Top 10 Reasons to Become An NIU MPA Student:
- Northern Illinois University is ranked third in the nation for the caliber of excellence held by the MPA degree program.
- Tuition and out-of-state fees waived for full-time student interns.
- Paid internships in which students gain invaluable experience working for governmental and non-profit agencies. The average wage for an internship is $14.57 per hour, with a salary range between $10.00 to $20.43 per hour based on the internship organization and location.
- Excellent success in finding jobs. (A 2008 survey outlined a 99% success rate among NIU MPA students obtaining full-time employment within six months post graduation).
- One-third of all city and county managers in Illinois are alumni of this program.
- Additional financial support opportunities available for minority students, including Rhoten A. Smith Assistantship.
- Strong and varied curriculum, including courses offered by faculty from other departments such as Law, Business, Accounting, Sociology, Political Science, Allied/ Public Health, Psychology, and Education.
- This program guides our students towards fast track careers in the management of governmental and non-profit agencies.
- This is a nationally recognized program, one of the first to be fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Moreover, Northern Illinois University has become the recent home of the Public Administration Review, the top public administration journal.
- We are proud to have a strong alumni network that facilitates success in obtaining initial career positions and long-term professional opportunities. Once a Huskie, always a Huskie!
