Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Study 100% online. Finish in as little as one year.
Our unique online public administration master’s degree prepares you for leadership roles in public administration, public policy and community service.
Public Administration Master’s Degree at a Glance
Mode of Study
Online
Est. Time
1 year full-time; part-time at own pace
Start Terms
Spring I & II, Summer I & II,
Fall I & II
View Application Deadlines
Credits
32
Accreditation
Fellowships
Half-tuition
Scholarships
Alumni Scholarship
Graduate Fellowships Virtual Information Session
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
from 6:00 pm
to 7:00 pm
Learn how our full-and half-tuition graduate fellowships can enhance your graduate education and provide valuable networking opportunities!
Master of Public Administration Tuition
Credits
Per Credit
Total Tuition Cost
Tuition for 2025-2026. Rates are subject to change.
Typical Tuition Savings for the Online M.P.A.
Merrimack College offers generous scholarship and fellowship opportunities to offset your graduate tuition.
Provost Fellowships are 9-month, 15 hour-per-week field placements and cover 50% of MPA tuition, or $9,920.
Double Warrior Alumni Scholarships are awarded to all Merrimack College alumni, covering 33% of tuition ($6,547), for recent graduates, and 25% for earlier alumni.
Dean Scholarships are merit-based awards offered to eligible graduate students who are not alumni of Merrimack College. These scholarships vary in amount and are awarded based on academic achievement and potential.
Visit the page below to find all up-to-date tuition and fees information.
Overview of Merrimack’s Online Master of Public Administration
In Merrimack’s online M.P.A. program, you will gain a foundation in public administration theory and research with an emphasis on practical applications. In addition to studying government administration and public policy, you’ll also develop expertise in nonprofit management, community outreach, philanthropy and other kinds of active citizenship. With its well-rounded approach, the public administration master’s degree prepares you for a wide range of leadership roles in all kinds of organizations.
Every academic program at Merrimack College reflects our decades-long tradition of socially aware, civically engaged education. The Master of Public Administration builds on this heritage, providing you with the tools to help your community govern itself effectively, respond to challenges, maintain a high quality of life and promote high ethical and moral values.
Why Choose the Master of Public Administration Program at Merrimack
DEVELOP INTERDISCIPLINARY SKILLS
Merrimack College’s public administration degree equips you with marketable expertise that you can adapt for a variety of roles. You’ll acquire practical skills in public administration, public policy, organizational leadership, finance, communication, data analysis, and more, gaining the ability to address complex problems and craft innovative solutions.
ENJOY CONVENIENT AND FLEXIBLE OPTIONS
Our master of public administration was designed to fit your busy life. Our online graduate program lets you pursue your MPA from anywhere. You can choose to earn your master’s in 1-2 years of full-time study, or complete the degree part-time at your own pace.
SPECIALIZE IN ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU
Our graduate degree in public administration grants you the freedom to focus on the public policy issues you care about most. The program culminates in a capstone project or internship that may include original research, public policy design, in-depth analysis, fieldwork or other hands-on activity.
BUILD STRONG FACULTY RELATIONSHIPS
You’ll study public administration in small classes led by attentive, highly engaged instructors. Our faculty experts include scholars such as Dr. Anne Boxberger Flaherty, Dr. Harry Wessel and Dr. Brad Miller, as well as veteran public administrators such as Andrew Maylor and Sarah Stanton.
CONNECT WITH PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROFESSIONALS
Merrimack has active partnerships throughout the public administration community. You’ll interact with legislators, nonprofit directors, government officials, public policy experts, political advocates and other leaders.
JOIN A COMMITTED COMMUNITY
Merrimack’s public administration graduate degree caters to a diverse, engaged and enthusiastic student cohort. Whether you’re just entering the workforce, seeking a promotion or migrating into public administration from another profession, our master’s degree in public administration will help you take the next step.
Career Outlook: Where can an MPA take you?
Median Annual Salary
for Urban & Regional Planners in 2024
Job Openings
in Urban and Regional Planners in 2024
Job Growth
expected for Urban and Regional Planners from 2024-34, faster than the average
20:1
Estimated 20-year ROI*
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2024
*Estimated Return on Investment (ROI) based on average salary for roles with a Public Administration master’s degree in relation to Merrimack’s stated tuition for the program, and a potential salary increase of $20k over 20 years. Actual results will vary depending on career path, location, and individual circumstances.
Jobs with a Public Administration Master’s degree
- Policy manager
- Local government administrator
- Public affairs specialist
- Development coordinator
- Urban planner
- State and federal civil service roles
- Public works manager
- Transportation director
Where Merrimack’s MPA Graduates Work
City of Boston
Grant Manager
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
Transportation Planner
F. H. Cann & Associates, Inc.
VP of Community & Employee Engagement
Town of Reading, MA
Director of Operations
What Our Master of Public Administration Students and Alumni Say
Town of Shrewsbury, MA
Read Student Spotlight
MPA Career Panel Feature
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
MPA Career Panel Feature
What You'll Learn in Merrimack's Online Master of Public Administration
Key Courses You'll Take
Public Budgeting & Financial Management
MPA 6530
Reviews the funding of state and local government budgets and capital plans, including best practices for allocating resources and tracking the status of capital projects. Provides an in-depth review of public sector documents: Annual Operating Budget, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), and Official Statement (OS).
The Public Executive
MPA6580
Focuses on enhancing executive-level decision making and leadership skills in local government and nonprofit organizations, but lessons learned will have broad applicability for mid-level and senior managers in all government agencies and other public service entities.
