Masters in Public Policy

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You have made the decision that you’d like to work in the public policy field. Great, but where do you begin? Your first step is to obtain the necessary education that will enable you to get a good job within the public policy discipline. Your ultimate goal will be to attain a master’s degree in public policy, public administration, public affairs or a related field.

A Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree is considered multi-disciplinary and provides a myriad of career options. Some include working in government as a legislator, in legislative analysis, public relations, communications and policy development. Non-government positions that you may be eligible for include advocacy work, policy management, government relations and legal analysis.

When seeking a graduate public policy degree program, look for one that is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Why is this accreditation important? NASPAA provides voluntary peer-review of master’s degree programs within public policy, public administration and public affairs. Accreditation by NASPAA shows that a program has been tested and lives up to the highest standards in the profession and within public service education. Programs are assessed on an ongoing basis to make sure that they continue to comply. Graduation from a program accredited by NASPAA shows prospective employers that your education lives up to discipline-wide quality standards, that you are well-prepared for a job in public policy, and also increases your chances of future employment opportunities.

Various specializations may be available within a master’s degree program in public policy, public administration or public affairs. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Budgeting and finance
  • City/local
  • Criminal justice
  • Economic development
  • Education
  • Emergency
  • Environment
  • General/public management
  • Health
  • Homeland security/national security
  • Human resources
  • Information technology
  • International/global
  • Leadership
  • Nonprofit
  • Organizational management
  • Public policy analysis
  • Public sector
  • Self-designed specializations
  • Social policy
  • State
  • Survey methods
  • Urban

NASPAA accredits 205 programs at 187 schools nationwide in almost all 50 states. Master’s level public policy, public affairs and public administration degrees that are accredited by NASPAA within each state include:

Alabama

  • Master of Public Administration – Auburn University at Auburn
  • Master of Public Administration – Auburn University at Montgomery
  • Master of Public Administration – Jacksonville State University
  • Master of Public Administration –University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Master of Public Administration –University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Alaska

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in Alaska, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Alaska, Anchorage
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Alaska Southeast (online degree)

Arizona

  • Master of Public Administration – Arizona State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Arizona

Arkansas

  • Master of Public Administration – Arkansas State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Arkansas at Little Rock

California

  • Master of Public Administration – California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Bakersfield
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Chico
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Dominguez Hills
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Fresno
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Fullerton
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Long Beach
  • Master of Science in Public Administration – California State University, Los Angeles
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, San Bernardino
  • Master of Public Administration – California State University, Stanislaus
  • Defense-Focused Master of Business Administration – Naval Postgraduate School
  • Master of Public Administration – San Diego State University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – San Francisco State University
  • Master of Public Administration – San Jose State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of La Verne
  • Master of Public Administration – University of San Francisco (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Southern California (online degree)

Colorado

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Colorado-Denver (online degree)

Connecticut

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Connecticut

Delaware

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Delaware (online degree)

District of Columbia

  • Master of Public Policy – American University
  • Master of Public Administration – American University
  • Master of Public Administration – The George Washington University
  • Master of Public Policy – The George Washington University

Florida

  • Master of Public Administration – Florida Atlantic University
  • Master of Public Administration – Florida Gulf Coast University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Florida International University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Florida State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Nova Southeastern University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Central Florida (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of North Florida
  • Master of Public Administration – University of South Florida

Georgia

  • Master of Public Administration – Albany State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Clark Atlanta University
  • Master of Public Administration – Georgia College & State University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Georgia Southern University
  • Master of Public Administration – Georgia State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Savannah State University
  • Master of Public Administration –University of Georgia
  • Master of Public Administration – University of West Georgia
  • Master of Public Administration – Valdosta State University (online degree)

Hawaii

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Hawaii at Manoa

Idaho

  • Master of Public Administration – Boise State University

Illinois

  • Master of Public Administration – DePaul University
  • Master of Public Policy- DePaul University
  • Master of Science in Public Service Management – DePaul University
  • Master of Public Administration – Governors State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
  • Master of Public Administration –University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Illinois at Springfield

Indiana

  • Master of Public Affairs – Indiana University, Bloomington (online degree)
  • Master of Public Affairs – Indiana University, Northwest
  • Master of Public Affairs – Indiana University, South Bend
  • Master of Public Affairs – Indiana University –Purdue University Indianapolis

Iowa

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in Iowa, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master of Public Administration – Drake University
  • Master of Public Policy – University of Northern Iowa (online degree)
  • Master of Public Policy Administration – Upper Iowa University (online degree)

Kansas

  • Master of Public Administration – Kansas State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Kansas
  • Master of Public Administration – Wichita State University (online degree)

Kentucky

  • Master of Public Administration – Eastern Kentucky University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Kentucky State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Morehead State University (online degree)
  • Mater of Public Administration – Northern Kentucky University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Kentucky
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Louisville
  • Master of Public Administration – Western Kentucky University

Louisiana

  • Master of Public Administration – Grambling State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Louisiana State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Southern University and A&M College
  • Master of Public Administration – University of New Orleans

