The Master of Public Administration (MPA) at The City College of New York (CCNY), based at the Moynihan Center, prepares a new generation of civic leaders for impactful careers in government, nonprofits, and community organizations serving New York and beyond. Our program equips students with the professional competencies and critical capacities needed to navigate complex governance challenges. For program details and curriculum, visit the Program Website.
Preparing public service leaders to shift power and transform society: only at ccny
79% of MPA graduates accepted a new job offer or promotion within 6 months of graduation
Professional development program provides leadership workshops and career-building exercises
Work experience requirement ensures job-based learning and professional growth parallel to coursework
Capstone engages students in a semester-long, team-based project management experience in service to a community partner
Our Students
Our students bring core convictions and lived experiences that uniquely position them to transform the future of public service leadership. MPA graduates build meaningful careers spanning the public and social sectors. Collectively, our students embody our mission to shift power toward those historically marginalized from it. The majority of our students are women, people of color, and the first in their families to earn a graduate degree. We bring together immigrant New Yorkers and US-born New Yorkers. We welcome people early in their careers, mid-career professionals, and people returning to school after accumulating rich life experiences in service to others.
Our Faculty
Our program harnesses the experiences of practitioners - professional faculty who are deeply immersed in the field of public service and social change - and connects that experiential knowledge and social issue expertise with the interests of a diverse student body of rising professionals. MPA faculty work in leading think tanks, social impact finance companies, philanthropic foundations, federal and local government agencies, and national nonprofit organizations. Our faculty have also founded their own social impact consulting firms, led successful national campaigns on prescient issues, done pioneering work in local nonprofits in NYC, and have received honors and awards including the prestigious Echoing Green fellowship, MacArther Genius Award, and Fulbright ETA Award. Please see our faculty bios.
Our Curriculum
The MPA curriculum centers real-world practice through professional experiences working in closest proximity to communities marginalized from power. MPA coursework are designed to prepare students with in-demand professional skills and results-driven approaches to public service management that are relevant to real world settings. The MPA curriculum is anchored by five core competencies: effective communication, strategic management, data-driven decision making, stakeholder engagement, and leadership. Please see our core course descriptions.
Admissions Facts
Total Credits: 45
GRE Required: No
Minimum TOEFL/IELTS Scores: 79 (IBT), 4.5 (TOEFL updated scale) or 6.5 (IELTS), 53 (PTE) or 100 (Duolingo)
Degree Awarded: M.P.A.
Supporting Documents Required:
- Personal Statement
- Short-Answer Questions
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Supplemental questions within the application
- Minimum English Proficiency Test Scores (for international students and those who have not completed at least two years of higher education in a country where English is the official language)
Scholarships
The MPA Program offers merit-based scholarships (award amounts vary and are shared at the time of an acceptance offer).
Prospective students are encouraged to submit their application by the priority deadline to be considered for a scholarship.
What is the value of this degree for the student?
MPA graduates can explore different career options in government, non-profit organizations & the private sector. Roles may range from policy analysts in a city government to program directors at an international non-profit.
Recent student job placements and/or distinctions:
43 percent of respondents to our 2026 alumni survey work in government at the local, state, federal, and multilateral levels, 43 percent in nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, and 14 percent in the private sector and social enterprise. Their work spans housing, public health, education, economic development, and public finance.
- Director of Integrity Review | NYC Housing Preservation and Development
- Deputy Chief of Staff | US Department of Health and Human Services
- Director, Strategic Planning | New York City Campaign Finance Board
- Associate Director of Member Investments & Data Management | Food Bank For New York City
- Education Officer | NYC Department of Education
Application Deadlines
Applications for fall admission typically open early in the calendar year and include a priority deadline for scholarship consideration. Prospective students can fill out our interest form to receive updates on application deadlines and other important announcements. Official admissions deadlines are also posted on this page when available.
Application Process
Step 1: Prospective students are encouraged to complete an online application once the cycle opens. For more information, visit the Application Process page or apply here.
Step 2: Upon application review by the Admissions Committee, selected candidates are invited to a short virtual interview.
Step 3: An acceptance offer is made to selected candidates.
Contact:
For any questions, please contact the MPA Program at:
mpa@ccny.cuny.edu
For more information, please visit the Program Website.
Ready to take the next step?
Last Updated: 09/21/2026 11:30