Master of Public Policy

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is the industry standard among public policy degrees. It emphasizes the analysis of data and other relevant information to assess public problems, develop appropriate policy responses, and evaluate program effectiveness. Northeastern University’s MPP program is dedicated to studying and implementing policies that create more just, equitable, and resilient cities.
Offered both online and on campus, this degree allows students to exchange diverse views, consult with faculty, and work collaboratively no matter where they are in the world. MPP graduates enter careers as policy analysts, researchers, consultants, program evaluators, and policymakers in a broad range of public, nonprofit, and private sector settings.
“Public and nonprofit organizations need professionals with the right mix of policy analysis and program design skills. The MPP program delivers those skills, grounded in experience, that will help students meet those needs.”
LINDA KOWALCKY, professor of public policy and director of the Master of Public Policy program
The Northeastern MPP takes a practice-oriented, research-based approach. Students build a toolkit of core analysis, evaluation, statistical, economic, and decision-making skills. They also gain advanced technology skills, including Big Data analytics, data visualization, programming languages such as R and Python, GIS applications, and artificial intelligence.
Our students get to participate in rewarding, practical experiences. All of our courses incorporate real-life case studies and we partner with public and private organizations to offer on-the-job training through co-op, capstones, and internships. In addition, many graduate students make valuable contributions to our highly collaborative scholarly community by joining multi-generational research teams.
Students can choose to take everything online, on campus, or move between both modalities. All online classes are offered asynchronously and all on-campus courses take place after 5 p.m.
The ultimate goal of our MPP 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.
The Master of Public Policy (MPP) emphasizes the analysis of data and other relevant information to assess emergent public problems, reduce structural inequities, develop appropriate policy responses, and evaluate program effectiveness. The goal of the program is to equip graduates with the conceptual, analytical, and methodological tools necessary for rewarding careers as policy analysts, researchers, consultants, program evaluators, and policymakers in a broad range of public and nonprofit settings, ranging from local to international, and in the private sector. The program is centered on prioritizing social, economic, and racial justice.
As a professionally-oriented graduate program, the MPP is firmly focused on “developing leaders for a changing world” through:
Learning outcomes:
Applicants to the MPP 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
The Master of Public Policy 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.
The MPP is designed for students whose career goals are to analyze problems, devise policy options to address those problems, advocate for solutions, and assess the impacts of the resulting policies. The curriculum is focused on developing competencies in statistical analysis, research methods, policy analysis, and program evaluation. Our courses teach students to think strategically and act ethically. MPP courses include:
MPP students who would like to specialize in a particular field of interest can choose to pursue the following certificates:
See our certificates information page to learn more.
Master’s students in both the on-campus and online modalities have the option to concentrate in Healthcare Management and Policy or Sustainability and Climate Change Policy. However, a concentration is not mandatory for this program.
Our experiential learning opportunities are a hallmark of Northeastern’s educational mission. Our students acquire hands-on experience through capstone projects, partnerships with research labs and centers, and work opportunities—no matter whether they take the MPP online or on-campus. Students finish with practical skills and a broadened professional network.
Visit our curriculum page for more information, including a full course list with descriptions.
Well-planned and implemented policies can make people’s lives better and strengthen citizens’ trust in their communities. A career in public policy means having a direct influence on how the government and other institutions approach issues such as affordable housing, biotechnology development, education funding, energy choices, urban redevelopment, and many more. They are prepared to move into a broad range of public, nonprofit, and private sector settings.
Public policy jobs generally involve analyzing problems, weighing solutions, implementing changes, and then assessing whether the solutions worked (and fixing those that do not). Many positions require employees to occupy multiple roles, and so a well-rounded, interdisciplinary education like the Northeastern MPP program is essential.
Northeastern also offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA). For more information, view our article discussing the differences between an MPA and an MPP.
The median salary for a policy analyst is $64,474, according to the job-analysis site Burning Glass. And it estimates that graduates with a master’s degree earn a salary 5% higher than those with a bachelor’s degree alone.
However, a salary can vary widely depending on whether someone is working in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. A report from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that federal employees with a professional degree made 18% less than private-sector employees.
For those at the beginning of a government career, $45,627 is the entry-level national salary for the pay classification of GS-9, defined by FederalPay as “the starting grade for most employees directly out of school who have a Master’s Degree.” The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration estimates that federal workers are promoted one or two steps up in their pay grade every year.
Earning a master’s in public administration offers a variety of career benefits for professionals at any stage of their career. For those who want to move into a public policy career, an MPP allows them to develop a deep understanding of the workings—and regulations—of government and other such sectors. For those who want to advance further in their existing public policy careers, an MPP can update and expand their skills in ever-changing areas such as programming, GIS applications, and AI.
Careers of Recent Grads | Employers of Recent Grads |
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City manager Consultant Commissioner Cyber security analyst Development director Energy specialist Hospital policy analyst Policymaker Program evaluator Project manager Researcher |
Boston Children’s Hospital College Access Now City of Boston City of Buenos Aires Courbanize Federal Emergency Management Administration National Coalition for the Homeless U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs The World Bank |
Master of Public Policy
Fill out the form to learn more and download a brochure about Northeastern University’s Master of Public Policy.
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.