Maine

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in Maine, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master in Public Policy & Management – University of Southern Maine

Maryland

  • Master of Public Administration – Bowie State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Baltimore
  • Master of Public Policy – University of Maryland, College Park

Massachusetts

  • Master of Public Administration – Bridgewater State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Northeastern University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Suffolk University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Massachusetts at Boston

Michigan

  • Master of Public Administration – Central Michigan University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Eastern Michigan University
  • Master of Public Administration – Grand Valley State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Wayne State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Western Michigan University

Minnesota

  • Master of Arts in Urban Studies – Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Master of Public Policy – University of Minnesota

Mississippi

  • Master of Public Policy & Administration – Jackson State University
  • Mater of Public Policy & Administration – Mississippi State University

Missouri

  • Master of Public Affairs – University of Missouri-Columbia (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Master of Public Policy Administration – University of Missouri-St. Louis

Montana

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Montana (online degree)

Nebraska

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Nebraska at Omaha (online degree)

Nevada

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Nevada, Las Vegas

New Hampshire

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in New Hampshire, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master of Public Administration – University of New Hampshire

New Jersey

  • Master of Public Administration – Rutgers University, Camden
  • Master of Public Policy – Rutgers University, New Brunswick
  • Master of Public Administration – Rutgers University, Newark
  • Master of Public Administration – Seton Hall University (online degree)

New Mexico

  • Master of Public Administration – New Mexico State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of New Mexico

New York

  • Master of Public Administration – Baruch College, City University of New York
  • Master of Public Administration – Binghamton University
  • Master of Public Administration – Columbia University
  • Master of International Affairs- Columbia University
  • Master of Public Administration – John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
  • Master of Public Administration in Inspection & Oversight – John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
  • Master of Public Administration – Long Island University-Post
  • Master of Public Administration – Long Island University – Brooklyn
  • Master of Public Administration – Marist College (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – New York University
  • Master of Public Administration – State University of New York, the College at Brockport
  • Master of Public Administration – Syracuse University
  • Master of Science in Public & Urban Policy – The New School
  • Master of Public Administration – University at Albany, State University of New York

North Carolina

  • Master of Public Administration – Appalachian State University
  • Master of Public Administration – East Carolina University
  • Master of Public Administration – North Carolina State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Master of Public Affairs – University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • Master of Public Administration – University of North Carolina, Wilmington
  • Master of Public Affairs – Western Carolina University

North Dakota

  • Master of Public Administration – University of North Dakota (online degree)

Ohio

  • Master of Public Administration – Bowling Green State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Cleveland State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Kent State University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – The Ohio State University
  • Master of Arts in Public Policy & Management – The Ohio State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Dayton
  • Master of Public Administration – Wright State University

Oklahoma

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Oklahoma

Oregon

  • Master of Public Policy – Oregon State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Portland State University
  • Executive Master of Public Administration – Portland State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Oregon
  • Master of Business Administration for Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management – Willamette University

Pennsylvania

  • Master of Public Management – Carnegie Mellon University
  • Master of Public Administration – Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Pittsburgh
  • Master of Public and International Affairs – University of Pittsburgh
  • Master of Public Administration – Villanova University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – West Chester University

Rhode Island

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in Rhode Island, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master of Public Affairs – Brown University
  • Master of Public Administration – Roger Williams University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College

South Carolina

  • Master of Public Administration – College of Charleston
  • Master of Public Administration – University of South Carolina

South Dakota

  • Master of Public Administration – University of South Dakota

Tennessee

  • Master of Public Administration – Tennessee State University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Memphis
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Texas

  • Master of Public Administration – Texas A&M International University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Service & Administration – Texas A&M University (online degree)
  • Master of Public Administration – Texas Southern University
  • Master of Public Administration – Texas State University
  • Master of Public Administration – Texas Tech University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Texas at Arlington (online degree)
  • Master of Public Affairs – University of Texas at Austin
  • Master of Public Affairs – University of Texas at Dallas
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Texas at El Paso
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Texas at San Antonio
  • Master of Public Administration – University of North Texas

Utah

  • Master of Public Administration – Brigham Young University
  • Executive Master of Public Administration – Brigham Young University
  • Master of Public Administration – Southern Utah University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Utah

Vermont

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Vermont

Virginia

  • Master of Public Administration – George Mason University
  • Master of Public Administration – James Madison University
  • Master of Public Administration – Old Dominion University
  • Master of Public Administration – Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Master of Public Administration – Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Washington

  • Master of Public Administration – Eastern Washington University
  • Master of Public Administration – Seattle University
  • Master of Public Administration – University of Washington
  • Master of Public Affairs – Washington State University

West Virginia

  • Master of Public Administration – West Virginia University

Wisconsin

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in Wisconsin, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master of Public Affairs – University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Master of International Public Affairs – University of Wisconsin, Madison

Wyoming

Although there are no NASPAA-accredited master’s programs in Wyoming, there are the following unaccredited programs:

  • Master of Public Administration – University of Wyoming