Students at UNC MPA - Diverse & Committed to Public Service

UNC MPA students represent a variety of academic backgrounds and interest areas but are united by a desire to improve their communities through a career in public service. Some of our students choose to pursue a public administration degree before entering the workforce, while others seek to advance their career or change fields.

Meet Our Students

Our students are an accomplished and diverse group. Just over half of UNC MPA students are from North Carolina.

Student Life & Voices

Meet some of our students on our Student Voices page. We also invite you to learn more about student life and opportunities for engagement.

Student News

December 17, 2024

UNC MPA Winter 2024 Graduation

Graduates of the UNC Master of Public Administration program gathered Saturday, December 14 to…

December 03, 2024

Ian Wheeler assists Professor John Stephens in planning annual…

Ian Wheeler, 2nd year student Hometown: Hampton, VA Academics: Bachelor of Social Work from…

November 20, 2024

Benchmarking with current student Layne Cole

Christopher ‘Layne’ Cole is from Roxboro, NC, a small town about an hour north of Durham where he…

Students at a Glance

167 Students Enrolled

59% Female Students

3.42 Average Undergraduate GPA

24% Underrepresented Minorities

48% Out-of-State Students

45 On-campus Students

What will you do with an MPA?

Program Outcomes

“The cohort experience is memorable. My classmates were some of the best and smartest people I’ve ever met. To be a part of that group is something special.”

—Thomas Bennett MPA ’20

“The greatest value I received from the MPA program was the connection with people, the connection with movers and shakers in government, the connection with people who see government as a proponent versus an opponent.”

—Marchell Adams-David ’92, City Manager, Raleigh, NC

Latest Student Blog Posts

April 24, 2025

This is Us – Meet 4 of our Newest Students

This Spring, the UNC MPA program welcomed 20 new students into the online format. From an…

April 21, 2025

Current student Emma Gilliam attends the North Carolina State of the…

This post was written by Emma Gilliam. Emma Gilliam is a first year student in the MPA…

April 14, 2025

UNC MPA Students Explore Affordable Housing Challenges in North…

UNC MPA students Olivia Boudwin, Mason McVeety, Rachel Wooster, and Josie Zakrzewski have created…

Students

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