Introduction
When considering Rhode Island for pursuing an MPA degree, the state’s small size and unique mix of urban and rural environments offer several distinct advantages for students. Rhode Island is home to several prestigious universities, including Roger Williams University in Bristol, the University of Rhode Island (URI) in Kingston, and Brown University in Providence. These institutions offer strong MPA programs with dedicated faculty and a supportive learning environment.
Key State Takeaways:
- Total MPA Programs Statewide: 3
- NASPAA-Accredited Programs: 1
- Annual Resident Tuition Average: $14,000 (PYR)
- Annual Non-Resident Tuition Average: $25,400 (PYR)
- Program Formats Offered: On-campus, hybrid, and online
- Average Starting Salary: $65,000
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- No GRE/GMAT Required
- 100% Online
- HLC Accredited
Walden University
Online Public Policy and Administration Programs
Walden University’s Public Administration programs are taught by a distinguished faculty of scholar-practitioners, many of whom have senior-executive experience in government and public service. Programs include:
- No GRE/GMAT Required
- Top Ranked
- Built for Leaders
Arizona State University
Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
ASU’s Online Master of Public Administration provides students with a curriculum that covers leadership strategies, ethical decision-making, and effective management across various organizations.
- Transfer Credits Accepted
- Military Friendly
- 100% Online
Purdue Global
Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Purdue Global’s Online MPA is designed to help practicing and aspiring administrators develop skills and techniques to provide leadership in a wide variety of public service fields.
- Affordable
- Transfer Credits Accepted
- Accredited Program
Liberty University
Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Liberty University’s Master’s Degree in Public Administration Online is designed to equip students with a thorough background in the theories and practices essential for success in government and nonprofit roles. MPA areas of focus include:
- Accredited Programs
- Affordable Degrees
- 100% Online
Southern New Hampshire University
Online Public Administration & Political Science Degrees
Stand up and be counted with a degree in public administration/political science from Southern New Hampshire University—and learn how to facilitate change from within the system. Program offerings include:
MPA Programs in Rhode Island
Rhode Island, and specifically Bristol, Kingston, and Providence, offers MPA students a combination of strong educational institutions, diverse economy, access to cultural and professional opportunities, high quality of life, and supportive communities. These factors make Rhode Island an appealing option for students looking to pursue a graduate degree in public administration:
The University of Rhode Island
- Kingston, RI.
- 36 Credit Hours
- Online
Program:
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Program Overview:
URI’s MPA is a fully online, accelerated 36-credit program built for working professionals. Courses run in 7-week modules across Fall, Spring, and Summer, and the degree is organized around stackable graduate certificates plus a required capstone. The curriculum emphasizes management, budgeting/finance, analytics, ethics, and public-service values, with many students finishing in under two years. The program earned NASPAA accreditation in 2024, the first MPA in Rhode Island to do so.
Unique Components:
- Degree Tracks: Certificate-driven plan of study—students complete the core Public Administration & Policy certificate and then choose Public Management and/or Policy Analysis (you may complete both). URI also offers a “Blue MPA” option that pairs the MPA with the Ocean Policy & Science or Ocean Science graduate certificate; the Community Planning certificate can also be layered in.
- Curriculum: 36 credits total. Core courses include PSC 501 (Seminar), PSC 502 (Diversity & Inclusion), PSC 504 (Ethics); the research-intensive PSC 592 Capstone is required (PSC 501/502/504 are prerequisites). Students round out credits with their chosen certificate(s) and approved electives; PSC 590 Internship is available.
Key Data Highlights:
- Format: Online only
- Accreditation: NASPAA, NECHE
- Credit Hours: 36
- GRE: Not required
- Tuition: $918 (PCH)
- Acceptance Rate: 77.1%
- Enrollment: 15,778 (total)
Other Considerations:
- Capstone projects address applied public-sector problems; URI highlights recurring internship opportunities with Rhode Island agencies and nonprofits each term.
- The 7-week calendar and frequent course rotations make scheduling flexible for mid-career students. The certificate structure lets you build depth in management and finance or policy analysis, or add coastal/ocean content via the Blue MPA.
