Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Tuition is At $18,560 total tuition, Merrimack offers the most affordable M.P.A. among major New England competitors..

The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) prepares aspiring and current public service professionals to become effective leaders in government, nonprofit, and public sector organizations. It features flexible online learning, expert faculty mentorship, and career-focused coursework, including New England’s only M.P.A. concentration in Crisis Management & Trauma Response. Students can tailor their degree with one of four concentrations and complete the program in as little as 16 months.

Focus areas include Criminal Justice Administrative Leadership, Crisis Management and Trauma Response, Emergency Management, Homeland Security.

The 32-credit curriculum requires three core courses, concentration courses, and one elective, and can be completed in as few as 16 months through 8-week terms with weekly synchronous sessions.

Graduates enter roles such as Federal Emergency Management Director, State & Local Emergency Management, Intelligence Agencies, Courts & Judicial Administration, Policy & Public Safety Administration, Grant Manager, and Transportation Planner.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Applicants need to submit an online application, official college transcripts, a resumé, and either an interview or a personal statement, along with contact information for one reference or a letter of recommendation. There is no application fee or GRE requirement.

The programme totals about 32 credit hours. 100% online, delivered in 8-week terms with weekly synchronous class sessions. Full-time completion is estimated at 1 year, part-time at own pace, with a minimum of 16 months. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 74% of applicants.

Health sciences learning, research and wellness come together at Merrimack through CHAMP, a hub for academics, research and community wellness. The College offers more than 130 undergraduate majors, minors, master’s degrees and specialized certificate programs. Students can follow a traditional academic route, combine majors, accelerate their studies or pursue dual-degree options. Programs span areas including education, English, sports management, marketing and entrepreneurship, creative arts, design and architecture, government, humanities and health sciences.

Practical preparation is central to the Merrimack experience. Students can take part in co-ops, internships, faculty-led travel and other real-world opportunities. Guaranteed co-ops are part of bachelor’s degrees in humanities, government, and creative arts and design. Graduate students can study online courses, pursue fellowships and work as teaching assistants. Recent academic activity includes songwriting and music production courses, education studies and research connected with wellness.

The campus community is home to the Merrimack Warriors and Division I athletics, with school spirit forming part of everyday campus life. Merrimack is located in North Andover, Massachusetts, and its wider setting includes nearby Andover, where Merrimack on Main is becoming a home for creative arts, design and architecture in a historic building. International students can consider undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing studies pathways, as well as faculty-led international experiences such as travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland.