There are currently four universities in Ohio that offer an online Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Public Administration and Leadership (MPAL) degree program. Through the programs at Franklin University, Kent State University, Ohio University, The Ohio State University, students can earn their advanced degree fully online. Online students may elect to further specialize their course of study in the areas of Criminal Justice, Healthcare Administration, Human Resource Management, Crisis and Emergency Management, Non-Profit Management, Public Leadership and Management, State and Local Government Management, or Public Policy.
Each of the public and private academic institutions listed are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Learn more about each of their program offerings below.
Schools in Ohio with Online MPA Programs
Franklin University offers an online MPA degree program with pathways of study in Criminal Justice, Healthcare Administration, and Human Resource Management. Focusing on public administration leadership and the enhancement of management skills, the program requires the completion of 36 graduate semester hours. The curriculum consists of seven core courses, an elective course, and a final capstone course. Students must complete the foundational courses: Government and Nonprofit Administration, Methodological Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis, and Financial Management and Budgeting prior to enrolling in an elective. Courses are conducted in six-week-long terms, and a student enrolled in one course per term can earn their degree in 17 months.
Franklin University delivers its online degree programs via the learning management system Canvas. In addition to the general curriculum, online students are eligible to earn Microcredentials, industry-aligned accelerated courses tailored to specific competencies. Online students are assigned an individual academic advisor to guide them from enrollment through to graduation. Digital resources such as complementary tutoring, writing support, mentoring, and library resources are also available to online students.
Kent State University’s Department of Political Science offers an online MPA degree, and has attained programmatic accreditation through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The program focuses on ethical leadership, enhancing analytical skills, and the theoretical understanding of public administration with an emphasis on experiential learning. The public service-centric curriculum requires the fulfillment of eight core courses, three elective courses, and a capstone course, with preservice students completing an additional internship course. Students follow a preset sequence of study, with courses conducted in seven-week-long periods. Electives are selected in consult with an academic advisor, and online students may explore elective coursework outside of the MPA program with advisor approval. Students enrolled year-round taking two courses per semester can earn their degree in two years.
Kent State delivers its online MPA program through the learning management system Blackboard Learn. Courses are taught via asynchronous instruction, allowing students to access texts, narrated PowerPoint presentations, videos, and group discussions on their own time. Online students have access to services provided by the Academic Success Center including virtual tutoring.
Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service offers a fully online MPA degree program. The program is comprised of 36 graduate credit hours, including six core courses, three concentration courses, and three elective courses. The experience-based curriculum focuses on topics such as data analysis, public-private partnerships, outcomes measurement, and strategic and organizational leadership. Concentration coursework may be focused in one of the following areas: Crisis and Emergency Management, Non-Profit Management, Public Leadership and Management, or State and Local Government Management. At the conclusion of the program, students create and present a final portfolio project consisting of professional papers and research conducted over their course of study. Students enrolled in one course per seven-week-long term can fulfill degree requirements within two years.
Ohio University operates its online degree programs via the learning management system Blackboard. Courses utilize asynchronous instruction, offering students 24/7 access to coursework and assignments.
The Ohio State University’s (OSU) John Glenn College of Public Affairs offers an online Master of Public Administration and Leadership (MPAL) degree program, and has attained additional programmatic accreditation through NASPAA. Designed for mid-career professionals, or those with more than three years of relevant professional experience, the MPAL program is highly collaborative, focusing on enhancing leadership skills. The 32-graduate-credit-hour curriculum consists of 20 core course credit hours and 12 elective credit hours. Elective coursework may be concentrated in Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, Public Management, or Criminal Justice Administration and Policy. Students follow a cohort model of learning, beginning their sequence of classes with a group of peers in either the spring or fall semester. Each semester, students typically enroll in one core course and one specialization course. Degree requirements can be fulfilled within five consecutive semesters, or 20 months, with full-time enrollment.
Online MPA classes are usually taught via asynchronous instruction (pre-recorded) using the learning management system CarmenCanvas, though a class may schedule a synchronous (live) session two to three times per semester to enable students to engage with peers and the instructor in real-time. The University Libraries maintains a myriad of digital research resources available to online students, and the John Glenn College Career Services center offers personalized career advising and planning, mock interviews, and employment offer evaluations.