Master of Public Administration FAQ

The master of public administration (M.P.A.) is a graduate degree program that helps early to midcareer professionals build the skills needed to run programs and implement policies for the public good.

The degree concentrates on the management and leadership of public sector and nonprofit organizations while teaching core skills like policy analysis, budgeting and public finance.

The M.P.A. curriculum prepares professionals to become ethical leaders across the public, private, government or nonprofit sectors. Coursework focuses on evaluating policies and implementing projects to serve the public good, rather than to generate profit (although nonprofit organizations must and do earn revenue that is reinvested in the organization rather than distributed to stakeholders).

Coursework includes interdisciplinary topics that leverage the social sciences including economics, political and behavioral sciences, data and policy analytics, among other areas of study.

MBA programs, on the other hand, are typically focused on profit maximization through courses in accounting, finance, marketing, operations management and business communications.

M.P.A. graduates from Syracuse University's Maxwell School pursue diverse careers across government, nonprofit and private sectors, with many entering public service roles at the state, local or federal level in positions such as policy analysts, budget analysts and program managers.

The degree also opens pathways to international organizations, private-sector consulting firms and advanced doctoral studies, demonstrating strong versatility for careers in public administration and policy work. 

You can view the employment statistics of recent graduates on the Maxwell School’s Palmer Career Center’s website.

The Maxwell School is the #1-ranked graduate school in public affairs as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. At Maxwell, you’ll learn from faculty experts doing research in critical areas of public policy such as data analytics, autonomous systems and AI, citizenship and democratic governance, environmental policy, public health and education, social welfare, and many other areas—and not from teaching assistants.

You will gain applied experience through the M.P.A. capstone, and expand your network with the Maxwell School’s extensive and engaged alumni community of over 40,000 individuals spanning the globe. You will learn through coursework offered in Syracuse, Washington, D.C., and in flexible coursework offered online. 

Finally, Maxwell’s M.P.A. can be completed in as little as one calendar year of full-time study, meaning that you’ll be able to leverage your advanced degree for a higher-paying job more quickly than other two-year master’s programs. However, if you prefer a longer program of study, you can take up to one and a half or two years to complete the degree.

While both the M.A. in international relations, or M.A. (IR), and master of public administration (M.P.A.) are professional graduate degrees in the public affairs field, they differ in scope, focus and career preparation.

An M.A. (IR) focuses on global affairs, international systems and cross-border challenges like diplomacy, international security, development and transnational policy issues.

An M.P.A. focuses on public sector management, policy implementation and organizational leadership, primarily within domestic contexts (although that context can be within any country or region) or in roles that require understanding how governments, nonprofits and public agencies operate.

Maxwell's traditional M.P.A. is a 40-credit program designed for students at various career stages, including recent graduates, while the executive M.P.A. is a 30-credit program designed specifically for midcareer professionals with at least 5-7 years of professional experience.

The reduced credit requirement in the E.M.P.A. recognizes the substantial professional expertise students already bring, and the curriculum emphasizes immediate application to complex organizational challenges with peer learning among experienced professionals from diverse sectors.

The traditional M.P.A. follows a standard campus-based schedule with full-time and part-time options and provides comprehensive foundational training, while the executive M.P.A. is offered in both online and on-campus formats for maximum flexibility for working professionals.

Both programs benefit from Maxwell's #1 ranking and extensive alumni network, but the executive M.P.A. is specifically structured for professionals who want to balance demanding careers with graduate education and accelerate their path to top-tier leadership opportunities.

No. While you may be able to take elective courses and/or internships in D.C., the majority of coursework will be completed at our Syracuse, N.Y. campus.

No. The traditional M.P.A. program is an in-person, residential program offered at our Syracuse, N.Y. campus. We do offer a fully online executive M.P.A. program for midcareer individuals, however, as well as a number of electives that can be taken online alongside your in-person classes.

Yes. While a vast majority of students enroll on a full-time basis, it is possible to complete the program part time through careful planning.

One of the benefits of graduate study at Syracuse University is the flexibility that allows students to take courses from a variety of disciplines. As a school of social sciences, Maxwell allows students to easily seek out and enroll in courses throughout the Maxwell departments of political science, economics, anthropology, geography and the environment, history, and sociology.

Students can also work with their advisor to take relevant elective courses offered via other divisions of Syracuse University such as the Whitman School of Management, Newhouse School of Public Communications, and more.

No. Our full-time M.P.A. curriculum is rigorous and demanding and requires a majority of your time. However, you could work part time to help pay for living expenses.

Traditionally, approximately 20% to 25% of our M.P.A. students are non-U.S. citizens.

Depending on the strength of the applicant pool, each year we enroll approximately 50 to 65 new M.P.A. students.

Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution prior to beginning the M.P.A. program. Strong performance in undergraduate quantitative coursework such as statistics, economics or college-level math is preferred; students lacking successfully completed quantitative coursework are strongly encouraged to submit a GRE score to be competitive for admission (most admitted students score 155 or higher on the quant section). While there is no minimum GPA, admitted students have, on average, a cumulative GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0. It is rare for students with a GPA below 3.0 to be admitted.

In addition, strong candidates can demonstrate a commitment to public service and an appreciation of the Maxwell School’s mission to prepare graduates to contribute to the public good. The M.P.A. does not have a minimum work experience requirement, but applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree should highlight relevant internships, club leadership or membership, research, and volunteer work on their resume.

View the application checklist and materials..

In addition to completing the online application, you must also submit the nonrefundable application fee, a personal statement/essay, two letters of recommendation, transcripts (which can be unofficial at the time of application), and a resume or CV.

Application deadline information can be found on our school and departmental admission pages. Any student seeking scholarship consideration as well as all international students are strongly encouraged to apply before the priority deadlines. However, please note that we do accept applications after the deadlines on a rolling, space-available basis.

Students who submit a completed application for summer or fall admission by the early action deadline of November 15 are guaranteed an admission decision by the end of that calendar year.

Students may petition to have up to six credit hours of relevant graduate coursework (earned with a grade of B or better) transferred into the program. Decisions regarding transfer credits are made by the department chair after an offer of admission has been made.

Syracuse University graduate tuition is charged by the credit hour. The 2026-27 graduate tuition rate is $2,086 USD per credit. The total tuition charged for the 40-credit program is $83,4400 USD, although many applicants receive a partial tuition scholarship which reduces this amount.

See all fees and  expenses on our Tuition and Scholarships page.

There is a non-refundable enrollment deposit due once admitted. The deposit is $500 and is credited toward your first tuition payment.

Students may have the ability to view their award package before submitting their deposit, depending on when their Financial Aid Checklist is complete. It takes approximately 10 business days to package aid once all items are complete.

For more information on the financial aid application process for graduate students, visit Syracuse University’s Office of Financial and Scholarship Programs website.

Yes, for information on how the payment plan works, visit the Payment Plan page or contact the Bursar’s Office by phone at 315.443.2444 or via email at bursar@syr.edu.

There are several nominal fees associated with enrollment in a residential program at Syracuse University, including the Student Activities Fee and Health and Wellness Fee. Please view the Tuition and Fees bulletin via the Bursar's website.

All charges must be paid in full on the billing due date established by the University for each bill. Failure to make payments by the due date could result in late payment fees or the cancellation of classes.

For instructions on how to view your billing statement and access the billing schedule, visit the Accounts and Billing page.

For information regarding billing, including payment options or billing schedule, please visit the Syracuse University Bursar’s website.

Students can activate their NetID by visiting the ITS Selfserv page. You will need your SUID number, which was included in the email you received congratulating you on your admission to the program; your SUID number is also listed at the top of your applicant status portal.

For more information on how to access your SUMail, visit the SUMail Answers page here.

The Syracuse student portal is called MySlice. Your MySlice account includes access to academic records, billing, financial aid, direct deposit set up and more. You will need your Syracuse ID and password to log into MySlice. Please note that MySlice is separate from the applicant status portal used during the admission process.

Yes. Students seeking scholarship support should indicate so via the relevant question on the application for admission. Scholarships are based on the overall application for admission, including prior academic performance, work/volunteer/internship experiences, recommendations and the personal statement. 

In 2025, over 90% of our professional master’s students received some level of scholarship funding from Maxwell. Most awards cover between 20% and 75% of the cost of tuition (we do not provide full funding for our master’s degree programs).

Students who apply by the priority deadline are most likely to be awarded merit-based scholarship support from the Maxwell School. Need-based financial aid is also available for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents via the FAFSA. 

More details on funding opportunities for MPA students, including partner scholarships, can be found on our website. 

Yes, students must complete the Syracuse University Graduate Financial Aid Application, which is in addition to the FAFSA if you are a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (see separate section for FAFSA details). If you are applying for financial aid for a summer session, you must additionally complete the Syracuse University Summer Graduate Financial Aid Application.

Both applications can be found by clicking on “My To Do List” under the Financial Aid section within Syracuse University’s self-service portal, MySlice. Just like the FAFSA, these supplemental aid forms must be completed for each school year you would like to receive federal financial aid.

Yes. International students are eligible for the same scholarship consideration as U.S. students, unless otherwise noted. It is important that international students apply by the priority deadlines.

