Cost of MPA / MPP Education
Pursuing an MPA/MPP degree in the United States may be expensive, but has proven to be a worthwhile investment.
The number of professionals with undergraduate degrees has been steadily increasing. In the current highly competitive job market, employers are actively seeking professionals with MPA/MPP degrees for middle and upper management positions. This valuable Master’s degree provides a competitive advantage and differentiates MPA/MPP degree holders from job candidates holding only a bachelors degree.
Your decision to pursue the MPA/MPP degree should include an assessment of the short-term costs and the long term benefits of graduate education. The benefits of the MPA/MPP include but are not limited to competitive advantages in the job market, improved possibilities for promotions and career advancement, better pay and fringe benefits, professional recognition and visibility, and the acquisition of advanced skills and expertise in your field.
Cost Details and Monthly Maintenance Rate
The cost of graduate education in the U.S. consists of tuition, health insurance, housing, food, transportation and miscellaneous expenses, which varies by university and location. Therefore, it is important that you find out the total cost of education for your preferred MPA/MPP schools and the associated cost of living in university campuses prior to applying. You can check the tuition and the cost of living for your preferred MPA/MPP schools using our school database. Learn More
In some universities / colleges tuition rates differ for residents and non-residents (including international students). The tuition for residents is usually lower than for non-residents. You may qualify for a resident tuition rate in the second year of your graduate education. Check with your preferred MPA/MPP school to learn whether international students can qualify for resident tuition rates after one year of residency.
Please check the table below for estimates of the cost of living known as the Monthly Maintenance Rate (MMR) for campuses in major U.S. cities. Note that MMR includes housing, food, communication and miscellaneous expenses. It does not include tuition and fees. Many scholarship programs calculate their student stipends based upon these rates. Note that the actual monthly maintenance rate in your preferred schools might differ slightly form these estimates. MMR does not include tuition cost and fees.
MONTHLY MAINTENANCE RATES (MMR) FOR 2006-2007 in SOME MAJOR U.S. CAMPUS LOCATIONS
(factors included: housing, food, communication, miscellaneous expenses)
|
City/Town
|
MMR
|
|
Alfred, NY
|
$ 1,215
|
|
Amherst, MA
|
$ 1,535
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI
|
$ 1,365
|
|
Athens, GA
|
$ 1,040
|
|
Atlanta, GA
|
$ 1,315
|
|
Austin, TX
|
$ 1,075
|
|
Baltimore, MD
|
$ 1,480
|
|
Birmingham, AL
|
$ 1,040
|
|
Bloomington, IN
|
$ 1,055
|
|
Boston (Camb.)
|
$ 1,880
|
|
Boulder, CO
|
$ 1,205
|
|
Bridgeport, CT
|
$ 1,535
|
|
Burlington, VT
|
$ 1,215
|
|
Brookville, NY
|
$ 1,535
|
|
Champaign, IL
|
$ 1,085
|
|
Chapel Hill, NC
|
$ 1,140
|
|
Charlottesville, VA
|
$ 1,040
|
|
Chicago, IL
|
$ 1,570
|
|
Cincinnati, OH
|
$ 1,070
|
|
Cleveland, OH
|
$ 1,100
|
|
College Park, MD
|
$ 1,480
|
|
Columbus, OH
|
$ 1,055
|
|
Dallas, TX
|
$ 1,215
|
|
Davis, CA
|
$ 1,240
|
|
Dayton, OH
|
$ 1,055
|
|
Denver, CO
|
$ 1,205
|
|
Durham, NC
|
$ 1,400
|
|
Evanston, IL
|
$ 1,570
|
|
Fresno, CA
|
$ 1,240
|
|
Gainesville, FL
|
$ 1,040
|
|
Honolulu, HI
|
$ 1,475
|
|
Houston, TX
|
$ 1,215
|
|
Indianapolis, IN
|
$ 1,055
|
|
Iowa City, IA
|
$ 1,085
|
|
Ithaca, NY
|
$ 1,215
|
|
Las Vegas, NV
|
$ 1,130
|
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
$ 1,530
|
|
Madison, WI
|
$ 1,560
|
|
Miami, FL
|
$ 1,510
|
|
Milwaukee, WI
|
$ 1,055
|
|
Minneapolis, MI
|
$ 1,325
|
|
Nashville, TN
|
$ 1,040
|
|
Newark, NJ
|
$ 1,585
|
|
New Haven, CT
|
$ 1,535
|
|
New Orleans, LA
|
$ 1,300
|
|
New York, NY
|
$ 1,705
|
|
Philadelphia, PA
|
$ 1,480
|
|
Pittsburg, PA
|
$ 1,165
|
|
Portland, OR
|
$ 1,175
|
|
Princeton, NJ
|
$ 1,585
|
|
Providence, RI
|
$ 1,535
|
|
San Diego, CA
|
$ 1,605
|
|
Santa Barbara, CA
|
$ 1,550
|
|
San Francisco, CA
|
$ 1,700
|
|
Seattle, WA
|
$ 1,195
|
|
Tucson, AZ
|
$ 1,130
|
|
Washington, DC
|
$ 1,505
|
|
Wichita, KS
|
$ 1,055
|
|
If student /scholar is accompanied by:
|
Multiply the MMR:
|
|
1 dependent
|
1.5
|
|
2 dependents
|
1.7
|
|
3 dependents
|
1.9
|
