Online MPA Degree Program | Master of Public Admin.

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

Maximize Your Potential in Civic Leadership with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree Online

Liberty University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree online is designed to help provide you with the knowledge and skills to implement policy as a civil servant in local, state, national, and global communities. Through our online MPA program, you can prepare for a career in government, private, or nonprofit organizations by gaining the skills essential in public administration.

Liberty’s master’s in public administration online program provides training in the fundamentals of advanced government concepts. Our professors will engage you in useful topics like community economic development and public policy analysis. Courses like these can help you develop your own local community. You can also learn to help your organization adjust to new policies.

In addition to covering the management of various types of facilities, our MPA programs online allow you to specialize in a particular area of study – such as emergency management, healthcare, business and government, and more. This online MPA degree will allow you to focus your studies or explore a wide range of related topics.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Public Administration (MPA).

Is an MPA or MBA better?

The answer to the question depends on your career goals and professional trajectory. First, begin by considering your career goals and professional interests.

If you’re interested in public service, pursuing an elected office or managing a city, a Master of Public Administration is likely the best fit. Our online MPA degree offers training in economic development, public policy, public sector organizations, and other topics that can help prepare you to be a public leader in your community. You can also use our MPA degree to pursue roles in federal, state, and local government – as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofits.

On the other hand, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is for students who are seeking career advancement and achievement – especially in the private sector. Our online MBA degree covers topics like marketing management, managerial finance, legal issues in business, accounting, international business, organizational design, operations management, and much more.

Both MPA and MBA degrees are appropriate for career advancement and personal enrichment. If you have questions about which degree is the best fit for you, request information or call (800) 424-9596 to speak with one of our academic advisors or admission counselors. We look forward to helping you achieve your career goals!

What Will You Study in Our Master of Public Administration Online Degree?

Liberty’s master’s degree in public administration online is designed to help equip you with a thorough background in the theories and practices essential for success in government and nonprofit roles. You’ll study important aspects of economic and community development that are essential to a career in public service. Through our online Master of Public Administration, you can develop the critical analysis and research skills needed to address important policies, political challenges, budgetary issues, and contemporary legal issues.

Our master’s in public administration online degree is designed to help give you an understanding of the local political landscape. You can learn how to serve as a responsible representative of the needs of a community, as well as help governments and organizations meet their greatest administrative challenges, so that communities can thrive.

In the online master’s degree in public administration, you can choose from several areas of study that offer specialized skills and knowledge for particular fields. For instance, you can learn how to deal with natural disasters with a master’s in emergency management or become equipped to handle healthcare crises with the healthcare specialization.

You could also study legal issues and policy, explore the challenges that face nonprofit leaders, or learn how to help businesses that are grappling with the challenges of government regulations. You may also choose the general area of study, which allows you to transfer in related graduate credit or select a flexible combination of elective courses.

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Degree Information

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?

Become a policy influencer with an online public administration master’s degree. Liberty’s master’s degree in public administration online curriculum is unique because our classes are taught from a Christian worldview. We are known for producing graduates who are sought after by prestigious companies for their integrity, personal discipline, and versatility. You too can pursue success by completing your master’s degree in public administration with us.

The online MPA degree has multiple specializations, so you can choose one that best fits your career goals. Our MPA online degree provides a comprehensive approach to preparing students to serve in government and related capacities, particularly in management and leadership roles.

While our public policy degree focuses on how policy is developed, the master’s in public administration online provides a more hands-on approach to the study of government. Our online MPA degree can help you provide value to agencies and organizations that face legal and political challenges.

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Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

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Potential Careers for Online Master of Public Administration Graduates

With so many specializations to choose from, you could serve anywhere from government agencies to nonprofit organizations. Below are just a few of the positions that might be available to you once you’ve earned a Master of Public Administration online:

Administrative services manager
City/county manager
Community health worker
Compliance manager
Emergency management director
Emergency preparedness administrator
General operations manager

Homeland security officer
Investigator/inspector
Investment fund manager
Loss prevention manager
Medical and health services manager
Policy specialist
Social and community service manager

Online MPA Degree Options

Our online MPA degree offers multiple specializations, so you are able to gain extra expertise in an area of study you’re most passionate about. You could gain knowledge of how the private and public sectors interact with a business and government specialization, prepare for administrative planning roles with an urban development specialization, dedicate your career to a cause you care about with a public and nonprofit track, and much more! Check out the specializations we offer below, and find a degree track that fits you!

General

Liberty University’s Master of Public Administration – General track is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the field of public administration by challenging you to grow your knowledge of economics, governance, and philosophy. Through this master’s in public administration degree, you can come to understand how public policy affects the economy and stimulates community development.

View the Degree Completion Plan.

Business and Government

Disaster Management

Liberty’s online master’s in disaster management is designed to help prepare you for leadership positions that require you to protect lives and property against all hazards, whether they are man-made or environmental. Our online emergency management degree can help equip you with the skills needed to coordinate and communicate changes and protocols in all aspects of the job.

View the Degree Completion Plan.

Fire Administration

Fire administration leadership requires mission-specific knowledge and skills in order to save lives and ensure that operations run smoothly. If you want to enhance your career and pursue positions of greater responsibility in your fire emergency services organization, then Liberty’s Master of Public Administration – Fire Administration can help you develop the key skills you need.

View the Degree Completion Plan.

Healthcare

Law and Public Policy

Public and Nonprofit Management

Liberty’s online Master of Public Administration – Public and Nonprofit Management can help prepare you for the unique leadership and administrative challenges that public-sector and nonprofit professionals face. This degree track offers you training on the financial side of management. You will study the relationship between political and economic factors so you can become equipped to protect your agency.

View the Degree Completion Plan.

Urban Planning

Liberty University’s online Master of Public Administration – Urban Planning is designed to help equip you with advanced knowledge of developing and executing strategies for urban growth and development. In this urban development degree, you will study how to bring business to your locality, foster a culture that attracts and retains residents, and much more!

View the Degree Completion Plan.

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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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 Master of Public Administration Online 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.
- 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.

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

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 for Our Online MPA Degrees

Is the program flexible?

At Liberty, we strive to provide degrees that fit your schedule. Our MPA degree is offered 100% online in convenient 8-week course sections with no set login times and no required intensives – allowing you to remain committed to your job, family, and community as you further your education. This flexibility makes this online MPA degree an excellent choice for working professionals.

Are there resources available to online students?

Are you ready to change your future?

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App Fee Waived This Week*

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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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Master of Public Administration Expand Your Knowledge

Maximize Your Potential in Civic Leadership with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree Online

Is an MPA or MBA better?

What Will You Study in Our Master of Public Administration Online Degree?

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Degree?

What Sets Us Apart?

Potential Careers for Online Master of Public Administration Graduates

Online MPA Degree Options

General

Business and Government

Disaster Management

Fire Administration

Healthcare

Law and Public Policy

Public and Nonprofit Management

Urban Planning

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Master of Public Administration Online Degree

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Military

Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online MPA Degrees

Is the program flexible?

Are there resources available to online students?

Are you ready to change your future?

Request Information About a Program

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