your area is a great way to start. While it’s certainly not as well-known as the MBA, the MPA has become a popular degree. As such, many well-known universities have their own accredited programs.
The best way to know you’re getting a quality education is to ensure that the programs you’re targeting are NASPAA accredited. NASPAA, or the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, is the “global standard” in public service education, and it oversees the accreditation of curriculum for programs in that sector. They accredit more than 300 schools in the U.S. and overseas.
All the schools on our list are NASPAA accredited and adhere to the curricular standards set forth by the organization. Ensuring your desired school is NASPAA accredited just takes a simple search in the NASPAA database or by searching for your desired school’s accreditation page. It’s that easy!
Choosing the program that’s right for you
The following list of 25 programs is our “best of” list here at College Transitions. Generally speaking, these are 25 MPAs that are thought of as providing students with a high quality educational experience and access to networks and opportunities that other schools might not provide. We’ve ranked them 1–25 here, but your mileage may vary on those rankings. Something that suits one particular student well might not be quite what you’re looking for. The numerical list helps keep things in order around here, but you can rest assured that all of these MPAs are going to give you an education that’s just as good as any other—it just depends on what your specific goals are.
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And, who knows, your #1 MPA might not even be on this list. But these schools will give you a great starting point for things you might consider when hunting for the perfect MPA to take your career to the next level.
We have to note: this list is composed of programs that are mostly on-campus programs. At minimum, they are hybrid in nature. If you want to find an online MPA, check out our list of the 25 Best Online MPAs.
So, who made the cut?
The 25 Best MPA Programs
1) Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs MPA
- It’s hard not to top the list with Syracuse. This MPA is so highly regarded, it’s generally viewed as the top. It’s also the first established MPA in the country.
- The curriculum integrates theory and practice so that students train to collaborate across sectors.
- With 7 areas of study, 15 research centers, and 6 certificates of advanced studies, Syracuse’s MPA is a well-oiled machine that provides students with a wealth of opportunities.
2) Harvard University Kennedy School MPA
- Beyond the Harvard brand and the obvious high-level of education you’ll get here, the thing we like about the Harvard MPA is its flexibility: students can create a study plan that reflects their academic interests, goals, and passions.
- Students can also pursue a concurrent degree in business, law, medicine, or another related field. That means more knowledge and credentials to get you out there changing the world in a bigger way.
- With 49% international students and an average age of 29, the Harvard MPA provides diverse, working professionals with the skills and tools necessary to make a difference.
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3) Indiana University Bloomington MPA
- Indiana is another big name in the MPA game. And with good reason. 98% of students who graduated in 2023 went immediately into employment, the military, or further education upon completing their degree.
- Students interested in working at the federal level can jumpstart their careers with a one-year accelerator program in Washington, D.C.
- The MPA can also be paired as a dual degree with a Masters in International Affairs (MIA), a Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES), or a Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA). Or, you can pair it up with a dual degree option from another college within Indiana University.
4) University of North Carolina School of Government MPA
- UNC students have access to one of five different concentrations to customize their MPA experience, including: local government, nonprofit management, public management, community and economic development, and public policy.
- There are also a slew of dual degree options available at UNC, including: Master of Regional and City Planning (MRCP), Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Library Science (MILS), BA/BS in Environmental Studies/Sciences.
- These options are completely different from those offered at Indiana (above), which makes UNC certainly worth considering if you’re looking for a different dual degree experience that aligns more with your goals.
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5) American University School of Public Affairs MPA
- American University’s prime location in Washington, D.C. offers students access to internships and policy makers that many other programs simply can’t offer. This direct access quickly opens doors.
- The program features eight concentrations: global governance and management; public management; state and local management; public financial management; policy analysis; public policy; applied politics; race, policy, and administration; cyber policy and management; or create-your-own.
- Students coming to the program without a ton of professional experience participate in Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy MPAeither a for-credit or non-credit internship, equipping students with the professional acumen to launch their careers.
6) University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy MPA
- Though located in California, USC provides students with an immersive Washington, D.C. experience. International consultation courses to sharpen their expertise and make connections through client-facing policy projects.
- Working professionals can look forward to weekend classes or the online-only MPA. Students can work full-time and still graduate in two years or fewer.
- 98% of graduates are employed, pursuing a Ph.D., or pursuing other education within one year of graduating.
