10 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Public Policy in 2021

Eastern Illinois University confers a cheap public policy master's degree that is perfect for pre-service and early-service professionals. This is a 100 percent online degree that can be completed in just one year with full-time study. Students may also choose to study part-time and complete their degree in two years. All courses are delivered asynchronously and are helmed by the same faculty that teach the traditional campus courses. Students will find that the program is flexible and allows for maximum freedom in terms of curriculum and final project choice. The program also allows for students who live close to campus to participate in a hybrid program, which will allow them to be eligible for graduate assistantships; this may help curb the cost of their tuition. Students can expect to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, a thesis or capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include International Policy Issues, Public Policy Analysis, and City and Urban Policy.

The MPA provided by Valdosta State University is a 100 percent online program that comes with three concentrations, including Public Sector Management, Public Sector Human Resource Management, and Public Policy. This program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. Students will find that all courses are delivered asynchronously through the school's virtual portal and can be completed on their own schedule. The only exception to this is the program's requirement of a 300-hour internship that takes place in a government agency, a non-profit organization, or a non-governmental organization. This experience will be completed in a student's area of residence and must be approved by the department prior to participation. Students will be expected to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, a research paper, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Administrative Law, Trends and Issues in Public Policy, and Research Methods for Public Policy.

The online Master's in Public Policy from the University of Nebraska at Omaha is an exceptional professional program that has been offered online since 2000. It is also the first online MPA to be accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. Students who take on this degree will find that the program is accompanied by six concentrations, include Public Policy, Local Government, and Public Management. It is also possible to specialize in Criminology and Criminal Justice. This program is conferred online through asynchronous and synchronous courses; however, there is a mandatory one-day on-campus residency orientation program. Students will find that the courses within the curriculum are taught by the same nationally renown professors and instructors who deliver the courses on campus. This degree requires 39 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Analysis and Decision Making, Organization Theory and Behavior, and Policy Design and Implementation.

The University of Missouri at Columbia is home to Mizzou Online, the university system's virtual portal. It is here that students will be able to earn an online public policy master's degree. The MPA at this school is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. This is a 100 percent online program that delivers its courses on a nine-week term schedule and through both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Courses are also taught by the same professors and instructors who teach the courses online. Students are treated to a comprehensive program that covers research methods within public policy, government, processes, and economic analysis. Students who choose to study part-time will find that they can complete all the requirements for the degree in around two years. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Organizational Dynamics and Leadership, Public Policy Processes and Strategies, and Public Service and Democracy.

Students at Indiana University are offered an online Master's in Public Policy that melds the foundations of both public administration and policy into a comprehensive program. This is a 100 percent online program that offers an optional SPEA Connect Week, a week-long residency for online students. Students will complete their coursework online through asynchronous courses and synchronous seminars, all of which culminate in an experiential component. The component can include an independent research project, prior professional experience, volunteer service, or an internship that is approved by the department. Students will find that the majority of their degree program will focus on their specific fields of interest; this accounts for more than half of all credit hours required for this program. Degree requirements include a minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework, the experiential component, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Public Management Economics, Public Finance and Budgeting, and Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making.

Regent University offers students an online Master's in Public Policy alternative. This degree offers students a governmental perspective on how policy is crafted and implemented, giving them the opportunity to learn how their career can positively influence policy in a variety of different fields. This is a 100 percent online degree plan, with students receiving their degree through asynchronous and synchronous courses, and requires no residencies on campus. Students may opt to complete an internship, but this can be completed in their own community upon the approval of the school. While there are no set concentrations available, students will find that they can focus on Biblical Public Policy, Foreign Policy, and Governmental Policy through the concentration course electives offered by the school. The degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, a thesis or final project, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include International Relations Theory, American Political Thought, and International and Comparative Human Rights.

Students at Grand Canyon University are offered an excellent public policy master's online program that focuses on building up leadership and administrative skills in all areas of the field. This is a 100 percent online degree that is delivered both asynchronously and synchronously by the same professors and instructors who teach the course on campus. Courses are also delivered in an eight-week format, making it possible for students to complete this Veteran Affairs-approved program in around two years with part-time study. Students will be expected to complete 38 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written and oral exam; there is no thesis or capstone project required. Sample courses include Public and Non-Profit Ad

Walden University confers an online Master's in Public Policy that blends theory and application into a well-rounded program. Utilizing a virtual city that grounds the program's curriculum, students will learn how to use their analytical and research skills to develop a comprehensive foundation of knowledge in the political institutions and processes that help create public policy. This online program offers 11 different concentrations, including Law and Public Policy, Terrorism Mediation and Peace, and International Nongovernmental Organizations. Students will find that the program is delivered through asynchronous and synchronous delivery methods online and may be able to complete their degree in around two years with full-time study. Students will be required to complete at least 48 quarter credit hours without a specialization, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Public Policy and Finance, Governance and Public Policy, and Policy and Politics in American Political Institutions.

The online Master's in Public Policy that is available from Oregon State University is one of the best programs for entry-level and mid-career professionals who are already working in the field. This is a program that is dedicated to ensuring that this 100 percent online program meets the same academic standard of excellence as its traditional program; to this end, the online degree follows the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administrations guidelines and principles. Students can choose from four public policy concentrations, including Energy Policy, Environmental Policy, Rural Policy, and Social Policy. There are also six graduate certifications, ranging from Public Health to Sustainable Natural Resources, that may be taken in lieu of a concentration that will provide students with an additional certification as well as the degree. Students will find that all courses are available through the school's virtual portal and are delivered in an asynchronous format for their convenience. Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 46 credit hours of coursework for the general degree and 58 credit hours with an added concentration, an applied capstone project, and a comprehensive oral exam. Sample courses include Public Organizations and Leadership, Understanding Social Research, and Public Policy Analysis.

SUNY Empire State College offers students a great Master's in Public Policy online degree. The program is designed for professionals who wish to work in a variety of sectors that require knowledge of governmental and organizational policy. Students will learn how to analyze and implement policies, learn how policies affect different populations, and focus on an area of specialization. The program offers the chance to earn an advanced certificate in nine areas, including Child and Family Advocacy, Social Entrepreneurship, and Non-Profit Management. This program is mostly conferred online, with three courses requiring residency at the campus. All other courses are delivered asynchronously and the entire degree can be completed in two years with year-round study. Students will be required to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, a thesis or professional project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Social Policy Perspectives, Ethical Issues in Social Policy, and Policy Implementation.