Master of Public Administration
Northeastern University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the management degree for those who serve the public good.
In this MPA program, students participate in interdisciplinary work and applied research with government and community partners, as they learn to effectively create social change and address the emerging challenges affecting cities. The program is currently offered online and in-person at our Boston campus — and beginning in Fall 2024 at Northeastern’s campuses in Arlington, Virginia and Oakland, California. This degree lets students connect with a nationwide network of faculty and peers. Our unique multi-modality learning opportunities allow students to interact with each other, consult with faculty, and work collaboratively from any location in the world.
NASPAA-Accredited MPA
We have been fostering leaders since 1969, making Northeastern’s the longest-running MPA program in New England. Ours is a NASPAA-accredited degree that meets the rigorous standards of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.
“Studying and working in public administration has never been more important than it is now. A professor reminded me that it is important to focus on the small wins. I know that if my classmates and I can continue to produce small wins in the public sector, it can amount to big changes for all.”
Monique Gibbs, MPA ’18
Northeastern MPA at a Glance
- Take MPA courses online or on-campus in Boston, Arlington, or Oakland
- The upcoming start date is May 5, 2025
- Complete an optional certificate of specialization
Tuition, Financial Aid, and Scholarships
- Tuition: $1,020 per credit hour; $40,800 total plus fees
- Courses taken at Northeastern University outside of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities are subject to different tuition rates.
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed to be considered for all available federal funding.
- All eligible applicants admitted to the CSSH master’s programs are considered for tuition scholarships. Assistantships are not offered.
Learn more about program costs, financial aid, and available scholarships.
Master of Public Administration Overview
The Northeastern Policy School’s MPA takes an experiential, research-based approach to leading in the public sphere. Students develop core leadership, budgeting, management, and analysis skills, which they supplement with elective courses reflecting their individual interests. Public administration graduates enter or advance in government and non-profit careers as program directors, management analysts, research analysts, town administrators, and more.
Our MPA curriculum incorporates experiential partnerships with governments and nonprofits. The Policy School partners with public and non-profit organizations to offer co-op, capstones, and internship opportunities.
Students can take all courses online, on campus, or via a combination of virtual and in-person classes.
All online classes are offered asynchronously, and all on-campus courses take place after 5 p.m.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Northeastern University aspires to provide a platform where students, faculty, and communities partner to address contemporary challenges in public administration and governance. Recognizing the complexities of the fast-changing civic environment in the 21st century, we design adaptable academic and professional pathways.
Our pragmatic approach fosters an environment that invites participation from a diverse range of actors, including scholars, non-profit leaders, and policymakers. We emphasize experiential learning, inviting students to engage with real-world issues and collaboratively devise feasible solutions. We often view challenges through an urban-centered lens, and we embrace a global-to-local perspective.
Accountability and inclusivity lie at the heart of our program. We are committed to ethical governance and strive to create a space that values social equity and inclusion. We aim to develop changemakers equipped with the skills and awareness to bring about transformative solutions that extend beyond geographic and disciplinary boundaries. By setting measurable objectives, we uphold these standards and continually assess and improve the impact of our initiatives.
Our Campus Options
- Boston
- Arlington – Available Fall 2024
- Oakland – Available Fall 2024
The Boston campus offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a vibrant historic city, foster deep connections with public and non-profit organizations, and access an urban hub renowned for its tech and biotech industries.
Situated in the heart of the U.S. National Capital Region, Northeastern’s Arlington campus offers students unparalleled access to government, nonprofit, and NGO organizations engaged in transformative work. Students gain valuable guidance and networking opportunities that are essential to navigate the dynamic D.C. ecosystem.
As the West Coast hub of Northeastern’s global network, the Oakland campus provides graduate students with extensive career- and community-building activities in the San Francisco Bay Area, connecting them with local governments and community partner organizations for collaborative research and professional development.
Learn more about our campus locations as well as our online and mixed modality options.
Program Goals and Learning Outcomes
The goal of the Northeastern MPA program is to equip students with skills in policy analysis, program evaluation, research methods, and written and verbal communications to become change agents in public administration.
Students also develop competencies in budgeting and human resources, organizational management and antiracist leadership, and the interplay between ethics and accountability in a diverse society. The program seeks to place students in management and leadership careers in a broad range of public and nonprofit settings, both domestic and international.
