A master's degree in public administration online offers a flexible, accessible path for individuals seeking to develop leadership skills and advance their careers in public service. An online MPA typically covers essential topics such as policy analysis, management, and ethics, equipping you with the competencies to navigate complex governmental and nonprofit environments. We've selected several online degrees to consider for your master's in public administration.
Key Takeaways:
- Anna Maria College earns the top spot with an exceptional median graduate earnings of $102,918.
- Northwestern University boasts a graduation rate of 96%, situating it in the top 1% for this metric, and it is ranked #3 overall.
- American Public University System impresses with 18,012 military student enrollments and securing the #9 spot overall.
We've assigned each program a Salary Score so that students can compare early career salaries for specific programs. Graduates of programs with the highest reported earnings are listed at the top. For more information, view our methodology.
2025 Best Online Master of Public Administration Degrees
| Rank | School | Salary Score | Median Earnings | What Is An Online Master in Public Administration?An online master's in public administration (MPA) is a multidisciplinary degree that teaches how to serve in public-facing positions. Students explore policy development, project management, financial analysis, and organizational systems 鈥� all necessary skills for overseeing the daily functions of governmental and nonprofit organizations. They will also study law, ethics, fundraising, and statistics. An online MPA is a collaborative degree that requires students to work in groups to finish projects and conduct research. This intersectoral approach prepares graduates for work in organizations that serve public interests. Students can best prepare for their master's degree with a bachelor's in public administration. These degrees provide a foundational understanding of public sector work, including policy and grant writing, ethical decision-making, and communication. Budget-minded students can pursue an affordable bachelor's in public administration to save money on tuition costs. Students should only pursue a master of public administration if it comes from an accredited school. Accreditation ensures that the program and its professors have been evaluated for quality by an independent education agency. All schools featured on the OnlineU site are accredited. How Long Does It Take To Get a Master in Public Administration Degree Online?A public administration master's is designed to take two years for full-time students. They must complete approximately 12 to 15 credits each semester to reach the 36 credits typically needed for graduation. Usually, it takes students longer to graduate than they originally planned for. An MPA online usually finishes with a capstone project or thesis paper. Internships may also be required, in which case students coordinate with local organizations in their area to arrange work. Common Courses in a Public Administration Master'sA master's degree in public administration offers an in-depth examination on how professionals develop, implement, and manage public policy initiatives. These skills require knowledge of organizational structures to manage staff, policy development to organize each step of the process, and ethics to ensure policies are developed in the public's best interests. Policy Development Policy development teaches students to identify issues through public feedback, academic research, and data analysis. They learn about operational planning, which includes managing personnel and developing organizational structures that help them implement change. Each part of policy development is examined in detail through a political lens. Ethics in Public Management In this course, students learn the importance of ethics in government systems and how to conduct themselves professionally, identify organizational hierarchies, and encourage public participation. Students use ethical decision-making models that provide frameworks for identifying issues, gathering information, and implementing solutions. Organizational Analysis An organizational analysis course is helpful in understanding group behavior and structures in political environments. Staff, budget, and data governance are also discussed, providing students with the practical skills required to oversee public organizations and implement policies. Project Management Project management in a public administration context provides operational training for various types of public-serving organizations. Students learn to outline project parameters, including budgets, scope, personnel, and scheduling. They also gain an understanding of sensitive, high-risk operations within the government. What Can You Do With a Public Administration Master鈥檚 Degree?Public administration officials implement laws created by policymakers. Their work is critical to organizations that provide social benefits, launch public safety initiatives, and maintain public facilities. Master in public administration graduates can find employment in different facets of the policy design and implementation process, with varying leadership roles in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, public health institutions, and private companies. Below are a few examples of career trajectories for graduates with a master's in public administration: Community Service Managers Median Annual Salary: $74,240 Job Growth: 9%+ organize social programs such as child welfare, psychiatric care, rehabilitation, and healthcare. They ensure benefits reach the community by conducting outreach and communicating eligibility requirements. They hire and train staff, manage budgets, maintain records, and develop policies. Administrative Services Managers Median Annual Salary: $103,330 Job Growth: 5-8% coordinate various operations with an organization to keep it functioning as efficiently as possible. This can include managing inventories, supporting staff, preparing reports, developing key performance indicators, and creating policies. They oversee project planning and implementation, which requires excellent communication and organization skills. Project Management Specialists Median Annual Salary: $95,370 Job Growth: 5-8% The responsibilities of are wide-ranging within a public administration organization. They guide projects from ideation to completion while maintaining budgets and schedules, including hiring and training in-house staff and outside contractors. They work closely with administrators to deliver progress reports while utilizing project management software to manage timelines. Development Managers Median Annual Salary: $120,000 Job Growth: 5-8% In a public administration context, focus on community programs. Their projects aim to improve infrastructure, facilitate economic growth, promote transparency, or address inequalities. Much like other administrative roles, they handle all aspects of program development, such as allocating resources and preparing staff. What Is the Highest Paying Job in Public Administration?Public administration