Online MBA | Public Administration Degree

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Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Make a Greater Impact on Business and Government Processes by Earning a Public Administration MBA Online

Are you seeking a career in public administration? Many public service jobs require strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills – skills that are also essential in the world of business. If you want to earn a degree that can help you pursue roles in the public and private sectors, Liberty has what you need!

Our 100% online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Public Administration is designed to help hone your business expertise through essential training in strategic leadership, management, and finance. Additionally, you can enhance your knowledge of political and economic decision-making and prepare to serve as a public administrator. Our program emphasizes the importance of applying ethics to management practices and integrating faith with learning in a professional atmosphere.

Businesses and public organizations have much in common, and both rely on skilled professionals with expertise in financial leadership, management, and growth. If you want to diversify your skill set and become equipped to work in a variety of settings, our online MBA in Public Administration is a great option. Partner with us and prepare to make an impact on your community – and beyond.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Public Administration.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Business and Public Management Program?

As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty seeks to develop online programs that can help you grow academically and professionally. We won’t just help you get a degree – we can help you develop the knowledge, values, and skills to impact the world for Christ. Our public administration courses are taught from a biblical perspective, and our faculty are firmly rooted in the Christian faith. You can train to lead with integrity in your career while earning a valuable credential that can help you pursue exciting job opportunities.

Earn a degree that fits your schedule. Our MBA in Public Administration is offered 100% online, so you can earn your degree from the comfort of your home. As long as you submit your assignments by the due date, you can complete your courses wherever and whenever it’s most convenient for you. And you can stay invested in the things that really matter – like your family, job, church, and community – while achieving your academic goals.

Do you want to earn your MBA in Public Administration at a college that provides flexibility, affordability, and high-quality academics? If so, Liberty may be the school for you! We are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, our online MBA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). You can pursue your degree with confidence knowing that our courses have met rigorous standards.

As a Liberty student, you’ll study under faculty who have advanced degrees and years of experience in the professional world. Our professors are excited to partner with you as you take this next step in your educational journey. The best part? You’ll get to take classes with business and government professors alike – so you can study under experts in both fields! With their guidance, you can hone your skill set and prepare to pursue a career in the public or private sector.

What Will You Study in Our MBA in Public Policy and Administration Degree Program?

Our public administration MBA online provides advanced training in core business topics. You’ll dive into subjects like managerial finance, international business, operations management, and business research methods. Additionally, you can learn how to navigate various legal challenges in business and help your company thrive domestically and globally.

By pursuing the public administration specialization, you can train to become an active leader in the public sector. You’ll explore various areas of government bureaucracy, public management, budgeting, public policy implementation, and human resource management. You’ll also explore how current trends are influencing public administration so you can adapt to the challenges facing those who work in public service.

Learn how to promote economic development within communities. Throughout this program, you will engage in informed reading, research, analysis, and discussion of topics in public administration. Our goal is to help you make a difference in society and effectively analyze and implement important policies.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time	$580/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our MBA in Public Policy and Administration Degree

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work. Students must also have completed at least 15 hours of upper-level (300-400) undergraduate business credit.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Upon acceptance, the graduate transfer department will evaluate students for 27 hours of business credit in the following subject areas: accounting, business ethics, business finance, business integration and strategic management, business leadership, global dimensions of business, information management systems, legal environment of business, macroeconomics, human resource management, operations/production management, organizational behavior, marketing, microeconomics, or quantitative research techniques/statistics. Those who are missing some or all of these subject areas may be required to take BMAL 590.

Bridge Program

Students who are missing some or all admission requirements may be placed into the Graduate Certificate in Management and Leadership as a bridge.* Upon successful completion of this certificate with at least a 3.0 GPA, these students can be reevaluated for the MBA program.

*In order to be eligible for the bridge, admission requirements for the graduate certificate must still be met.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What is public administration?

Public administration mainly has to do with leadership and management in the public sector or at nonprofit organizations. Those who work in public administration focus on implementing government policy in a way that benefits society. In contrast, business administration relates to the operations of a private company with the goal of helping that company succeed.

With Liberty’s MBA in Public Administration, you can study crucial aspects of both fields and pursue a wide range of job opportunities!

What is the difference between a Master of Public Administration and MBA?

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) have many similarities. Both degrees can teach you how to manage people and budgets as well as help organizations grow and thrive.

However, they have some key differences. An MPA focuses mainly on preparing you to work in the public sector (e.g., in government positions). In contrast, our MBA in Public Administration provides a broader look at the skills and strategies needed to work in both the public and private sector.

If you want to earn a specialized degree that focuses mainly on public administration, Liberty’s MPA degree may be for you. Our MBA in Public Administration is an excellent option if you want to hone your skills in a variety of areas and diversify your knowledge.

What is the difference between Public Administration and Business Administration?

Public Administration and Business Administration both focus on leadership and organizational management, but they are designed for different professional environments and goals. Public Administration centers on managing organizations that exist to serve the public good, such as government agencies, public institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Business Administration, by contrast, can help prepare you to lead and manage for-profit organizations in competitive, market-driven environments. The emphasis is often on organizational performance, strategic growth, financial management, and operational efficiency. Leaders in business settings typically make decisions based on market conditions, customer needs, and financial outcomes.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Online MBA in Public Administration Degree Advance in Public Administration with an Online MBA

Make a Greater Impact on Business and Government Processes by Earning a Public Administration MBA Online

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Business and Public Management Program?

What Will You Study in Our MBA in Public Policy and Administration Degree Program?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our MBA in Public Policy and Administration Degree

Admission Requirements

Bridge Program

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is public administration?

What is the difference between a Master of Public Administration and MBA?

What is the difference between Public Administration and Business Administration?

Are you ready to change your future?

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