Master of Public Administration

MPA Student Outcomes

Eight students graduated with an MPA in Academic Year 2023-2024; fourteen graduated during Academic Year 2022-2023. One third of the graduates completed their degree within two years, two-thirds within three years, and all who persisted in the MPA program completed their degree within five years.

Currently enrolled MPA students have done (or are doing) internships in these organizations:

Most MPA students come from Kentucky. About 10% of students come to the program from another state and about 3% from another country.

About 80% of MPA students work, either full time or part time, during their degree program. Some graduates remained in their current position while others changed employers after they received their MPA. Because the program primarily serves the region, most of the recent graduate placements were in the public or nonprofit sectors around Louisville. For example:

MPA graduates are also employed by the federal government (i.e., Housing and Urban Development, Department of Defense) and Kentucky state government (Legislative Research Council, Jefferson Community and Technical College).

Of recent MPA graduates, 55% of placements were in the nonprofit sector and 40% in federal, state or local government. The remaining 5% of graduates were continuing their education, serving in the military, working in the private sector or not actively seeking employment.

The Louisville MPA program is known for its commitment to diversity. The program has 28% African American enrollment – higher than the University and higher than the region we serve as indicated in our mission statement. About 65% of MPA students are women.