jobs are typically high-paying because of how vital their public-facing leadership duties are to local communities. According to federal data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as cited above, the highest paying roles, such as development managers and administrative services managers, earn median annual salaries above $100,000. Even the lowest paying jobs are pretty high, with project management specialists and community service managers earning between $74,000 and $95,000. Applying For an MPAStudents applying to college for an MPA must have a bachelor's degree. It's recommended that it be in a similar field, like economics, social work, or political science, although only some programs require related academic experience. Students must provide transcripts that show they earned a GPA of 2.5 to 3.0 during their undergraduate degree. Additional application requirements may include personal essays, letters of recommendation, and college entrance exams. FAQs About Online MPAsWhich Is Better: An MPA or MBA?The main difference is that an MPA's coursework focuses more on public organizational practices, while an MBA explores the workings of private enterprises. Ultimately, students should choose between an MPA or MBA based on whether they have career aspirations in the public or private sector. Undecided students may want to pursue an MBA in public administration, which teaches business principles in the context of public organizations. What Degree Is Best for a Public Administration Career?Public administration degrees offer concentrations that allow students to narrow the scope of their coursework to what type of organizations they wish to work for. For example, some programs have criminal justice concentrations, while others specialize in nonprofit management. Some programs don't have concentrations at all and instead, provide a range of electives so students can experiment with the direction of their future careers. Is MPA a Respected Degree?Earning an MPA online is a respectable route to a career in public administration. Many of these degrees are taught by the same instructors who lead courses on campus. Even though they are conducted remotely, students still engage in classroom discussions, lectures, and group projects. Furthermore, an online MPA likely won't mention the credential was earned online. Is a Master's in Public Administration Worth It?Check out some more of the pros and cons of earning a Master in Public Administration: Benefits
Drawbacks
Master's degrees are expensive and time-consuming 鈥� and MPAs are no different. This often leads students to seek an affordable master's in public administration. However, students can greatly benefit from these programs by earning skills that have a positive impact. Graduates will be in line for leadership jobs that can make a genuine difference in people's lives. Student Reviews of Online Public Administration ProgramsI am in my first semester of an online grad program. Expect to spend a lot of time fixing administrative errors and shortcomings. Departments bounce you back and forth. Ticket system is ignored. I called accounts today and was 26th in line. After 45 minutes I made it to 10th. Review Date: 4/18/2023 Would Recommend: No Helpful for Career: No Over the last few years, University of Phoenix has helped me in numerous ways, not only academically but also personally. The specialists were all helpful in ensuring things were all set and ready to start class each quarter as well check in to see how things are going. The professors have been amazing. They are always actively giving students the knowledge and tools to be able to succeed in the courses. Most importantly, they were all very understanding of circumstances and were willing to accommodate... Read More Review Date: 6/12/2025 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes Attending Phoenix University was one of the most transformative experiences I've ever had! The education quality, the instructors, and the courses truly pushed me to my limits. I started my academic journey quite late in life, and initially, I doubted my ability to pursue higher education at this stage. The faculty at Phoenix University were remarkably supportive; from the instructors to the financial aid office, I was able to grow more confidently both professionally and personally. The skills I... Read More I will always remember one of my earliest courses, which included an assessment made up of three different parts. Since this was at the start of my program, I needed all the assistance I could get. I reached out to the instructor with questions I felt I should already know the answers to, but he quickly replied with a thorough explanation. Although the grading process, particularly the feedback from some instructors, could use improvement, my overall experience at Phoenix was outstanding, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any working adult seeking to enhance their skills. Review Date: 9/30/2025 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes I need to choose a new grad program and I wanted to continue working in public sector. I decided to give U of Phoenix a try, and I am so happy that I did. I believe that this program was a great fit and that it allowed me to pace myself throughout the six week of each course. I believe that these six weeks are enough time to fully grasp the courses and to understand the objectives. The professors really want you to succeed and always provide well in-depth feedback on how to make progress. I have... Read More Review Date: 8/11/2025 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes I didn鈥檛 consider UOPX as a graduate school until I applied for a scholarship. I previously attended another popular online university designed for the working professional. I got the scholarship and had to decide if I was going to commit to UOPX, obviously I did, and I am happy about that decision. UOPX graduate school was academically challenging but the format made it easier navigate. The 6 week courses were very focused and formatted in a way that allowed me to digest a lot of information in a... Read More Overall, if UOPX had a doctorate program I was interested in, I鈥檇 consider it. Review Date: 8/27/2025 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes I had a great experience with TUW. I recently completed the MPA program. The faculty and staff engaged to ensure there were no communication gaps. It is a great model for busy professionals. All of the professors were responsive and knowledgeable. The tuition is affordable and has allowed me to further my education. TUW has been one of my best educational experiences. I highly recommend TUW. Review Date: 10/26/2023 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes I chose Purdue University Global because of its reputation and permitted me to transfer of graduate credit from my previous graduate work. What surprised me was the weekly synchronous online seminar which helped connect to my professors to clarify concepts or theories. The assignments, asynchronous weekly posting on the blackboard and weekly seminars enable me and other students to have multiple mode for the subject/theme