#26
Best Public Affairs Program
2024-2025 Best Graduate Schools Rankings
U.S. News & World Report
Master of Public Administration
The University of Colorado Denver’s Master of Public Administration program focuses on developing passionate, skilled, and open-minded leaders by providing students with the training needed to address the everyday challenges faced in the public and nonprofit sectors.
Total Credits
36
30 Credits for Executive MPATuition & Fees
Approximately $27,000*
1-Year MPA: Flat $25,000 + fees regardless of residency
*Based on full-time, continuous enrollment with 2023-24 resident tuition rate and fees.
Course Modalities
In-person, online, or hybrid
1-Year MPA: In-person onlyTime to Degree
Full Time: 1 - 2 Years
Max: 6 Years
Application Deadlines
Fall: August 1*
Spring: Dec 1
Summer: May 1
*1-Year MPA: Fall Only
What will you learn?
Students will develop the skills necessary to organize, lead, and manage in the public and nonprofit sectors. With coursework rooted in research and analytics, ethics and decision-making, and leadership and policy, students will be well equipped to thrive in public service and drive meaningful change.
What can you do with an MPA?
The Master of Public Administration program prepares students for lifelong careers leading in public service organizations. Common careers include but are not limited to, Non-Profit Director, City Manager or Planner, Grants and Special Projects Director, Parks and Recreation Director.
Sample Careers
Browse these career briefs to learn about duties and responsibilities, career paths, salaries, and more.
- Charter School Leader
- City Manager
- Emergency Management Director
- Environmental Program Director
- Gender-Based Violence Specialist
- Nonprofit Executive Director
- Nonprofit Leader
- Policy Analyst
- Public Finance Officer & Budget Analyst
- State Legislator
The MPA program is flexible and able to accommodate full-time and part-time students. Courses are offered in person (during weekday evenings) and online.
Students can adjust their schedules between full time and part time, and their course modality between in person and online, as often as needed throughout the entirety of the program.
Twelve courses (36 credits) are required for the MPA, including seven core courses, four elective courses, and a capstone or thesis. Students have the option to select a concentration in which to focus their elective courses, like Nonprofit Management or Environmental Policy and Management.
The accelerated MPA is a fast-paced, full-time option for students eager to jumpstart their public service careers. Each August, a cohort of students is admitted into this 12-month program to foster a community of scholar-practitioners. It is preferred that applicants have some knowledge of economics, statistics and political science. Twelve courses (36 credits) are required for the MPA. Due to the cohort nature of the program and sequencing of classes, students in the accelerated program are not able to choose a concentration.
The accelerated option is priced at $25,000 + fees, regardless of in-state or out-of-state student status, providing out-of-state students with substantial savings.
Please note that employees of the University of Colorado are not able to apply tuition assistance benefit to the accelerated version of the MPA program.
The executive MPA is targeted to mid- to senior-level professionals in the nonprofit and public sectors.
Professional experience at this level counts in lieu of two courses, reducing the total number of credits to complete the program from 36 to 30, or from 12 courses to 10.
Three of the 10 courses must be taken in a hybrid modality. Students start and finish the courses online, plus participate in required face-to-face intensives. The courses below are classified as extended studies courses and are charged at a higher tuition than the other seven courses of the program. Please contact spa.admissions@ucdenver.edu to request pricing for these three courses:
- PUAD 5001: Introduction to Public Service (4 consecutive, in-person days in Denver, Colorado)
- PUAD 5002: Organizational Management & Behavior (4 consecutive, in-person days in Denver, Colorado)
- PUAD 5010: Rocky Mountain Leadership Program (4 consecutive, in-person days in Breckenridge, Colorado)
Students interested in pursuing a concentration may do so only by taking one to two additional courses, depending on the chosen concentration, and with permission of the program director.
Please note that employees of the University of Colorado are not able to apply tuition assistance benefit to the following executive MPA course: PUAD 5001, PUAD 5002, and PUAD 5010. These courses are classified as "extended studies" and are not eligible for this benefit.
MPA Curriculum
Learn about the courses you need to complete to earn the Master of Public Administration.
New for Fall 2025: Starting Fall 2025, the School of Public Affairs will replace optional concentrations for master’s programs with graduate certificates. We have found that employers respond more favorably to certificates than concentrations, and having a certificate in addition to your master’s degree will set you apart in your career progression after graduation. This change will also allow students across all master’s programs to choose from a wider range of certificates, which unlike concentrations, are not tied to specific master’s degrees.
Academic Catalog Listing & Program Handbook
Find additional information about academic policies, graduation requirements, and more.
468 KB
NASPAA Accreditation
CU Denver School of Public Affairs' Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA, the global standard in public service education. As part of our NASPAA accreditation, we make the following information available to prospective and current students and to members of the public:
- CU Denver School of Public Affairs MPA Assessment Report
- CU Denver School of Public Affairs MPA Internship Placements
- CU Denver School of Public Affairs MPA Graduation and Employment Rates
- CU Denver School of Public Affairs MPA Number of Students, Demographics and Outcomes
- Faculty Course Questionnaire Results
Events
Browse upcoming events where you can learn about our graduate programs.
Loading items....
Alumni Spotlight
We recently had the honor of sitting down with a unique trio of alumni – Elsa Holguín (MPA '11), her husband Ed Lucero (MPA '98), and her daughter Denise Gomez (MPA '16) – a multi-generational example of the impact of SPA’s programs in the greater community.
Alumni Spotlight: Anneliese Steel, MPA '19
Anneliese Steel is the Senior Director of Public Affairs for Colorado Concern, an executive alliance committed to protecting and enhancing the Centennial state's business economy. She manages a robust policy portfolio, including issue research, legislative drafting, lobbying, and public testimony, along with member and media relations.