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Become a leader in policy and public service.
The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy prepares early-career professionals to lead in government, nonprofits, and the private sector both within the U.S. and around the world.
Through this rigorous, two-year residential program, you'll learn to use evidence-based analysis, data-driven decision-making, and inclusive leadership to solve public policy challenges and strengthen society through public service.
At Sanford you'll find:
- Leading experts in public policy and practice
- A close-knit, collaborative community
- Personalized mentoring from faculty and advisors
- Meaningful engagement with practitioners across every sector
- Access to Duke's world-class interdisciplinary expertise
- Tailored career support
- A strong, global network of loyal alumni
- The resources and reach of a top-tier research university
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program details | application
"At such a pivotal time in American history, it’s been really emboldening to be a part of Sanford, knowing that smart people are innovating to make the world a better place."
To succeed in the world of public policy, you’ll need a solid underpinning of analytical and professional skills.
The core curriculum of the MPP program includes:
- Policy Analysis
- Data Analysis, Statistics and Evaluation
- Microeconomic Analysis
- Political Analysis (US or Global)
- Ethics
- Management and Leadership
- The Master's Capstone Project
The MPP offers significant flexibility to tailor your degree to your career goals and interests beyond the core curriculum. Choose from seven policy-area concentrations and a wide range of electives available across Duke's campus.
The MPP Program offers eight policy-area concentrations. To complete a concentration, you must:
- complete nine credits of coursework in the concentration (either one, three-credit foundations course plus six elective course credits, or, for concentrations without a designated foundations course, nine approved elective course credits)
- complete a pre-approved summer internship
- complete Track 1 – a master’s project related to your concentration or Track 2 – specific capstone coursework related to your concentration
The concentration is recorded on the student’s transcript upon graduation.
Policy Generalist
The Policy Generalist concentration offers students the flexibility to design a curriculum that emphasizes cross-sector analytical skills and interdisciplinary learning, rather than focusing on a specific policy area. This concentration is ideal for those aiming to address complex, multifaceted policy challenges that span multiple domains. Policy Generalist is particularly suited for individuals who aspire to work in roles that require a broad perspective on policy issues, such as policy advisors, consultants, or analysts in think tanks, international organizations, or government agencies.
Environment & Energy Policy
The Environment and Energy concentration prepares students to evaluate, implement and influence environment and energy policy. You can prepare for a career in environmental and energy law, regulation, policymaking, research, consulting, and advocacy. With electives, you can either develop deep expertise in a sector like climate change mitigation, or gain a broad perspective on contemporary environment and energy topics.
Explore the environment & energy concentration.
Health Policy
The Health Policy Concentration provides an overview of health care systems and in-depth understanding of economic, sociological and political forces that shape health care systems in the U.S. and other countries. This concentration prepares MPP graduates to assume stimulating and substantive positions in all levels of government, in private sector companies, and in not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations as well as foundations.
Explore the health policy concentration.
International Development Policy
International development policy requires a firm foundation of knowledge about development challenges and experiences, ability to apply a wide range of evaluative and analytical tools, an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, and communications skills. Graduates have secured jobs in applied development research, consulting, public financial analysis, impact and project evaluation, and management positions in government and non-government organizations.
Explore the international development policy concentration.
National Security Policy
The National Security and Foreign Policy Concentration prepares MPP students to assume positions in the national security community, including consulting firms with federal contracts. Graduates have secured jobs in key executive departments, such as defense, state, and homeland security, as well as in intelligence agencies and consulting firms. The economic outlook for employment in the national security community (including homeland security) is outstanding and unique.
Explore the national security policy concentration.
Social Policy
The Social Policy Concentration focuses on how to improve the lives of citizens by supporting their education, work, health and wellbeing. This concentration will prepare you for a position in government, private sector, and nonprofits. You'll focus on issues that address the needs of citizens or society related to education, work, health and wellbeing.
Explore the social policy concentration.
Technology Policy
Sanford’s focus on technology policy prepares students to address issues of government support for innovation and actions to mitigate the negative impacts that technology can make on individuals’ lives. You will be prepared to assume positions in public service, the private sector and nonprofits dealing with public policy issues associated with tech innovation: legislative staff, executive agency analyst, national security and law enforcement, company government affairs manager, consultant and civil society advocates.
Explore the tech policy concentration.
Education Policy
The Education Policy Concentration focuses on how to analyze, explore, understand and improve educational institutions, people, and processes in the United States and globally. The education policy concentration will prepare you for positions in government, the private sector, nonprofit and advocacy groups, and in educational institutions.
Explore the education policy concentration.
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51 credit hours are required to obtain the two-year MPP degree. 39 credit hours are required to obtain a dual-degree. The courses include a combination of required core courses and electives. Two-year and dual degree MPP students are required to take a 3 credit hour Sanford Ethics course. Two-year MPP students are required to take 6 credit hours of courses that meet the Management and Leadership requirement.
Dual degrees offer the options for students to work towards two degrees at once. An MPP can give you the analytical and policy skills you need while you complete graduate study in an area you are passionate about, such as environmental science or entrepreneurship.
