Online Master of Public Administration Program Overview
Elevate your expertise into leadership with our online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, provided by the College of Public Service at UCCS.
Designed to be both robust and flexible, this graduate degree cultivates your problem-solving and decision-making abilities, empowering you to inspire transformation in your community.
The MPA program offers students hands-on experiences and opportunities for meaningful public service involvement through partnerships with government agencies, judicial bodies, and nonprofits across Southern Colorado and beyond. Our online platform offers immersive learning experiences directly relevant to real-world careers. MPA students can also concurrently earn a distinguishing graduate certificate in the following areas to gain a competitive edge in the job market:
- Criminal Justice
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Grant Writing, Management and Program Evaluation
- National Security Intelligence
- Nonprofit Management
MPA Program Features
Flexible | The MPA program is designed to be flexible, so you can choose a pace that allows you to balance coursework with your other commitments. Its asynchronous format means you can complete your assignments at the best time and place for you.
Military-Friendly | The MPA program is ideal for military students because it is accessible, aligns with common civilian career paths for servicemembers, leverages students’ military experience, and gives students hands-on training in areas like grant writing, budgeting, nonprofit management, and more.
Career-Focused | The online Master of Public Administration program at UCCS can help you build a career in public service and leadership. The MPA program is designed to teach you how to:
- Lead effectively within various roles in public service
- Shape the public policy process to address contemporary challenges
- Analyze and resolve complex issues in ever-changing environments
- Communicate and engage effectively in diverse cultural contexts
Master of Public Administration
College of Public Service
100% Online
Delivery Method
$710*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate In-state
$811*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate Out-of-state
Priority Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
Application Deadline
36-39
Credit Hours
18-24 Months
Average Completion Time
Master of Public Administration Course Overview
The MPA program consists of six core courses, five elective courses, and a capstone course. A three-credit-hour internship in your home community is also required for students lacking significant experience in the public or nonprofit fields. Courses in the fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks long, while summer courses are eight weeks.
The MPA program requires either a graduate capstone seminar or a master’s thesis to complete the program. In the graduate capstone seminar, students will complete a graduate-level project to demonstrate their knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. Spanning two semesters, the master’s thesis prompts students to review literature and collect original data or analyze existing data in new ways.
This program is designed to be flexible, so you can choose a pace that allows you to balance coursework with your other commitments. Its asynchronous format means you can complete your assignments at the best time and place for you, with no specific login times or live elements. Students will build knowledge and skills through videos, readings, discussion boards, essays, research papers, open-book exams, presentations, group projects, and other assessments.
MPA students can concurrently earn a distinguishing graduate certificate in the following areas to gain a competitive edge in the job market:
- Criminal Justice
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Grant Writing, Management and Program Evaluation
- National Security Intelligence
- Nonprofit Management
- Flexible—100% online program with full-time and part-time options
- Small classes—14:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Network—connect to active and influential public service leaders
- Customizable—multiple graduate certificate options for specializing your degree
- Practical—hands-on experience applying knowledge to real-world scenarios
- PAD 5001: Introduction to Public Administration and Public Service
- It is a time of rapid change, resource limitations, and questioning of the roles of public service organizations and professionals in American society. In such a time, it is essential for practitioners and citizens to understand the history, nature, and scope of public service. This course explores the creation of American public and nonprofit institutions, the ways organizations are structured and managed, and the role of the public service practitioner in the challenging contemporary setting.
- PAD 5002: Organizational Management and Behavior
- It is a time of rapid change, resource limitations, and questioning of the roles of public service organizations and professionals in American society. In such a time, it is essential for practitioners and citizens to understand the history, nature, and scope of public service. This course explores the creation of American public and nonprofit institutions, the ways organizations are structured and managed, and the role of the public service practitioner in the challenging contemporary setting.
- PAD 5003: Research and Analytic Methods
- This course examines the research methods used to answer questions and test hypotheses in public and non-profit settings. Methods covered include identifying and reviewing scholarly literature; formulating research questions; selecting the appropriate design, data collection, and sampling strategies; and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.
The online MPA program from UCCS is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration’s (NASPAA) commission on Peer Review and Accreditation. Graduates of the MPA program are assumed to have the following competencies, as enumerated by NASPAA:
- Lead and manage in public interest
- Participate in, contribute to, the policy process
- To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment
- To articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective
- To communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large
Public Administration Career Outlook
According to the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), MPA graduates typically pursue and advance in careers in government at the local, state and federal levels (including the military), nonprofits at all levels (including international), and research and consulting.
UCCS’s MPA graduates from 2021-22 started careers in the following sectors:
- National government
- State government
- Local government
- International government
- US military
- Domestic nonprofits
- International nonprofits
- Research or consulting
- Private/other
- Education
Public administration graduates can work in areas like economic and community development, international affairs, legislative and government support, and more. They can also choose to continue their education by earning a terminal degree (doctorate), which will prepare them for advanced roles in research and higher education. You will gain practical skills and knowledge for whatever is next in UCCS’s online MPA program.
Take the First Step
Complete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Tuition and Fees
At UCCS Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
Our Enrollment Team can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your degree.
A $60 application fee applies for this program; however, once per year this fee is waived for Colorado residents. Please reach out to an Enrollment Navigator for more information about costs associated with your application.
Complete the formComplete the form on this page to connect with our Enrollment Team and get more information about tuition, fees, scholarships, and financial aid.
Western Region Graduate Program (WRGP/WICHE)
Students from the following states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States) have the opportunity to pay a reduced tuition rate which is currently equal to in-state tuition.
