Serve better.
Master of Public Administration Program Data
Historical Information about enrollment numbers, graduation rates, completion rates, demographics, and graduate employment rates can be found in the chart below.
The graduation rate for 2022 can be found in the Exit Survey Results. (below)
Here's a breakdown of where recent GovState MPA grads found employment:
MPA Job Placement Data for 2017-2023
| Placement Status | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| National or central government in the same country as the program | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| State, provincial, or regional government in the same country as the program | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 3 |
| City, County, or other local government in the same country as the program | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 4 |
| Government not in the same country as the program (all levels) or international quasi-governmental | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nonprofit domestic-oriented | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Nonprofit/NGOs internationally-oriented | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Private Sector - Research/Consulting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Private Sector but not research/ consulting | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Obtaining further education | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Military Service | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unemployed (not seeking employment) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unemployed (seeking employment) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Status Unknown | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 11 | 4 | 33 | 10 | 14 |
*Data for 2020 is not available.
MPA Internship Placement for 2023-2024
The MPA program internship (PADM-8880) is an elective 3-credit hour course. This practical exposure is an essential part of the program's commitment to delivering high-quality education and encouraging diversity, and civic engagement. It is designed to offer students practical experience to complement their academic training and prepare them for careers in the nonprofit sector, government, and private organizations serving public entities. By providing internships in various sectors, the program ensures that MPA students can put their theoretical knowledge into practice, thereby enhancing their skills in public administration, finance, ethics, budgeting, and strategic planning. These internships also emphasize ethical practices and effective problem-solving, which are integral components of the curriculum.
Some examples of internship placement for AY23-24 include such organizations as the City of Oak Forest and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation.
Graduation Rates
Degrees awarded by the program during 2022: 10
5-Year Cohort Graduation Rates
Fall 2017 – Spring / Summer 2022
Total Number of Students in the ARY-5 Cohort | Initially Enrolled | Graduated within 2 years | Graduated within 3 years | Graduated within 4 years | Total Students Graduated and Persisting to Graduation |
| 29 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 19 |
Student Exit Questionnaire Results (AY 2022-2023)
Overall Program Satisfaction: In AY 2022-2023, the program satisfaction remained high, with 55.5% of respondents rating it as "Excellent," and 44.5% rating it as "Good."
Strengths Identified by Respondents: The survey responses highlighted several strengths of the MPA program, including faculty quality, student support, and diversity. These strengths were emphasized by comments from respondents, acknowledging the program's flexibility, dedication of professors, course content, and support in various life situations.
Universal Competencies AssessmentThe analysis of the exit surveys for AY 2022-2023 revealed the following results for each of the five universal competencies:
- Competence 1 (Lead and Manage in Public Governance): 55.5% strongly agreed, 33.3% agreed, and 11.2% were unsure.
- Competence 2 (Participate in and Contribute to Public Policy Process): 77.7% strongly agreed, 22.3% agreed.
- Competence 3 (Analyze, Synthesize, Think Critically, Solve Problems, and Make Decisions): 55.6% strongly agreed, 44.4% agreed.
- Competence 4 (Articulate and Apply a Public Service Perspective; Ethically and Politically Inclusive): 77.7% strongly agreed, 11.2% agreed, 11.1% were unsure.
- Competence 5 (Communicate and Interact Productively with a Diverse and Changing Workforce and Citizenry): 77.7% strongly agreed, 22.3% agreed.
Direct Measurement of Universal Competency 4: The program conducted an assessment for Universal Competency 4 (Articulate and Apply a Public Service Perspective; Ethically and Politically Inclusive) in AY 2022-2023. The results showed that students achieved the Milestone level of proficiency in all four categories under this competency. The rubric-based assessment for Universal Competency 4 yielded the following scores:
- Recognizes complex, multi-layered intergovernmental relationships: 3.66
- Formulates solutions that are ethically and politically inclusive: 3.42
- Prepares a comprehensive plan for a local municipality: 3.43
Qualitative Responses The responses were the following:
- “Thank you for a wonderful experience and education. The patience and guidance I received was great”,
- “Wonderful professors”;
- “Hands on experience is great and having guest speakers that have professions in the many fields of public Administration”;
- “Flexibility of class times and schedules”;
- “Availability of faculty, person centered advising, and administrative support”;
- “Thank you for the flexibility of the program. For allowing me to split my dual degree to accommodate the real-life issues I was undergoing at the time. Thank you for understanding the issues I have undergone while undergoing this program from faculty leaving me hanging to having to fight to keep my home in a deconversion situation to issues at work. It was greatly appreciated as this program completion was weighing heavy on my mind the entire time.”;
- “Professor's dedication to the students; Availability of professors to help students; Course content”;
- “Good communication with advisor (s). Flexible class schedule.”;
- “Knowledgeable and supportive faculty, relevant content.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
How much does tuition cost?
You can use our tuition estimator to figure out how much tuition may cost for your degree/course plans.
What financial aid is available to help me pay tuition?
There is more than one way to fund your education. You can learn about the different types of financial aid or you can learn about the various scholarships available. If you have any other financial aid concerns, you can visit the Financial Aid Office’s webpage and GSU4U to learn about the services they offer to support student success.
How long will it take me to complete this degree?
Courses are scheduled on-campus, online, and at external sites so that a full time student (enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per term) could complete the program in seven semesters.
Students will receive guidance from their academic advisors to ensure they're on the best path towards graduation and prepared for life beyond GSU.
How many credit hours are required for degree completion?
The Academic Catalog provides the current program details on course work and total credit hours.
Can I “fast-track” to complete the degree in less time?
Students who believe they have substantial experience that could contribute to a quicker route toward program completion should arrange a meeting with the Program Coordinator to discuss the possibility.
Where can I work with my MPA?
Students can work closely with the Program Coordinator and the Office of Career Services to assure that the internship placement will best meet their future career needs.
Dr. Mary Bruce, MPA Program Coordinator
I am excited about educating and inspiring the next generation of public service leaders. It is an honor to teach students to value public administration, ethics, and social equity in an ever-changing global, technological, and diverse society.
Chief Michael Jones, Matteson Police Department
As a Police Chief, I am always facing new challenges. This degree is helping me to be a more effective leader and to see future opportunities in village administration or education. I am committed to teaching 21st century policing and de-escalation techniques. The MPA program has made me a better communicator, which is critical in any de-escalation scenario.”