Image
Keep working while you combine the rigorous analytical tools of a public policy degree with management and leadership skills.
The Duke MPA is an accelerated program designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals through a hybrid format, convenient meeting times, and flexible degree options. While many of our students work (or plan to work) in the public sector, the MPA also serves those in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors as well as private-sector professions such as consulting, government relations, and social entrepreneurship.
At Sanford you'll find:
- A close and connected community
- Top 10 rankings in public policy
- The highest-quality teaching
- One-on-one mentoring
- Individualized career counseling
- A deeply loyal alumni network
- A world-class research university
Jump to a Section
Program Details | About Hybrid Learning | Application
"The first week of Duke’s MPA program reminded me how powerful it is to be surrounded by passionate people who are committed to public service. I’m eager to keep learning with and from this incredible group."
- Hannah Bolotin, MPA'26
Program Info At a glance
Program Type: Hybrid
Program Length: 15 or 18 months
Application Deadlines: Rolling, 9/30, 11/20, 1/5
Admission Decisions:
- 9/30 - decisions by 10/15.
- 11/30 - decisions by 12/15
- 1/5 - decisions by 1/31
Contact us! mpa.admissions@duke.edu
The MPA degree combines a core curriculum in public affairs with a concentration in leadership, management, and ethics. Students will complete four core courses, three concentration courses, and three elective courses, for a total of 10 courses (30 credits).
Full-time students will earn the credjts in 15 months (four terms), taking no more than three courses per term). Part-time students will earn their degrees in 18 months (five terms), taking no more than two courses per term.
The core courses of the MPA program include:
- Policy Analysis for Public Affairs Leaders
- Data Analysis for Decision Makers
- Leadership, Management and Change
- Professional Practice of Public Affairs (Capstone Project)
There is also a leadership, management and ethics concentration, which includes three courses from the options below. (Additional concentration courses may be taken as electives.)
- Ethics, Values and Public Affairs
- Navigating the Information Environment
- Public Budgeting and Financial Management
- Organizations, People, and Culture
- Economic Analysis for Decision Makers
- Commnications and Advocacy Strategy
- Decision and Negotiation Strategy
- Nonprofit Management and Strategy
You will complete three electives, either from the options below or online/hybrid courses offered by other Sanford and Duke programs.
- Domestic Challenges in Public Affairs
- Global Challenges in Public Affairs
The 15-month track is 4 terms, no more than 3 courses per term; the 18-month track is 5 terms, no more than 2 courses per term. 15-month students can convert to the extended 18-month track at any point.
Sample 15-Month Sequence
| Summer | Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 |
|
|
|
| Year 2 |
|
Sample 18-Month Sequence
| Summer | Fall | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 |
|
|
|
| Year 2 |
|
|
30 credit hours are required to earn the MPA degree. The courses include a combination of required core courses and electives:
- 4 core courses, one of which is a capstone project
- 3 courses from your chosen concentration
- 3 elective courses
The MPA progam offers a concentration in Leadership, Management, and Ethics (LME), requiring completion of three courses within this topic. These courses can also be used to fulfill elective requirements.
Course options include:
- Ethics, Values, and Public Affairs (required)
- Navigating the Information Environment
- Public Budgeting and Financial Management
- Organizations, People, and Culture
- Economic Analysis for Decision-Makers
- Communications and Advocacy Strategy
- Decision and Negotiation Strategy
- Nonprofit Management and Strategy
Image
The faculty at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy have earned national and international recognition for excellence in research, policy engagement and teaching.
Sanford has a diverse mix of academic scholars and professors of the practice whose practical experience in top leadership roles enhances the classroom experience.
Faculty members collaborate across disciplines to explore questions relating to income inequality, obesity and hunger, energy policy, child neglect and abuse, access to health care, democratization, foreign policy and global concerns.
Loading...
About the Cohort
Most classes are limited to 25-30 students to support strong cohort connections, create an engaging online learning environment, and ensure personalized instruction. Core courses typically have up to 30 students, while smaller class sizes are common on specialized concentration and elective courses.
Loading...
Student Profile
Students have at least 7 years of experience in government, non-profit or philanthropic organizations, or private sector professions such as consulting or government affairs. We also welcome professionals in other sectors seeking a transition into public affairs. Students in the inaugural cohort had an average of 12 years of work experience.
Loading...
In Person vs Online
The MPA combines in-person residencies with state-of-the-art online instruction, providing opportunities for networking and cohort development along with the flexibility of remote learning. You’ll attend four in-person residencies: (2 weeks and 2 long weekends), evenly split between Duke’s campuses in NC and Washington, D.C. The first residency is a foundational experience that fosters connections and sets you up for success in online learning, including live virtual sessions and self-paced coursework.
We seek mid-career practitioners with at least 7 years of experience in government, non-profit or philanthropic organizations, or private sector professions such as consulting or government affairs—or for professionals in other sectors seeking a transition into public affairs - especially those seeking to assume senior leadership positions.
The program is not well-suited for early-career professionals or students seeking highly specialized knowledge in a single policy area.
There are no prerequesites for the MPA program.
Before applying, complete our inquiry form.
A complete application includes:
- A copy of your CV
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Transcripts
- A personal statement describing your motivation for applying, your goals, and the ways in which your personal, professional, and academic experiences have shaped who you are today
- If English is not your first language, a copy of your TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test score
Optional:
- GRE/LSAT/other professional school exam scores
- Video introduction (strongly recommended)
- Professional writing sample
The application link will be live in August.
You can find the cost of attendance details on the MPA Estimated Cost of Attendance page. Costs differ whether you choose the 15 or 18-month option. The base tuition is $60,000, and there are indirect costs as well.
We have robust financial aid, and we are happy to help you consider all the ways to fund your education.
Image
"We can conduct constant analysis, but without perspective, it won’t yield the results necessary to address the most complex problems. That’s why we need the MPA program." - Brock Kannan (MPA'26), risk policy manager at the Federal Reserve.
Featured Student Stories
Headed back to school
Loading...
Seth Winick is part of the very first MPA cohort. The longtime public affairs strategist based in Austin was a bit nervous at first. "I've been away from academia long enough to be concerned about my 'back to school' skills," he says, but "I was able to hit the ground running with support from the both the MPA program team and my professors. It's certainly challenging but not overwhelming."
Surprising alumni network
Loading...
"What surprised me most was how connected and expansive the Duke alumni network is—spanning sectors, political differences, and parties—and how united they are in working to improve and strengthen their own communities." Lorenzo Pedro MPA'26. Lorenzo serves as Deputy Director for State Engagement at The Hunt Institute.
Finding powerful affirmation
Loading...
"The first week of the MPA program felt like a powerful affirmation that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. It’s clear that the program is designed not just to inform policy professionals, but to shape leaders prepared to take on global and local challenges with nuance, empathy, and skill." - Kendrick Cunningham MPA'26
Loading...
Apply to the MPA Program
- Ready to supercharge your outrageous ambition? Applications open August 15th.
- We look forward to meeting you! Email our admissions team with questions or to set up an in-person or virtual meeting. mpa.admissions@duke.edu
- Attend an admissions event
Not ready for a master’s?
Try a Sanford Executive Education course.
Start small, think big: Explore non-degree options in policy and leadership.
Loading...