Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at Rutgers-Camden
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree prepares students for managerial and other careers in government and non-profit sector positions. The MPA degree is offered by the Department of Public Policy and Administration within the Graduate School at Rutgers-Camden.
The Rutgers-Camden MPA degree is offered in two modalities: on-campus and an accelerated Executive Program.
On-Campus MPA option: Most students enrolled in the program work full or part-time while attending classes. Classes are offered in the evenings Monday through Thursday. The 42-credit program is completed with 14 classes. Full-time students take three or more classes per semester and complete the program in 4 to 5 semesters. Part-time students take one or two classes per semester and complete the program in 6-9 semesters.
The Executive MPA is an accelerated program for mid-career professionals and is completed in two years. The 30 credit curriculum is completed with ten classes. Admitted students will have five or more years of public or nonprofit management experience. The Executive MPA program is offered in West Windsor, New Jersey on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon.
How long will it take to complete the MPA Degree?
The program curriculum is anticipated to be 4-6 semesters of coursework for full-time students. Part-time and working students make up a significant portion of the student population and average 6-9 semesters for degree completion. The Executive MPA is completed in two years.
Specializations
All students complete a set of seven “Core of Common Knowledge” courses that lay a foundation for professional work in public service. Students can select one of two specializations on-campus.
Each specialization is built around a set of required courses and electives. Students may also choose to focus on specific policy issues in addition to the specialization. Policy focus topics are taken as elective courses.
The Executive MPA option is offered for mid-career professionals.
Internship
All students in the MPA program complete a graduate Internship. Internships are waived for students who have three or more years of relevant work experience in the public or nonprofit sector. We encourage all students to complete the internship as part of their coursework. Internships are designed to provide specific experience and career development.
Program Design
The Rutgers-Camden MPA program offers small classes, expert advising and mentoring and the opportunity to work closely with our distinguished faculty.
Tuition and fees for the MPA and Executive MPA Programs are set by the Rutgers Board annually. The current schedule can be found here: 2021-22 Tuition and Fees Schedule.
Full-time (in-state) student tuition and fees total approximately $10,000/ semester.
Part-time (in-state) students tuition is based on the number of credits/semester (three credits/graduate class) or $2,271 for a three-credit class in Academic Year 2021-22. Part-time fees are approximately $480/semester.
Executive MPA students register for two classes per semester (6 credits, $757/credit tuition)per semester, and pay fees of $1,070/semester.
The Rutgers-Camden MPA and EMPA programs in New Jersey are fully accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.
Where Our Students Work
Rutgers-Camden attracts a diverse student body with varied career goals. This table shows the wide range of potential careers and the extent of our alumni network.
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Partial List of Employers of Rutgers-Camden MPA Graduates |
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Government/Public Orgs in New Jersey/PA |
Nonprofit / Private Sector |
Government Orgs / National and International |
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• New Jersey Department of Human Services • Superior Court of New Jersey • NJ Department of Children and Families • State of New Jersey • NJ Department of Banking and Insurance • Office of New Jersey Assembly – Majority Leader • Office of Attorney General • NJ Department of Labor • Glouster County Workforce Investment Board • Burlington County • Mercer County Office for the Disabled • City of Philadelphia • Camden County Community College • Barrington Police Dept. • Pemberton Township • Thomas Jefferson University • James Madison University • Rutgers University • Walter Rand Institute • Richard Stockton College of New Jersey • University of PA School of Medicine • Salem City School District • Camden City School District
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• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network • American Board of Anesthesiology • United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ • Mathematica Policy Research • Volunteers of America • Partner of the Americas • United Way of Southeastern Pa. • Peace Corps • Center for Family Services • Africa Region at The Nature Conservancy • Volunteers of America • Medical Students for Choices • Mastery Charter • Penn Medicine • Legacy Treatment Services • Chemonics International • TD Bank • Verizon • Missions Solutions Engineering, LLC
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• U.S. Department of Transportation • U.S. Department of Homeland Security • U.S. Department of Agriculture • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development • U.S. Air Force • U.S. Attorney’s Office • General Services Administration • U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights • U.S. Marshall Service • U.S. Department of Labor • Peace Corps
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Program Outcomes
Percent of Graduates employed, by professional sector, within six months of MPA degree completion:
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Professional Employment |
Graduation Year |
Graduation Year |
Graduation Year |
Graduation Year |
Graduation Year |
|
National Government: USA |
25% |
10% |
12% |
10% |
13% |
|
State or Regional Government |
14% |
40% |
21% |
33% |
30% |
|
City, County, Other Local Government |
10% |
3% |
14% |
13% |
17% |
|
Obtaining Further Education |
0% |
0% |
0% |
3% |
0 |
|
Nonprofit Domestic |
14% |
33% |
29% |
30% |
27% |
|
Nonprofit International focus |
|
3% |
0% |
0% |
12% |
|
Private research/consulting |
|
0% |
5% |
0% |
3% |
|
Private non research/consulting |
|
3% |
0% |
7% |
3% |
|
Military Service |
0% |
0% |
2% |
0% |
0% |
|
Unemployed |
14% |
7% |
2% |
3% |
3% |
|
Status Unknown |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
3% |
|
Program Graduates |
20 |
30 |
42 |
30 |
30 |
The table below reflect the percentage of total students completing the program in five semesters (full-time) and in increments of an additional two semesters (e.g. 150% = 6-7 semesters). The majority of our students work and attend school part-time, leading to longer completion rates. The standard Program Length (PL) is based on a full-time student completing the program in five semesters.
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Graduation Rates for Master of Public Administration 2016-2023 |
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Academic Year |
Students Entering |
100% of PL |
150% of PL |
200% of PL |
Still Active |
|
2016-2017 |
38 |
47 |
79 |
86 |
1 |
|
2017-2018 |
33 |
55 |
85 |
94 |
0 |
|
2018-2019 |
34 |
35 |
88 |
90 |
0 |
|
2019-2020 |
34 |
59 |
91 |
91 |
1 |
|
2020-2021 |
32 |
50 |
97 |
97 |
1 |
|
2021-2022 |
31 |
75 |
87 |
* |
13 |
|
2022-2023 |
28 |
50* |
* |
* |
50 |
*Students are still in progress in completing the degree.