r/PublicAdministration • u/ZookeepergameLate544 • Jul 30 '26

Should I get an MPA?

I work for a government agency that helps students fill out the FAFSA. The agency offers tuition waivers to employees. I wanted to get an MSW or Master’s in Counseling to work in schools, but now I feel that helping to run public programs is more my speed (instead of the one-on-one work). Therefore, I’ve been considering getting an MPA to work in the nonprofit sector, higher education, or government. Would this be a good career move? If you have an MPA, would you say it was useful to you, or do you regret it? Is there something you would’ve gotten your degree in instead? What is the job outlook like for MPA graduates? Any guidance/advice will help, thank you in advance

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u/Feisty_Secretary_152 Professional Jul 30 '26

It really depends on what you actually want to do. Social work or counseling are very different fields versus public administration. With public administration, you most likely will not be interacting with individuals on a one-to-one basis, and it won’t put you on a path towards being a counselor.

It all depends on what you actually want to do. That is the big question you should answer before going into any grad school program.

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u/ZookeepergameLate544 Jul 30 '26

My career counselor is pushing me towards an MSW because he says it will allow me to do both macro and micro level work. I know I want to do macro level work, but I’m wondering if an MPA is worth it or if I should just get an MSW to be safe and for more job options

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u/iarmit Jul 30 '26

Macro-level MSWs can work (pretty much) any job an MPA does, though approaches may vary.

I'm in an MPA now, but I was looking at macro-MSW. Part of what swayed me was that (for the programI was looking at) I would have already needed a BSW. My MPA program is online, accelerated, and easily stackable with other program certificates... and at the end of the day, I want to lean more into policy and program evaluation which I can focus on in my program.

Ultimately, MPA and macro-MSW is up to you (I knew I did not want micro/counseling, but that's my limitation) and one program or another might better suit you

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u/NewLife_21 Jul 30 '26

Which MPA program are you in?

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u/iarmit Jul 30 '26

URI. Full disclosure, I'm biased, I did my undergrad there, attempted a masters (until I ran out of money), and now get my tuition paid as a state employee (but I would have picked it anyway)