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Similar to an MPA, our unique public administration and public affairs master’s degree prepares you for leadership roles in public administration, public policy and community service.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with a Graduate Admission counselor about Merrimack's graduate programs!
Merrimack College’s public administration and affairs 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.
Our graduate degree in public administration and affairs 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.
Merrimack has active partnerships throughout the public administration and affairs community. You’ll interact with legislators, nonprofit directors, government officials, public policy experts, political advocates and other leaders.
Our master of public administration and affairs was designed to fit your busy life. Whether you study online or on campus, 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. Our campus program offers evening classes to fit the schedules of working adults, while our online graduate program lets you pursue your MPA from anywhere.
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.
Merrimack’s public affairs 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 affairs will help you take the next step.
(Campus Program Only)
In this episode of Grad Chat, we focus on Merrimack’s Master of Public Administration and Affairs 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 and Affairs. Tune in to hear their insights and experiences!
Every academic program at Merrimack College reflects our decades-long tradition of socially aware, civically engaged education. The Master of Public Administration and Affairs 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.
Our public affairs master’s program resembles a traditional Master of Public Administration (MPA), but it takes a broader perspective than the usual MPA degree. 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 and public affairs master’s degree prepares you for a wide range of leadership roles in all kinds of organizations.
You can apply our public administration and affairs master’s program to tackle almost any challenge confronting society, including (but not limited to):
Since its inception, the on campus Master in Public Administration and Affairs program at Merrimack College has earned a reputation as one of the area’s best master’s programs. Now, you can also choose to complete the program online! Whichever modality you pick, you’ll benefit from the same rigor, expert faculty, and close-knit community. Read on to discover which option is right for you.
What the on campus and online graduate programs have in common:
Differences between the on campus and online master’s degree:
On Campus M.P.A. Program | Online M.P.A. Program | |
Course Format | Classroom, synchronous | Online, asynchronous |
Semester Length | 14 weeks | 8 weeks |
Tuition* (per credit) | $1,028 | $781 |
Tuition* (total) | $32,896 | $24,992 |
Fellowships Available | Presidential Fellowships (full tuition) and Provost Fellowships (half tuition) | None |
Automatic Scholarship Eligibility | Deans Scholarship (up to 20% of tuition); Double Warrior Alumni Scholarship (up to 33% of tuition) | None |
* Tuition indicated is for the 2022-23 academic year and subject to change. Please visit of Graduate Tuition and Fees page for the most up to date and complete cost of attendance information.
Whether you choose the online or on campus MPA degree, you will gain a foundation in public administration theory and research with an emphasis on practical applications. Upon completing the program, you will have developed:
“I got real hands-on experience in the field I want to be in. It supported what I learned in the classroom, and it gave me so many connections in the world of state policy.”
- Ian Burns, MPA ’19
The U.S. Bureau of Labors Statistics (BLS) projects rapid job growth over the next decade in public administration, public policy, community service and related fields.
Like a master of public administration or similar degree, our Master of Public Administration and Public Affairs will qualify you to exercise leadership in executive, managerial or supervisory positions. Merrimack graduates work in public administration jobs throughout the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Our alumni have gone to work for employers such as:
Contact the Merrimack College Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@merrimack.edu.
Schedule an Informational Call with the Program Director, Dr. Brad Miller
Public administration and public affairs graduate fellowships can reduce your tuition by 50% to 100%, while scholarships can reduce your tuition by up to 25%.
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Each time this season Hockey East foes Merrimack and Providence battle on the ice, it pits Tristan Crozier of the Warriors against younger brother Max Crozier of the Friars.