The high demand for leadership and managerial skills has put the MBA and MPA degrees in focus and solidified them as one of the most popular career paths for those seeking to advance their position. The two degrees offer advanced opportunities to boost your earnings within the corporate or public landscape. 

With business and financial occupations expected to grow as much as 7% from 2021 to 2031, the opportunity for career growth remains steady. However, deciding which degree path is best for you requires carefully considering what each degree comprises and which sector you want to work in. 

Let's take a look at the similarities and differences each degree offers.

What is an MPA?

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a graduate degree that prepares students for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. The curriculum includes a combination of business, finance, and public policy studies that prepare the student for jobs as executives, planners, managers, or analysts. 

Public administration careers involve overseeing policy procedures and leading government and non-profit organizations. If you're a purpose-driven professional, the MPA is a wise choice for careers in social science, policy analysis, or government.

This degree's curriculum typically involves administrative analysis, collaborative governance, community development, human resources, and public policy processes. Expect to enroll in business courses, such as management and finance-related studies. You'll also study organizational leadership, international relations, and political theory. 

The MPA program requisites typically include taking the GRE before acceptance into the program. In addition, most colleges and universities desire applicants who have taken statistics or accounting courses.

What is an MBA?

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is a graduate-level degree aimed at private sector careers and one of the most popular online graduate degrees. 

Expect to focus on courses designed to develop your strategic thinking skills, leadership capabilities, and a strong financial focus, such as financial reporting and analysis. You'll also enroll in marketing classes emphasizing marketing management, supply chain management, budgeting, risk management, and organizational leadership.

While the MPA typically relies on GRE results, the MBA requires GMAT testing before acceptance into a program. Universities and college programs also prefer students with a strong statistics and/or accounting foundation. 

Most MBA programs take 2 -3 years to complete but can be finished quicker depending on your schedule and ability to enroll full-time (12 hours +) each semester. 

MPA vs MBA: The Similarities in Skills and Learning

 

The MPA and MBA programs share many similarities in their course requirements. Both degrees focus on budgeting, finance, statistics, management, and project management coursework. Additionally, the curriculum involves developing leadership skills necessary for professional communication and decision-making. You'll acquire strategic thinking skills designed to enhance your ability to apply the knowledge you have gained through your studies.


You may consider seeking an internship at a company that offers paid or unpaid internships to gain additional on-the-job skills related to the MBA or MPA degree. You'll benefit from the experience and be able to add this milestone to your resume while solidifying a network that can benefit you after graduation. Many MBA and MPA internships land permanent jobs for students. 


Consult with your program's peers to explore internships with organizations or companies. As soon as you enroll, it would be best to start looking for MPA or MBA internship opportunities. Summer internships last up to ten weeks, but some may last up to a year. 

Many companies begin recruiting for internships in January of each year, while others recruit throughout the year, so your prospects for landing an internship that leads to a permanent position are good!

Differences Between the MPA and MBA

Key differences between the MPA and MBA lie in the employment sector of each respective field. The MPA degree focuses on government and public sector careers, whereas the MBA degree is most commonly seen among candidates applying for jobs in the private sector. 

While both degrees prepare you for administrative and/or executive roles, the MPA curriculum will have classes you won't see in the MBA program, such as courses involving governmental policy and community development.

MPA vs MBA Salary Comparison

With an MBA, your job may depend on your area of specialization within your MBA studies. Managing lower-level employees, supervising an organization's programs, and/or operating its infrastructure might be some of your responsibilities. You may also be tasked with managing an organization's personnel as a Human Resources Manager or monitoring its financial data and records as a Senior Auditor. 

Expect annual salaries with the MBA degree from $75,000 to $130,000. An MBA degree usually lends a higher wage in the corporate sector than an MPA degree.

With an MPA, you can work as a political scientist. The job will involve research, data collection, and analysis with an estimated top pay of $130,000 annually. Other types of careers with a MPA degree, such as Community and Social Manager, where you manage program objectives and administrative goals, will top out at more than $75,000 annually.

If you want to work as an urban planner, developing land programs and strategies for community development, you can expect to earn a top-paying salary of more than $80,000 per year.

MPA or MBA: Which is Right for You?

Think outside the box when considering which degree is best for you. Because both degrees offer similar skills and leadership preparation, you may use these parallels to your advantage when updating your resume. 

For example, one of my friends has an MPA degree but landed a job in the private sector with a construction company. The construction company primarily works with municipalities, and my friend's MPA degree provided the managerial qualities/education the company sought for working with city governments.

Deciding which career path you want to take requires careful examination of your goals and what motivates you. When building your career path, consider the aforementioned differences between the MPA and MBA degrees, and seek internships where available to form networks that will land you in your dream job. 

You stand to make significant strides with either the MPA or MBA for career growth. Take our career quiz to see what business degree is right for you!