Overview

The Public Administration programme at Purdue University is designed to prepare students for influential leadership roles within government, public safety, and emergency management sectors. This Master of Public Administration (MPA) provides the essential tools to evaluate, implement, and manage complex policies while making ethical decisions that serve the public interest.

Students will build advanced expertise in the administration of public funds, strategic planning, and human resource management. The curriculum focuses on creating leaders who can drive significant impact and strengthen communities through effective governance. The programme is structured to meet the demands of modern public service in diverse and dynamic environments.

Why Public Administration at Purdue University?

This programme is delivered by Purdue Global, an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Students benefit from learning under expert faculty members who are real-world practitioners with extensive industry experience. The curriculum is continuously reviewed and updated by leading professionals to ensure it reflects the latest skills and practices.

The university offers a flexible online learning environment that allows students to balance their studies with professional commitments. Additionally, graduates may have the opportunity to apply specific credits toward further legal education at the Purdue Global Law School. This pathway can significantly reduce the time and cost required to earn an Executive Juris Doctor degree.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 420 per credit
National fee: USD 420 per credit
Local fee: USD 485 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum consists of nine core courses designed to provide in-depth leadership knowledge. Modules may include:

Public Administration and Management
Leadership in the Public Sector
Finance and the Administration of Public Funds
Human Resource Management in the Public Sector

Careers with Public Administration

Graduates are prepared for a variety of leadership roles across the public, nonprofit, and volunteer sectors. Qualified administrators are in high demand to serve in the executive arms of local, state, and federal government agencies. The programme also prepares individuals for management positions within nongovernmental organisations and public safety departments.

Common career paths include roles as social and community service managers, policy analysts, and public sector executives. The skills developed, such as budgeting, strategic planning, and data analysis, are highly transferable across various industries. Many graduates find success in roles focused on emergency management, security, and protection services.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Public Administration and Management

Research and Writing in Public Administration

Leadership in the Public Sector

Finance and the Administration of Public Funds

Human Resource Management in the Public Sector

Public Policy Analysis

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 18 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-04 00:00:00
Starting 2026-12-04 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-20 00:00:00

More details

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

110

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TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

37 SCH

Delivered

Online

Campus Location

Indianapolis, United States

Disciplines

Public Administration View 311 other Masters in Public Administration in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a master’s degree program.

You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process.

Be at least 18 years old.

Proof of sufficient funds

Submit applicable fees

Visa requirements

Proof of secondary completion

English Language Requirements

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

10360 USD / year

≈ 10360 USD / year
Out-of-State

10360 USD / year

≈ 10360 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

11963 USD / year

≈ 11963 USD / year

Additional Details

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Public Administration.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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