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Online Master’s in Public Administration MBA Program

Caitlyn Carey, who earned her degree from SNHU, wearing a bright pink sweater standing at a table with an open laptop beside her.

Cost per credit $637

Total courses 10

Term length 10 weeks

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Program Overview Why get an online master’s in public administration?

Gain the advanced knowledge you need to navigate the public sector at a leadership level with a Master of Business (MBA) in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

This online master’s in public administration MBA program will teach you competencies essential to impactful leadership, strategic planning, and people and idea management that you can bring to local, state or federal departments. Your program coursework balances business knowledge with more specific skills that can help prepare you for careers writing policy, governing jurisdictions and more.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Strong leadership skills to help serve the public
  • Government & business relationship analysis
  • Data-driven decision-making techniques
  • Policy development that strengthens communities
  • Effective public outreach strategies
Caitlyn Carey, who earned her degree from SNHU, working on a laptop computer.

Courses & Curriculum Public administration courses that prep you for success

SNHU's online MBA in public administration is designed to teach you key leadership and business skills. You'll learn the importance of balancing people management, strategic thinking and operational dexterity in order to make data-driven, innovative decisions for whatever organization you serve.

Equipped with the skills you've learned in your program, you can graduate feeling prepared to solve sustainable, conscientious and fiscal issues — and achieve positive business results in the process.

Degree Courses

Online MBA in public administration courses

Beyond the high-level business skills you'll acquire in the public administration MBA program, your public administration courses will allow you to get granular and learn applicable, career-focused skills. You'll understand the ins and outs of how business units function individually and cross-functionally, and how to use that knowledge to effectively guide public policy.

In addition to 7 core MBA courses, this program includes 2 required public administration courses: Strategic Management in Public Service and Intergovernmental Relations. From here, you'll have the opportunity to choose between Foundations of Public Administration and Foundations of Public Policy to round out your curriculum. Depending on your academic background, you may also need to supplement the core courses with business foundation coursework.

And if you don't have a business background? No problem. Our MBA is accessible to everyone. Interested students must have a conferred undergraduate degree for acceptance, but it can be in any field.

Courses may include:

Course ID: PAD 630
This course is designed to introduce students to the foundations and constraints that form the environment of the public administration. It will encourage and enable the view of governance issues through the eyes of a public administrator. The course is structured to provide basic skills and set the context of contemporary political, social, economic, and administrative realities. It explores responsive, equitable, effective, efficient, and accountable governance processes, public policies, and institutional-based programs. It also examines, from a multidisciplinary perspective, those essential competencies, values, and issues important to public service organizations and the importance of public policy at the local, state, national and international levels.
Course ID: PAD 631
This course is designed to provide an academic foundation to applied strategic management in public service. Identifying the factors that differentiate public service from the private sector, strategic planning and the implications those differences have for managers. Emphasis is placed on applied strategic planning and management including how to create a mission statement, conduct a SWOT analysis, conduct a stakeholder analysis, writing goals and objectives, and how to design and implement a performance measurement and management system. Current approaches to strategic management used by federal, state, local, and non-profit organizations are emphasized.
Course ID: PAD 632
This course is an introduction to the public policy process. Students will develop an understanding of what "political" and "public policy" mean. Topics discussed include why some problems reach the public agenda, why some solutions are adopted, why others are rejected, why some policies appear to succeed while others appear to fail. The course also examines the complexity of policymaking at the national, state, and local levels.
Course ID: PAD 633
This course is designed to demonstrate the challenges and strategies for governance and administration in an institutional environment of fragmented authority and dispersed power. It defines the balance of shared powers between the layers and institutions of government poses and the considerable challenges to policymakers and administrators. Major dimensions of intergovernmental relations: the vertical dimension of federal, states, and local governments, that cooperate, coordinate, and compete for shares of power, and the horizontal dimension in which sub-governments interact with one another. The course examines the structure of American political institutions, the nature of complex policymaking, governance by networks, and the consequences of competition between governments.

Visit the course catalog to view the full MBA in Public Administration curriculum.

Apply for free in minutes

Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: Aug. 25, 2025 | Nov. 10, 2025

Next term starts:
June 9, 2025

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

10-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

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Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online graduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 30-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$637
$1,911
$19,110
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$470
$1,410
$14,100

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$1,274 $2,548 $3,822
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 2 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,836

If 4 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $16,562

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($637/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,288

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a MBA degree. Most master's degrees require 30 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 6 credits, requiring a minimum of 24 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an MBA in public administration?

The online MBA at SNHU provides you with the expertise you need to move across industries of all kinds. And if you’re interested in using your business degree for the good of the community — as a city manager, a city or state commissioner, a board member in your local community or a nonprofit CEO — an MBA specifically concentrated in public administration is an excellent foundation.

Industries

When you earn your master's in public administration online, you’ll have the background you need to pursue a career in a wide variety of public sectors and departments.

Organize and supervise programs/government initiatives that help children and families.

Plan, direct and coordinate activities that promote a community's economic growth and well-being.

Advance the common good and effect positive change by advocating for community-supportive policies.

Study, research and analyze the origin, development and operation of public systems.

Plan, direct or coordinate health services that support communities on a local or national scale.

Manage an organization's daily operations and overall direction to help achieve their mission.

9%

increase in career opportunities for social and community service managers through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$77,030

the median annual salary for social and community service managers as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1 Administrative services and facilities managers made a median annual salary of $104,900 in the same timeframe.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not on SNHU graduate outcomes, and do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Aaron Dupuis '19MBA.
Aaron Dupuis '19MBA.

I had a great experience with my online program. I enjoyed being able to learn and engage with other professionals in my classes and hear about their experience in a variety of careers.

Aaron Dupuis '19MBA

Frequently Asked Questions

Government is an obvious choice for those with an online master’s in public administration. However, many businesses can benefit from the help of someone with a degree in public administration. Why? Because degree holders can expertly interpret the elements of policy, law and intergovernmental relations the business may be governed by.

That said, jobs across many fields may be available to those who earn an MBA in public administration. Some of these careers include:

  • Social and community service manager
  • Administrative services and facilities manager
  • Public administrator
  • Public policy manager
  • Policy analyst
  • Political scientist
  • Health services manager
  • Nonprofit executive

Yes, it simply depends on what your career goals are.

“If you aspire to be a change agent in the public or private sector, this program is the right fit for you,” says Dr. Lorenzo Claxton, adjunct faculty at SNHU.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for one of the most common jobs in this field, social and community service managers, will grow by 9% through 2032 — much faster than average.1

The BLS also reports a positive job outlook for other public administration positions through 2032, including administrative services and facilities manager, a role predicted to grow as fast as average at 5%.1

That all depends on what you're looking for.

An MBA is a true business degree that offers a specialization in public administration. For those who want to break into public administration or advance their career in public administration, an MBA can provide a competitive edge thanks to its holistic, business-focused approach.

An MPA, on the other hand, is a master’s degree devoted to public administration. Curriculums vary, but some MPAs draw more heavily on economics, political science, law and sociology. MPAs are well-suited for government agencies of all kinds, in addition to emergency management, urban planning and more.

Earning a master’s in public administration typically takes about two years from start to finish. However, if you want to fast-track your degree, you can take two courses per 10-week term — without any breaks — and earn an MBA in as few as twelve months.

Yes, SNHU’s MBA in Public Administration is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). “This holds exceptional value for graduates as employers and regulatory agencies recognize the standard of quality the SNHU curriculum offers,” says Dr. Michelle Caron, associate dean for business at SNHU.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm (viewed July 2, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm (viewed July 2, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.