UM’s Master of Public Administration Ranked Fifth in the Country

MISSOULA – The University of Montana’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) was recently featured by Best Value Schools in its 2021 Best Masters in Nonprofit Management Programs, ranking fifth out of the top 30 programs in the country.

In its ranking, Best Value Schools cited UM’s nonprofit administration and public service concentration, part of the MPA, as the top program in the region. The MPA is offered through the Alexander Blewett III School of Law’s Department of Public Administration and Policy.

"The MPA and nonprofit certificate programs at the University of Montana offer flexibility and affordability for working professionals,” said Bree Muehlbauer, a UM graduate student who has completed the nonprofit certificate and is in her second semester of MPA studies.

“The coursework helped elevate my understanding of the field and enhanced my skills as an effective nonprofit leader – both professionally and in my volunteer work,” Muehlbauer said. “Many of my assignments had immediate applications, and I continue to use projects I developed in the program.”

Along with affordable tuition, Best Value Schools noted that UM provides optional internship opportunities and requires a portfolio project.

“The program does an outstanding job of teaching the theoretical foundations of nonprofit administration within the broader context of public administration,” said Mike Ashton, a second-year UM student in the MPA program. “Just as important, the program’s focus on applying theory to practice has allowed me to use and strengthen my learning immediately, both on the job and in my board responsibilities.”

Dr. Sara Rinfret, chair of the Department of Public Administration and Policy and director of the MPA program, credits UM’s commitment to community and industry collaboration for readying graduates to step quickly into meaningful jobs.

“We are fortunate to have curriculum that is carefully designed in partnership with the Montana Nonprofit Association to meet workforce needs,” she said.

For more information about the Department of Public Administration and Policy, visit https://www.umt.edu/law/mpa/.

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Contact: Dr. Sara Rinfret, UM Department of Public Administration and Policy chair, 406-243-4702, sara.rinfret@umontana.edu.