Roger Williams University
- Providence and Bristol, RI.
- 36 Credit Hours
- Online + Hybrid
Program:
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Program Overview:
The RWU MPA offers a highly accessible and mission-driven pathway into public administration, blending academic rigor with ethical governance, civic engagement, and adaptability for working professionals. Rooted in the School of Justice Studies, the program emphasizes accountability, transparency, ethics, privacy, and active public participation.
What sets RWU apart is its deep integration with community-based learning: through the Community Partnerships Center, students engage in project-based collaborations with nonprofits and government agencies across Rhode Island, tackling real-world issues alongside community stakeholders.
Unique Components:
- Degree Tracks: Students tailor their degree through Public Management or Healthcare Administration—each with coursework that builds managerial, policy, and sector-specific skills for government and nonprofit roles.
- Curriculum: With a 36-credit curriculum that includes an internship or research requirement and a student-designed capstone, RWU equips students to manage public organizations, engage in policy processes, and communicate effectively across diverse communities.
- Real-World Experience: Experiential learning is reinforced by the Community Connections orientation and leadership in civic media through the Communities of Hope Civic Media initiative.
Key Data Highlights:
- Format: Online, hybrid
- Accreditation: NECHE
- Credit Hours: 36
- GRE: Not required
- Tuition: $1,091 (PCH)
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Enrollment: N/A
Other Considerations:
- RWU highlights applied, community-facing capstones and projects (e.g., SASH presentations, CPC work) that strengthen portfolios for roles in local government, nonprofits, and healthcare administration.
- RWU and the School of Justice Studies host the Public Service & Leadership Conference, creating networking with practitioners, alumni, and ASPA chapter members.
Brown University
- Providence, RI.
- 10 Credit Hours
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Public Affairs (MPA)
Program Overview:
Brown’s MPA is a singular, one-year, full-time residential program offered by an Ivy League research institution, designed for high-achieving individuals looking for rapid immersion in public affairs leadership.
Housed within the interdisciplinary Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, the curriculum blends rigorous training in quantitative methods, policy analysis, management, and leadership with flexible specialization options that allow students to pursue their own track or focus on areas such as data analysis, security, inequality, or economic policy.
Unique Components:
- Experiential Learning: A key differentiator is the Policy‑in‑Action Project, where students collaborate with real-world institutions—spanning public, private, and nonprofit sectors—to address pressing challenges and deliver tangible solutions.
- Accelerated Tracks: An accelerated 5th-Year MPA option is also available to qualifying Brown undergraduates, offering a seamless transition from undergraduate to MPA-level study.
Key Data Highlights:
- Format: In-person (cohort)
- Accreditation: NECHE
- Credit Hours: 10 (12 courses)
- GRE: Not required
- Tuition: $8,445 (PCH)
- Acceptance Rate: 5.65%
- Enrollment: N/A
Other Considerations:
- The program offers merit-based scholarships, dedicated career coaching, and network access to global thought leaders, making it ideal for students aiming to accelerate into high-impact roles in policymaking and public leadership.
- Rather than rigid concentrations, Brown offers specializations assembled through electives (e.g., Data & Policy Analysis, Management/Leadership, Policy Design & Delivery) or a custom path tailored to your interests. A dual-degree MPH/MPA is also available (typically two years).
ADVERTISEMENT
- No GRE/GMAT Required
- 100% Online
- HLC Accredited
Walden University
Online Public Policy and Administration Programs
Walden University’s Public Administration programs are taught by a distinguished faculty of scholar-practitioners, many of whom have senior-executive experience in government and public service. Programs include:
- No GRE/GMAT Required
- Top Ranked
- Built for Leaders
Arizona State University
Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
ASU’s Online Master of Public Administration provides students with a curriculum that covers leadership strategies, ethical decision-making, and effective management across various organizations.
- Transfer Credits Accepted
- Military Friendly
- 100% Online
Purdue Global
Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Purdue Global’s Online MPA is designed to help practicing and aspiring administrators develop skills and techniques to provide leadership in a wide variety of public service fields.
