The value of the master of public administration (MPA) degree is arguably a big question in public administration graduate education. This exploratory study of a national sample employs four outcome measures of master’s-level education, including return on educational investment (ROI), willingness to recommend degree program to others, salary, and satisfaction with salary. Furthermore, this research draws distinctions between MPAs and those who work for government but hold the competitive MBA degree. Additional insights are gained by restating the ROI measure as either pass/fail. Advice is derived for MPA programs. The results buttress NASPAA’s call for program assessment based on outcome measures.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AdamsWilliam C. (1983). “Reputation, Size, and Student Success in Public Administration/Affairs Programs.” Public Administration Review, 43(5):443–446.
2.
AllenTammy D.EbyLillian T.. 2004. “Factors Related to Mentor Reports of Mentoring Functions Provided: Gender and Relational Characteristics.” Sex Roles, 50(1, 2):129–139.
3.
AndersonDavidDesaiAnandDeShonDavidFryBrian. 1991. “The NASPAA Alumni Survey Pilot: Design and Analysis.” American Review of Public Administration, 21(3):205–236.
4.
AristiguetaMariaGomesKimberly M. B.. 2006. “Assessing Performance in NASPAA Graduate Programs,” Journal of Public Affairs Education, 12(1):1–18.
5.
BaldwinJ. Norman. 1988. “Comparison of Perceived Effectiveness of MPA Programs Administered Under Different Institutional Arrangements.” Public Administration Review, 48(5):876–884.
6.
BrewerGene A.WJamesDouglasRex L. FacerIIO’TooleLaurence J.. 1999. “Determinants of Graduate Research Productivity in Doctoral Programs of Public Administration.” Public Administration Review, 59(5):373–382.
7.
DanielsMark R.JohansenElaine. 1985. “Role of Accreditation in the Development of Public Administration as a Profession: A Theoretical and Empirical Assessment.” Public Administration Quarterly, 8(4):419–441.
8.
DanielsMark R.JohansenElaine. 1987. “NASPAA Accreditation, and the Perceptions of Program Directors.” American Review of Public Administration, 17(4):79–85.
9.
DenhardtRobert B.2001. “The Big Questions of Public Administration Education.” Public Administration Review, 61(5):526–534.
10.
DennisHarry C.1984. “Standards for PA Education.” The Bureaucrat, 13:29–35.
11.
DouglasJames. W.1996. “Faculty, Graduate Student, and Graduate Productivity in Public Administration and Public Affairs Programs.” Public Administration Review, 56(5):433–440.
12.
DouglasJames. W.1997. “Response to Guyot, Rohrbaugh, and Andersen.” Public Administration Review, 57(3):273.
13.
DurantRobert F.TaggartWilliam A.. 1985. “Mid-Career Students in MPA Programs: Implications for Pre-Service Student Education.” Public Administration Review, 45(2):301–308.
FredericksonH. George. 2001.b. “Reflections on Ranking Master’s Degrees in Public Affairs: The Search for Reputational Capital.” Journal of Public Affairs Education, 7(2):65–71.
16.
GibsonFrankHildrethW. Bartley. 1977. “The Challenge of Professional Development: Teaching Public Administrators at the Graduate Level.” Southern Review of Public Administration, 1(1):62–73.
17.
GolembiewskiRobert T.1997. “Letter to the Editor: Response to Rohrbaugh and Andersen.” Public Administration Review, 57(5):464.
18.
GabrisGerald T.MitchellKenneth. 1989. “Exploring the Relationships Between Intern Job Performance, Quality of Education Experience, and Career Placement.” Public Administration Quarterly, 12(4):484–504.
19.
GolembiewskiRobert T.1979. “The Near-Future of Graduate Public Administration Programs in U. S.: Some Program Minima, Their Common Violation, and Some Priority Palliatives.” Southern Review of Public Administration, 3(3):323–359.
20.
GrahamGeorge A.1941. Education for Public Administration, published for the Committee on Public Administration of the Social Science Research Council, Public Administration Service, Chicago.
21.
GrodeGeorgeHolzerMarc. 1975. “The Perceived Utility of MPA Degrees.” Public Administration Review, 35(4):403–412.
22.
GuyotJames F.1997. “Whence Public Administration?” Public Administration Review, 57(3):373.
23.
HendersonDee W.1985. “Enlightened Mentoring: A Characteristic of Public Management Professionalism.” Public Administration Review, 45(6):857–863.
24.
HoustonDavid J.2006. “‘Walking the Walk’ of Public Service Motivation: Public Employees and Charitable Gifts of Time, Blood, and Money.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory16(1):67–86.
25.
IshidaHiroshiSpilermanSeymourSuK-H. 1997. Educational Credentials and Promoting Chances in Japanese and American Organizations. American Sociological Review, 62:866–882.
26.
KingCheryl SimrellBrittonKathleenMissikEugenia. 1996. “MPA Alumni Assessment of Perceived Educational Outcomes: The ‘Value’ of the MPA.” Journal of Public Administration Education, 2(2): 43–158.
