About this Program
The Old Dominion University Master of Public Administration (MPA) prepares graduates for leadership roles across federal, state, and local government, and the nonprofit sector. This NASPAA-accredited program is offered on campus in Norfolk, Virginia through the Strome College of Business's School of Public Service.
Students develop competencies in public sector management, policy analysis, and public decision-making and graduate prepared for roles including city manager, program planner, policy analyst, and nonprofit executive.
Program Highlights
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NASPAA-accredited: The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration's Commission on Peer Review & Accreditation is the recognized accreditor for graduate programs in public service. NASPAA accreditation is the credential employers and admissions committees check first.
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Strome College of Business: MPA students benefit from a business-school context with core topics, including financial management, organizational leadership, and economic analysis, integrated into the public service curriculum.
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Faculty expertise in active practice areas: Coursework is taught by ODU faculty working in nonprofit management, public-private partnerships, public procurement and contract management, citizen participation, dispute resolution, and economic development.
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Specialization pathways: Students can shape coursework around nonprofit management, multi-sector public service, public procurement, or general public administration.
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Hampton Roads regional access: Norfolk is one of the largest concentrations of federal, military, and port-related public-sector employment in the United States — providing internship and post-graduate employment pathways close to campus.
Specializations and Focus Areas
For students pursuing executive director, development, or program management roles in nonprofit organizations. Also available as a standalone M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management & Governance.
For students working across the boundaries of government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations on shared problems. Also available as a standalone M.P.A. in Multi-Sector Public Service.
For students entering procurement, contract administration, or vendor management roles in government and large nonprofits. A Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement & Contract Management is also available.
Students considering doctoral study can use the MPA as a foundation for ODU's Ph.D. in Public Administration & Policy.
For students pursuing executive director, development, or program management roles in nonprofit organizations. Also available as a standalone M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management & Governance.
For students working across the boundaries of government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations on shared problems. Also available as a standalone M.P.A. in Multi-Sector Public Service.
For students entering procurement, contract administration, or vendor management roles in government and large nonprofits. A Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement & Contract Management is also available.
Students considering doctoral study can use the MPA as a foundation for ODU's Ph.D. in Public Administration & Policy.
Featured Courses
Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the following:
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Transcripts of all previous college work. During the admissions process, you may submit unofficial transcripts, but you will berequired to provide official transcripts after admission;
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A written statement describing how your experience in work and other settings and your choice of graduate study in public administration will lead to achieving your career goals. The statement must be cogent and have a good demonstration of writing ability; this should be considered a writing sample (1000-words maximum length).
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A resume that includes your education and any/all work experience (the GRE is no longer required).
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Minimum of two letters of recommendation from academic sourcesand/or employment supervisors. Please do not provide letters from friends, co-workers, or family.
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For students whose native language is not English, a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 79 on the internet-based TOEFL, or 6.5 on the IELTS.; conditional admission is not offered.
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
What is a Master of Public Administration?
A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a graduate degree that prepares students for leadership roles in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and public service-adjacent private sector roles. MPA programs combine management and leadership coursework with public policy analysis, public finance, ethics, and the practical skills required to run public organizations.
MPA programs are typically NASPAA-accredited, completed in two years of full-time study or three to four years part-time, and require a capstone project or comprehensive exam.
The degree is distinct from a Master of Public Policy (MPP), which emphasizes policy analysis and research methods, and from an MBA, which focuses on for-profit business management. The MPA's emphasis on managing public-sector organizations and balancing mission with accountability makes it the standard graduate credential for senior roles in city and county government, federal agencies, and large nonprofits.
Cost of Attendance
Tuition is charged per credit hour. Amounts shown are tuition only and do not include mandatory fees, technology-delivered course fees, course-specific fees, books, housing, meal plans, or other costs. Campus-based students may take technology-delivered or online courses. Tuition is based on student classification. Fees for technology-delivered courses and other costs are listed on the ODU tuition and fees page.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to graduate students at Old Dominion University. Financial aid may be available in the form of University fellowships, tuition grants, and research assistantships. The MPA program offers graduate research assistantships each semester. In addition to the financial aid offered by the University, graduate students may be eligible for aid and student loans administered by other agencies. For information about part-time employment, scholarships, and student loans, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Master of Public Administration at Old Dominion University is a NASPAA-accredited graduate degree offered through the Strome College of Business's School of Public Service. The program prepares students for leadership roles in government, nonprofit organizations, and public service-adjacent work, and is delivered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia.
Yes — ODU offers a separate online MPA program through ODUGlobal. For online program details, admission requirements specific to online delivery, and online-specific tuition, visit the online MPA program page.
Yes. ODU's MPA is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration's Commission on Peer Review & Accreditation (COPRA). NASPAA accreditation is the standard quality credential for graduate programs in public service and is recognized by federal, state, and local government employers and by most nonprofit organizations.
An MPA is designed for public-sector and nonprofit leadership; an MBA is designed for private-sector management. Both teach management, finance, and leadership, but the MPA's emphasis is on running public organizations, while the MBA's is on running for-profit ones.
Graduate students may be eligible for University fellowships, tuition grants, and research assistantships. The MPA program offers graduate research assistantships each semester. Additional federal aid and student loans are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Financial Aid section below covers the full set of funding options.
Common roles include city or county manager, federal or state program manager, policy analyst, urban and regional planner, social and community service manager, fundraising or development director, and public relations manager in government and nonprofit settings. Median salaries for several of these roles are listed in the Careers section above.
No. The GRE is no longer required for admission to the ODU MPA. Required application materials are listed in the Requirements section above.
Yes. International applicants whose native language is not English must submit a minimum TOEFL paper-based score of 550, an internet-based TOEFL score of 79, or IELTS score of 6.5. ODU does not offer conditional admission. International Admissions can support applicants through the application process.
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