Public Administration
MPA
Why study Public Administration?
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) uses a social justice outlook to develop students to be transformative and ethical leaders in the public and non-profit sectors. Students are able to pursue their passion for public policy and social innovation, and prepare themselves to meet the increasing need for leaders in the public sector. In addition to the traditional core competencies, this program centers justice in all levels of government and nonprofit organizations. As a part of the School of Public and International Affairs, the MPA offers students the opportunity to: study with renowned faculty, gain skills necessary to become effective agents for change, learn through interdisciplinary curricula in areas including community psychology and the School of Information Technology. The program also offers students the unique opportunity to connect with a network of professionals currently at work in the fields of public and non-profit administration.
Mission Statement
The Master of Public Administration uses a social justice outlook to develop students to be transformative and ethical leaders in the public and non-profit sectors.
We achieve our mission by:
- Preparing future leaders to identify and overcome public service obstacles
- Translating knowledge into real-world strategies for action
- Partnering with communities to create a more just society through research and impact
- Training public administrators in rigorous and evidence informed decision-making
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for the MPA program:
- Two letters of recommendation (ideally at least one from a former professor)
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Respond to an essay prompt provided on the application (between 500 and 750 words)
- Resume
- Optional materials – third letter of recommendation, writing sample, any other information to strengthen student’s application
- NO GRE is required
Decision criteria for admissions include demonstrated familiarity with public service/administration topics and interests, demonstrated ability to write and communicate clearly, and evidence of alignment between applicant’s academic goals and the strengths and resources of our MPA program.
Tuition Costs:
Current Year Costs for Graduate Students - UC Bursar's Office
Financial Aid:
Very limited opportunities for Graduate Assistantships available through the School of Public and International Affairs or other departments at the University of Cincinnati. Most MPA students do not receive financial aid.
In UC's MPA program, students are empowered to achieve a set of learning and professional outcomes that demonstrate that they are prepared to be transformative and ethical leaders in the public and non-profit sectors. These outcomes include rigorous academic goals and learning, professionalization and best practices, and a commitment to justice through analysis and tools of systemic and personal reflection. Based in cohorts of approximately 15 students per year (1:6 faculty ratio), 80% of entering students graduate within two years and 95% within four years.
An MPA prepares students for a variety of exciting careers in the public sector. An MPA is a management degree leads to excellent first placement for our students coming directly from undergraduate programs and significant career enhancement for students already at work in public sector positions.
Recent graduates are work in such diverse places as the United Way, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the City of Cincinnati. Students are able to enhance their future employment prospects through optional internship experiences and extensive classroom and capstone projects engaged with community organizations and governments.
Employment Sector | 2024 Graduates |
---|---|
National Government | 1 |
State Government | 1 |
Domestic Non-Profit | 4 |
Further Education | 2 |
Private Sector (Consulting) | 2 |
Private Sector (General) | 1 |
Unemployed | 1 |
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.
All incoming MPA students meet with the program director prior to enrollment and during orientation to plan their program of study. Continuing students are required to attend a meeting with the faculty advisor once per semester. Programs of study are accessible to and maintained by students, faculty, and staff jointly to ensure understanding and timely progression through program requirements.
The UC MPA program is served by high quality and enthusiastic faculty along with adjuncts who are active in public sector professions.
MPA core faculty include:
Dr. Kimberly Conger, Director (PhD, The Ohio State University)
Dr. Anita Dhillon (PhD, American University)
Dr. Lauren Forbes (PhD, Georgia State University)
Dr. Jeongmin Oh (PhD, Florida State University)
Dr. Noah Wolff (PhD, University of Oklahoma)
Students in the MPA program will have numerous opportunities to work alongside community residents, grassroots organizations, nonprofit and government agencies on a variety of projects, including but not limited to: research, engagement, data collection, and analysis, etc. Examples of recent student and faculty community engaged projects Coming Soon.
4+1 Undergraduate degree and MPA - The College of Arts & Sciences offers a number of Master's Degree programs that can be earned upon completion of one additional year beyond the senior year. Students begin graduate coursework during their final undergraduate year. For the MPA program, students must have fewer than 15 undergraduate credit hours remaining in the senior year and complete the full graduate school application process by the summer before their senior year. For more information, please contact the MPA program director.
JD/MPA - In conjuction with the University of Cincinnati College of Law, a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration degree is offered that can be completed in 4 years (one year less than obtaining the two degrees separately). Students are encouraged to begin with a law school application. For more information about this joint degree program, see the College of Law JD/MPA information page.
MPA students must complete 38 hours of graduate course work and successfully complete and present a Capstone project. Each semester as part of regular advising, students are encouraged to review their programs of study and progress toward toward degree completing and gradation.
Students should also consult with the Graduate College Student Handbook and the SPIA Graduate Handbook for the most up-to-date policies and procedures.
Students who have completed graduate work at other colleges, universities, or within another program at UC may petition their graduate program director for transfer of credits to be applied towards a master’s degree at UC. This petition is evaluated by the graduate program. A UC graduate program can accept or reject transfer credits at its own discretion, regardless of the graduate degree program or discipline in which they were earned.
Typically, credits are not transferred if they were earned more than five years prior to the date of the student’s application to the UC program that is considering the credit transfer.
Interested students should contact the MPA Program Director to discuss the specific requirements related to the program. As per the Graduate College Handbook, up to 1/3 of program credits may be transferred from another program. For the MPA program specifically, this equates to transferring no more than 12 credits.
Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in School of Public and International Affairs
Application Deadlines
Currently, the MPA program is only admitting students for the fall semester. Priority Application Deadline (including consideration for any available financial aid): January 15th. Regular Application Deadline: June 15th.
The MPA program entered candidacy for Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation in Fall 2023 and submitted its first self-study in August of 2025.
Contact Information
Room 5110 Clifton Court Hall
2800 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0375
(513) 556-1182
SPIA-Grad@uc.edu
Find related programs in the following interest areas:
Program Code: 15MAS-PBAD-MPA