Master of Public Administration

The online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs, accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), will equip you with the practical skills needed to succeed in todays dynamic workforce while offering the flexibility to balance your education with your career.

Program Overview

The online MPA program focuses on developing the following core competencies:

Gain the skills to lead and effectively manage public organizations efficiently and ethically.
Learn to analyze complex public issues, develop evidence-based policies, and implement effective solutions.
Master the use of data and analytics to inform strategic planning and problem-solving.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to concentrate electives around your areas of interest such as management, nonprofits, or education policy. By combining rigorous coursework with real-world applications, our program prepares you to become a skilled and influential public servant.

Why Pursue an MPA at Ohio State?

As a student at The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs, you will join a vibrant community of public service leaders committed to helping you lead the change you are most passionate about. Through coursework and practical skills-based experience, our program empowers you to lead and manage public organizations effectively, actively shape public policy, and make data-driven decisions in dynamic environments. Additionally, lifelong learning is always available to you at the Glenn College. From podcasts and monthly events to conferences and a variety of professional development courses, the Glenn College is committed to supporting public servants throughout their career.

Supporting Military Students

If youre military-affiliated and pursuing graduate studies at Ohio State, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Service to Service program is here to guide you as you take on your next mission. This program provides tailored career resources, academic support, and mentorship opportunities to help you achieve your goals while advancing your career in public service.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for this program, you must meet the following requirements:

Bachelors or advanced degree from an accredited institution
Minimum 3.0 GPA highly recommended. If you have a GPA under a 3.0, it is strongly encouraged to provide additional evidence of academic success.
While the GRE is not required, applicants with GPAs below 3.0 may strengthen their applications with additional materials like GRE scores, letters of recommendation, or relevant coursework.

Students are expected to be familiar with basic concepts of statistics and economics, and knowledgeable about the workings of the U.S. government. Undergraduate courses in microeconomics, statistics and government are strongly recommended.

For your application, you will be required to submit:

College transcript(s) from all institutions attended
Statement of purpose
Resume or CV
3 letters of recommendation

Career Outlook

With a growing need for effective governance, job opportunities are expanding in government agencies, nonprofits, and even private sector organizations that work closely with the government. Public administrator roles are essential in developing policies and managing resources in ways to best serve communities.

The Glenn College offers personalized career support and guidance to every student. Our dedicated career services specialist and faculty members can connect you with opportunities that fit your interests. Additionally, college mentorship programs pair students with working alumni who are committed to seeing Glenn College students succeed in Ohio, Washington, and across the globe.

Top Occupations by Median Income

Administrative Services Managers: $108,390
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.
Compliance Managers: $136,550
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
Financial Managers: $161,700
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Fundraising Managers: $123,480
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
General & Operations Managers: $102,950
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations.
Human Resources Managers: $140,030
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
Public Relations Managers: $138,520
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
Budget Analysts: $87,930
- What They Do: Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
Management Analysts: $101,190
- What They Do: Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively.

Curriculum

The online masters in public administration program will provide you with the knowledge and in-demand skills to excel in a variety of public sector roles. You will develop the ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively while gaining a deep understanding of public administration principles.

Course List

PUBAFRS 6000: Public Policy Formulation and Implementation
- Overview of the public policy process and the historical and contemporary context in which policy making and implementation are carried out in the United States at the federal, state and local levels.
PUBAFRS 6010: Legal Environment of Public Organizations
- Provides students an understanding of the legal foundations of public affairs. Students use legal reasoning to examine and analyze the constraints imposed on public policy making and program management and implementation by the legal environment.
PUBAFRS 6030: Public Sector Economics
- Economic analysis applied to the problems of public policy selection and government management operations; efficiency criteria, market failure and public choice applied to administrative decision-making.
PUBAFRS 6040: Public Budgeting and Finance
- Survey/analysis of government fiscal activities; taxation principles, intergovernmental relations, fiscal problems; public sector budgeting; budgets as mechanism for planning/allocating/controlling resources; tools for program and results evaluation.
PUBAFRS 6050: Managing Public Sector Organizations
- Learn to manage public sector organizations with a focus on the external environment: context of public sector organizations, their structure, how they operate; managing organizational performance, innovation, and change.
PUBAFRS 6060: Managerial Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- Managerial Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations with focus on internal operations, processes, and resources; human resource management, information technology; other aspects of internal capacity.
PUBAFRS 6070: Public Affairs Statistics
- Provides students with analytical knowledge and tools necessary to acquire, manage and analyze data. Students learn probability and statistics to conduct analysis and evaluation and evaluate the quality of analyses conducted by others.
PUBAFRS 6080: Public Affairs Program Evaluation
- Equips students with knowledge and skills to evaluate public policies and programs. Students learn about different types of evaluations and research designs for conducting evaluations. Exposure to ethical considerations in conducting evaluations.
PUBAFRS 7533: Nonprofit Financial Management
- Management of financial resources is paramount to a nonprofits success. Designed for students interested in careers or volunteer roles in nonprofit management and current professionals in this area, this course covers how to review and analyze financial statements, develop and edit budgets, and requirements for audits even if you are not a CPA or financial professional.
PUBAFRS 7900: Capstone: Research Paper in Public Affairs
- Students integrate the knowledge and skills gained throughout the MA/MPA program by applying theory to practice through an in-depth policy or management analysis of a defined topic or a specific organization.
PUBAFRS 7950: CAPSTONE: Nonprofit Topics
- An opportunity to integrate and synthesize ideas and tools from previous coursework in a capacity building client-based project for a local nonprofit organization to solve a real nonprofit management problem.

Program Faculty

Our faculty have extensive experience in government, nonprofit, and the private sector, and are dedicated to mentoring and guiding students in their career paths.

Faculty List

Todd Suddeth
- Senior Lecturer
Tasha Perdue
- Assistant Professor
Jim Landers
- Associate Professor of Practice in Public Affairs, Enarson Fellow, Director of Graduate/Professional Studies

Testimonials

See what our students and alumni have to say about their experience at The Ohio State University.

Student Testimonials

Katie Rozsa, Public Relations Specialist, MPA24
- As a graduate student working part-time as Constituent Aide at the Ohio House of Representatives in downtown Columbus, I was able to have the flexibility of going to school and bring a very unique and valuable skillset into work each day. I was able to apply what I was learning into my work and influence others to make positive changes.
Niyokwizera E.
- Online MPA student, Customer Relationship Advocate
Courtney Moore
- MPA Student
Abby Ordillas
- MPA Student

Tuition Fee Overview

Investing in your future with a higher education degree is one of the best investments you can make for your future success. At Ohio State, we know understanding your programs cost is an important part of your decision-making process. Below are the tuition fees you can expect with your program. Estimates are based on the expenses typical of an Ohio State Online student, who would take 6 credit hours each semester as a part-time student or 8 credit hours each semester as a full-time student. Actual costs may vary.

Tuition Fees

Instructional Fee: $829.75 per credit hour
General Fee: $32.63 per credit hour
Distance Learning Fee: $100 per semester
Non-Resident Surcharge (if applicable): $200 per semester

Estimated Cost

Part-time (6 credit hours per semester): $4,978.50 (Instructional Fee) + $195.78 (General Fee) + $100 (Distance Learning Fee) + $200 (Non-Resident Surcharge, if applicable) = $5,474.28 per semester
Full-time (8 credit hours per semester): $6,638 (Instructional Fee) + $261 (General Fee) + $100 (Distance Learning Fee) + $200 (Non-Resident Surcharge, if applicable) = $7,199 per semester

Master of Public Administration

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