In State Cost Per Credit:
$710
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Out of State Cost Per Credit:
$811
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education. Our Enrollment Navigators can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to transfer credits and corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your UCCS Online degree. Complete the formComplete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a UCCS Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.
- Scholarships | You may be eligible for scholarships at UCCS. We offer many scholarships and grants to students who are ready to earn their degrees and achieve success. Between both UCCS-offered and external scholarships, our students earned more than $10 million in scholarship awards last year alone.
UCCS Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a UCCS Online student, you will have access to the UCCS Veteran and Military Affairs, which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success. UCCS is a proud home campus to many veteran and military students.
Eligible veteran and military students may use veteran benefits, military tuition assistance, and/or financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with UCCS Online include:
- Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
- Military benefits approved program
Connect with our Enrollment NavigatorsConnect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students.
All students are automatically opted in to the TAAP program with the choice to opt out. The TAAP program provides all your course materials for one flat fee per credit hour. That means no more time spent searching for, ordering, and paying out of pocket for your own course materials.
Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits as part of their employee compensation program. Generally, these policies determine a set number of credit hours per year that the company will pay for on behalf of the student/employee. Some policies place a cap on eligible tuition dollars and related expenses while others reimburse employees on a per-credit-hour basis. Get in touch with your organization's human resources department to learn more about your educational benefits.
Admissions Information
Applicants to the MPA program should have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, with grades sufficiently high to indicate the ability to pursue graduate work, typically a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better. MPA applicants may have an undergraduate degree in any field.
To apply to the MPA program, please use the Online Graduate School Application.
Applications should also be prepared to submit the following:
- Online Graduate School Application
- $60 non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
- Statement of educational and career goals
- Current resume
Most admissions decisions are made within one week of completing the application process. Students are admitted three times per year to the MPA program. Applications are due one week prior to the start of classes for each term. Start the application process by filling out the formfilling out the form on this page.
UCCS accepts applications throughout the year through a rolling admissions process. However, submitting your application by the preferred deadlines is advisable.
- Fall Semester: August 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Summer Semester: May 1
- Spring 2025 – January 21, 2025
- Summer 2025 – July 9, 2025
- Fall 2025 – August 25, 2025
The online MPA program can be completed in approximately 18-24 months if you take a full course load, or a maximum of six years.
Master of Public Administration Success Stories
The UCCS MPA helped me obtain the training and skills I put into action in my role leading medical operations for the Department of Defense COVID-19 response in five FEMA regions, for which I was recognized as the 2022 Uniformed Emergency Manager of the Year by the International Association of Emergency Managers – USA.
– Michael B. '23, LTC, US Army
The master’s degree in public administration has allowed me to deepen my knowledge of the nonprofit sector and civil service, both of which I am extremely passionate about. I think it’s incumbent on each of us to participate in community endeavors to create and shape the society we want to live in, and I’m excited to put this education to use as I continue to find ways serve Colorado Springs and the State of Colorado.
– Erica O., Vice President for Grants, El Pomar Foundation, ’23 MPA Alum
MPA Faculty Highlights
Michael Landon-Murray is an expert in intelligence and securities studies. His work on disinformation in contemporary public affairs and policy has reached popular outlets, including The New York Times.
Edin Mujkic is a research catalyst in strategic leadership in emergency management and response. His work improves public and nongovernmental systems approaches to human security threats, environmental crisis, and erosion of democratic values.
Jessica Berrett was nominated in 2024 for the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Early Career Emerging Scholar Award. The Association of Fundraising Professionals Research Council honors her work improving the discourse and practice of philanthropy and fundraising.
Robin Kempf is an authority on government accountability. Her contribution to knowledge about government waste, fraud, and abuse is recognized at the federal level. She is sought-after consultant in public administration, including a Senate Homeland Security Committee investigation regarding systemic failures in the Georgia foster care system.
Regina Winters is regionally known for her expertise in program evaluation and assessment. She helped develop the Colorado Nonprofit Association’s Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence, a resource guide for nonprofit managers and boards improving strategic planning and diversity and inclusion work.
Expand Your Opportunities
Earn an education that creates opportunity. Start the admissions process with an enrollment advisor by filling out the form on this page today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, the MPA program does not require a GRE test score for admission.
The MPA program is flexible, builds real-world skills, and is taught by instructors with expertise in various areas of public administration.
Online students can gain relevant experience for future opportunities by participating in the MPA Student & Alumni Advisory Board, Pi Alpha Alpha, and Women in the Public Sphere, as well as virtual professional development opportunities such as the APA Workshop, resume reviews, and virtual career fairs. Graduate assistantships are also available for online students.
The MPA program is offered fully online but may require an internship at a location in your community, which means you will not be required to take courses at our campus. An internship is required if you lack significant experience in the public or nonprofit fields and adds three credit hours to the program (39 credits total).
Scheduling your courses is done through your student portal. You’ll receive notification from the Registrar when you are able to add courses. Prior to that date, we ask that you meet with our Graduate Student Services Specialist, and they can walk you through a degree plan that helps to take the guess work out of choosing which courses might be best.
For graduate school students, enrollment is considered full-time when two courses are taken during the Fall and Spring and one course during the Summer semester. Choosing to take one course during the Fall and Spring is considered part-time.
The typical completion for a full-time graduate student is between two to three years. You must complete the program within six (6) years of your starting semester. You will need to revalidate courses if you take more than six years to complete the program.
We can meet to plan out many scenarios based on how quickly you want to move through the program. We offer our courses in various modalities for a wide range of flexibility.
The McCord-Herbst Student Veteran Center on campus is open to all military-affiliated students. They offer study space, computer resources, and coaching. For more information, please visit https://military.uccs.edu/.