Online Master of Public Administration

LSU Online offers several ways to help you pay for your degree including credit for prior learning (PLA), financial aid, and veteran education benefits. Learn More.

Total credit hours for program: 36 credit hours

Cost per credit hour: $697

Total cost with fees: $25,092

Cost per credit hour and fees are subject to change. Exact fees may vary by program. Please consult an Enrollment Coach for the final program cost.

The Master of Public Administration requires the completion of 36 credits distributed as follows:

*Students can take 4000-level and higher courses as electives from any other College/department with approval. The course must be taught by a member of the LSU Graduate Faculty.

Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Graduate Admissions determines eligibility and the Department of Public Administration determines admissibility to the degree program. Final admission to the university is subject to approval by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students are eligible for admission to the Department of Public Administration once they have successfully submitted the following requirements. Each student and their portfolio will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited U.S. or equivalent from a foreign institution
• GPA – 3.0 on all undergraduate work (or last 60 hours) and a 3.0 on any graduate work already complete
• Official transcripts of all previous college or university work
• Statement of purpose – motivation to pursue an MPA degree, personal and career goals, your commitment to excellence, etc.
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Resume

Additional Admission Considerations:

• Work experience
• Activities indicating an interest in public management/public policy
• Other experiences that indicate the ability to complete a professional program

• Public Manager
• Management Analyst
• Public Policy Analyst
• Budget Analyst
• Lobbyist
• Development Officer
• Non-profit Manager

The online Master of Public Administration program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the membership association of graduate programs in public administration, policy, and affairs.

Online MPA students will learn:

• The contents and boundaries of public administration as a discipline
• Human resource policy, including procedures and principles of personnel administration
• Statistics and data analysis for public administration and public policy
• The study of budget techniques, the importance of budgeting in policymaking, and understanding the budget process
• Concepts and analytical tools of microeconomics, and their relevance for decision and policy making in public and nonprofit sectors
• To analyze elements of effective organizational functioning in the public and nonprofit sectors

LSU's MPA program was first created in 1972. This long-standing program is now available as an online MPA! The online Master of Public Administration is accredited by the NASPAA and offers a flexible path to completion. According to graduates, this degree provides intellectually challenging coursework and many relevant learning experiences outside of the classroom. While enrolled, students can join the Public Administration Student Association (PASA). 

The MPA program is highly awarded. It ranks in the top 25 on all six editions of Eduniversal’s list of best master’s programs. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranked the MPA in the top 30 percent of its 2019 Best Graduate Public Affairs Programs.

Of LSU’s already employed MPA graduates, 85 percent credit their promotion or salary increase to earning an MPA. Alumni work at a variety of prominent institutions around the country, including the US Congress, the White House, the US Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Johnson & Johnson, Louisiana Department of Education, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

"Receiving my MPA, and specifically from LSU Public Administration, opened the door wit Los Angeles County Government and their prestigious management trainee program. I competed for one of 12 positions with other MPAs from schools such as Harvard, USC, NYU, and UC-Berkeley. After joining the program, I soon realized that my LSU education could compete with, and in some regards, exceed, the experiences of my peers. That experience has continued through years, including my new position."

Mark Cooper

Chief of Staff — Office of the Louisiana Governor

"The combination of business courses with a focus on public policy - alongside fantastic networking opportunities - provided me with not only the knowledge and skills key to working on complex policy issues but also a deeper appreciation for building strong relationships and coalitions to help achieve results."

Megan Bel Miller

Chief of Staff — U.S. House of Representatives (Congressman Steve Scalise)

"Earning the MPA helped my understand the public sector holistically. Politics, laws and rules, research, the public, the civil service, and budgeting are interconnected and influence one another. An MPA challenged me to understand these relationships. It enabled me to think more critically and to approach governmental opportunities and problems more realistically."

Mason Hess

Budget Analyst — New York City Economic Development Corporation

"I always look back fondly at my time spent at LSU. I entered the MPA program expecting to expand my current skill set and continue along in the field I was presently in. What I didn’t expect but was lucky enough to find was a supportive, motivating, and enriching environment where I was able to connect with my professors and fellow students to enhance my learning experience. By graduation I found myself in a new career field with a large network of peers I could rely on for guidance and support. I continue to utilize these connections and the tools I gained during my time in the program and I am always excited to meet a new LSU MPA grad."

Kaitlin Sylvester

Directore of Programs and Partnerships — National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable