California Public Administration Degrees

Consider a featured online public administration program currently taking applications.

AD
School Level Program
The University of Texas Permian Basin Master Master of Public Administration
Complete in as little as 12 months, six start dates a year, cost-effective tuition.
Arizona State University Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning
Study transportation, business districts, neighborhoods, green space and more.
Arizona State University Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Public Service & Public Policy
Public service and public policy degree curriculum emphasizes enabling positive change in local, national and global communities.

Click to view more online public administration degrees that are taking applications for 2024.

There are 15 colleges in the state that offer a Master of Public Administration program and are accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

Are There Online MPA Programs in California?

Of the NASPAA-accredited MPA programs in the state, there are six of them that offer primary or 100 percent online accessibility: California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California State University in Dominguez Hills and Long Beach, SDSU, USC, and the University of San Francisco.

San Diego State University

SDSU's online MPA program is similar to the 36-unit curriculum taught on campus, but is accelerated to 16 months with six two-month modules (two-week breaks between each module). The entire cost of the program is estimated at less than $20,000. There are two required on-campus experiences that need to be fulfilled -- one at the beginning and the other to present a capstone research project at the conclusion.

Students must submit official transcripts, GRE test scores, two letters of recommendation, a resume, internship waiver, and a statement of purpose to be admitted into the program and to get set up on the fast-track system. If students have not fulfilled the minimum of two years of professional experience and are still admitted, they must complete an internship program.

Consider a featured online public administration program currently taking applications.

AD
School Level Program
The University of Texas Permian Basin Master Master of Public Administration
Complete in as little as 12 months, six start dates a year, cost-effective tuition.
Syracuse University Master Executive Master of Public Administration
Earn an MPA for Executives from the #1-ranked Maxwell School. Complete in as few as 15 months.
American University Master Online Master of Public Administration
NASPAA accredited.
Aurora University Master Online Master of Public Administration
Finish in 1 to 2 Years.
Arizona State University Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning
Study transportation, business districts, neighborhoods, green space and more.
Arizona State University Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Public Service & Public Policy
Public service and public policy degree curriculum emphasizes enabling positive change in local, national and global communities.
University of Delaware Master Master of Public Administration
NASPAA Accredited, 30-month program.
Liberty University Doctor Doctor of Public Administration
100% online DPA program. 2.5 year average completion time.
Utica University Bachelor BS in Criminal Justice - Public Policy and Leadership
120 Total Credits; 2-4 Years; 100% Online

Click for more 100% online public administration programs.

California State University-Dominguez Hills

There are four separate concentrations under the MPA program online: Public Management, Criminal Justice Policy and Administration, Health Care Policy and Administration, and Nonprofit Management. For Public Management, the concentration is separated into four sessions, each being 12 weeks long. For the others, they are completed in six terms with eight-week intervals. Either way, all programs are designed to be completed in two years.

In order to be admitted into the program, students must have a 2.75 cumulative GPA, college-level math courses that meets the university's requirements with a B or higher, resume, and a personal statement. Two letters of recommendation can be used for those that do not meet the first two requirements.

Available Online Public Administration Programs for California

AD
School Level Program
The University of Texas Permian Basin Master Master of Public Administration
Complete in as little as 12 months, six start dates a year, cost-effective tuition.
Syracuse University Master Executive Master of Public Administration
Earn an MPA for Executives from the #1-ranked Maxwell School. Complete in as few as 15 months.
American University Master Online Master of Public Administration
NASPAA accredited.
Aurora University Master Online Master of Public Administration
Finish in 1 to 2 Years.
Arizona State University Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning
Study transportation, business districts, neighborhoods, green space and more.
Arizona State University Bachelor Online Bachelor of Science in Public Service & Public Policy
Public service and public policy degree curriculum emphasizes enabling positive change in local, national and global communities.
University of Delaware Master Master of Public Administration
NASPAA Accredited, 30-month program.
Liberty University Doctor Doctor of Public Administration
100% online DPA program. 2.5 year average completion time.
Utica University Bachelor BS in Criminal Justice - Public Policy and Leadership
120 Total Credits; 2-4 Years; 100% Online
Drake University Master Master of Public Administration
Complete your degree in just 2 years.
Johns Hopkins University AAP Master Master of Arts in Government
100% online, strong alumni network.
Johns Hopkins University AAP Master Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management
Emerge with the skills needed to lead, manage, and found a nonprofit or non-governmental organization anywhere in the world.

Click for more 100% online public administration programs.

List of California Public Administration Programs

Campus-based and Online public administration programs
School Program Location
Ashford University Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Diego
Brandman University Master of Public Administration (MPA) Irvine
California Baptist University Master of Public Administration (MPA) Riverside
California Lutheran University Master of Public Policy and Administration Thousand Oaks
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Master of Public Policy San Luis Obispo
California State Polytechnic University Master Of Public Administration
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Master of Public Administration (MPA) Pomona
California State University-Bakersfield Master of Public Administration (MPA) Bakersfield
California State University-Chico Master of Public Administration (MPA) Chico
California State University-Dominguez Hills Master of Public Administration (MPA) Carson
California State University-East Bay Master of Public Administration (MPA) Hayward
California State University-Fresno Master of Public Administration (MPA) Fresno
California State University-Fullerton Master of Public Administration (MPA) Fullerton
California State University-Long Beach Master of Public Administration (MPA) Long Beach
California State University-Los Angeles Master of Public Administration (MPA) Los Angeles
California State University-Monterey Bay Master of Public Administration and Nonprofit Management Seaside
California State University-Northridge Master of Public Administration (MPA) Northridge
California State University-Sacramento Master of Public Administration (MPA) Sacramento
California State University-San Bernardino Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Bernardino
California State University-Stanislaus Master of Public Administration (MPA) Turlock
California State University, Bakersfield Master Of Public Administration Bakersfield
California State University, Chico Master Of Public Administration Chico
California State University, Dominguez Hills Master Of Public Administration Dominguez Hills
California State University, Fresno Master Of Public Administration Fresno
California State University, Fullerton Master Of Public Administration Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach Master Of Public Administration Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles Master of Science in Public Administration Los Angeles
California State University, San Bernardino Master Of Public Administration San Bernardino
California State University, Stanislaus Master Of Public Administration Stanislaus
Claremont Graduate University Master of Public Health Claremont
Golden Gate University-San Francisco Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Francisco
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Master of Public Administration (MPA) Monterey
Mills College Master in Public Policy Oakland
National University Master of Public Administration (MPA) La Jolla
Naval Postgraduate School Defense-Focused Master of Business Administration
Naval Postgraduate School Master of Science in Management
Notre Dame de Namur University Master of Public Administration (MPA) Belmont
Pardee RAND Graduate School Masters Degree in Public Policy Santa Monica
Pepperdine University Master of Public Policy Malibu
San Diego State University Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Diego
San Francisco State University Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Francisco
San Jose State University Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Jose
Sonoma State University Master of Public Administration (MPA) Rohnert Park
Stanford University Master of Public Policy Stanford
University of California-Berkeley Master of Public Policy Berkeley
University of California-Irvine Irvine
University of California-Los Angeles Masters Degree in Public Policy Los Angeles
University of La Verne Master of Public Administration (MPA) La Verne
University of San Francisco Master of Public Administration (MPA) San Francisco
University of San Francisco Online Master Of Public Administration San Francisco
University of Southern California Master of Public Administration (MPA) Los Angeles
University of Southern California Master of Public Policy Los Angeles
Notice a missing or inaccurate program? Our school, program, and university data is hand-collected and maintained. Please, if you notice a listing that is inaccurate, needs updating, or is missing, email schools at publicadministrationdegrees.com and we will review as soon as possible.

University of Southern California

There are six specialization tracks that USC Price highlights: Local Government Management, Nonprofit Management, Health Management, Public Financial Management, International Development Governance and Comparative Public Administration, and Arts Leadership. Students will take 16 units worth of electives to complete these specialties, or customize this to fit a more specific path.

Average time to complete the MPA is two to three years for full-time students and three to five years for part-time. There is a limit to five years for students to complete the MPA degree. The school has held a retention rate of above 92 percent since the 2012-13 academic year. 73 of the 109 graduate students on the main campus and 49 of 56 online students from the 2016-17 academic year have found employment, with just two unemployed students still seeking employment from each of those sections.

San Francisco State University

42 units are required to satisfy an MPA from SFSU which equates to seven semesters. There are six specialty areas that students can choose from: Nonprofit Administration, Public Management, Public Policy, Urban Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, and Gerontology and Environmental Administration and Policy. There is also the option to customize their own emphasis.

Most students work full-time while taking this program part-time, and many can waive their internship if employment meets the school requirement. 95 percent of graduates from the 2015-16 academic year were employed within six months — the majority (37 percent) landed in local US government agencies. Nearly a quarter of those students were promoted at their same place of work and 21 percent moved to a different employer.

There are 15 colleges in California that offer a Master of Public Administration program and are accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

  • California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
  • California State University-Bakersfield
  • California State University-Chico
  • California State University-Dominguez Hills
  • California State University-Fresno
  • California State University-Fullerton
  • California State University-Long Beach
  • California State University-San Bernardino
  • California State University-Stanislaus
  • San Diego State University
  • San Francisco State University
  • San Jose State University
  • University of La Verne
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Southern California
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NASPAA Accredited MPA Programs View Online NASPAA Accredited MPA Programs
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