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Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
Ohio University
Building 21, The Ridges
1 Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701 – 2979
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Master of Public Administration Careers

Prepare for Leadership Roles in Your Community

Experiential coursework | Interactive workshops

When you earn a Master of Public Administration degree at Ohio University, you can prepare to lead public sector, nonprofit and governmental organizations. Overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.1

What Makes Us Unique?

  • 1:1 Faculty Coaching
  • Interactive Workshops
  • Master's-level Leadership Development
  • Award-winning Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

Top Jobs for MPA Graduates

Unlock limitless potential with a MPA degree. Explore diverse opportunities in analytics, nonprofit management and community services, leveraging your master's level skills for a rewarding career. The salaries listed represent the median annual salaries.

  • City Manager

    $103,840

    per year2

  • Emergency Management Director

    $83,960

    per year3

  • Nonprofit Manager

    $77,030

    per year4

  • Budget Analyst

    $84,940

    per year5

Open Doors to a Range of Career Opportunities

Ohio University's Master of Public Administration degree gives you specialized knowledge and skills in public policy, governance, finance and management so that you can make a significant impact in the public sector. As you pursue advanced roles in government, nonprofits and more, your degree can equip you with the expertise to address complex societal challenges and foster positive change in your community. You can also position yourself for long-term success in a fulfilling career dedicated to public service.

Your MPA degree can offer a distinct advantage in career advancement and earning potential. Top executives typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in an area related to their field of work; top executives of large corporations may require a master’s degree.1 With several potential MPA career paths, one option is emergency management leadership:

  • About 900 openings for emergency management directors are projected each year, on average, from 2021–2031.3
  • The top 10% of salaries for emergency management directors exceed $151,000 per year.3

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You'll Learn

  • Data analytics and measuring outcomes for strategic purposes
  • The value of implementing public-private partnerships
  • Theory and concepts related to nonprofit management, state and local government management and public leadership and management

Skills You'll Gain

  • Lead and manage in public governance
  • Participate in and contribute to the policy process
  • Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions
  • Articulate and apply a public service perspective
  • Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry

Career Services

Ohio University's Career & Student Success Center offers a variety of expert, personalized career services specifically for business students and alumni. With OHIO's Career Acceleration Team (GradCAT), you will also have access to four months of support from a dedicated team that includes a personal career coach, a branding expert and a career concierge. Our alumni benefit from a proprietary technology platform and one free coaching session each year – for life.

Personalized Career Coaching

We offer convenient, live coaching via video conference or by phone to help you prepare for career success and maximize your professional potential. We help you determine your career goals, then ensure you have the resources you need to achieve them.

Job Search Resources

Put your best foot forward and stand out to employers with helpful templates, detailed best-practice guidelines and more. We also offer job search tools like personal assessments, professional development webinars and online resources that can be accessed anywhere, anytime through our industry-leading technology platform.

Professional Development Sessions

OHIO students can also participate in free professional development sessions led by industry experts. These live, virtual sessions cover topics like career self-concept, basic job search skills, and how to qualify for promotions and prepare for leadership opportunities.

Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Management Occupations. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm.
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Top Executives. BLS.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm.
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Emergency Management Directors. BLS.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm.
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Social and Community Service Managers. BLS.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Budget Analysts. BLS.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/budget-analysts.htm. 
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