Government, Business and Law
MPA 6610
Master of Public Administration
View Full Curriculum from the Graduate Catalog
Master of Public Administration Requirements
To see more details about the program, please visit catalog.merrimack.edu.Skills You'll Learn
Upon completing the online MPA program, you will have developed:
An Understanding of Public Administration
Policy Expertise and Understanding of the Policy Process
Research Skills and Practices
Communication, Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
Diversity and Ethical Frameworks for Public Service
Featured Faculty
Lien Nguyen, Ph.D., M.P.A.
Assistant Professor of Practice
Prior to transitioning to academia, Dr. Lien Nguyen served as a Public Procurement Official at the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Vietnam from 2010 to 2015, where she gained extensive experience in government procurement and policy implementation. Dr. Nguyen’s experience in international and development organizations also includes serving as a Finance Officer and Administrator for the Vocational Technical Education Program (VOCTECH) in Hanoi, Vietnam; Area Finance Facilitator for Plan International; Accountant at the Danish Red Cross; and work at the Social Forestry Development Project and the Centre of International Development and Cooperation (CECI). She holds a both a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy as well as a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Old Dominion University.
Andrew Maylor, M.P.A., M.B.A.
Adjunct Lecturer
Andrew Maylor is an accomplished financial and operations leader with extensive experience in both public and private sector management. He currently serves as the Vice President of Finance and Operations and Chief Financial Officer at Lasell University. Andrew’s career also includes significant roles in government. At the state level, he was Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as Commissioner of the Massachusetts State Lottery, in addition to serving on both the State Retirees Benefits Trust Fund Board and the Inspector General Council. His experience in local government include stints as Town Manager of North Andover, Town Administrator of Swampscott, and Deputy City Manager of Chelsea. He also chaired the Essex Regional Retirement Board and served as a Commissioner for the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District.
Gain Personalized Support from Our Success Coaches
Our Success Coaches are very important to your overall student experience. Throughout your time working towards your degree, your assigned Success Coach will help address many of the questions you may have outside the classroom. In doing so, they will help free more of your time to concentrate on mastering the content that is so important to your program progression.
Once you are accepted into your graduate program, your Success Coach will contact you via your student email. You will engage with your Success Coach from the time you are admitted until you graduate, allowing you to have a consistent point of contact as you work to achieve your goals. Many of our students and alumni appreciate the impact that their Success Coach had in their graduate journey.
At Merrimack College, you’re going to get all of the support that you would need to be successful. [...] Once the program starts, you are linked with a success coach who checks in with you regularly.
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Financial Aid
Public Administration Graduate Fellowships
Graduate fellowships in Merrimack’s Master of Public Administration program provide hands-on professional experience while significantly reducing tuition. Fellows benefit from real-world work opportunities, professional networking, and a career head start in the field.
- Presidential Fellowships: Cover 100% of your graduate tuition and include a 9-month, unpaid fellowship placement of 25 hours per week.
- Provost Fellowships: Cover 50% of your graduate tuition and include a 9-month, unpaid fellowship placement of 15 hours per week.
These fellowships allow students to gain practical skills and build valuable connections, making them an ideal choice for those seeking an impactful start to their careers.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Double Warrior Alumni Scholarship: Available to all Merrimack College graduates. Students enrolling immediately after senior undergraduate year automatically receive a 33% discount, and 25% thereafter. Please note that Double Warrior alumni scholarships cannot be combined with fellowships; the highest discount will apply.
Financial aid in the form of federal aid, private loans, and payment plans are also options available for graduate students. Click the link below to learn more about our scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
Application Information for the Online Master of Public Administration
It’s easy to apply online! Simply create your account by registering a username and password. This will allow you to start an application, save and log back in at any time to complete it before submission.
A Completed Application Includes:
- Online application
- Official college transcripts from all institutions attended
- Resumé
- Interview OR personal statement
- Contact information for one reference OR one letter of recommendation
Important Information:
- No application fee or GRE requirement.
- If applying for a fellowship, be sure to indicate that on your application.
- Optional: Submit test scores to enhance or support your academic background.
Graduate Community and Student Support
As a graduate student at Merrimack College, you are welcome to visit campus and explore our resources to help you optimize your educational journey.
Our graduate students benefit from:
A dedicated success coach to support you throughout the program
A warm, inviting place to meet and network with faculty and peers face-to-face
All resources in our campus library to aid in your studying and research
Access to Merrimack's IT Help Desk
Availability of counseling and wellness services
Want to Learn More about the Online Master of Public Administration?
Contact Lien Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Practice!
Take the Next Step (We're Here to Help)
At Merrimack, we are ready to meet you where you are and get you where you want to go. And, we make the process simple along the way! Please feel free to contact our Graduate Admission team or join us at an upcoming event if you have any questions regarding scholarships, fellowships, financial aid, or the application process.
Programs Related to the Master of Public Administration
Explore other areas and where they can take you.
Grad Chat Podcast
In this episode of Grad Chat, we focus on Merrimack’s Master of Public Administration program, with two special guests: Taylor Galusha, a 2021 graduate of the program, and Bradley Miller, the program director for the Master of Public Administration. Tune in to hear their insights and experiences!
Check us out on social media!
What's New at Merrimack
Merrimack College Awards & Recognition
U.S. News & World Report | Best Regional Universities North (2026)
- Most Innovative Schools (#8)
- Regional Universities North (#38)
- Best Undergraduate Teaching (#20)
- Best Colleges for Veterans (#16)
- Best Value Schools (#52)
