Our Mission
The MPA program's mission is to develop ethical professionals and leaders committed to the public interest, and capable of making significant contributions to the practice and scholarship of public and non-profit administration.
What is an MPA degree?
MPA is a professional degree program that integrates theory and real world practice of public administration to prepare you for work in the public or nonprofit sectors. This highly marketable degree produces leaders with skills and passion to become effective administrators.
Despite the economy's ups and downs, demand remains high for skilled and trained public administration professionals. Urban Planning was even named a "Hot Job for the 21st Century" by the US Department of Labor.
We welcome potential students of all ages and backgrounds to apply the MPA program at East Tennessee State University! Let our education strengthen your future!
Career Outlook with an MPA degree
Public administration jobs can be found in the following industries:
- Local, state and federal government agencies - state and city government, Department of Transportation, Department of Economic and Community Department etc.
- Nonprofit organizations – Youth Corps, Salvation Army, United Way, etc.
- Private Business – Consulting businesses, human resources, etc.
Over 90 percent of the alumni of the MPA program at ETSU are currently employed in some aspect of public management, with over two-thirds holding positions in urban administration. Approximately a third of the alumni are city managers or town administrators. Others serve as planners, financial and personnel officers, federal and state civil servants, managers and administrative officers of non-profit and private sector organizations, and other occupations connected with urban affairs. Given the expansion of professional management in many areas of public administration, the prospects for graduates of the program are excellent
Followings are salary ranges for MPA graduates from entry level to more senior level. Note that salaries for these positions vary greatly due location, work experience, industry sector, and other factors.
Position |
Sector |
Salary |
| Local Government Analyst | State/Local Gov | $26,000 – $45,000 |
| Program Coordinator | Nonprofit | $30,000 – $48,000 |
| Program Assistant/Manager | Nonprofit | $32,000 – $63,000 |
| Policy Analyst | Nonprofit/Government | $40,000 – $68,000 |
| Statistician | Nonprofit/Government | $46,000 – $65,000 |
| Research Associate | NP/Gov/Private | $45,000 – $60,000 |
| Marketing/PA Specialist | NP/Gov/Private | $66,000 – $85,000 |
| City Manager/Chief Administrative Officer | State/Local Gov | $101,000 – $108,000 |
Source: Indeed.com
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:
- Articulate and apply a public values perspective
- Analyze and evaluate public policies and initiate solutions for the future
- Apply organizational theory and develop leadership in public governance
- Participate and contribute to the policy process
- Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry