Which Degree Is Right for You: Executive MPA, MPA, or an MBA?

Professionals looking to take the next step in their careers are often faced with the decision of which graduate degree path to pursue. In the fields of leadership and public service, particularly, a variety of degree options exist, and it is critical to fully understand how they compare before making the decision to apply.

As you weigh your options, be sure to consider both short- and long-term goals. What do you want to accomplish now, in five years, and throughout the course of your career? Your answers will likely inform whether you are best suited for an Executive MPA, MPA, or MBA degree program.

Take a look at how the three degree options compare and how each can benefit your career:

Executive MPA Overview

Designed for experienced public service professionals with substantial experience in public or nonprofit sector leadership positions. An Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program helps you develop managerial leadership competencies to advance your career within government, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations.

MPA Overview

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) program helps early to midcareer professionals build the skills to run programs and implement policies for the public good. The degree concentrates on the management of public sector and nonprofit organizations while teaching core skills like public policy, budgeting and finance, and leadership.

MBA Overview

Designed for aspiring business leaders at all stages of their careers, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program provides a broad understanding of a wide range of business disciplines. As a student, you will learn foundational business practices, such as accounting, finance, marketing, and management.

Student Profile

Each of these degree paths provide tremendous opportunities for ambitious leaders who seek to drive change. Take a look at some of the key differentiating factors that may help you decide which path is right for you.

Executive MPA Students

MPA Students

MBA Students

Skills and Coursework

While all three degree paths place a heavy focus on leadership abilities, each focuses on a unique set of skills and specific coursework. A review can help you determine which is right for you:

Executive MPA Skills

An Executive MPA program is focused on helping those with prior experience in public service take the next step toward executive leadership. Coursework focuses on topics like organizational management, collaboration and conflict resolution, policy analysis, ethical decision making, economics, and financial management/budgeting in the context of public affairs. Some Executive MPA programs allow you to take specialized coursework in fields like policy implementation, data innovation, and public budgeting.

Specific skills include:

• Analyzing and evaluating social and political systems
• Managing human, financial, and information resources
• Leading organization-wide strategic change
• Planning and coordinating executive actions
• Making and communicating informed decisions

MPA Skills

The MPA curriculum prepares professionals to become ethical leaders in the public, private, government, or nonprofit sectors. Coursework touches on topics such as public finance, human resources, research methods, institutional values, community development, and urban planning. Many programs allow students to specialize in niche public relations markets, such as environmental policy, international relations, local government, or public health.

Specific skills include:

• Managing people, finances, and projects
• Broad strategies in management, public policy, sociology, and law
• Solving problems with immeasurable outcomes
• Writing grant requests and public policy documents

MBA Skills

These programs offer broad foundational skills that are rarely tied to a single industry or sector. Coursework typically touches upon topics such as accounting, finance, marketing, human relations, operations management, economics, and business communications.

Specific skills include:

• Managing people, finances, and projects
• Marketing, finance, and consumer targeting
• Detecting and driving efficiencies
• Analytical thinking
• Communicating strategy across teams

Commitments and Requirements

Every degree program is different in terms of the program length, time commitments, and admissions requirements you can expect. Below is a quick snapshot of the typical commitments and requirements that you might encounter for each degree option:

Executive MPA Requirements

MPA Requirements

MBA Requirements

Why Executive MPA at Syracuse?

If you are an experienced public servant and are looking to build the skills, connections, and credentials to drive large-scale change, an Executive MPA online program may be right for you. Learn more about the online Executive MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, ranked the nation’s top-ranked school for graduate education in public affairs by U.S. News and World Report.¹

Get Started

ExecutiveMPA@Syracuse maintains the same commitment to quality of curriculum and student experience that have helped the Maxwell School develop a reputation as the premier school of public affairs in the nation. Take the first step toward joining our community of conscientious leaders by requesting more information.