7) Cornell University Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy MPA
- Cornell’s MPA offers students the opportunity to learn from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Students study political, economic, historical, and government factors that contribute to issues, problems, and policies. They also study the quantitative and qualitative methods necessary to analyze these problems and policies.
- Students can choose from one of seven concentrations: environmental and sustainability policy; economic policy; data science; international policy and management; public and non-profit management; science and technology policy; and social policy: health, education, and inequality.
- Cornell sets the bar high: students are expected to engage in public affairs work related to their respective areas of concentration during the summer between their first and second years of study. The program culminates with a professional writing project.
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8) University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy MPA
- Berkeley’s MPA can be done pretty quickly: in just 12 or 14 months, students can complete the curriculum. The program starts in mid-May each year, and students must complete core and elective courses on campus. After that, students can choose to complete their courses on campus or online.
- Summer session is full-time, but students can easily return to work during the Fall and Spring semesters, making this program a flexible option for working professionals who can afford to take the summers off to study.
- The summer core curriculum builds community among cohorts while immersing students in the Berkeley campus, emphasizing leadership skills, strategic thinking, and multidisciplinary analysis.
9) Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences MPA
- Villanova takes an interdisciplinary approach that gives students hands-on opportunities to “take practice beyond theory.”
- The program is service-oriented, meaning that students get a hands-on approach to gaining practical knowledge and skills through experience.
- With three graduate certificate options—public administration, nonprofit management, and city management—students have the option to take their learning to the next level and curate their education to their career goals.
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10) Northeastern University College of Social Sciences and Humanities MPA
- The Northeastern experience is highly experiential. It includes full-time co-ops and flexible internship options. Additionally, there is a capstone project that helps students create their own professional portfolio to take straight into the job market.
- Students can wrap up the Northeastern MPA in just 1.5 years. They can start in the fall, spring, or at two different starting points during the summer.
- There’s also no GRE required, and students can complete the program completely on-campus, online, or with a hybrid approach of both online and on-campus modalities.
11) Northwestern University Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration
- This MPPA is a unique and comprehensive program. It combines aspects of both the MPA and the MPP (Master in Public Policy). Students can choose to specialize in public administration, public policy, global policy, global health, or data analytics for public policy.
- Students can collaborate with global client organizations, like the American Red Cross and The Urban Institute, on live projects in the MPPA Global Policy Lab.
- Students can choose to follow the accelerated option, which is a blend of on-campus and online courses. There is also a 100% remote option.
12) University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy MPA
- Michigan’s MPA is designed to take a small cohort of professionals from around the world and turn them into masters of public administration through a rigorous, high-level curriculum. You’re definitely going to be challenged here!
- Students should have at least five years of policy-relevant experience in government, military, the private sector, or the nonprofit sector, either in the United States or overseas.
- A new professional leadership seminar and executive coaching sessions with a certified coach prepare students to reemerge into the professional sphere with a bang.
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13) Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
- Ohio’s program is a Purple Star School, recognized for its service for military members, making it an excellent choice for students who want to transition from their time in the military to a different form of public service.
- The program can be completed in just one-to-two years, meaning that students can re-enter professional life confidently without much time.
- Ohio offers a one-year MPA on-campus, an online MPA, and an executive MPA designed for professionals with a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of working experience.
14) University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Social and Behavioral Sciences MPA
- UMass’s hybrid approach has students taking classes on campus and online to move quickly toward their professional goals.
- The program is designed to be completed in just one year. However, 86% of students graduate within two years, and 94% graduate within four years. The curriculum can be taken part-time in order to accommodate diverse situations.
- UMass has taken up the goal of making its program one of the most affordable in the region, allowing students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to become leaders in the public sector.
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15) University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs MPA
- UC Denver’s MPA is flexible enough to meet a lot of different student demands. It can be completed in as few as one or two years. It can also be completed in up to six years if on a part-time basis.
- Students can take courses on-campus, online, or as a hybrid option.
- Students in any western state can take advantage of in-state tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), if they are members of an American Indian Tribe with historical ties to Colorado, if they are returned Peace Corps volunteers, or if they are military-connected students living in Colorado (with certain restrictions).