- Affordable
- Transfer Credits Accepted
- Accredited Program
Liberty University
Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Liberty University’s Master’s Degree in Public Administration Online is designed to equip students with a thorough background in the theories and practices essential for success in government and nonprofit roles. MPA areas of focus include:
- Accredited Programs
- Affordable Degrees
- 100% Online
Southern New Hampshire University
Online Public Administration & Political Science Degrees
Stand up and be counted with a degree in public administration/political science from Southern New Hampshire University—and learn how to facilitate change from within the system. Program offerings include:
Accreditation Details
NASPAA (the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) is the global program-level accreditor for public service master’s degrees. In Rhode Island, the University of Rhode Island (URI) MPA is NASPAA-accredited—the first program in the state to earn this status.
Other Rhode Island programs—such as Roger Williams University’s MPA and Brown’s one-year MPA (public affairs)—are NASPAA members and state that their curricula are built around NASPAA competency standards, even though they are not NASPAA-accredited at this time.
Career Outlook
In Rhode Island, MPA graduates have unique opportunities to work in a variety of roles that are specific to the state’s economy, geography, and government structure. Some of these unique job opportunities include:
- Coastal Management Specialist: Rhode Island is known for its extensive coastline and is a leader in coastal management and resilience. MPA graduates can work as coastal management specialists, helping to develop and implement policies and programs to protect and enhance the state’s coastal resources.
- Historic Preservation Officer: Rhode Island has a rich history and is home to many historic sites and buildings. MPA graduates can work as historic preservation officers, overseeing efforts to preserve and protect Rhode Island’s historic landmarks and promote heritage tourism.
- Renewable Energy Program Manager: Rhode Island is committed to renewable energy and has set ambitious goals for expanding renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. MPA graduates can work as program managers, leading efforts to promote and develop renewable energy projects in the state.
- Health Equity Coordinator: Rhode Island is known for its innovative approaches to healthcare and has a strong focus on health equity. MPA graduates can work as health equity coordinators, developing and implementing policies and programs to address health disparities and improve health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders.
- Nonprofit Capacity Builder: Rhode Island has a vibrant nonprofit sector that plays a key role in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges in the state. MPA graduates can work as nonprofit capacity builders, providing support and resources to nonprofit organizations to help them achieve their missions more effectively.
All MPA Programs in Rhode Island
| School Name | Degree Program Name | State | City | NASPAA Accredited | Online Degree | Program Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Master Of Public Affairs | Rhode Island | Providence | No | No | https://graduateprograms.brown.edu/graduate-program/public-affairs-mpa |
| Roger Williams University | Master Of Public Administration | Rhode Island | Bristol | No | No | https://www.rwu.edu/graduate/programs/graduate-programs/public-administration-mpa |
| University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College | Master Of Public Administration | Rhode Island | Kingston | No | No | https://www.ric.edu/department-directory/department-political-science/public-administration-ba |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which Rhode Island program is NASPAA-accredited?
A: The University of Rhode Island (URI) MPA is NASPAA-accredited. Brown (MPA) and Roger Williams (MPA) are NASPAA members but not accredited.
Q: Do these programs require the GRE?
A: URI doesn’t require the GRE. Brown’s is optional (quant résumé if no scores), and RWU does not list a GRE requirement.
Q: Can I study fully online?
A: Yes—URI is fully online in accelerated 7-week modules, and RWU offers hybrid/online options. Brown’s one-year MPA is in-person.
Q: What are the capstone/experiential pieces?
A: URI includes a capstone with applied options. RWU uses internship/research plus a directed-study capstone, and Brown has a Policy-in-Action project with real clients.
Q: NASPAA vs. regional accreditation—what’s the difference?
A: NASPAA accredits the specific public service program. Regional accreditors (e.g., NECHE) accredit the university as a whole.
Q: How long do these programs take?
A: Brown is one year full-time. URI and RWU are typically 18–24 months full-time (faster or slower depending on pace and transferables).
Q: Where can I verify current accreditation?
A: Check NASPAA’s annual roster of accredited programs (updated each academic year). Schools also note accreditation status on their program pages.
