Careers

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the MPA Program build careers in public service. 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.

Career Advancement

Since completing the MPA Program, alumni have substantially advanced in their careers:

• 43% now hold executive and director-level positions, such as Chief of Staff, VP of Government Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Staff
• 31% hold specialist, analyst, and advisor roles, including Attorney Advisor, Policy Analyst, and Program Analyst
• 60% now supervise or manage other people
• 69% reported at least one type of professional advancement—including promotions, increased responsibility, or expanded decision-making authority

Salary Growth

The MPA Program has a measurable impact on alumni earning potential. Before entering the program, 61% of alumni earned less than $50,000 annually. Today, 74% earn $75,000 or more, with the largest share (36%) earning between $100,000–$125,000.

88% of alumni credit the degree with shaping their career trajectory.

Alumni Career Snapshot

MPA alumni hold roles in budget and finance, policy analysis, program management and evaluation, agency operations, and oversight and compliance. The following are examples of positions our alumni currently hold:

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

Professional Development Program

The MPA Program requires students to actively work on their own professional development while in the program. This expectation demonstrates our program’s commitment to developing professional skills and capabilities so that students can lead impactful careers in public service to advance social change. The MPA Professional Development (PD) program runs parallel to academic coursework and includes in-person PD workshops, a work experience requirement, and an intentionally sequenced series of deliverables.