Ohio University’s MPA programs: Real-world impact with flexible options

What does it take to be an effective leader in government, nonprofits, or the public sector? It starts with the skills, insight, and experience to navigate complexity and get things done.

At Ohio University, the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service offers a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program designed to meet the needs of today’s public service professionals. Whether the aim is to lead in local government, nonprofit management, or policy development, the MPA program provides practical skills and real-world experience across three flexible formats: on-campus, online, and hybrid executive.

Master of Public Administration programs

The school offers the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in three modalities to meet the logistical needs of today’s students.

• Executive Master of Public Administration
• Online Master of Public Administration
• On-campus MPA program

For the Executive MPA, 93% of graduates found jobs in the first 3 months, and salaries increased by more than 30% in the past five years. The MPA programs (both online and on-campus) exhibit the same trends.

The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service is a leader among public service schools, working in public-private partnerships to solve challenges facing communities, the economy, and the environment. The school is well known for its capacity-building partnership work, training students for leadership roles in public and non-profit sectors.

“The Voinovich School’s MPA programs stand out for its commitment to real-world impact—equipping public service professionals not just with theory but with the tools to tackle today’s toughest challenges in communities, government, and the nonprofit world,” says Dr. Jason Jolley, MPA Director and Professor. “They’re building the leadership and management skills that drive career advancement and public impact. It’s common for our working professionals to earn promotions or pivot to new jobs after graduation.”

Executive Master of Public Administration

A unique option within Voinovich’s MPA program is the Executive Master of Public Administration, which offers a hybrid approach.

• Online coursework
• One in-person Saturday per month at OU’s Dublin campus
• 36 hours of coursework over two years (20 Saturdays)

This hybrid Executive MPA program enables participants to interact in person with cohort members, increasing both informal and formal networking opportunities.

After getting his degree, Tom Evans, MPA ’22, took a high-profile job as the Director of Communications at the Ohio Manufacturing Association.

“The program was a good fit for someone working full-time,” he says. “I had my first kid right after my second semester, so it was juggling full-time work, being a husband, a new dad, and a grad student. The professors and staff just made it fit seamlessly into my life.”

Online Master of Public Administration

The Online Master of Public Administration degree appeals to individuals working in a career and seeking to expand their knowledge and skills. This online MPA program includes the following.

• 36 hours of coursework completed over two years
• Concentrations in:
  • Public Leadership & Management
  • State & Local Government Management
• Optional certificates:
  • Online Project Management Certificate
  • Nonprofit Leadership and Management Certificate

Hannah Baumgartel, MPA ’19, says the online program was the right fit while working full-time. After earning her MPA degree, she landed a position at JobsOhio and was promoted to Senior Program Manager. “I believe my MPA degree has provided me the additional skills that make me a valuable asset to any team I work on and that it has really allowed me to differentiate myself amongst other applicants,” she says. “In my current role, it has provided me with a deeper understanding of my responsibility within the larger organization.”

On-Campus Master of Public Administration

The traditional Master of Public Administration degree is offered on Ohio University’s Athens campus, with:

• 36 hours of coursework over 15 months
• Graduate research assistantships in community-engaged projects

These experiential learning opportunities help students build their resumes as project team members while earning their degrees.

“The best thing by far was the hands-on nature that came with the program,” says Nick Strahan, MPA ’16. “I was fortunate to get a graduate assistantship working with Dr. Marsha Lewis and Dr. Anirudh Ruhil. They were practitioners and professors, so going out in the field with them and getting that professional experience, learning things, and translating the classroom knowledge right then was terrific.”

Strahan worked as a budget analyst for the state of Ohio after graduation and last year became the Assistant CFO for the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

MPA Program opportunities at Ohio University

Since the Voinovich School administers more than 200 grants and contracts per year, the MPA program offers students vast opportunities to participate in a project of specific interest to them.

Learn more about how the MPA program can help you achieve your career goals. Explore the Master of Public Administration at Ohio University.