Public Administration (Public Finance), MPA
Step into the public finance concentration within this NASPAA-accredited program. Earn your degree from a highly ranked program in public finance and public affairs, the very areas that define this specialized concentration.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Public Administration (Public Finance) master's description
ASU ranks No. 16 for best graduate public financing and budgeting program and No. 11 for best graduate public affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report, 2025.
The Master of Public Administration program is a professional degree program that prepares you for public service at all levels of government as well as in the nonprofit and private sectors. The MPA program can be completed full time or part time.
The program consists of a core curriculum emphasizing managerial and analytic skills needed in a wide variety of careers that serve the public good. Through a focused set of electives, the concentration in public finance provides knowledge and skills for you to excel in areas in which financial management plays an integral role in governance. The concentration deepens your knowledge of urban economics, managing money in the public sector, public budgeting, and capital budgeting and financing.
Why specialize in public finance at ASU?
You can grow your professional network in this program by joining student organizations, such as the International City/County Management Association student chapter.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
42 credit hours including the required capstone course (PAF 509)
Required Core (27 credit hours) Concentration (9 credit hours) Electives or Research (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
PAF 501 Public Service Research I (3)
PAF 502 Public Service Research II (3)
PAF 503 Public Affairs (3)
PAF 504 Microeconomics of Public Policy I (3)
PAF 505 Public Policy Analysis (3)
PAF 506 Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
PAF 507 Public Human Resource Management (3)
PAF 508 Organization Behavior (3)
PAF 574 Diversity, Ethics and Leading Public Change (3)
PAF 521 Managing Public Money (3)
PAF 522 Advanced Governmental Financial Management: Capital Budgeting and Infrastructure Financing (3)
PAF 570 Microeconomics of Public Policy II (3)
PAF 509 Public Affairs Capstone (3)
To meet the Electives or Research requirement, students choose one course from NLM 520, PAF 590 and PAF 584 for three credit hours.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Employ analtyic frameworks for supporting decision-making in public organizations and contributing to the policy process
- Interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
- Employ public finance tools to address issues in local, state, and federal governance
Employ analtyic frameworks for supporting decision-making in public organizations and contributing to the policy processAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field. Related fields include social science degrees, although the department may accept applicants with degrees from all educational backgrounds provided the minimum requirements for the degree program are met. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The letters of recommendation should be from faculty or other academic staff who can evaluate the applicant's academic performance, or from professional (i.e., work-related) sources. The written statement should be one to two pages in length and describe the applicant's educational and career goals. This statement is also used as a sample of the applicant's writing abilities. Students enrolling in MPA core courses must demonstrate minimum competency in statistics and American government, typically through the completion of an undergraduate social statistics course such as PAF 301 Applied Statistics and undergraduate coursework in American national government such as POS 310 American National Government. Completion of prerequisite courses is not a requirement for admission but must be completed within one semester after starting the program. Students may also satisfy the American national government competency by successfully completing a noncredit online course offered to incoming students by the School of Public Affairs. Applicants should email spa@asu.edu if they have questions about the application process.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling* |
*A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this public administration master's with a public finance concentration prepares you for
Graduates are prepared to pursue a career in a field related to public administration or public policy. This may include opportunities as a manager or policy analyst in local, state or federal agencies; nonprofit organizations; and private organizations that interface with the public sector.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Public Affairs
|
UCENT 400
spa@asu.edu
602-496-0450
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
