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.
Ready to apply to the MPA Program at CCNY? Below is everything you need to know about admission requirements and facts,
scholarships and application deadline and process.
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
Student Info
Our students bring core convictions and lived experiences that uniquely position them to transform the future of public service leadership and management. MPA graduates build meaningful careers spanning the public and social sectors - with 47% working in nonprofit organizations, 30% working in government institutions, and 23% working in business and social enterprise. 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. Please see our 2023 incoming student infographic.
Faculty Info
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.
Curricular Innovation
The CPS 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: 4.0 (TOEFL iBT, new 1-6 scale) for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026, or 79
(TOEFL iBT, legacy 0-120 scale) for exams taken before that date; 550 (TOEFL PBT); 6.5 (IELTS); 53 (PTE); or 105 (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).
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:
As of our last survey in 2023, 47% of our graduates worked in the nonprofit sector and education, 30% worked in government, and 23% worked in business and social enterprise.
- Director of Diversity and Inclusion | Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health
- Associate Director, Engagement | Ichor Strategies
- Manager of LGBTQ Programs | NYC Dept. of Education
- Senior Policy Analyst | NYC Mayor’s Office
- Senior Associate | Rockefeller Foundation
- Vice President | New York City Economic Development Corporation
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?
CONTACT INFORMATION
Wille Administration Building
Room 101
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
212.650.6977
graduateadmissions@ccny.cuny.edu
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IN-PERSON OFFICE HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Reserve your place in line now
VIRTUAL FRONT DESK HOURS
Monday and Thursday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday and Friday Closed
Schedule your virtual appointment now
Last Updated: 08/19/2026 11:03