Masters in Public Administration Programs in Texas

Public administration is in demand in the Lone Star State because Texas has an extensive state and local government system that manages public functions. Public administrators are problem-solvers who meet complicated challenges in serving the public good. In Texas, some positions available to those with a master’s in public administration include management analyst, city manager, county treasurer, finance director, and economic development administrator. With over 150 state agencies and 254 counties, the job outlook for public administrators is bright in Texas. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, management analyst jobs should increase more than 10% by 2032 – much faster than the national average. Thankfully, the state of Texas has many approved master’s in public administration college and university programs that will help prepare future public administrators for a career in the state.

MPA Programs in Texas

There are 28 master’s in public administration or public affairs programs offered by colleges and universities in the state of Texas. This includes both online and campus-based programs. In Texas, most MPA programs are accredited by either the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), or the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). 

The NASPAA-accredited MPA programs based in Texas will be discussed in the following section of the article, but first, here’s a quick overview of the non-NASPAA-accredited programs in the state of Texas.

NASPAA-accredited MPA Programs in Texas

There are currently thirteen NASPAA-accredited programs in the state of Texas. NASPAA accreditation acknowledges that a master’s degree program in nonprofit or public administration, policy, or affairs has undertaken a rigorous peer review process conducted by the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA). The following list provides a good overview of all the NASPAA-accredited programs in the state of Texas.

Online Masters in Public Administration Programs in Texas

There are 20 online MPA programs in the state of Texas, including six NASPAA-accredited programs that were highlighted above. The 100% online MPA programs include those offered by Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F Austin State University, Strayer University-Texas, Sul Ross State University, Tarleton State University, the University of Texas at Tyler, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of North Texas at Dallas, University of St Thomas, Wayland Baptist University, West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M International University, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Houston, Hobby School.

Accelerated MPA Programs in Texas

For many professionals with big plans, time is of the essence. Luckily, the state of Texas has several accelerated MPA programs. These include the MPA programs at Lamar University, Tarleton State University, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of St Thomas, Wayland Baptist University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of Houston, Hobby School.

These programs offer the option to complete the program in as little as 12 months, and most have online options.

Affordable Masters in Public Administration Programs in Texas

In terms of affordability, the majority of the most affordable MPA programs in the state of Texas are those offered by public institutions. The MPA programs at the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, at $9,993 and $10,652 for the entire program for Texas residents, are the most affordable. Other affordable programs include Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F Austin State University, Sul Ross State University, Tarleton State University, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, University of North Texas at Dallas, West Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, and Texas State University.

No GRE Required Masters in Public Administration Programs in Texas

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools across the United States. However, not all MPA programs in the state of Texas require applicants to take the GRE as a condition for admission. The MPA programs that do not require the GRE in the state of Texas include Strayer University-Texas, Sam Houston State University, Tarleton State University, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of North Texas at Dallas, Wayland Baptist University, West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University, Texas State University, The University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the University of North Texas.

All MPA Programs in Texas

School Name	Degree Program Name	State	City	NASPAA Accredited	Online Degree	Program Link
Sam Houston State University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	San Antonio	No	No	https://www.stmarytx.edu/academics/programs/master-public-administration/
St. Mary's University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Laredo	No	No	https://catalog.tamiu.edu/graduate-information/arts-sciences/social-sciences/master-public-administration-mpa/
Texas A&M International University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	College Station	Yes	Yes	https://bush.tamu.edu/psaa/degrees/mpsa/
Texas A&M University	Master of Public Service and Administration	Texas	Corpus Christi	Yes	Yes	https://www.tamucc.edu/programs/graduate-programs/public-administration-mps.php
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Houston	No	No	https://www.tsu.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/bjml-school-public-affairs/departments/political-science/degrees/master-of-public-administration
Texas Southern University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	San Marcos	No	Yes	http://mycatalog.txstate.edu/graduate/liberal-arts/political-science/public-administration-mpa/
Texas State University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Lubbock	Yes	Yes	https://www.depts.ttu.edu/politicalscience/mpa/
Texas Tech University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Arlington	No	Yes	https://www.uta.edu/academics/programs/public-administration-mpa
The University of Texas at Arlington	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Austin	No	Yes	https://catalog.utexas.edu/graduate/areas-of-study/public-affairs/public-policy/
The University of Texas at Austin	Master Of Public Affairs	Texas	Dallas	No	Yes	https://epps.utdallas.edu/about/programs/public-policy-and-political-economy/
The University of Texas at Dallas	Master Of Public Policy	Texas	Dallas	Yes	No	https://catalog.utdallas.edu/2021/graduate/programs/epps/public-affairs
The University of Texas at Dallas	Master Of Public Affairs	Texas	El Paso	No	Yes	https://www.utep.edu/liberalarts/mpa/
The University of Texas at El Paso	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	El Paso	No	Yes	http://catalog.utep.edu/grad/college-of-liberal-arts/political-science/master-of-public-administration/
The University of Texas at San Antonio	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	San Antonio	No	Yes	https://hcap.utsa.edu/public-administration/
The University of Texas at Tyler	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Tyler	No	No	https://www.uttyler.edu/socialsciences/publicadmin/
University of Houston, Central Campus	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Houston	No	No	https://www.uh.edu/class/mpa/
University of Houston, Hobby School	Master Of Public Policy	Texas	Houston	No	Yes	https://www.uh.edu/hobby/mpp/
University of North Texas	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Denton	No	No	https://www.unt.edu/academics/programs/public-administration-masters.html
University of North Texas	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Denton	No	Yes	https://www.unt.edu/academics/programs/public-administration-masters.html
University of North Texas Dallas	Master of Science in Public Leadership	Texas	Dallas	No	No	https://www.untdallas.edu/las/graduate-programs/ms-public-leadership.php
Tarleton State University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Stephenville	Yes	No	https://www.tarleton.edu/degrees/mpa/
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Master Of Public Affairs	Texas	Edinburg	No	No	https://www.utrgv.edu/pass/graduate/public-administration/index.htm
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Master Of Public Affairs	Texas	Edinburg	No	No	https://www.utrgv.edu/pass/graduate/public-administration/index.htm
West Texas A&M University	Master Of Public Administration	Texas	Canyon	Yes	No	https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-education-social-sciences/department-political-science-criminal-justice/programs/graduate/grad-mpa-program-info.html

What Types of Careers Can I Pursue with an MPA Degree in Texas?

Considering its expansive geography and large population, a place like the state of Texas needs an extensive network of administrators at the local level to work behind the scenes to help communities operate. Public administration specialists are integral parts of the human infrastructure that helps Texas function, from city managers to budget analysts who secure funding for programs.

According to Salary.com, the following are some of the average salaries for careers one can pursue with an MPA in the state of Texas:

CAREER	MEDIAN SALARY IN TEXAS
Budget Analyst	$63,404
City Manager	$110,760
Healthcare Administrator	$83,749
Policy Analyst	$65,967
County Administrator	$114,646