Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all in local communities by strengthening professional and ethical public and nonprofit management through our teaching, scholarship and community engagement. As part of the School of Public and Global Affairs (SPGA), we offer graduate courses in public administration to enhance the knowledge, skills and leadership capacity of individuals pursuing public service careers.

Top-ranked Flexible Programs

The NIU Master of Public Administration program is an excellent choice if you are looking to advance your career in the field of public administration. Our M.P.A. degree program outranks all other public and private institutions in Illinois, as well as many other schools nationwide, according to U.S. News & World Report:

• 3rd in the nation for Local Government Management
• 14th in Public Finance and Budgeting
• 49th in overall public affairs by U.S. News & World Report

We also offer our M.P.A. degree online, making it convenient to access our outstanding curriculum. With our flexibility and excellent reputation, it comes as no surprise that one-third of all city and county managers in Illinois are alumni of our program.

Contact Information:

Scott Robinson

Professor and Chair
Northern Illinois University
Department of Public Administration
DeKalb, IL 60115

Phone: 815-753-0183
Fax: 815-753-1541
Email: srobinson1@niu.edu