Format
Fully online coursework with two required Dallas immersions
Master of Public Administration
Run the organizations that build services to address public priorities
Credits
36 (12 courses)
Program length
As little as 1.5 years, part-time (4-6 terms)
Next start date
January 11, 2027Priority application deadline
October 1, 2026Final application deadline
December 1, 2026Find your direction in public service.
A great Master of Public Administration program teaches you to better understand public problems and lead the organizations working to address them.
The online M.P.A. from SMU’s Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies helps you develop the public sector management skills to take on the responsibility of leading public and mission-driven organizations with ethics and impact at the forefront. Through hands-on assignments and live discussions, you’ll learn to work through decisions public administrators face. Then, you apply what you learn to a public administration issue that matters to you during your capstone project.
Eva Chiang, Ph.D., Public Policy and Administration (P.P.A.) Faculty Lead and Program Director
Download a brochure to learn more about how you can get hands-on experience with policy.
Inside SMU’s M.P.A. curriculum
In the online Master of Public Administration program, you will study how public sector administrators manage resources and carry policy into practice, then practice those skills in live discussions, projects, on-campus immersions and a client-based capstone.
Our M.P.A. courses emphasize applied training and learning through writing, analysis, simulations and project work. You will learn to:
- Manage public organizations: Lead people, plan strategically and improve organizational performance.
- Implement and evaluate policy: Carry a policy into practice and account for effects that may not have been part of the original plan.
- Build and defend a budget: Estimate costs, weigh tradeoffs and allocate public resources responsibly.
- Make decisions that earn public trust: Apply ethical and legal reasoning to organizational decisions.
- Use evidence to guide action: Draw on qualitative and quantitative information to assess programs and recommend improvements.
- Communicate under scrutiny: Explain decisions clearly, engage stakeholders and negotiate when priorities compete.
Your first immersion takes place during the opening term. Over two days, you meet your fellow cohort and network with professionals working in the Dallas-Fort Worth public sector. Workshops and guest sessions introduce the foundations of public administration, and a guided visit to the George W. Bush Institute and presidential museum brings you closer to Dallas’ policy community.
The second immersion happens at the end of the program. This time, you arrive as part of a consulting team, and present your capstone to your client and faculty. This gives you the chance to answer questions and explain the value of your team’s recommendation.
Together, the immersions give you two invaluable resources: a stronger professional network and practice presenting your decision-making in the settings public administrators are often in.
With faculty guidance, you and a small peer team work with a real client to identify an administration or implementation challenge worth investigating.
Across the two capstone courses, you gather evidence and develop recommendations the organization can use. In your final term, you present the work to the client and faculty during the Dallas immersion.
The finished project gives you a concrete example of your decision-making and your ability to work with a client, two things that are difficult to demonstrate through a transcript or resume alone.
Request information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the Master of Public Administration offered by SMU, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 469-871-6018.
What can I do with an M.P.A.?
Public administration is broader than one job title. It includes all professionals who oversee community programs, manage public resources and hold organizations accountable to the people they serve.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area reached approximately 8.5 million residents in 2025, an 11% increase from 2020. Growth at that pace creates substantial work and opportunities for city agencies, regional authorities and nonprofits serving changing communities.
SMU brings that regional context into the program through Dallas immersions, public administration guest speakers and faculty whose work spans program evaluation, public sector statistics, government relations, law and nonprofit leadership.
In addition to making a difference in the world, M.P.A. graduates can also earn a comfortable wage. Labor market analytics data from Lightcast shows that the median salary for professionals with an M.P.A. is $93,600 per year.
Many professionals pursue the M.P.A. to:
- Move from program coordinator or analyst roles into management
- Lead larger teams, departments and organizational budgets
- Add the formal credentials to match the leadership experience they already have
- Step into executive leadership of a nonprofit, government agency or community organization
Your experience and interests may lead you toward roles such as:
Government and public sector leadership
- Public affairs manager: $144,100
- City or county administrator: $129,800
- Government program manager: $120,700
- Urban planner: $85,200
- Budget analyst: $82,200
- City planner: $81,300
Nonprofit and community leadership
- Higher education administrator: $129,900
- Nonprofit executive director: $110,000
- Fundraising manager: $100,100
- Social and community service manager: $77,000
- Grants administrator: $70,900
Source: Lightcast
Students in our program can also take advantage of SMU’s comprehensive career services offerings, which include career counseling, resume writing help, internship placement assistance and more.
M.P.A. vs. M.P.P.: Which is right for you?
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) is ideal for those interested in the administrative, operational and leadership aspects of public policy. With coursework emphasizing management, organizational development and public finance, the M.P.A. prepares graduates to lead and manage public sector organizations.
If your goal is to build advanced analytical skills for policy design, research and evaluation, the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) may be a better fit.
Learn more in our M.P.P. vs. M.P.A. guide
| M.P.A. | M.P.P. | |
|---|---|---|
| Program focus | Focus on policy implementation and daily operations of public organizations | Focus on policy research, analysis and evaluation |
| Skill development | Develop leadership skills in public sector management and administration | Develop technical skills in policy analysis, creation, evaluation and implementation |
| Coursework | Coursework in leadership, organizational development and public finance | Coursework in public policy, research methods and statistics |
| Roles | Management, administration or implementation of policy | Data analysis, research, reporting and development of policy |
Frequently asked questions
As with any degree, it depends on your goals. If you currently or plan to work in public service, policymaking or leadership in government or nonprofit sectors, an M.P.A. is one of the best options for advanced education.
The degree provides specialized public sector management and nonprofit administration skills that other leadership and management-focused degrees don’t offer, which can lead to advanced career opportunities. If you are looking to move up in your organization or change careers toward public service, an M.P.A. provides the necessary training and credentials to succeed.
An M.P.A. may be a good fit for professionals who want to move into leadership or take on more responsibility in government, nonprofit or community-serving organizations. That includes current program coordinators, analysts, department administrators, nonprofit staff, budget and operations professionals and people responsible for putting policies into practice.
It can also support career changers from education, healthcare, social services or business who want to bring their experience into public service. The degree is especially useful for people who want to manage programs, oversee resources, lead teams and improve how organizations serve the public.
No specific professional experience is required. The program serves current public and nonprofit professionals as well as career changers from fields such as business, social work, public health, political science and beyond.
During required weekly live sessions, you’ll discuss cases and work through public administration decisions with instructors and classmates. Outside of live classes, instructors typically respond to emails and course messages within 48 business hours.
No. SMU does not require GRE or GMAT scores for admission to the M.P.A.
The cost per credit hour is $1,000, with the program consisting of 36 credits. Total tuition for the program is $36,000 without including fees. Learn more about our tuition and funding options on our tuition and financial aid page.
Yes! Students enrolled in SMU’s online master’s programs are encouraged to request federal and state financial aid by completing their FAFSA. Scholarships may be awarded by academic departments during the admission process. Any scholarships awarded will be submitted to the Graduate Financial Aid Office to be included in your total financial aid offer.
Eligible students may receive the following tuition reductions:
- 20% tuition reduction for City of Dallas employees
- 20% for HCSC employees
- 10% for SMU alumni and faculty or staff
- 10% for employees of participating AllCampus Workplace organizations
An enrollment specialist can help you determine whether your employer or SMU affiliation qualifies.
Active-duty military service members, veterans and their spouses and dependents have access to additional funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Yellow Ribbon Program can cover tuition expenses and other costs, including books and fees. Learn more about our funding opportunities on our tuition and financial aid page.
Ready to learn more?
Download our program brochure, and explore our curriculum, admission and FAQ pages.