Once you have been admitted, log into your MySlice account and select “My To Do List” to view your Financial Aid tasks. Three different ‘Status’ descriptions may be listed. They are:

• Initiated: Item is outstanding and needs your immediate attention.
• Partial: We have received your document(s); however, items are still required. You have been sent a request for additional information.
• Received: Required documentation has been received and will soon be reviewed for completeness by our office.

If you have filed your FAFSA, these “To Do List” items will disappear from your list after the Financial Aid Office receives your supplemental application(s). It may take up to ten days from the time you file these applications until the Financial Aid Office receives and removes the item from your “To Do List.”

No. While we do our best to provide funding to as many students as possible to make their graduate study possible, we do not have the resources available to offer any scholarships that cover the full tuition and/or fees.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application the U.S.  Department of Education uses to determine if you are eligible to receive federal student aid.

The Syracuse FAFSA school code is 002882.

It is strongly recommended that U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents include their SSN on their application. This will allow the FAFSA information to link to the student.

No. If you are applying for graduate school, you are considered an independent student and do not need to include your parents’ information to complete the FAFSA, regardless of your age.

The FAFSA is typically available each year on Oct. 1, for the upcoming academic year. New students planning to use U.S. federal student aid should complete a FAFSA while applying for admission. Continuing students will need to submit a FAFSA each year they plan to receive federal student aid.

Refernce the chart below to determine which FAFSA to complete based on your desired start date.

Yes. Because eligibility for federal student aid does not carry over from one award year to the next, you will need to complete the FAFSA for each award year for which you are or plan to be a student.

An academic year is the year for which financial aid is used to fund your education. Generally, this is the 12-month period that begins on July 1 of one year and ends on June 30 of the following year.

The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a U.S. federal loan offered to students to help with the cost of education. The Federal Unsubsidized Loan is not based on income or financial need.

Learn more about federal student aid eligibility criteria on the Federal Student Aid website.

The aggregate loan limit is the total amount that you may borrow in federal student loans for undergraduate and graduate study. In addition to borrowing limitations based on the cost of attendance for the program, students are also limited in terms of lifetime borrowing. The maximum aggregate loan limit changed with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  

If the total loan amount you receive over the course of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit, you are not eligible to receive additional loans. However, if you repay some of your loans to bring your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan limit, you can then borrow again, up to the amount of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate loan limit. You can learn more about graduate annual loan limits on the Federal Student Aid website.

Log in on the Federal Student Aid homepage to view your federal student loan borrowing history and loan servicer details. Please note that private education loans are not listed on this site. Students in default are not eligible for additional federal loans. Contact your lender for default resolution options.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on subsidized loans while students are enrolled in their undergraduate program. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is available to undergraduate and graduate students and does not require demonstration of financial need.

The Federal Unsubsidized Loan begins accruing interest as soon as funds are disbursed. Learn more about the difference between unsubsidized and subsidized loans on the Federal Student Aid website.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of education benefits, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program.

Only the VA can determine if you are eligible for education benefits. To determine your eligibility through the VA, you will need to complete an application through the VA website.

You may be eligible for a variety of education benefits that the VA offers. You can apply for these benefits through the VA to fully determine your eligibility.

Step 1: If you are using VA education benefits for the first time, please complete the education benefits application through the VA.

Step 2: Once your application has been processed, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA. Please forward a copy of your VA COE to the Office of Veteran Success at veterans@syr.edu.

Step 3: After you register for classes, complete Syracuse University’s Request for Certification (RFC) for that session. This form is available in Syracuse University’s self-service portal, MySlice.

NOTE: The RFC must be submitted for each term you wish to use your VA education benefits. Once you register for the upcoming term, you can then go onto your MySlice account and fill out the RFC form for that term.

Please contact the Office of Veteran Success at veterans@syr.edu or 315.443.0358 to discuss your specific benefits and to determine if there are any out-of-pocket costs associated with your program.

The University will mail out 1098-T statements to all students that were eligible to receive one. For more information visit the 1098-T Tax Information page.

For details on tax benefits for education, see IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education, which provides detailed information. Syracuse University is unable to provide tax advice. We urge you to contact your tax advisor or the IRS at 800.829.1040 or www.irs.gov if you have any questions regarding the HOPE or Lifetime Learning Tax Credits.

Form 1098-T reports amounts paid for qualified tuition, scholarship and grants to students enrolled in courses at Syracuse University for which they received academic credit. The information reported on the 1098-T form helps students evaluate whether they are eligible for an educational tax credit.

The 1098-T is an informational form filed with the Internal Revenue Service to report the amounts billed to you for qualified tuition and expenses, and other related information. The primary purpose of the IRS Form 1098‐T is to inform you that we have provided this required information to the IRS.