University of Nebraska at Omaha
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- Master of Public Administration
- Ph.D. in Public Administration
- Urban Studies
- Graduate Certificate in Public Management
- BS Emergency Management
- BGS Emergency Management
- BGS Fire Service Management
- BGS Nonprofit Administration
- Online BGS Nonprofit Administration
- Certified Public Manager Program
- Aviation Institute
- NASPAA Self-Study Report (2004)
- Site index
welcome prospective students.
A Leading Program in a Great Setting
UNO's graduate public administration program is among the first accredited MPA programs in the U.S., so you can be assured of a high-quality degree program meeting national standards of professional education. In addition, the UNO graduate Public Administration program is nationally ranked.
The School of Public Administration at UNO has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Graduate Schools (2013 edition) as one of the nation's top programs. UNO ranked 33rd nationally and tied for 23rd place among public institutions. Rankings of specific specialty areas are even higher:
- Information technology and management ranked 6th nationally among 15 similar programs and 3rd nationally among public universities;
- Public management administration ranked 21st nationally;
- City management and urban policy ranked 14th nationally;
- Public finance and budgeting ranked 6th nationally;
- Nonprofit management ranked 11th nationally.
"I am proud of the fact that I graduated from one of the leading public administration programs in the country," said Kathy Nordby, program developer with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Omaha itself has long been noted as a central player in communications, transportation, insurance, and the food production industry for more than 100 years. With five Fortune 500 corporate headquarters, two teaching hospitals, an emerging riverfront district, great restaurants and plays, Omaha easily attracts students, professionals, and families from around the nation. And many alumni decide to stay in Omaha after graduation.
"The fact that the school is so connected to the community is something that really impressed me," said Angela Eikenberry, an MPA and Ph.D. in public administration graduate.
Why Should I Get a Master's Degree?
Master’s degrees are essential for future employment and overall career advancement. Based on projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in occupations that typically require a master’s degree will increase by 18% between 2008 and 2018, approximately twice the 10% rate of growth expected for all occupations.
In addition to career advancement, a master’s degree also increases the likelihood of current employment. In a report aptly titled Education Pays, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2010, among individuals 25 years of age and older, the unemployment rate for those with a master’s degree as their highest degree was 4.0%, compared with 5.4% for those with only a bachelor’s degree, and 10.3% for those who had only graduated high school.
Over the course of their career, a Georgetown University study reports that individuals whose highest degree is a master’s degree can expect to earn nearly $2.7 million, while individuals with only a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $2.3 million. Moreover, in 2010, the median annual salary of master’s degree recipients was 22.5% higher ($66,144 compared to $53,976) than the median for those with only a bachelor’s degree.
This is why you should get a master's degree.
- Advance your career
- Become credentialed
- Earn a higher salary
- Hone your professional skills
- Develop new competencies
- Change careers
- Enter a doctoral program
- Think independently and learn actively
information for prospective students.
Financing your graduate degree