16) Louisiana State University Department of Public Administration MPA
- LSU offers both an MPA and an MPA/JD dual degree, allowing students to hone their skills in specific ways that meet their needs.
- 55% of the 2018 MPA cohort graduated in just two years; 91% of the same cohort graduated within four years.
- Notable employers of LSU MPA graduates include: the American Cancer Society, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Johnson & Johnson, the Louisiana Office of the Governor, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and many more.
17) Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration
- Rutgers students can choose from one of two foundations: either public management or nonprofit management. The flexibility of the choice allows students a greater degree of specialization around their interests.
- Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a project-based capstone course, which culminates in the development of a professional portfolio.
- Credits from elective courses can be applied to one or more certificates. These include budgeting and financial management, healthcare administration, and leadership of public organizations.
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18) Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy MPA
- At Virginia Tech, flexibility is the name of the game. Students can study full-or-part-time on four different campuses: Arlington, Blacksburg, Richmond, or in the online campus. The degree can be finished in just two years.
- Alumni have gone on to work at a wealth of different employers, including: Alexandria City, Arlington County, Emory University, the U.S. Departments of State, Homeland Security, and many more.
- There’s an accelerated BA-MPA program available to all Virginia Tech undergraduates enrolled in Public and Urban Affairs, as well.
19) University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government MPA
- This fully on-campus program includes a capstone project and a summer internship. It is designed for early career professionals looking to leap into the public sector, public administration, or nonprofits.
- Cohorts are kept intentionally small to ensure a high student:faculty ratio.
- Optional concentrations include: public advocacy, international affairs, nonprofit management, domestic policy, quantitative policy analytics, international impact evaluation, or an individualized concentration.
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20) University of Albany Rockefeller College MPA
- With a fully on-campus and online option, an MPA/JD program, more than a dozen concentrations, and international dual degrees offered by Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, students can customize an education that suits their ambitions, no matter how high.
- 98% of Rockefeller MPA graduates are employed within just one year of graduation, which bodes well for your prospects!
- Recent employers or internship locations include: New York State Office of Counter Terrorism; the CIA; New York State Department of Civil Service; Moody’s; and many more.
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21) New York University Wagner MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy
- NYU’s powerful community of alumni and collaborators ensures that students walk into a network of organizations, contacts, and career opportunities all over the world.
- Flexibility is key at NYU: students can pick electives by issue or by specialization. They can study full-time or part-time, with the option to switch between the two. You can finish the degree in two years full-time or 3–4 years part-time.
- The interdisciplinary MPA-PNP curriculum offers students breadth and depth with coursework in finance, policy, and management.
22) Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs MPA
- Columbia’s offering is super unique: the program is STEM-designated, meaning that it has a rigorous focus on management sciences, offering intensive coursework in leadership, economics, data analytics, and financial management.
- Columbia says its students “work in the most prestigious agencies and firms in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as their own start-ups and social enterprises.”
- Dual degree options include: MPA and JD, MPH, Master in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences, Master of Science in Social Work, and more facilitated by international partners.
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23) Texas A&M The Bush School of Government and Public Service MPSA
- Texas’ Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) develops leaders with a strong attunement to accountability and ethical behavior for the public and nonprofit sectors.
- The student:faculty ratio is kept intentionally small, and students have the opportunity to learn in a small, close-knit community.
- The program features summer internships, volunteering, and a year-long capstone project for real-world clients.
24) University of Wisconsin-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs MPA
- UW-Madison admits just 50 students per year, with 35 admitted to the MPA and 15 to the Master of International Public Affairs Program. Students benefit from the small cohort size and more time in front of faculty.
- The program can be completed in just two years, and students are required to take a one-credit professional development seminar and an internship that counts for up to three credits.
- Students can earn dual degrees in business, energy analysis and policy, law, public health, neuroscience, and urban planning.
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25) University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs MPA
- Students can choose a concentration in: energy and environment; governance and international public management; policy research and analysis; public and nonprofit management; social policy; or urban affairs and planning.
- Pitt offers a graduate certificate with the University Center for International Studies.
- Students can pursue joint degrees, including the MPA and: JD, MPH, Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS), Master of Social Work (MSW), Science in Quantitative Economics (MQE). Students can also work with Kobe University in Japan for a dual degree.
Thinking about other grad degrees?
Check out our other lists of the best graduate degrees:
