Master of Public Administration

About the Program

The MPA program in is part of the College of Social Sciences of San Jose State University. San José State University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The Public Administration Program is an accredited member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration. San Jose University's Master of Public Administration program is a 36 unit degree program that admits students in the fall and spring of each year. Our program is primarily in-person, and each class meets one night per week to accommodate both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program in 2 years. Most part-time students complete the program in 3-4 years. We seek to cultivate a diverse student population with different interests and backgrounds in public service, with some who are new to public administration and others who have substantial work experience in the public sector and non-profit organizations. In the AY2024-2025, there are 57 students in the program. A majority of our students are employed within 6 months of graduating from the program, with many holding positions in local government. For the AY 2020-21 cohort, 19% of the students graduated within 2 years and 88% within 4 years of entering the program.

Visit here for a detailed list and history of our alumni placements.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare graduate students, principally in-service professionals, to perform the work of public service and to advance in their careers, especially in Bay Area governments, largely by fostering their knowledge and skills in management and leadership; diversity, equity and inclusion; program, policy, and budgetary analysis; and socializing them in professional, democratic, and constitutional values, ethics and practices; To advance the state of knowledge in public administration and inform our own instruction through scholarly and applied research; and to serve and support public administration and the community of the Silicon Valley and beyond by providing expertise and engaging in professional activity.

Read about our alumni placements.

More details about the program can be found in the New Student Handbook

San Jose University's Master of Public Administration program admits students in the fall and spring of each year. Our program is primarily in-person, and each class meets one night per week to accommodate both full-time and part-time students. We seek to cultivate a diverse student population with different interests and backgrounds in public service, with some who are new to public administration and others who have substantial work experience in the public sector and non-profit organizations.

Please visit here for more information on how to apply for the program

Please visit here to learn more about the latest tuition costs and fees at SJSU

A description of financial aid availability, including assistantships, can be found here.

The MPA program in is part of the College of Social Sciences of San Jose State University. San José State University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The Public Administration Program is an accredited member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration.