The Master of Public Administration or MPA degree is designed for people who wish to work in public service at the management level. The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) works hard to ensure that degree programs offered by institutions bring excellence to the field of public service through quality education. They offer accreditation to programs that achieve this level of excellence. The following is a listing of online MPA degree programs that meet these standards, along with their U.S. News and World Report ranking, as well as links to each one.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is an NASPAA-accredited school that offers the MPA online. U.S. News and World Report also lists this program as one of the best in the nation, with their School of Public Affairs being ranked 25th in the country.
California State University – Dominguez Hills – San Bernandino
California State University is an NASPAA-accredited school that ranks 90th in the U.S. News and World Report‘s Top 100 schools. Two of their campuses offer an online MPA program: Dominguez Hills and San Bernandino.
DePaul University
DePaul University in Illinois is an NASPAA-accredited school, but did not make it onto the U.S. News and World Report list of Top 100 schools..
East Carolina University
East Carolina University, located in North Carolina, offers many of its courses for its accredited MPA degree online. All of them are offered in the evenings. They are not in the Top 100.
Florida Gulf State University
Florida Gulf Coast University does have an accredited MPA program available online, though they are not in the Top 100 schools.
Kent State University
Kent State University in Ohio offers an accredited MPA program online. The school is not ranked in the Top 100.
State University of New York (SUNY) – Brockport
Many of the MPA degree courses in the accredited MPA program at SUNY Brockport are offered online. Some of the courses, however, must be taken in person. These classes meet in downtown Rochester, NY. it is not on the Top 100 list.
Troy University
Troy University in Alabama is accredited by several organizations. They offer many online graduate degrees, including the MPA. They are not on the Top 100 list.
University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore is an accredited MPA degree program, and is not a self-study program. They are also ranked at 80 in the Top 100 schools.
University of Illinois – Springfield
The University of Illinois is both NASPAA accredited, and the school is ranked at 80 on the Top 100 list.
University of Nebraska – Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha has been ranked 27th in the Top 100 schools. Their accredited program offers three concentrations and one specialization online.
University of North Dakota
The University of Norh Dakota’s accredited program has been ranked #3 by GetEducated.com, LLC, though they are not in the Top 100 schools.
These schools were chosen, due to their high standards of excellence in educating individuals to work in public affairs. The NASPAA accreditation is an honor for these programs to receive, and employers often look favorably upon accredited programs. School ranking in U.S. News and World Report adds to their value of learning.
When you are choosing your program, be sure to fully research all of your options, to make the best choice.
Resources:
2009-2010 Roster of Accredited Programs. NASPAA. Retrieved 8-17-10 from http://www.naspaa.org/accreditation/document/Official-RosterAccreditedPrograms09-10_9.1.pdf
On-line Courses & Degrees. NASPAA. Retrieved 8-17-10 from http://www.naspaa.org/students/clearinghouse/clearinghouse.asp
Rankings Project. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 8-17-10 from http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-public-affairs-schools/rankings
