The MPA Program's diverse student body are current and future leaders in the public and non-profit sectors in the Southern California region. Most MPA students work full-time while pursuing their degree; thus, all MPA Program courses are held in the evenings to allow for an accessible and flexible education.

MPA Program Characteristics (Fall 2020)

Total Student Enrollment: 90
Percent Female Students: 61%
Percent Minority Students: 84%
Typical Core Class Size: 20
Typical Elective Class Size: 15

Program Completion Rate

The MPA program can be completed in approximately two years. The program completion rates for the 21 students initially enrolled in the 2014-2015 academic year are:

Within 2 Years: 10%
Within 4 Years: 86%

The majority of our students work full-time while completing the program, which affects the length of time to graduate. On average, more than 90 percent of our students are employed full-time while completing the program; thus, due to work and family commitments, many MPA students elect to take only one course per term or not to take courses during a particular term depending on their schedule.

While the time to program completion is extended, our students appreciate the flexibility the program affords them. Per University policy and federal Title V requirements, graduate courses expire after seven years; thus, students must finish their program within seven years.

Internship Placements

MPA Program students without relevant professional work experience complete an internship before graduating. In 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, MPA students completed internships at several organizations, including:

City of Thousand Oaks
Friends of the Los Angeles River
Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles
Maryvale
Pueblo y Salud
Vista Del Mar
Watts Community Labor Action Committee 

Career Placements

Our MPA Program graduates work in a diversity of settings, including local, state and federal government agencies and national, regional and community non-profit organizations. Following graduation, the share of our students who graduated during the 2018-2019 academic year employed in or pursuing opportunities in the public, non-profit and private sectors is reported below:

Organizations that employ our 2018-2019 graduates include: 

Alliance for Children's Rights
APLA Health
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Los Angeles
California State Univers, Northridge
City of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles City Council 
Day One
Glendale Community College
Long Beach Dept. of Health and Human Services
LA Family Housing
Los Angeles County Development Authority
Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Services
Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health
Los Angeles Metro
Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Superior Court
Los Angeles Unified School District
Non-Profit Finance Fund
Pueblo y Salud
San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Veterans and Youth Collaborative 
U.S. Dept. of Labor
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 

MPA Alumni Association 

The MPA Alumni Association serves as a resource for current MPA students and alumni. Visit the MPA Alumni Association's Facebook page for announcements and events.