of the week. My professors in Public Admin qualified and credentialed with... Read More Review Date: 3/5/2022 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: No Until financial aid and the bursar office can get it together, stay away. I have issue after issue with the financial department. From them keeping disbursement funds from summer and not figuring it out until fall after being told, to classes almost over before disbursements go out. When you have to buy books and supplies or new laptop with those funds, they put you in a bad position to be successful. They used to be really good but like everything COVID is an excuse for awful service that breaks... Read More Review Date: 9/8/2021 Would Recommend: No Helpful for Career: No Overall experience was great. Some professors stood out more than others. Some lifetime friendships with classmates and professors were made. Both my BS and MPA capstone professors could have done a better job with grading to give students a better chance of improving. Review Date: 7/9/2022 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: No I went to this school online and it was just too much religion for me. Religion was injected into every assignment and every conversation, and I'm saying this as a Christian. The 8 week course load for the Master's program is also extremely challenging, for a program made for people who have families and work full-time. I really don't understand how you can even work full-time while taking an 8 week course load. Slip up on one assignment and it's a downward hill from there. And then don't get me... Read More Review Date: 10/21/2020 Would Recommend: No Helpful for Career: No Don't understand the poor reviews on here. I too had a financial aid issues and they explained to me that it would take a while to get sorted out. But, eventually it worked out. This is my first term and it was hard. I only took one class and they really hold you accountable. Discussion boards and seminars are east points but the other assignments are tough. This is what I expect from a graduate school. Most people think online is easy but it's tougher than what people think. My advisor is amazing... Read More Review Date: 9/3/2018 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes This is all online. It was ok I guess. The professor I had on our leadership class was totally checked out and we didnt hear from him until the end of the course. He provided no direction and didnt respond to emails. As I approached graduation I had one professor who gave me a 3.0 in the class. I had to call her out and point out specifics of the syllabus. She then had to change my grade to a 4.0. When I had emailed her about my grade she simply tossed it off and said I didnt turn in all the assignments.... Read More Review Date: 3/23/2019 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: No Barry University through its PACE program gives you the freedom to take classes at your own pace. It's a good fit for working adults with a family. Since being at Barry University, the insight of the professors have been tremendous, they are always willing to help whenever possible. Review Date: 3/16/2018 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: No I enjoyed my experience at Strayer University. When I began attending, I was a young single mother working full time. I appreciated the flexibility Strayer afforded me in choosing to enroll in on campus or online classes. The professors were accommodating and responsive. The course load was challenging but kept my interest. I learned a lot of valuable tools that I utilize in my current profession. I would recommend Strayer to everyone, especially those with busy lives. Review Date: 11/21/2019 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: No This university has been my key to success. I have achieved three degrees from CTU and have just been accepted into a doctoral program. The system in which this university provides an opportunity to those who may not believe that it is possible to obtain a degree (or four)! Our military lifestyle made achieving a higher education impossible, but CTU - Online said otherwise. I am extremely happy with my time at CTU and know that I will always be proud of my Alma Mater. Review Date: 7/24/2019 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes The University of Phoenix online Masters of Public Administration is a well rounded program. I have been able to combine what I am learning in the online class environment and apply it to an internship I am doing with a local government. Having the online capability to network with professionals that are currently in other public sector agencies has been a wonderful way to learn about other communities and the way other cities work. I highly recommend the online program for future or prospective... Read More Review Date: 3/14/2017 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes It's an easily accessible program, but sometimes the class sizes are too large. I'm only two subjects in and I feel the topics are very interesting, but because the classes are online, I don't feel like I know my professors or that they have much of an interest in my work. I'm hoping this will change as the coursework becomes more advanced. The students are all very nice and offer advice and feedback. Review Date: 10/2/2015 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: No University of Phoenix provided outstanding services for obtaining my Master's degree. They offered an array of helpful resources from online information , step-by-step videos, audio media and accessible around the clock. While studying at Phoenix, I also had the support of the staff and a personal mentor assigned to motivate and encourage me. She was always a phone call away with inspiring words to keep me focused. University of Phoenix is a phenomenal school and the resources available ensure that... Read More Review Date: 2/18/2017 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes The Public Administration Program at Sul Ross State University is incredibly accommodating to online students. All of my classes took place online and I feel like I learned and absorbed the professor's lectures and information just as successfully as in a traditional classroom setting. The majority of people in my class were working full time as well as balancing being a full time student, so each semester was stressful and required skillful time management abilities. Each professor had realistic... Read More Review Date: 2/1/2017 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes Central Michigan University has demonstrated the highest level of commitment for military university. As an active duty Coast Guardsman on random patrols at sea, Central Michigan University has helped with admissions, tuition and degree plan. The university's professors have took time to fully explain courses and help students succeed. Review Date: 9/28/2016 Would Recommend: Yes Helpful for Career: Yes Why Trust Us?27 Data Researchers 60,000 Degrees Researched Annually 20,000 Hours Spent on Research Annually Launching Rankings Since 2009 Related Articles |
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