Master of Public Administration
Is our program for you?
If you're ready to advance your career in public service, or if you’re a leader looking to strengthen your team, our online Master of Public Administration (MPA) is for you. You can choose from two specializations: Local Government Management or Strategic Public Management and Leadership. Our program is nationally recognized and designed for mid-career managers who work in local governments. Our program can be taken 100% online and is led by the same award-winning faculty members who teach in our classrooms.
What can our program do for you?
Our rigorous, professional program provides the skills required for you to be an effective, ethical leader in local government organizations. Our graduates hold management positions in areas such as public safety, public works, finance, budgeting, parks and recreation, and the city manager's office.
The deadline to enroll for spring 2022 start is December 10, 2021.
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Why choose NIU?
Nationally Ranked
U.S. News & World Report named NIU's Master of Public Administration program No. 6 in the nation in the specialty field of local government management, and No. 25 in the field of public finance and budgeting. In addition, we ranked No. 40 in public management and leadership, and achieved an overall ranking of No. 58 in the nation out of more than 300 university programs.
Flexibility and Value
It’s easy to make our program work with your schedule because it's 100% online and competitively priced. You complete your weekly assignments on your own schedule, either full or part time. Our program consists of 13 courses (39 credit hours). By taking two courses each semester as a part-time student, you can obtain your degree in less than three years. You’ll be taught by top scholars and senior local government professionals.
Local Government Focus
All courses specialize in local government, providing our graduates excellent job placement. You'll find our alumni at the administrative helms of cities in the Chicago area and holding key public-service posts across the country, so you'll build a strong professional network even before you graduate. Jobs held by our graduates are:
- City/Village Manager
- Police Chief
- Fire Chief
- Public Works Director
- Park District Director
- Economic Development Director
- Community Development Director
“The NIU online MPA is preparing me for a successful career in local government with a rigorous curriculum and superior professors. Being engaged in my community is a high priority of mine and the flexibility of the online program allows me to be an active participant.”
-Jennifer Thompson
Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Tourism
City of Rochelle, Illinois
The NIU MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Frequently Asked Questions
The online MPA requires 39 credits to complete. Courses are 8-weeks in length and typically taken one at a time. The majority of students in the program are part-time students in order to balance their other work and life responsibilities. Taking two courses in both the fall and spring and one in the summer allows students to finish the program in just under three years.
In order to qualify for the program, we require that students have at least two years of professionally related experience such as public service, preferably working in local government. We require this so that the internship required for our on-campus program can be waived for the online program. If you do not have two years of experience within government or a closely related role, we do have on-campus options for which you might qualify.
Cost per credit for this program is $585.72. You would be looking at around $23,428 for the full program and $1,757 for each individual course, excluding any additional costs or fees.