Eight universities in New York currently offer an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program with minimal or no on-campus residency requirements. Students earning an MPA through one of these institutions can concentrate their studies in one of the following areas: Public and Nonprofit Management, International Policy, Local Government Management, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Human Resources Management, Cannabis Control, Ethical Leadership, Health Care Administration, Homeland Security, Information Technology Management, Public Economics and Finance, Public Policy, or General Public Administration.
Prospective students looking to earn their MPA degree online in the state of New York should research programs offered the following schools:
- Cornell University
- Excelsior College
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
- Marist College
- Pace University
- State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport
- Syracuse University
- University at Albany, State University of New York
The public and private universities listed above are regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Read below to learn more about each of their program offerings.
Schools in New York with Online MPA Programs
Cornell University offers an online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) through the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Designed for public affairs practitioners with more than eight years of professional experience, the interdisciplinary program focuses on leadership and innovation, with advanced training in the areas of economic and financial analysis, project management, program evaluation, and strategic planning. Following a cohort model of learning, the program consists of 22 sequential five-week core courses. Four additional elective courses concentrated in either Public and Nonprofit Management or International Policy are completed during a student’s second year of study. Students enroll part-time and can expect to earn their degree in 18 months.
Cornell conducts its online EMPA program utilizing both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (independent) instruction through the learning management system Canvas. Online EMPA students are required to attend three, one-week residencies on Cornell’s campus. These residential intensive sessions offer EMPA students the opportunity to interact with peers and faculty. EMPA students also have the option of substituting one elective course for a Comparative Public Administration seminar, a seven-week seminar held during the first half of the fall semester in conjunction with residential MPA students. The seminar is conducted virtually via synchronous instruction (live) and concludes with a required field trek to San Jose, Costa Rica.
Excelsior College offers a fully online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program through its School of Public Service. The 30 graduate credit hour curriculum blends the personal and business elements of public administration, focusing on enhancing skills in the areas of ethical leadership, productive collaboration, data-driven decision making, and strategic talent management. Students may elect to concentrate the three required elective courses in either General Public Administration or Cannabis Control. The Cannabis Control concentration focuses on compliance, risk assessment, and cannabis as commerce, and students may earn an additional graduate certificate in Cannabis Control upon the completion of their elective coursework. The program concludes with an eight-week-long capstone course, requiring students to utilize academic knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program to assess a current issue impacting a public and/or nonprofit organization.
Excelsior College uses the learning management system Canvas to facilitate its online MPA program. Coursework can be completed fully online, with no in-person requirements. Beyond the classroom, Excelsior offers online professional skills training courses conducted over a period of six weeks to three months that can be completed at any point during enrollment. The Excelsior Online Writing Lab also offers graduate students a myriad of virtual resources to aide in graduate-level and career-focused writing and research.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers two distinct online Master of Public Administration degree programs through its Department of Public Management, and has attained programmatic accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The first program is a Master of Public Administration: Public Policy and Administration, focusing on public service and social change within governmental and non-profit organizations. Requiring the completion of 42 credit hours of graduate coursework, including 27 core course credit hours and 15 elective credit hours. Elective credit hours may be concentrated in Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, Emergency Management, Human Resources Management, or Management and Operations.
Students interested in specializing in the field of inspection and oversight may enroll in John Jay’s Master of Public Administration: Inspection and Oversight. In collaboration with the Association of Inspectors General, this program is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge required of those seeking to investigate and evaluate the performance of organizations within the public and nonprofit sector. Coursework focuses on areas such as misconduct, forensic accountancy, and compliance. The curriculum consists of 42 graduate credit hours, including seven core courses, two research and quantitative skill courses, three specialization courses, two elective courses, and a final capstone seminar. Elective coursework may be focused in the areas of Investigation and Operational Inspection; Organizational Assessment and Monitoring; International Inspection and Oversight; Inspection and Oversight of Health Services. Online students are invited to attend the Association of Inspectors General conference, an in-person event where they can network with instructors and classmates.
All courses within the MPA program are conducted in a 16-week format. Students have the option of enrolling in a two or three-year program, taking up to three courses per semester. Classes are taught primarily using asynchronous instruction via the learning management system Blackboard, with students accessing classwork and lectures on their own schedule while completing weekly coursework. Students may be notified in advance of select live web sessions. The program can be completed fully online, with no on-campus requirements, though online MPA students are given the option of taking certain courses on-campus. To allow for flexibility, classes are not offered in a specific sequence; however, students may be required to fulfill specific prerequisites prior to enrolling in more advanced-level courses.
Marist College’s Department of Management offers an online MPA program, and has attained programmatic accreditation through the NASPAA. Centering on both theory and practice, the MPA curriculum emphasizes modern issues in the field while exploring the historical foundation of public administration. The curriculum requires the completion of between 39 and 42 graduate credit hours depending on experience, including three foundational courses, seven core courses, and three elective courses. Preservice students with less than two years of relevant full-time experience are required to complete a for-credit internship. Students with comparable undergraduate work completed with a “B” or better may seek approval from the Program Director to waive up to three foundational courses. Elective coursework may be concentrated in one of the following areas of study: Ethical Leadership, Health Care Administration, Nonprofit Management, Analytics, and Public Management. Students may pursue their degree part-time, full-time, or through an accelerated online MPA option. Courses are conducted over eight-week long periods, and students enrolled full-time can expect to earn their degree within two years, while part-time students typically complete the program in three years. Accelerated degree candidates can fulfill MPA requirements within 14 months.
Marist students access relevant course materials and interact with peers and faculty through the learning management system Brightspace. Employing asynchronous instruction, students are expected to view lectures, readings, assignments, and exams on their own time while adhering to a preset syllabus and course calendar. This includes virtual class discussions featuring professor-led prompts. Upon enrollment, each graduate student is assigned an academic advisor, and gains access to writing tutors and other virtual university resources through the Academic Learning Center and Office of Career Services.
Pace University’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences offers an online MPA program and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. The program focuses on enhancing leadership and managerial skills through practical and theoretical instruction with an emphasis on oral and written communication, public service values, critical thinking, and data analysis. The program requires the completion of 42 graduate credit hours, including 18 core course credits, 12 concentration credits, nine elective credits from a different concentration, and a final three-credit capstone seminar. Areas of concentration include Government Management, Nonprofit Management, and Health Care Administration. A student enrolled full-time can fulfill degree requirements in two years, while those enrolled part-time typically complete their degree in three to four years.
Pace University uses the learning management system Brightspace to conducts its online MPA program. Courses are taught using primarily asynchronous instruction, meaning students complete assignments and review course materials on their own schedule. Certain classes may contain optional synchronous elements, encouraging students to interact with peers and faculty in real-time. While the program can be completed fully online, without residency or on-campus requirements, students have the opportunity to enroll in a study abroad seminar in Government Management taught in Oxford, England. Online students also gain access to university resources including career services, the Pace University Library, and tutoring.
State University of New York Brockport (SUNY Brockport) offers an online MPA program through its Department of Public Administration and has attained programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. The program focuses on enhancing managerial and leadership capabilities, with an emphasis on core public service values, integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, efficiency, and communication. The curriculum requires the completion of 39 graduate credit hours of study, including 21 core course credits, nine concentration credits, two additional elective courses, and a three-credit portfolio seminar or internship. Students may choose to specialize their studies in Healthcare Management, Nonprofit Management, or Local Government Management.
SUNY Brockport uses the learning management system Brightspace to conduct its online MPA program. While the program can be completed fully online, students have the option of taking courses in face-to-face or hybrid formats. Courses may be taught using synchronous or asynchronous instruction. Certain courses are taught 100% online with students completing assignments independently (asynchronous instruction), while others offer a mix of independent assignments (asynchronous) and scheduled activities (synchronous). In some cases, face-to-face courses may be attended virtually in real-time by online students (synchronous instruction). Students should be sure to note the format prior to registering for a course.
Online students may participate in the university’s Public Management Program (PMP), which connects students and faculty with local, regional, and state organizations within New York to conduct applied research and project-based analysis. Online students and alumni also gain access to career services including interview prep, resume and cover letter review, networking opportunities, career counseling, and more.
Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs offers an online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program. Designed for professionals with at least five years of progressive managerial experience, the curriculum focuses on enhancing public service and private sector leadership and management expertise, placing an emphasis on applying analytical principles to real-world challenges and policy implementation with a global perspective. The program requires the completion of 30 graduate credit hours of study, including two core courses, seven specialized courses, and a capstone course.
Online students have the option of tailoring their degree to align with personal interests and/or career aspirations by enrolling in specialized courses offered by other Syracuse University schools, such as the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications or the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Students can also utilize their specialized courses to earn a Certificate of Advanced Study. The majority of courses are conducted in 12-week long terms, though certain intensive courses are offered twice a year. These three-credit immersive courses are conducted over a one-to-two-week period. Students enrolled in two classes per term can expect to fulfill degree requirements in 15 months.
Syracuse conducts its online EMPA program using the learning management system Blackboard. The program is highly collaborative, and interaction with faculty and peers is encouraged during weekly classes held live via Zoom (synchronous instruction). Additional self-paced coursework includes videos, quizzes, case studies, lectures, and other interactive content that can be viewed and completed independently. Beyond the classroom, online students have access to individualized career advising, strategy sessions, career workshops, and employer information sessions through the Palmer Career Center. OrangeLink is a career portal that displays job, internship, and fellowship opportunities within all levels of government agencies, as well as private organizations and nonprofits.
University at Albany, State University of New York’s (UAlbany) online MPA program, offered by the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, has attained programmatic accreditation from the NASPAA. The program focuses on collaborative work as well as enhancing technical, analytical, and managerial skills. The curriculum consists of seven core courses focused on public affairs, three elective courses, an internship, and an integrative capstone course. Inservice students, those with two years or more of relevant full-time employment may waive the internship requirement. Elective coursework can be concentrated in one of the following areas of study: Homeland Security, Information Technology Management, Non-Profit Management and Leadership, Public Economics and Finance, Public Management, or Public Policy. Student may also elect to use their elective coursework to pursue a concurrent certificate in public management, nonprofit management, or women and public policy. With the exception of the internship component, the UAlbany MPA can be completed fully online, though students have the option of enrolling in on-campus classes at any point during the program.
UAlbany conducts its online degree programs using the Brightspace learning management system. All online courses are taught via asynchronous instruction, with students accessing course materials and assignments on their own schedule. Online students have access to career resources such as career counseling services and résumé and job search assistance through the university’s Office of Career Development.