Dual degree students complete MPP first-year courses and the summer internship, and then register for courses in the other program during their second year at Duke. During the final year of study, students will complete coursework, including a Master’s Project under the close supervision of a public policy faculty member.
Business
The MPP/MBA program is a three-year program with either Duke's Fuqua School of Business or UNC's Kenan-Flager Business School.
Explore MPP/Business dual degree.
Data Science
The MPP/MDS program is a two-year program in data science and public policy with the Hertie School, the University of Governance in Berlin. The program combines the effectiveness of data science with evidence-based policy, preparing participants to become solution-oriented leaders within the public sector.
Explore MPP/Data Science dual degree.
Divinity
The MPP/MDVR and MPP/MTS degrees are designed to prepare individuals for positions of leadership, service, and advocacy in nonprofit organizations, government, and in the wider community.
Explore MPP/Divinity dual degrees.
Engineering
Our newest dual degree pairs public policy with an engineering degree (MEM) from Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. The three-year dual-degree program combines rigorous engineering, science and evidence-based policy to prepare students to become solutions-oriented leaders in all sectors.
Explore MPP/Engineering dual degree.
Environment
The MPP/Master of Environmental Management (MEM) or Master of Forestry (MF) gives students a strong background in environmental science plus the policy analysis and public management skills to translate science into policy.
Explore MPP/Environment dual degrees.
Law
The MPP/JD program offers students the analytical and quantitative skills of an MPP to complement their knowledge of the legal system. Students may pursue a dual MPP/JD degree with the Duke, UNC, or NCCU Schools of Law.
Note: Separate applications are required for each program. You'll need to submit evaluation forms, transcripts and test scores to each program. (The same recommendation are fine, but the forms themselves must be submitted independently.)
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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.
Real-world experience is one of the hallmarks of the Master of Public Policy program at Duke University's Sanford School. Here are some notable ways MPP students receive hands-on opportunities to hone their skills. These are required components of the degree.
Spring Consulting Projects
The Spring Consulting Project pairs teams of 3-5 Master's in Public Policy students with client organizations seeking to address a policy challenge related to their mission or operations. The student team will produce a detailed report advising the client on potential courses of action and brief the client on its findings.
Internships
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Every MPP student completes an internship. MPP students have interned at organizations such as:
- The White House
- The World Bank
- UNICEF, India
- US Agency for International Development
- Action Aid, Ghana
- FBI: Counterintelligence Unit
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- US Senate Finance Committee
- World Health Organization
- UN Environmental Programme
Master's Project
Students who pursue a Master’s Project (Track 1) work closely with a faculty advisor while completing a yearlong capstone project.
The 4+1 Accelerated Master of Public Policy track is an opportunity for current Duke undergraduate students to complete both their undergraduate and master’s degrees in five years. Over the course of their senior year and their fifth year at Duke, 4+1 students will complete the entire 51 graduate credits required for the traditional two year MPP degree.
At Duke Sanford, your career goals are our priority. Whether you aspire to drive local change, shape international development, or lead in the private or nonprofit sector, our Graduate Career Services Team is here to support and prepare you for a purpose-driven career in an evolving policy world.
Explore graduate career services and professional development.
MPP Graduation Rates & Career Outcomes
| Cohort Entry Year | 2-Year Graduation Rate | 3-Year Graduation Rate | 4-Year Graduation Rate |
| August 2017 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| August 2018 | 96% | 97% | 97% |
| August 2019 | 96% | 97% | 97% |
| August 2020* | 97% | 99% | 99% |
| August 2021* | 96% | 98% | 98% |
*Cohort August 2020 and August 2021's graduation rates are projected based on students' course completions and registrations. Students pursuing dual-degree options require 3 - 4 years to complete the combined degrees.
Occasionally, students take a year or two off in the middle of their studies and thus take a little longer to complete the program.
May 2021 graduates
(Data collection is estimated to be as of Dec 31, 2021; unknown if dual-degree students are included.)
71 Graduates
- 68 known outcomes:
- City, county, or other local government in the United States – 7%
- Nonprofit organization (domestic-oriented) – 20.8%
- Nonprofit/NGOs (internationally-oriented) – 5.6%
- Obtaining further education – 4.2%
- Private Sector – research/consulting – 32.4%
- Private sector but not research/consulting – 9.9%
- State, provincial, or regional government in the United States – 5.6%
- United States Federal Government – 8.5%
- 3 unknown
May 2022 graduates
(Data collection is estimated to be as of Dec 31, 2022; unknown if dual-degree students are included.)
77 Graduates
- 69 known outcomes:
- A government entity outside of the United States – 1.3%
- City, county, or other local government in the United States – 3.9%
- Military – 2.6%
- Nonprofit organization (domestic-oriented) – 13%
- Nonprofit/NGOs (internationally-oriented) – 6.5%
- Obtaining further education – 3.9%
- Private Sector – research/consulting – 29.9%
- Private sector but not research/consulting – 3.9%
- State, provincial, or regional government in the United States – 7.8%
- United States Federal Government – 7.8%
- Non response – 10.1%
- 8 Unknown
May 2023 graduates
(Data collection as of Dec 31, 2023; includes dual-degree students.)