As a professionally oriented graduate program, the MPA develops leaders for a changing world through:
- Coursework that combines methodological rigor, diverse analytical tools, and real-world relevance through applied management and leadership projects
- Policy-relevant internships and opportunities to work with faculty on applied research with a social justice lens
- Team-based capstone projects that deliver actionable advice to a range of local and regional clients
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Lead and manage in public governance
- Participate in and contribute to the policy process
- Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
- Articulate and apply a public service perspective
- Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry
Master of Public Administration Graduation and Degree Completion Rates
For MPA students entering in 2018-2019, 38% earned their degrees within two years, 76% earned their degrees within three years, and 76% within four years.
| Initially Enrolled | Graduated within 2 years | Graduated within 3 years | Graduated within 4 years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number of Students | 21 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
| Boston | 18 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
| Virtual | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Master of Public Administration Admission Requirements
- Completed online application
- Application fee ($100)
- Personal statement
- Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resumé
- Evidence of English proficiency for international applicants
Applicants to the MPA program are not required to submit GRE scores.
Visit our admissions page for more details about application requirements, tuition, and financial aid.
“Northeastern is an exciting and dynamic place, and we attract students who reflect that.”
Alicia Sasser Modestino, Associate Professor
School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs and the Department of Economics
Program Curriculum
The Master of Public Administration at Northeastern consists of 40 credits and can be completed in as little as 1.5 years (4 semesters as a full-time student). Both our online and on-campus modalities include the same core courses, and are taught by exceptional faculty.
This degree combines MPA fundamentals with a unique focus on public sector and nonprofit needs. Students build core policy and leadership skills that can be applied to any position. The curriculum is centered on rigorous, applied training in organizational management, public and nonprofit finance, policy analysis, and ethics and accountability. MPA courses include:
- Statistical Analysis
- Techniques of Policy Analysis
- Economic Analysis for Policy and Planning
- Principles of Public Administration
- Public Budgeting and Financial Management
- Institutional Leadership
- Capstone in Public Policy and Urban Affairs
Visit our MPA curriculum page for more information, including a full course list with descriptions.
Choose a Certificate
Students who would like to target specific areas of expertise can earn a specialty certificate alongside their public administration master’s degree.
Certificate Options
- Computational Social Science
- Information Ethics
- Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, and Social Change
- Public Policy Analysis
- Security and Resilience Studies
- Sustainability and Climate Change Policy
- Urban Analytics
- Urban Studies
Find out more about these customization options.
Experiential Learning: Real-World Experience for Real-World Impact
Our experiential learning opportunities are a hallmark of Northeastern’s graduate programs in public administration. The co-op is our signature program, where students earn graduate credit for full-time work at a partner organization.
The MPA requires a capstone project with a real-world client, and students can also learn experientially through internships and partnerships with research labs and centers. Students also get practical experience throughout their coursework with case studies, small group exercises, applied projects, action research, and more.
Visit our experiential learning page for more information.
“I decided to pursue my MPA degree because I felt that it was a great way for me to advance my leadership and management skills. . . . I became well-versed in policy, management, and the non-profit sector. As a result, I believe that my MPA degree will open up many job opportunities centered around public service and government. It has deepened my understanding of society and has prompted me to think critically about the current problems of today and how to competently address them in the future.”
Joelle Juarez, MPA, ’19
Master of Public Administration Careers
MPA graduates are equipped with essential organizational skills, and they also understand the unique requirements of public-service work, which includes accountability, transparency, and efficiency. They are prepared for leadership roles in government agencies, nonprofits, international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), social enterprises, private businesses, and more.
An important goal of our MPA is to prepare students to be effective in a dynamic and increasingly diverse professional environment. This includes assisting students in every possible way to secure internships, post-graduate employment, and career advancement.
Learn more about salaries and careers with a master of public administration degree.
100% The job placement rate of the 2022–23 graduates of Northeastern’s MPA program
Interested in a role focused on the design and impact of policy? Northeastern also offers a Master of Public Policy (MPP). For more information, view our article “MPP vs. MPA: What’s the Difference?”
Master of Public Administration
Get Started Now
Fill out the form to learn more and download a brochure about Northeastern University’s Master of Public Administration.
You can also email publicaffairs@northeastern.edu or call us toll-free at +1 877.377.2739 or at +1 617.655.6736 to talk with one of our admissions counselors.