Masters in Public Policy

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