Answer: Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs are designed to prepare graduates for leadership and managerial positions but graduates typically pursue deviating career paths. The MPA curriculum focuses on serving the public good and issues that impact societal welfare, and its graduates often find positions within government organizations, non-profit organizations, think tanks, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that focus on serving a particular public interest. In contrast, an MBA program is primarily focused on increasing the profitability and marketability of a business and graduates typically find employment within the private sector and for-profit businesses.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) are both graduate programs intended for professionals seeking career advancement in their respective field, but for those interested specifically in the field of public service there are key differences to consider. While commonalities may exist within the core curriculum, touching on key foundational areas such as leadership, management, and administrative skills, the expected application for the material is often different. For example, an MPA course in Financial Management may focus on resource allocation and the budgetary process within government and nonprofit organizations, while MBA students taking a similar course may be more likely to concentrate on corporate finance, interpreting financial statements, evaluating a company’s financial health and value, risk management, understanding investment options, and other topics related to managing and raising capital. Another example of the differentiating curriculum may be found within the programs’ marketing courses. While an MPA marketing class might emphasize public messaging and how to craft messages to achieve a specific goal, an MBA marketing course may focus on the commercial application of the messaging, and how to sell a product or service.
The differences in curriculum reflect a divergence in programmatic emphasis. An MPA is an interdisciplinary degree program emphasizing legal, political, and public policy issues as they pertain to leadership and management. The curriculum typically combines graduate level business courses with courses related specifically to public administration. Coursework focuses on refining the elemental skills used by public service leaders, and those with managerial roles within non-profit organizations and government agencies. Meanwhile, the MBA degree program often focuses on management more broadly, emphasizing business operations, communication, and finance. Graduates of MBA programs, while equipped to work within nonprofit or public service organizations, often have the skills to assimilate within any industry and find employment at private corporations.
Continue reading to discover more about MPA and MBA programs, and learn the differences between these degrees.
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Developed for public service professionals interested in pursuing leadership roles within government, non-profit, or private organizations, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree centers around serving the public good. Candidates within an MPA program often seek to refine leadership capabilities and enhance their managerial skill sets, building on existing professional experience. While the majority of MPA programs do not require professional experience for admission, there are a subset of programs that do require applicants to have one to three years of experience as part of their admissions requirements.
Depending on the university, MPA programs offer students a myriad of areas of specialization designed to align with individualized career goals. Students may opt to focus their elective coursework in subject areas including: Criminal Justice, Education Administration and Policy, Emergency and Disaster Management, Environmental Policy and Management, Health Administration, Homeland Security, Human Resource Management, International Administration and Global Policy, Local Government Management, Nonprofit Administration, Public Financial Management, Public Health, Public Management and Organizational Leadership, Public Policy, or Urban Management. Some students may also choose to pursue a General Public Administration track that enables them to select elective coursework from several specializations within the program or from other master’s degree programs offered through their university.
Regardless of the chosen concentration, students can expect to examine current trends within the industry, reviewing case studies, completing collaborative project-based assignments, engaging in discussions with peers and faculty, and completing assignments designed to mirror real-world scenarios. Core coursework typically focuses on establishing a strong foundational knowledge of public administration, covering topics such as public policy, research and strategy, law and ethics, financial management, budgeting, grant writing, and organizational management, with an emphasis on the enhancement of leadership and communication skills. In addition, most MPA programs require students to complete a final professional project or thesis, and students with less than one year of relevant professional experience are often expected to complete an additional for-credit internship.
The typical MPA program consists of 30 to 48 graduate credit hours of study, consisting of between 10 and 13 graduate level courses. Universities typically allow students up to five to seven years to fulfill degree requirements; however, a student enrolled full-time can expect to earn their degree in 18 to 24 months. Part-time students typically take 24 to 36 months to earn their degree. For students interested in earning their degree fully online, classes may be scheduled live in the evenings or on weekends (synchronous instruction), or consist of pre-recorded lectures and reading materials that may be accessed at the student’s convenience 24-7 (asynchronous instruction). Most online MPA programs are designed to accommodate professionals who plan to work full-time while earning their degree.
Graduates of MPA programs typically seek leadership roles at organizations and institutions that serve the public interest. Depending on the area of interest and academic focus, MPA students may pursue several roles within the public, private, and nonprofit sphere, including but not limited to city managers, grant writers, human resources managers, urban planners, within heath care or academia, or as consultants for advocacy groups.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) can be viewed as a general degree for students looking to enter careers in business and aspiring entrepreneurs, or an advanced degree for experienced professionals hoping to attain upper management positions within private organizations or financial institutions. Admissions to top tier MBA programs can be highly competitive as these programs may only admit a small cohort of students each year. While some schools may only offer an MBA program with one format, other schools offer their MBA programs in multiple formats in order to accommodate various types of students. These formats can include: full-time, part-time, and accelerated MBA programs; evening and weekend MBA programs; programs designed for executives (i.e., Executive MBA programs); and dual degree programs.
MBA Programs typically emphasize the foundations of business management, answering big picture questions, problem solving, and understanding the impact of decisions on an overall business or individual facets of a business. The curriculum often centers around strategies that increase profitability and/or financial stability, as well as staffing. Professionals interested in earning an MBA may seek to enhance managerial skills and leadership practices and refine analytical and decision-making capabilities. Students can expect to conduct research, analyze case studies, and complete collaborative assignments and engage in group discussions with peers and faculty.
Students looking to focus on a specific area of business management may find programs that offer concentrations or specializations in areas such as Accounting; Analytics; Behavioral Science; Corporate Strategy; Cybersecurity; Economics and Public Policy; Energy; Environment and Sustainability; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Statistics; Economics; Entrepreneurship; Finance; General Management; Health Care Management; Human Resources; Informational Technology; International Business; Consulting; Marketing; Multinational Management; Nonprofit Management; Operations; Real Estate; Sports Management; Statistics; Strategic Management; Supply Chain Management; and more. In addition to specialized elective coursework, students are typically required to complete a set of foundational core courses. In an MBA program these courses cover topics including accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, operations, economics, leadership, and ethics. Similar to an MPA and other graduate level programs, MBA students are often required to complete a final capstone project or master’s thesis. While the majority of MBA programs expect students to apply with a minimum of two years of prior work experience, those without substantial relevant experience may be required to complete an internship as part of their degree program.
The typical MBA program requires the completion of 30 to 50 graduate credit hours. Students enrolled full-time can expect to earn their degree within two years, while those enrolled part-time can fulfill degree requirements in three years. Certain programs may offer a fast track, allowing students to earn their degree in one year by completing courses in condensed eight-week-long semesters. MBA programs are offered in multiple formats, including online, on-campus, and through a hybrid of online and on-campus instruction. Students enrolled in online MBA programs may attend classes in real-time (i.e., synchronous instruction) or view lectures and access course materials on their own time (i.e., asynchronous instruction), depending on the program. Regardless of the format, students are expected to engage in discussions with peers and faculty. Prospective students are encouraged to research the instruction methods utilized by their online programs of interest prior to applying to ensure they align with their schedule and preferred learning style.
Professionals with more than ten years of experience may also be eligible to enroll in an Executive Master of Business Administration program (EMBA). Often completed within the same timeframe as a traditional MBA, EMBA programs typically offer classes in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate working professionals. Students within these advanced programs may also be expected to attend immersive seminars and group intensives even if the program is offered online.
Graduates of MBA degree programs may find employment across a myriad of industries depending on their chosen area of specialization. These individuals may be well-suited to work not only within private corporations, but also for nonprofit and government organizations. Those with entrepreneurial aspirations may launch their own businesses or non-profit organizations.
Master of Public Administration (MPA) vs. Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Programs
The MPA and MBA both emphasize organizational management, and feature similarities within core coursework, using business-related concepts to identify and solve programs. However, key differences exist in the focus, application, course content, career outcomes, and impact of these degree programs. The MPA curriculum typically focuses on societal improvement, community issues, and mission-driven decision making. MPA programs strive to enhance knowledge of public affairs, nonprofit management, and the political system, with an emphasis on public service values. The curriculum focuses on topics including budgeting; personnel management; organizational theory; legal, political, and public policy issues; ethics; research methods; and public finance, combining graduate level business with public administration courses. In contrast, MBA programs often emphasize profit, with a focus on increasing profitability and/or financial stability, and foundational business management. The curriculum centers on management with a broader emphasis on business operations, financial markets, finance, statistics, budgeting, communication, overall leadership capabilities, and project management.
MPA and MBA students often have divergent career objectives. Those who pursue an MPA degree typically pursue upper-management or executive-level roles that emphasize social good and public service. They often seek roles in which they can implement new programs and policies that impact their communities on a local, state, national, or global scale. In terms of career outcomes and opportunities, an MBA is often viewed as a more well-rounded, flexible degree program as graduates may find employment opportunities in any industry. However, there are individuals who work within the public sector who hold MBA degrees and those working for private organizations with MPA degrees. MBA holders also statistically earn more than MPA degree holders.
MPA and MBA programs typically require the same if not a similar number of graduate credit hours, conclude with a capstone project or master’s thesis, and can be completed within two years if enrolled full-time. Depending on the college or university, both degree programs have options that can be taught in person, through a hybrid of in-person and online instruction, or completely online. Beyond national accreditation, select schools also opt for programmatic accreditation. For MPA programs, this accreditation is awarded by The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), an independent, non-profit organization. NASPAA accreditation is optional. MBA programs may undergo a similar optional application process with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and/or the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
The table below outlines the similarities and differences between the Master of Public Administration and Master of Business Administration degree programs.
Note: Some universities offer MBA programs with concentrations or specializations in Public Administration and/or Nonprofit Management. While these programs may closely resemble an MPA program, their core curriculum is typically still more business focused. In addition, depending on the school, students who pursue these specializations may take MPA courses as part of their specialization curriculum. These programs may be a good option for students who would like to take courses in public administration or nonprofit management without pursuing an MPA degree.
| Example Specialization Options |
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| Graduate Credit Hours Required | 30 to 48 credits (NASPAA accredited programs must be at least 36 credit hours) | 30 to 50 credits |
| Time to Completion | 18 to 24 months (full-time), 2 to 3 years (part-time) | 18 to 24 months (full-time), 3+ years (part-time), 12 months (accelerated) |
| Sample Courses |
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| Accreditation | NASPAA (optional) | AACSB (optional), ACBSP (optional) |
| Delivery Methods | On-Campus, Hybrid, and Online | On-Campus, Hybrid, and Online |
| Capstone Options | Professional Project | Professional Project or Master’s Thesis |
| Entrance Exam Requirement | GRE (if required) | GMAT (if required) |
| Careers Post-Graduation | Managerial roles with government, nonprofit, or public service organizations | Managerial roles within private organizations or public companies |