Master of Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration Program has been forming leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors since 1969. The program provides students with in-depth skills in budgeting and human resources, organizational management and leadership, and norms of ethics and accountability. Throughout the MPA Program, students gain career-oriented experience through internships, small group projects, and other interactions with professionals in the field. These experiences are designed to enable graduates to move into a wide array of public and nonprofit sector positions at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Students

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and with diverse interests, but they are united by a common commitment to public service. 

For MPA students entering in 2017-2022, 47% earned their degrees within two years, 65% within 3 years, and 65% within 4 years.

MPA Student Outcome Data: Employment and Completion Rate

Careers

At SPPUA, we strive to meet the career needs of our students, from first-year to recent graduates and alumni through our job listings and individual conversations with faculty and administrative staff. Faculty advisors think cohesively about each student’s pathway, ensuring that your MPA curriculum matches your individual passions and career goals. Our MPA graduates are empowered to make a difference across disciplines and around the world. They leave Northeastern with the theoretical and fundamental understanding needed to transition into their careers and also to immediately participate in and contribute to the policy process in their chosen field. For MPA students graduating in 2017-18, 81% were employed within six months of graduation.

Faculty Nucleus

The MPA Program is led by respected faculty who are also senior leaders in fields of public service. They bring extensive experience to the classroom, giving students firsthand knowledge of current industry projects and best practices. These dedicated faculty members will assure that your education is rigorous, current, and relevant.

A Network for Life

Northeastern University’s network spans the globe, and includes over 3,000 partners and more than 200,000 alumni. Our MPA has a particularly strong alumni base, giving students ample opportunities to connect through networking receptions, career panels, and much more. MPA students from around the world also have access to all of our campus resources, including our research library, career services, and various conferences and presentations. Whatever their location, all of Northeastern’s students graduate prepared and Networked for life.

A Global Hub and Virtual Campus

The MPA is offered on Northeastern’s main campus in Boston, a city known as a global hub for higher learning and service. Students in Boston can take courses on-campus, fully online, or in hybrid modalities, a flexibility designed to accommodate working professionals. The program also is available 100 percent online, allowing students around the world to take advantage of our challenging classes and expert faculty. Regardless of modality, all MPA students follow the same rigorous curriculum toward the same degree.

For additional information, contact Julie Switkes.