Public Administration Online Degree Overview

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) online degree can help open doors within your current career or can help set you up for a new, fulfilling career path. Individuals in MPA programs include recently graduated college students, public sector employees looking to move into management positions and private sector workers who have decided to devote their lives to public service. An MPA can qualify you for government and non-profit managerial positions raise your current salary and help you make a difference in your community and the world at large.

Qualification for Leadership Roles

MPAs work in a variety of leadership positions. Some of the most important figures in government and non-profit administration—including the president of the World Bank, the U.S. Secretary of Labor and the senior deputy chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts—are MPA holders. Additionally, as many of the skills acquired in an MPA are transferable, some MPAs go on to work in the private sector. For instance, the executive vice president of Wal-Mart is an MPA holder.

Salary Benefits

According to the 2009 U.S. Census, people with master’s degrees earned a median annual income of $69,825 compared to people with just a bachelor’s degree who earned $54,091 annually. If you are already working in the public sector, an MPA may help you move into a higher paying administrative position. If you are planning to enter into the public sector, an MPA can position you competitively in the job market; additionally, some programs include internships that will give you valuable work experience prior to conducting your job search.

Making a Difference 

A Masters in Public Administration program, in contrast to a more general MBA program, will give you valuable, specialized training in addressing the unique needs of governmental and non-profit organizations. By choosing to target your education towards the public sector, you signal your commitment to working for departments and organizations that labor for the common good, not merely for profit. A Masters in Public Administration online degree can prepare you for a career that is not only financially rewarding, but emotionally rewarding as well.