Nonprofit professionals in group setting

Master of Public Administration Nonprofit Management Online


Transition your career into philanthropic leadership through an extensive overview of nonprofit management concepts and regulations. Build a skillset you can utilize now and in your next big role.

Next Apply Date: 12/16/24
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/16/24
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25

Program Overview


Make a difference in your community with the Master of Public Administration online program

Gain the qualifications needed to start a nonprofit or lead an established charitable organization with A-State’s Master of Public Administration Nonprofit Management online program. Courses explore aspects of business administration such as strategic planning and human resources. Learn methods for political analysis, safeguarding public interest, and even specialized types of public finance such as grant writing and fundraising for the causes you care about. Become familiar with nonprofit legal restrictions, including requirements for boards of directors.

Our expert faculty will help you gain real-world experience and academic insights that you can apply directly in your workplace or in an optional internship. Create a portfolio to highlight your advanced skills to future employers.

Within the MPA – Nonprofit Management courses, you will:

  • Develop dispositions, knowledge and skills for rigorous problem analyses and successful collaborations that lead to comprehensive solutions
  • Build communities and social infrastructures through the use of clear communication and ethical and effective management techniques
  • Integrate theory and practice through authentic, performance-based field activities
  • Develop an understanding of best practices, challenges, and practical fundraising and fiscal management strategies for nonprofits
  • Examine strategic planning and tools for nonprofits
  • Learn the operational aspects of managing a nonprofit organization, including regulations and restrictions
  • Develop effective grant writing skills and fundraising strategies
  • Build leadership skills that will enable you to lead a nonprofit organization or start your own
  • Develop dispositions, knowledge and skills for rigorous problem analyses and successful collaborations that lead to comprehensive solutions
  • Build communities and social infrastructures through the use of clear communication and ethical and effective management techniques
  • Integrate theory and practice through authentic, performance-based field activities
  • Develop an understanding of best practices, challenges, and practical fundraising and fiscal management strategies for nonprofits
  • Examine strategic planning and tools for nonprofits
  • Learn the operational aspects of managing a nonprofit organization, including regulations and restrictions
  • Develop effective grant writing skills and fundraising strategies
  • Build leadership skills that will enable you to lead a nonprofit organization or start your own

As a graduate, you will be prepared for various leadership roles in nonprofit management, including:

  • Nonprofit Founder
  • Executive Director
  • Marketing and Grants Manager
  • Program Director
  • Financial Manager
  • Chief Development Officer
  • Nonprofit Founder
  • Executive Director
  • Marketing and Grants Manager
  • Program Director
  • Financial Manager
  • Chief Development Officer

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.

Total Tuition: $12,240
Program Duration: As few as 18 months*
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Hear from A-State MPA graduate Jeff Crow, Former Director, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, about his experience in the online program.

A-State's MPA Ranked #1 in the 10 Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees in Public Administration by Best College Values (2017).

Tuition


Affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition

Our MPA online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $340
Total Tuition: $12,240

Calendar


Important dates for our students

Our MPA online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, with accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/13/2512/16/2412/18/241/9/251/10/252/28/25
Spring 23/10/252/24/252/28/253/6/253/7/255/2/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/16/24
Start Class 1/13/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Admissions


How to be admitted into our online nonprofit management program

A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the MPA online program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Bachelor's degree

Admission requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale or at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours
  • 500-word Statement of Purpose

Note: If you have a 3.0 – 3.199 cumulative GPA, you must make a grade of "B" or better during the first 9 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.

If your transcript(s) do not reflect grades of “C” or higher in courses on American national government and Research Methods, you will be required to take these courses prior to or during the first graduate enrollment period.

Application submission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Pay the nonrefundable $30 application fee
  • Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
  • Submit a 500-word Statement of Purpose

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Transfer credits

Applicants with prior “F” or “D” grades at the graduate level in any graduate program will not be admitted to the A-State MPA program. In addition, students who earn failing (“F") grades in the A-State MPA program are ineligible for readmission to the program. The only exception is with the Capstone.

Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.

Highly Affordable Online MPA

A-State's MPA ranked #2 among the "Most Affordable Online MPA Programs" by GetEducated, 2022

Courses


The topics you'll study in our online nonprofit management classes

Students pursuing this degree must complete 36 credit hours, which includes core courses (21 hours) and Public Management track courses (15 hours) listed below. This does not include co-requisite courses (which must be completed prior to starting graduate courses). These courses are available online at Arkansas State.

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
American politics. The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the discipline of political science, its subfields, and to the use of the social scientific method and logical inquiry.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Develops a working knowledge of the substance of contemporary research in political science and public administration and of alternative research strategies and techniques of data analysis in contemporary research.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of political processes and administrative methods associated with governmental revenues, expenditures, and fiscal control of public organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of the development of public administration as a profession; its history, political environment, ethics, and its method.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasis is placed on a step-by-step process through all stages of writing successful proposals and on providing technical expertise and knowledge through campus outreach efforts of faculty and students to strengthen the nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that serve the local communities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An examination of policies, procedures, strategies, laws and regulations implemented in human resources management for public and nonprofit organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the techniques and practices that successful managers employ to get their work done through politicians, subordinates, and citizens. Emphasis is placed on issues that are faced by first time managers.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An analysis of the theoretical, philosophical, and practical tools needed for making appropriate decisions in the role of an administrator in a public or not for profit organization.

Must complete 15 credit hours, including choosing between POSC 6603 or POSC 6473.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Methods, elements and specific techniques of strategic planning, policy and management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework. With the capstone option, internships are strongly encouraged for all pre-service students. Internships are normally undertaken after a student has completed 18 credit hours. Internships are open only to students with a grade point average of no less than 3.0.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Designed for students to construct a professional portfolio to showcase, in a single document, the skills, competencies, and knowledge they have developed over their time in the MPA program.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Best practices, challenges and practical fundraising and financial management strategies for nonprofits.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will emphasize strategic planning and marketing tools for nonprofits.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Best practices, challenges and practical fundraising and financial management strategies for nonprofits.

*In order to complete in 18 months, two courses must be taken each start and must begin program in the first session of the semester.

Request Information

Submit the form below, and an Enrollment Specialist will contact you to answer your questions.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Or call 866-621-8096

Ready to go?

Start your application today!
Or call 866-621-8096 866-621-8096
for help with any questions you have.