Are Online Public Administration Degrees Legit?

Public administration is a field that prepares students for roles in leading the public. These degrees are available on campus and online.

Online degrees continue to increase in popularity, but some students wonder if an online public administration degree is legitimate. The good news is, online public administration degrees are legitimate, and we're going to break it all down.

Do Employers Respect Online Public Administration Degrees?

While this varies from employer to employer, most employers will respect online public administration degrees. The attitude toward online degrees has shifted over the last few years, and more and more employers are accepting online degrees now.

However, not all online public administration degrees are viewed the same. It's important to choose a reputable, accredited institution for your degree program.

What To Look For in an Online Public Administration Degree Program

There are a few key indicators to look for when choosing an online degree program. Features like accreditation, reputation, and graduation rates will all make your degree more respected.

We've broken these indicators down below.

Accreditation

One of the most important things to look for in an online public administration degree program is accreditation. Institutions can be either regionally or nationally accredited.

Most colleges and universities are regionally accredited, and regional accreditation is generally preferred. National accreditation is typically for for-profit and trade colleges.

You can find an institution's accreditation status by looking online. There are six regional accreditation agencies in the U.S., each overseeing a specific area of the country:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Reputation

A college or university's reputation can tell you how well your degree will be received. It can also give you insight into what your educational experience will be like.

To learn more about an institution's reputation, look at ranking lists like those put out by Forbes and the U.S. News and World Report. You can also read reviews from students and alumni online.

Graduation Rates

An institution's graduation rate is a metric that tells you how many full-time, first-time students graduated within a specific time frame. This time frame is three years for associate degrees and six for bachelor's degrees.

The one drawback to this metric is that it doesn't apply to graduate programs and it doesn't give a good indication for schools that primarily cater to adult or returning students. When looking at these types of programs or schools, take the graduation rate with a grain of salt.

Differences Between Online Public Administration Degrees and Traditional Public Administration Degrees

Although the degree earned will be the same, there are differences between online and traditional classes for public administration degrees.

Traditional public administration degree programs offer courses in person. Students come to campus a few times a week for scheduled classes, in which they listen to lectures, interact with peers, and are assigned and turn in homework.

Colleges and universities run their online courses a little differently. In most online classes, students are assigned work like reading, watching videos or recorded lectures, and participating in online discussions. However, students can complete this work on their schedule so long as they turn it in by the due date.

Benefits of Earning Your Public Administration Degree at an Online School

For many students, the flexibility offered by online programs is the biggest benefit. Online programs allow students to do their coursework when it suits them best, so they can work around their schedules.

Another benefit is that completing a degree program online allows you to earn a degree from an institution that isn't local. You can earn your degree from a college or university across the country without leaving your house.

Featured Online Public Administration Degree Programs

Several colleges and universities offer online public administration degree programs at both the bachelor's and master's levels. These are reputable programs that allow students to learn fully online.

We've listed some top online public administration degree programs below so you can begin your search.

1. National University

National University is a private, nonprofit university based in San Diego, California. It offers a large number of online degrees and is regionally accredited by the WSCUC.

The following public administration degrees are offered online at National University:

• Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA)
• Human Resource Management - Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Organizational Leadership - MPA
• Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)

2. Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a public research university in Flagstaff, Arizona. It's regionally accredited by the HLC.

The following public administration degrees are offered online at NAU:

• Bachelor of Public Administration
• Master of Public Administration

An accelerated bachelor's to master's program in public administration is also available online through NAU.

3. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit university based in Manchester, New Hampshire. It's known for its large variety of online programs and is accredited by the NECHE.

The following public administration degrees are offered online at SNHU:

• Public Administration - BS in Business Administration
• Public Administration - Master of Business Administration (MBA)

4. University of Colorado Denver

The University of Colorado Denver is a public research university under the University of Colorado System. It's regionally accredited by the HLC.

The public administration degrees offered online at UC Denver include:

• Public Administration - BA
• Nonprofit Management - BA in Public Administration
• Master of Public Administration
• Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Management - MPA
• Environmental Policy and Management - MPA

5. Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University is a private, nonprofit university in Fayette, Iowa. It's regionally accredited by the HLC and offers several online programs.

The public administration degrees offered online at UIU include:

• Bachelor of Public Administration
• Emergency Management - BPA
• Policy and Politics - BPA
• Master of Public Administration
• Nonprofit Organizational Management - MPA