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College of Arts and Sciences

Public Administration

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Be a Leader With the Kent State Online MPA Program

Hone your public-sector leadership skills with a well-rounded graduate education. Earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in as little as two years or a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management in as little as one year. Help build a better tomorrow for everyone.
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An Affordable and Applicable Online MPA Program

The Kent State online MPA program helps you quickly build highly marketable skills for the nonprofit and public service sectors. Fifty percent of our graduates have received or expect to receive a promotion within six months of graduation. Advance your public service career while making a difference in your community and increasing your earning potential.1
I recommend this program to anyone who is interested in public administration—the instruction and content have been excellent, and the online format makes it very doable with a full-time job and busy schedule.
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Leslie B. MPA ‘19

Grow Into the Leader You Know You Can Be

With 100% asynchronous courses, the Kent State online MPA program is designed to be flexible, so coursework fits into the rest of your life, and you can finish what you started, no matter how busy life gets.

Our Program Flexes Around Your Life

Kent State University’s online MPA program gives you the flexibility to learn what you need, when you need it, and still maintain your busy lifestyle. You can start with a graduate certificate, and then transfer 12 credits from the certificate to your MPA when you decide to continue your education.

Focus on What You’re Passionate About

Customize your learning experience in our NASPAA-accredited program to focus on what interests you most and build on the skills you’ve already acquired.

Online and Connected

Build relationships with classmates and professors that will help you throughout your career through the opportunities for networking, discussion and collaboration built into the powerful learning management system.

Make a Real Impact on the World

The need for public administration professionals is evident. About a third of the job roles in the U.S. are public service occupations, and the nonprofit sector is one of the largest in the country. 2, 3

Kent State’s online MPA program will help you develop the advanced expertise required of senior management in these arenas:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Government (all levels)
  • The military
  • Businesses serving the public sector

Whether you are more interested in healthcare and social assistance, educational services, the arts and humanities, or advocacy, the skills and connections you gain in our program can help you advance your career and make a real impact in the world.

Online MPA Program Careers Snapshot

These are some of the directions you can take in your career with a degree from the Kent State online MPA program.

Public Policy Analyst
$96,0084
Non-Profit Executive Director
$109,5935
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager
$119,8606
Coursework in the Kent State online MPA builds your skills in leadership, public policy formulation and program management practices. You also gain knowledge of finance, personnel management and strategic planning.
The program comprises 36 credit hours,* including:

  • Eight core courses
  • Three elective courses
  • One final capstone project
*Those without substantive full-time administrative experience in a public service organization (as assessed by the MPA program coordinator) must complete at least three credit hours of an internship in addition to the required 36 credit hours of coursework.
Create a custom course list for your online graduate certificate in nonprofit management, which comprises 12 credit hours. The curriculum can help you develop these essential leadership skills:
  • Recruiting, selecting, leading and managing people in public organizations
  • Developing and managing budgets for nonprofit and public organizations
  • Fundraising and resource development for nonprofit organizations
Course credits you earn in the nonprofit management graduate certificate program may be applied to your MPA when you decide to continue your professional education.
Committed to Your Success

Kent State has been helping students achieve their dreams since 1910. We are committed to giving our students unsurpassed support to ensure success. When you earn a Kent State University degree, you join more than a quarter-million alumni who are creating the future we all want to see.

The Kent State online MPA program is one of the elite few accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), assuring you of an academically rigorous, relevant program of study that will serve you well in your career.

We are proud to have earned the Military Friendly® gold designation for the level of service we offer members of the extended military community and all our students.

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Move Forward With the Kent State Online MPA Program

Professors for the Kent State online MPA program are connected, engaged practitioners and researchers with expertise in diverse areas. With their varied interests, experiences and connections, our faculty can help you chart your course to a successful nonprofit management career.

  • 92% of graduates are satisfied with our programs7
  • Benefit from one of the most affordable programs in Ohio8

At just $676 per credit hour for Ohio residents and $686 per credit hour for out-of-state students, Kent State MPA online tuition combines with the caliber of our program to create outstanding educational value.

Online MPA Program Flash Facts

The Kent State online MPA program will help you become the strong, informed public leader who drives decisions, progress and policy. Our program:

  • Has no GRE requirement
  • Is open to people with bachelor’s degrees
  • Offers asynchronous online flexibility
  • Has a part-time workload with focused, seven-week courses
  • Offers three start dates: January, May, August

Online MPA Program Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission, students must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.750 or higher. Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission. Contact an Admissions Outreach Advisor for more information about this process. The bachelor’s degree may be in any area of study.

Further admissions requirements include:

  • Completed online application
  • Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
  • Application fee: $45
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal Statement
  • Writing sample
  • Resume/CV
  • No GRE required for admission

Click here for more online MPA program admissions FAQs

Important Dates

Dec
1
Application Deadline
Spring 2024 Term
Jan
16
First Day of Classes
Spring 2024 Term
May
1
Application Deadline
Summer 2024 Term
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Build Your Career with a Degree Built Around You
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A Simple Application Process
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Sources

1. Based on a limited sample of self-reported data from alumni of the Kent State University online MPA from graduating cohorts between 2015 and 2018, including respondents who indicated they expect to change employers within six months from the time of their response.
2. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from bls.gov/emp/tables/employment-by-major-industry-sector.htm
3. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from causeiq.com/insights/how-many-nonprofits-in-the-us/
4. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/public-policy-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,21.htm
5. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from glassdoor.com/Salaries/nonprofit-executive-director-salary-SRCH_KO0,28.htm
6. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from bls.gov/ooh/management/public-relations-managers.htm
7. Based on a limited sample of self-reported data from Kent State alumni from graduating cohorts between 2016-2020.
8. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from bestcollegesonline.org/most-affordable/online-masters-public-administration-mpa/

Related Reading from the Kent State Online Blog

Check out one of our featured blog posts below
Kent State University’s Online Master’s in Public Administration has moved up in the U.S. News rankings! The program is currently ranked 135 (out of 270) in the U.S. News 2024 Best Public Affairs Programs. The program is also tied for 4th place in Ohio and second place in Northeast Ohio.
Watch Dr. Daniel Hawes speak to Sage Publications about a paper he presented at the American Political Science Association conference in Montreal 2022. The paper also won the Herbert Kaufman Best Paper award from the Public Administration Section in 2023.
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