27.
KramKatheryn E.1985. Mentoring at Work. Developmental Relationships in Organizational Life. Glenview, Ill.: Scott-Foresman.
28.
KuoKent. 2000. The Power of Mentoring. Educational Review, 35(2):8–11.
29.
LevineCharles H.KleemanRosslyn S.. 1992. “The Quiet Crisis in the American Public Service.” In IngrahamPatricia W.KettlDonald F., Agenda for Excellence: Public Service in America. Chatham, NJ: Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 208–274.
30.
LewisGregory B.1987. “How Much Is an MPA Worth? Public Administration Education and Federal Career Success.” International Journal of Public Administration, 9(4):397–415.
31.
LewisGregory B.1994. “Race, Sex, and Occupational Segregation in State and Local Governments.” American Review of Public Administration, 24(4):393–410.
32.
LightPaul C.1999. The New Public Service. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.
33.
ManiBonnie G.2001. “Women in the Federal Civil Service: Career Advancement, Veterans’ Preference, and Education.” American Review of Public Administration, 31(3):313–339
34.
McCurdyHoward E.1978. “Selecting and Training Public Managers: Business Skills vs. Public Administration Skills.” Public Administration Review, 38(6):571–578.
35.
MohapatraManindra K.RoseBruceWoodsDon A.LakeGashaw. 2001. “Attitudes Toward Public Administration Education, Professional Role Perceptions and Political Values Among the Public Administrators in an American State—Kentucky.” Unpublished research report from the Center for Governmental Services, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana.
36.
MorganDavid R.MeierKenneth J.. 1982. “Reputation and Productivity of Public Administration/Affairs Programs: Additional Data.” Public Administration Review, 42(2):171–173.
37.
MorganDavid R.MeierKenneth J.KearneyRichard C.HaysSteven W.BirchHarold B.. 1981. “Reputation and Productivity among U. S. Public Administration and Public Affairs Programs.” Public Administration Review, 41(6):666–673.
38.
NoeRaymond A.1988. An Investigation of the Determinants of Successful Assigned Mentoring Relationships. Personnel Psychology, 41(3):457–79.
39.
PerryJames L.1995. “Ranking Public Administration Programs.” Journal of Public Administration Education, 1(2):132–135.
40.
PerryJames L.WiseLois R.. 1990. “The Motivational Bases of Public Service.” Public Administration Review, 50(3):367–373.
41.
RohrbaughJohnAndersenDavid F.. 1997. “Letter to the Editor.” Public Administration Review, 57(2):183.
42.
RotterJulian B.1966. “Generalized Expectations for Internal Versus External Control of Reinforcement.” Psychological Monographs, 80, No. 609.
43.
SloanePeter J.O’LearyNigel C.. 2004. “The Return to a University Education in Great Britain.” Discussion Paper Series, IZA DP No. 1199. Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit, Institute for the Study of Labor, June 2004.
44.
SmithAndrew J.1977. “MBA vs. MPA: No Resolution in Sight.” MBA, Nov.:58–61.
45.
StreibGregory. 1995. “Educating Local Government Managers: A National Survey of MPA Programs.” International Journal of Public Administration, 18(6):915–940.
46.
SwopeChristopher. 2001. “Ways to Sway an M.P.A.: As More Public Policy Grads Take Private Sector Jobs, Governments Are Having to Work Harder at Recruitment.” Governing, 14(9):30–31.
47.
TeasleyClyde E.1995. “The Bad (U. S.) News Ranking of MPA Programs.” Journal of Public Administration Education, 1(2):136–141.
48.
ThaiKhi V.1982. “Teaching Public Budgeting and Financial Management: A Symposium: Introduction.” Southern Review of Public Administration, 6(3):263–272.
49.
ThaiKhi V.1985. “Does NASPAA Peer Review Improve the Quality of PA/A Education?” Public Administration Quarter, 6(3):441–460.
50.
ThompsonFrank J.1978. “Is University Training ‘Practical’? Perspectives of Public Personnel Officials.” Public Administration Review, 38(1):82–84.
51.
UvegesJoseph A.1987. “Identifying the Impacts of NASPAA’s MPA Standards and Peer Review Process on Education for Public Service: 1975–1985.” International Journal of Public Administration, 9(2):193–227.
52.
VentrissCurtiss. 1995. “The Ranking System: Determining What Constitutes a Quality Public Administration Program.” Journal of Public Administration Education, 1(2):142–153.
53.
WrightBradley E.2001. “Public Sector Work Motivation: Review of Current Literature and a Revised Conceptual Model.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 11(4):559–586.
54.
YeagerSamuel J.RabinJackVocinoThomas. 1984. “How Do MPAs Find Jobs?” The Bureaucrat, 13(Summer):48–52.
55.
YeagerSamuel J.RabinJackVocinoThomas. 1985. “Feedback and Administrative Behavior in the Public Sector.” Public Administration Review, 45(5):570–575.
