Preparing Leaders in the Public, Private & Nonprofit Sectors

The Master of Public Administration Program at the Brooks School is designed to build the skills and knowledge required for your career in the field of public administration.

The residential MPA application for the 2023-2024 academic year will open in early September and be due on January 15, 2023. To receive consideration for funding, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Admission is granted for the fall semester only.

Important Application Deadlines

• • Early September: MPA application opens
  • January 15, 2023: MPA application due
  • March 1, 2023: Decisions on Admittance Offers Released 
    • Decisions on admittance offers will be released no later than March 1.  
    • Applicants may receive an offer of admission before March 1 however, applying early does not equal an early admittance decision
  • April 15, 2023: Reply/Decision date for admitted students
    • • Admitted students must reply on or before April 15 to accept their offer of admission and any financial support.

Connect with Our Admissions Team
Application Process Explained

About the MPA Degree Program

The Master of Public Administration degree program is a two-year graduate program offered through the MPA Program. We prepare individuals for management and leadership careers in public service. Our MPA offers a solid foundation of core coursework in management, economics and finance, and quantitative analysis.

As a student, you will receive a rich combination of coursework and practical experience, with hands-on opportunities offered both inside and outside of the classroom. MPA graduates go on to work for a wide range of governmental, nonprofit and private organizations, where they serve as managers, executives, and policy analysts, among other things.

Build Your Public Engagement Portfolio with Flexible Learning

The MPA degree program places a strong emphasis on experiential learning. Real-world consulting opportunities, internships, off-campus study, and Capstone experiences help you develop the skill set you need to be successful in your future careers, and provide relevant material for inclusion in résumés and job interviews.

Our flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum also affords you the opportunity to work with renowned faculty across many different departments, schools and colleges at Cornell as you build this expertise.

Program Information