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Our Mission

Kent State University's MPA Program seeks to enhance the quality of public sector and non-profit management through a faculty that is engaged in public service, and committed to teaching ethical leadership and theoretical understandings of administration; enhancing knowledge, analytical skills, and technical abilities; and emphasizing experiential learning opportunities to apply theory and skills. Our core values include pursuing the public interest with accountability and transparency; serving professionally with competence, efficiency, and objectivity; acting ethically so as to uphold the public trust; and demonstrating respect, equity, and impartiality in dealings with citizens and fellow public servants. Toward that end, the program provides graduate level education to a diverse group of public service professionals through a high quality online format.

Organizational Structure

The MPA program is housed in the Department of Political Science. In addition to the MPA degree, the department offers undergraduate, M.A., and Ph.D. programs in Political Science. You can learn more about the Department of Political Science here.

Online Degree program

The program is offered completely online. Courses are delivered through our course management system, Blackboard Learn. Course content consists of text, narrated PowerPoint presentations, video and audio, live chats, and discussion groups. To participate in this online program, you will need a computer and broadband Internet connection. Courses may have further requirements that include the ability to record video and audio.

Learn more about the Online MPA program

Accessibility

The MPA program encourages persons with physical challenges to apply. University accommodation efforts are taken seriously both in terms of personal accommodations, counseling and support services, as well as electronic accommodations. Moreover, our online program is constantly being updated to make it compliant with Federal standards for electronic accessibility.

Accelerated MPA Degree Option for Current KSU Undergrads

Kent State University offers a special option for Kent juniors and seniors who meet a GPA requirement. This option allows students accepted into the program to take graduate courses while still completing their undergraduate coursework. Students may "double count" up to 12 credit hours toward both an undergraduate and an MPA degree. If you are interested in this option, please contact Dr. Daniel Hawes, the MPA Program Coordinator, for assistance in admission to this program. More detailed information on this option can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Graduate certificate in nonprofit management

The Nonprofit Management graduate certificate prepares graduates to work in the management and administrative positions in nonprofit organizations across a range of industries. Students acquire basic management skills, as well as applied skills specific to the nonprofit sector, that may include fundraising, executive board relations, policy advocacy and nonprofit law. The Certificate program consists of 12 credit hours, including 9 credit hours that focus on nonprofit management. 

Prospective employers are nonprofit sector organizations as well as private and public sector organizations that frequently interact with nonprofit organizations. 

Program Costs

Kent State’s online degree programs are priced competitively to programs at comparable state universities. Tuition and fees for the online Master of Public Administration are $676 per credit hour, for an estimated total program cost of $24,336. Non-Ohio residents will be assessed a $10 per credit hour non-resident fee. We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your student counselor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others, and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financing alternatives. You can reach us by email at onlinedegrees@kent.edu, or toll-free at 844-497-3239.

MPA Program Quick Facts

How many faculty teach in the program?

• There are 7 full-time faculty members that teach courses in the program.  The expertise among full-time faculty include immigration policies, administrative law, child car, community relations, tax policy and budgeting.  In addition, the program uses 7 highly experienced public administrators to teach part-time in our program. The part-time faculty include practitioners who run large non-profit social service agencies, serve as CIOs in county government, and work as private attorneys and accountants.  The average class size is 17 students.

Student Graduation Rates: AY 2015-16 Cohort

What sort of careers can graduates of the program expect?

• Graduates of the MPA program go on to have successful careers in a variety of different public service organizations. These include organizations and agencies of the Federal government, state government, cities, counties, and regions, international organizations, military, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Nearly half of recent graduates work in the public sector, approximately 40 percent work in the non-profit sector and a 13 percent work in the private sector. A list of current jobs held by recent graduates is included in the end of this document.
• Below is the distribution of employment by sector for students who graduated from the program in 2018:

Employment rate of students who graduated in 2017-18 (ARY-1):

• 40 percent employed in Public Sector (10 students)
• 28 percent employed in Nonprofit Sector (7 students)
• 32 percent “Unknown” (8 students)

What sort of internships do students complete while in the program?

• Because our program caters to public service professionals who are already working full-time in the field, most students in our program are waived the internship requirement. We do, however, have a few students complete an internship each year.  During the   2016-2017 academic year, 3 students completed an internship in the following organizations:
  • Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network, Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • International Institute, Akron, Ohio
  • AmeriCorps, Youngstown, Ohio

Are graduate assistantships or forms of financial aid available?

• Students in the MPA program typically do not receive graduate assistantships. However, students are eligible for other forms of financial aid, and can find information related to the types of aid available by visiting the Financial Aid homepage:  http://www.kent.edu/tuition

What is the completion rate for the MPA program?

• Graduate students at Kent State University are required to complete their degree program within 6 years.  Completion rates vary from year to year, but for the MPA cohort that entered in 2013-14, 56 percent of students graduated within two years and 78 percent graduated within four years.