Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Lead with purpose and impact through CU Denver’s NASPAA-accredited online Master of Public Administration.
CU Denver’s online Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed to prepare professionals for leadership roles in government, nonprofit organizations, and public policy.
- Learn to lead and manage in public governance and participate effectively in the public policy process.
- Develop a deep understanding of evidence-based decision-making and organizational management.
- Join a nationally recognized program accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
Whether advancing in your current career or transitioning into public administration, the MPA provides the skills and knowledge needed to drive positive change in your community and beyond.
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Degree LevelMaster's -
School & CollegeSchool of Public Affairs -
Application Deadline(s)December 15, 2025 -
Total Credit Hours39 -
Class TypeOnline -
Time CommitmentFull-Time or Part-Time
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Program Overview
The online MPA program is grounded in quality education, collaborative research, and strong relationships with the community. The program itself is made up of a combination of public administration and public policy courses. In the public administration portion of the program, you will study topics including budgeting, organizational management, leadership and human resources, among others. By contrast, in the policy portion of the MPA program, you will learn how policy affects public administration, how to write effective policies, and how to analyze policies to determine outcomes, including what effect the policy will have on the community.
In addition to our dedication to education, we also hope to help students succeed in their careers and make a positive difference in the public sector. Not only do we provide you with the skills and education to pursue a lifelong career in public administration, but we also pride ourselves on supporting our faculty and students in research and helping to disseminate findings that advance the study and practice of public and nonprofit management and policy.
We work with students and professionals to enhance the public sector’s ability to make evidence-based management decisions and policy improvements. Not only are we with you through your Master’s degree program, but we also hope to be with you throughout your entire career.
Tuition Breakdown
| Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|
| $613 per credit | $736* per credit |
*WRGP participating program
Example Courses
The program requires 36–39 credit hours including core courses, electives, and a capstone or thesis option. Courses at CU Denver are offered three times a year — fall, spring and summer. Not all courses are available every semester.
Introduction to Public Administration and Public Service (PUAD 5001)
Explores U.S. governance theories, structures, and processes, covering constitutional foundations, federalism, public-private relations, and comparative public administration.
Evidence-Based Decision Making (PUAD 5008)
Course lets students apply Research and Analytic Methods skills to develop questions, design surveys, and analyze data for decision-making in policy and program evaluation.
Capstone Seminar
In this seminar, students apply core course skills in a client-based project, presenting and reporting findings to demonstrate mastery of program concepts and research skills.
Specializations
You will also have the opportunity to pursue the standard MPA degree or choose an area of concentration. You can choose between the following seven MPA program concentrations:
The Disasters, Hazards and Emergency Management concentration provides a solid all-hazards knowledge base for students interested in natural hazards, disasters, and resilience. The concentration will not ignore security aspects, but security-related topics will be just one among many topics to include natural hazards, disasters, accidents, etc.
The concentration in Education Policy provides students with an understanding of how K-12 education is governed, financed and regulated in the United States. Students will become familiar with the interaction between federal, state and local policies and with the context in which education policy is formulated and implemented.
The MPA graduate concentration in EMHS provides advanced education in the management of emergencies, hazards, disasters and homeland security. Upon completion of the program, you will have the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and manage a broad range of hazards and disasters and to understand the policy environment in which emergency management occurs.
The Environmental Policy and Management concentration provides an understanding of how our natural environment is governed and affected by relationships between various entities, including: legislatures; administrative agencies; courts; federal, state, and local governments; government and the nonprofit and private sectors; and government and the public it has been established to serve.
The Local Government Concentration allows Master of Public Administration students to develop knowledge and skills for working in local government. Students graduating with a concentration in local government will: develop an understanding of the political traditions and institutional structuring of local governments; understand how local governments function within the intergovernmental system, as well as through partnerships with the private and nonprofit sectors; and acquire the skills necessary to be an effective manager in the local government context.
The concentration in Nonprofit Management prepares students to become innovative and critical thinkers in the areas of nonprofit organizational management and public policy, with a unique approach that bridges theoretical knowledge with real-world experience. As students prepare for their careers or advancement in their current positions, they gain insight into the interdependence between the nonprofit, public, and for-profit sectors. Graduates are able to span the boundaries of these three sectors to assess community needs, navigate the realm of public policy, and strategically and effectively manage organizations that ultimately benefit society.
The concentration in Public Policy Analysis provides training in the tools and skills needed to assess the impact of public policies and programs, including policy analysis, cost-benefit analysis, program evaluation, multivariate regression and other analytical techniques.
Choose from a selection of elective courses based on your own specific career goals.
Career Outlook
Our association with NASPAA provides us with a national network of professionals across the country and allows us to take advantage of their services, including in the career services area. Not only do we connect you with public administration professionals in our circle, we also take advantage of connections with other schools accredited with NASPAA. For example, if you’re located in Seattle, we can help you get in touch with other NASPAA-accredited schools in Seattle who can, in turn, put you in touch with their network of local professionals.
Whether you’re interested in working for a nonprofit, taking a role in local government or even supporting an organization in the private sector, the outlook for public administration professionals is strong. Depending on your focus and career, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects that the job outlook for public administration careers could anticipate as high as a 17% anticipated growth from 2014-2024.
Admissions
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements and deadlines vary based on the program. In addition, you will have different requirements depending on if you are a first-time student, a transfer student, or an international student. For this program, applications are accepted on a rolling basis for admission. The preferred deadline for MPA students is in place for scholarship and funding opportunities.
Get Personalized Support for Your Application
When you’re ready to apply for your online master's degree in public administration, your Enrollment Navigator will help walk you through the entire process, from gathering required materials and submitting your application to checking your admissions status and enrolling in CU Denver. After you submit your completed application and required materials, you can check your admission status online.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Investing in your future is a big decision. However, becoming a fully online student at CU Denver is a high-quality and affordable option for learners of all types. Tuition and fees are based largely on the degree program you enroll in.
Tuition is determined based on which CU Denver program is chosen, undergraduate or graduate level, and your resident status. Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Program Timeline
The Master of Public Administration program requires a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate coursework.
- All students complete seven core (required) courses, four elective courses, and a capstone.
- All students complete either a client-based capstone project (that allows you to apply the skills from the MPA program to a real-life organization), or you may choose to complete a two-semester thesis option.
If you do not have work experience in the public or nonprofit sectors, you must complete a 3 credit internship (giving you 39 total credit hours).
Course Load
The normal course load for a full-time student is 9 credit hours per semester. You are required to carry five semester credit hours if you wish to be a full-time student. This is often important for financial aid. We do not recommend carrying more than six semester hours if you are also working full-time.
Although the MPA program does require an intensive commitment, it does not require full-time study. On average, MPA students complete the program in two and a half years but can take as many as six years to complete.
Experience flexible, career-focused programs with CU Denver’s renowned quality—100% online—taught by expert faculty in engaging courses within a supportive community, all at an affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships available.
Flexible, career-focused programs with the same CU Denver quality—100% online.
Expert faculty, engaging courses, and a supportive online community.
Affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships for online students.
Take the Next Step
Ready to lead in public administration? Take the first step toward earning your online degree by filling out the form above for more information or calling us at 303-860-5604.