Overview

Key Features

The Public Policy degree from Portland State University is built on the disciplinary foundations public policy studies within the fields of political science and public administration.

The department offers:

Two degree tracks: Policy Analysis and Policy Advocacy and Leadership
The opportunity to develop specialized knowledge in a particular policy area
Hands-on experience conducting policy work with policy-focused client organizations
Professional development and networking opportunities
Access to world-class faculty
Full and part-time enrollment options and course planning to accommodate working schedules
In-state tuition for students from Western states through the Western Regional Graduate Program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Career opportunities:

Nationwide, demand for graduates in public policy has been growing in response to the need for analysts and leaders who can operate within complex policy environments. One survey finds that among recent MPP graduates 30% work for the federal government, 24% for non-profits, 22% for the private sector, and 17% for state and local governments.

The students generally find employment within these sectors, as well as in public management agencies, politics and political campaigns, policy advocacy organizations, and international and inter-governmental institutions.

Candidates seeking to take their careers in public policy-related fields to the next level are encouraged to contact MPP Director, Shane Day at sdd@pdx.edu for further information or to schedule a campus visit.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Public Policy

American Political Institutions
Ethics and Public Policy

Testing Theories in Political Science

Analytic Methods in Public Administration

Policy Analysis Research
Advocacy and Political Participation by Nonprofit Organizations

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-30 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

54 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Portland, United States

Disciplines

Public Policy View 408 other Masters in Public Policy in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

The program requires candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college who achieved a minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework or a minimum 3.1 GPA in graduate coursework. Students are expected to complete a college-level statistics course prior to or at the beginning of their enrollment and to have a functional knowledge of the workings of the American government.

One transcript from each post-secondary institution.

500 to 1,000-word Statement of Intent:

The statement should address:

1. Your professional goals.
2. Your planned track: Policy Analysis or Policy Advocacy (see details here)
3. Your desired employment sector.
4. How the MPP furthers your professional goals.
Three recommendation letters from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional capabilities.
A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
$65 non-refundable application fee.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

18630 USD / year

≈ 18630 USD / year
Out-of-State

18630 USD / year

≈ 18630 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

12501 USD / year

≈ 12501 USD / year

Living costs

Portland

United States

1271 - 2262 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

MPOWER Financing No cosigner. No collateral. No hidden fees.

Check your Eligibility

Get the funding you need to study in the U.S. or Canada - with a process that's fast, simple, and built for international students.

Flexible loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000
Fixed interest rates -- no inflation surprises
No upfront fees or prepayment penalties
Accepted at 500+ universities across the U.S. & Canada
100% online application -- instant conditional offer
Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Public Policy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Key Features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Portland

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners