An online MPA can spark a rewarding career but can cost a small fortune—as much as $72,000! Clearly, it pays to do your research before choosing an online master’s in public administration.
GetEducated compared 118 master’s degrees in public administration from 96 regionally accredited online schools to create this ‘Best Buy’ list. Our rankings reveal the most affordable options in the United States—63 online MPA programs for under $24,000.
Average Cost (In-state): $23,743.76
Least Expensive: University of North Carolina at Pembroke ~$7,371.00
Most Expensive: University of Southern California ~$72,000.00
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online MPA programs. The online degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2018 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online MPA Programs
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | (NC) | $7,371.08 $17,383.55 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Tarleton State University | (TX) | $7,549.56 $22,489.56 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | (TX) | $9,747.52 $29,192.56 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Columbus State University | (GA) | $10,284.00 $35,484.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Arkansas State University | (AR) | $10,584.00 | All Students |
6 | University of Montana | (MT) | $11,031.24 $27,501.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Valdosta State University | (GA) | $11,988.00 | All Students |
8 | Southeast Missouri State University | (MO) | $12,024.00 | All Students |
9 | University of North Georgia | (GA) | $12,108.00 | All Students |
10 | University of Wyoming Master of Public Administration 14 | (WY) | $12,709.71 $32,170.71 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $13,300.00 $12,400.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
12 | Stephen F. Austin State University | (TX) | $13,326.00 $17,646.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 | University of South Dakota | (SD) | $13,327.50 | All Students |
14 | Florida Gulf Coast University | (FL) | $13,441.68 $46,823.76 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | (NE) | $13,494.00 $22,737.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | Georgia College & State University | (GA) | $13,540.00 | All Students |
17 | University of Central Florida | (FL) | $13,747.44 $29,182.44 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | University of Management and Technology | (VA) | $14,090.00 $9,050.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
19 | Indiana State University | (IN) | $15,144.00 $19,068.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
20 | Wichita State University | (KS) | $15,475.98 | All Students |
21 | California State University-San Bernardino | (CA) | $16,026.36 $28,698.36 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | (TX) | $16,031.84 | All Students |
23 | Wayland Baptist University | (TX) | $16,250.00 | All Students |
24 | University of North Dakota | (ND) | $16,484.04 | All Students |
25 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | (CA) | $16,560.00 | All Students |
26 | The University of Texas at Arlington | (TX) | $16,615.00 | All Students |
27 |  Lindenwood University | (MO) | $16,685.00 | All Students |
28 | Northern Michigan University | (MI) | $17,544.00 | All Students |
29 | Sam Houston State University | (TX) | $17,685.00 $32,625.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | Troy University | (AL) | $17,844.00 | All Students |
31 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | (LA) | $18,000.00 | All Students |
32 | Upper Iowa University | (IA) | $18,720.00 | All Students |
33 | Southern Utah University | (UT) | $18,786.00 | All Students |
34 | Florida International University | (FL) | $18,995.34 $41,929.44 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 |  Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $19,080.00 | All Students |
36 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $19,116.00 | All Students |
37 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | (WI) | $19,324.80 | All Students |
38 | University of Colorado Denver | (CO) | $19,526.32 $23,270.32 | In-State Out-of-State |
39 | Park University | (MO) | $19,764.00 $14,688.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
40 | San Diego State University | (CA) | $19,800.00 | All Students |
40 |  Strayer University - Online | (DC) | $19,800.00 | All Students |
42 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $20,160.00 $21,798.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
43 | Texas A & M University | (TX) | $20,244.26 $37,339.78 | In-State Out-of-State |
44 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $20,440.00 $10,000.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
44 | Belhaven University | (MS) | $20,440.00 | All Students |
46 | Roger Williams University | (RI) | $20,886.00 | All Students |
47 | Post University | (CT) | $21,090.00 | All Students |
48 |  Bellevue University | (NE) | $21,240.00 | All Students |
49 | Central Michigan University | (MI) | $21,275.00 $12,691.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
50 | University of Colorado - Colorado Springs | (CO) | $21,288.00 $25,140.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
51 | University of Illinois at Springfield | (IL) | $21,372.00 | All Students |
52 |  Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Master of Arts in Public Administration 14 | (MN) | $21,960.00 | All Students |
53 | Murray State University | (KY) | $22,176.00 | All Students |
54 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Master of Public Administration / Global Comparative Public Administration 14 | (MA) | $22,425.00 | All Students |
55 | National University | (CA) | $22,564.00 $11,872.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
56 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | (MA) | $22,656.00 | All Students |
57 |  Grand Canyon University | (AZ) | $22,780.00 $16,700.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
58 | University of Mary Master of Public Administration 14 | (ND) | $22,900.00 | All Students |
59 |  Purdue University Global | (IN) | $22,945.00 $18,800.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
60 |  California Baptist University | (CA) | $23,272.00 | All Students |
61 | Washington Adventist University | (MD) | $23,400.00 | All Students |
62 | Brandman University | (CA) | $23,550.00 $14,910.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
63 | Walden University | (MN) | $23,715.00 $20,259.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Kentucky University | (KY) | $23,829.00 | All Students | |
California State University-Northridge | (CA) | $23,906.00 | All Students | |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | $23,918.60 $24,278.60 | In-State Out-of-State | |
 Anna Maria College | (MA) | $24,760.00 | All Students | |
Kent State University | (OH) | $24,876.00 $25,236.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Regent University Master of Public Administration / Healthcare Policy & Ethics 14 Master of Public Administration / Law 14 Master of Public Administration / Federal Government 14 | (VA) | $25,310.00 | All Students | |
Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $25,641.00 | All Students | |
 Capella University | (MN) | $26,250.00 | All Students | |
Franklin University | (OH) | $26,445.00 | All Students | |
 Norwich University | (VT) | $27,744.00 | All Students | |
Clemson University | (SC) | $28,119.00 | All Students | |
Webster University | (MO) | $28,155.00 $16,995.00 | In-State/Out-Of-State Military | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $29,060.00 | All Students | |
Ohio University | (OH) | $29,376.00 $30,060.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Texas Southern University | (TX) | $29,999.88 | All Students | |
Indiana University Online | (IN) | $30,286.56 $58,893.12 | In-State/Military Out-of-State | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $31,716.00 | All Students | |
Marist College | (NY) | $32,000.00 | All Students | |
 Villanova University | (PA) | $33,500.00 | All Students | |
Rutgers University | (NJ) | $34,188.00 | All Students | |
 University of Delaware | (DE) | $34,992.00 | All Students | |
DePaul University | (IL) | $35,620.00 | All Students | |
Gannon University Master of Public Administration 14 | (PA) | $35,820.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $39,510.00 | All Students | |
University of Baltimore | (MD) | $40,124.00 | All Students | |
 University of San Francisco Master of Public Administration 14,22 | (CA) | $44,850.00 | All Students | |
Northwestern University | (IL) | $45,539.00 | All Students | |
 Johns Hopkins University | (MD) | $47,496.00 | All Students | |
 Seton Hall University | (NJ) | $52,208.00 | All Students | |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | (NC) | $52,799.85 | All Students | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $54,390.00 | All Students | |
 American University | (DC) | $59,272.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $72,000.00 | All Students |
14 Program is no longer accepting new students.
Accreditation Note: To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
15 Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
16 International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
17 Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
22 National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
Rankings Note: These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Fall 2017 review of regionally accredited online MPA programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master’s degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note: Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for an MPA may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online MPA for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.