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Our program is accreditted through NASPAA (The National Association of Schools for Public Policy and Public Affairs), the global standard in public service education.

UNC MPA is ranked among the nation’s top 20 public affairs graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report.

The program is also ranked #2 in the specialty area of local government management. Learn more about admission requirements and which format is right for you. 

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UNC School of Government

UNC MPA is housed within the School of Government, which is the nation’s largest university-based training, advisory, and research organization for public officials. Our MPA students work directly with expert faculty who are also guiding, educating, and consulting with local and state officials throughout North Carolina and beyond on a daily basis. Our faculty bring their work with public officials back into the classroom, where students gain experience grappling with many of the same complex and interdisciplinary challenges they will face in their public service careers. 

Learn more about the UNC School of Government

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Mission & Vision

The mission of UNC MPA is to prepare public service leaders and provide usable knowledge to improve governance. Our vision is to be a nationally recognized leader in engaged scholarship whose faculty, students, and alums transform thought, organizations, communities, and lives.

Public Service Values

  • Accountability & Transparency
  • Efficiency & Effectiveness
  • Professionalism, Respect & Ethical Behavior
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The MPA program strongly supports diversity and inclusion. It affirms the importance of instilling these values in the next generation of public service leaders. Specifically, we believe it is crucial that public service leaders represent the diversity of the communities they serve and seek to understand the varying needs and cultural expressions of the individuals within those communities.

We also seek to incorporate the principles of diversity and inclusion within the MPA program to benefit our students, faculty, and staff. Together with the School of Government and the UNC Office for Diversity and Inclusion, the program is committed to continuous improvement in creating and sustaining a culture of belonging while recognizing the individual strengths of every person in our MPA community.

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