111 graduates
- 99 known outcomes:
- City, county, or other local government in the United States – 0.9%
- Military Service – 1.8%
- Nonprofit organization (domestic-oriented) – 7.2%
- Nonprofit/NGOs (internationally-oriented) – 3.6%
- Obtaining further education – 3.6%
- Private sector – research/consulting – 16.2%
- Private sector but not research/consulting – 7.2 %
- State, provincial, or regional government in the United States – 9%
- United States Federal Government – 9%
- Other – 7.2%
- Non response – 26.3%
- 12 unknown outcomes
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Cohort size
Each cohort typically includes 80 to 100 students, though class size may vary from year to year.
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Student Profile
Our MPP students bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives, representing a rich spectrum of academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds. They typically between 24 and 32 years old, with an average of two to six years of post-undergraduate experience in fields aligned with their policy interests.
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Time to complete
The MPP is designed to be completed in two years. Some dual degree options extend the program to a third year. An accelerated 4+1 track is also available for current Duke undergraduates, allowing them to earn both their undergraduate and MPP degrees in just five years.
We look for applicants who have a clear vision for how they seek to serve the public good and improve the lives of others. The ideal applicant has two or more years of post-undergraduate work experience in fields related to their policy interests. The program admits a limited number of applicants directly from undergraduate programs, but we expect those applicants to have robust internship, volunteer, or part-time work experience in fields related to their policy interests. The average undergraduate GPA is 3.5.
The MPP program requires admitted students to have completed the following coursework at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or higher, prior to enrollment in the program.
- One course in microeconomics
- One course in statistics
Prospective students who have not completed microeconomics and statistics during their previous academic career can still apply to the MPP program. Applicants without these courses are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores as part of their application, to show evidence of quantitative skills, thereby strengthening their application.
If selected for admission, students who have yet to satisfy the quantitative prerequisites would be conditionally admitted to the program and would be required to satisfy any missing prerequisites prior to enrollment in August.
Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellows who have participated in a Junior Summer Institute (JSI) with grades of “B” or higher in statistics and microeconomics courses may submit their JSI evaluations to satisfy the MPP quantitative prerequisites.
A complete application includes:
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Test Scores
- GRE scores are optional, but are strongly encouraged from applicants lacking statistics and/or microeconomics in their previous academic careers.
- Proof of English language proficiency is required from applicants whose native language is not English. Please review the Residential Programs Admissions FAQ for information on English test waiver eligibility.
- Video Introduction
- Curated Video (Optional but strongly recommended.)
- $80 Application Fee
Applications are open from mid-August to January 5 each year. Review our application process to get started.
You can find the cost of attendance details on the MPP Estimated Cost of Attendance page. The base tuition is $61,610 per academic year, plus indirect costs.
We have robust financial aid, and we are happy to help you consider all the ways to fund your education.
Have questions about applying to graduate school at the Sanford School of Public Policy! We have collected answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the application process.
The Readying Applicants through Mentorship Pairings (RAMP) program is designed to connect MPP applicants with current MPP students who share similar policy interests, backgrounds, and lived-experiences. Mentors will provide applicants with advice about the application process and share more about their Sanford experience.
RAMP takes place during the academic year, specifically during the fall semester of Duke's academic calendar, and aligns approximately with our MPP application cycle. RAMP applications are due by October 15. We will communicate mentee-mentor pairings by November 1.
Interested in applying to RAMP? Applications open in the fall. Check our website during that time or submit our interest form to be notified.
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"Public policy is the root of just about everything. If you want to make change at scale, you have to engage with policy and regulation. Sanford taught me how to frame problems and opportunities with precision. When you define the issue clearly and accurately, you can create policy solutions that actually work."
- Ivan Urlaub (MPP'04 MEM'04)
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Apply to the MPP Program
- Ready to supercharge your outrageous ambition? Applications open August 15th.
- Get an overview of the applications process
- Explore resources on how to fund your Sanford education
- Have a question? E-mail us: mppadmit@duke.edu
- Attend an admissions event or sign up for office hours
- Schedule a visit
Featured MPP Student Stories
Uplifting Afghan Women
Nilab Ahmbadi, MPP'25
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A native of Afghanistan, Nilab Ahmbadi MPP'25 is motivated by a desire to uplift Afghan women and children and has focused her MPP studies on economic and education policy, with keen interest in international development and social policy.
Expanding inclusive housing
Eni Owoeye, MPP'25
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Eni Owoeye MPP'25 led a number of initiatives both on and off campus, including volunteer leadership in HOPE North Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding inclusive housing options, particularly for adults with intellectual and development disabilities.
Helping his city thrive
Jordon Wilson, MPP'24
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During COVID, Jordan Wilson MPP '24 decided to go back to school. He considered law school, but stumbled across Duke’s MPP program and says he found his community. After speaking to some professors he calls Duke "an easy decision.” After graduation he landed in the Mayor's Office in San Francisco.