Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions when entering the program.  If you have any further questions, please contact the MPA office at 843.953.6690.

How much is tuition?

Here is a link for all costs for in-state and out-of-state students: Tuition and fees

How can I pay for graduate school?

You can finance your education through scholarships, assistantships, fellowships and/or loans. There are both internal and external sources of funding available. The Graduate School offers scholarships and grants, a number of fellowships, and assistantships.  For more information on assistance visit the graduate school's funding opportunities page. 

How do I begin the application process?

Now, applications are avaible to be completed online through the College of Charleston.  To begin the application process, you must create an account. From there, you will be able to begin working on your application. You can save your application and finish it later. 

For more information, check out the Graduate School Admissions website!

Do I have to choose an area of specialization?

No.  Many students decide to enroll in elective courses that provide specialized education in a specific area of study, and our program offers specialized study in the following: nonprofit management; arts and cultural management; environmental policy and administration; and local government and urban and regional planning.  As an alternative, students interested in arts and cultural management or urban planning may decide to use electives in these areas to fulfill MPA requirements and also earn a certificate.  Other students take an array of elective courses to broaden the scope of their knowledge and skills in a variety of public administration areas upon graduation. 

How are MPA classes delivered?

The MPA Program offers most courses in a traditional classroom setting. Students have the ability to take a limited number of elective classes in urban and regional planning and arts and cultural management in an online or hybrid format. At this time, all core required classes are offered in the classroom.

How long will it take me to complete the MPA degree?

The program consists of 36 hours (12 courses). There are six required courses (18 hours); an Internship for students who lack significant public or nonprofit work experience (3 hours); and five elective courses (15 hours). Students who qualify may receive permission to waive the Internship and in that case will take an additional elective. Full time students take three classes a semester (fall and spring), and generally complete an Internship the summer between their first and second year. The program can be completed in two years with continuous full-time enrollment. If a student elects to enroll part-time, the program can be completed in two and a half to four years, depending upon how many courses are taken per semester and whether the student takes classes in the summer.

How many students are enrolled in the program?

The program has about 60 students. Depending upon the cohort, roughly 60 percent of our students are pre-service and have not worked in public or nonprofit organizations; 40 percent are currently working, or have worked, in public or nonprofit settings for at least two years. Generally, over half of our students elect to enroll full-time.

How many enrolled students complete the program?

Students who enroll full-time will obviously complete the program faster than those who are part-time. Full-time students can complete the program in two years with continuous full-time enrollment, while part-time students can complete the program in two and half to four years, depending on how many courses are taken each semester. The data below show the completion rate for the cohort of 10 students who entered the program during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Program Completion Numbers and Percentages:
Initially Enrolled
Graduated in 2 years
Graduated within 3 years
Graduated within 4 years
20 10 6 2
Initially Enrolled
Graduated in 2 years
Graduated within 3 years
Graduated within 4 years
100% 50% 30% 10%

It is important to note that in the 2017-2018 academic year, the MPA degree required students to complete 36 credit hours. For students who are in-service (working full-time) rather than pre-service, job responsibilities often preclude taking more than two courses per semester, hence a longer time to graduation.

Where do your students go on to work?

Our graduates go on to serve in the public sector in a variety of different capacities, securing positions in national, state, and local government sectors and the nonprofit sector. A number of our graduates also go on to serve in the private sector, often providing research and consulting services to for-profit entities. The table below presents job placement statistics for the 2017-18 graduating class. The employment categories listed are outlined by our accrediting body, the Network of Schools for Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). 

Employment Category Percentage of 2021-2022 Graduates

National or central government
 8%
State, Provincial or Regional Government
 38%
City, County, or other Local Government
 15%
Nonprofit, Domestic-Oriented
 8%
Private Sector - Research/Consulting

31%
Total

100%

Where is the MPA Program Office?

You can find us at 14 Coming Street, Charleston, SC 29424.  You can also contact us by phone at: 843.953.6690.