Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA)
Lead with purpose, innovate with impact—elevate your career with an Executive MPA.
Program Overview
As a driven, experienced professional, you’re always seeking new opportunities to grow. You want to expand your skills, build valuable connections, and leverage your leadership experience to create greater impact. Our Executive MPA (EMPA) program is designed to merge your expertise with a targeted, practical education—advancing your career while empowering you to drive social change at a higher level.
EMPA alumni and faculty discuss how the rigorous program hones skills, expands networks, and transforms careers.
Unlock Your Potential with an Executive MPA
Program graduates lead initiatives that enhance public service, shape policy, and drive organizational success. They excel in senior leadership roles across government, nonprofit, and global sectors, making decisions that have a lasting impact on communities. Here are some of the impactful roles that Executive MPA graduates step into as they advance their careers:
Executive Director
Chief Operations Officer
Senior Director of Development
VP of Customer Experience
VP for Program Strategy
Skills You'll Gain With an EMPA
The Executive MPA hones your leadership abilities and strategic thinking, preparing you to make impactful decisions in complex environments.
Learn to navigate complex challenges and lead effectively across multiple contexts—whether managing yourself, guiding teams, driving organizational change, or influencing society as a whole.
Master the principles of growth and innovation within organizations while providing expert guidance through periods of transition.
Gain the tools to make strategic financial decisions grounded in data, tailored specifically for public and nonprofit sectors where every dollar and data point matters.
Develop the skills to communicate and collaborate across diverse cultures, fostering meaningful partnerships and global impact.
What Our Graduates Say
“When I think of NYU Wagner and the EMPA, I think about the folks in my cohort, all the good things they were doing, their many accomplishments, and how Wagner prepared them to do even greater good in whatever sector they joined.”
—Cherrelle Hall (EMPA 2021), research assistant, Empire State University
Alumni in Action: Supporting and Empowering Nonprofits in New York City
Jennifer Geiling (EMPA) left her job as a corporate lawyer to start a nonprofit for adults with developmental disabilities. She wanted to make a greater impact on the nonprofit sector, so she decided to attend NYU Wagner.
Alumni in Action: Supporting and Empowering Nonprofits in New York City
Jennifer Geiling (EMPA) left her job as a corporate lawyer to start a nonprofit for adults with developmental disabilities. She wanted to make a greater impact on the nonprofit sector, so she decided to attend NYU Wagner.
Why Choose NYU Wagner?
NYU Wagner offers a dynamic, supportive environment for experienced professionals looking to expand their influence. Here’s why our Executive MPA (EMPA) stands out:
Students work with their advisors to develop a customized curriculum that aligns with their personal and professional goals. Approximately 70% of the program consists of elective courses, allowing students to focus on specific topics or skill sets.
You'll move through the program alongside a group of peers, building strong professional relationships and a support network that lasts well beyond graduation. Additionally, the program offers access to an extensive alumni network and an exclusive LinkedIn group, providing valuable connections and resources to help you advance your career and expand your impact.
As an Executive MPA (EMPA) student, you'll gain access to a powerful network of NYU alumni. Wagner’s alumni network, combined with the broader NYU community, spans across New York and the globe, offering invaluable connections in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors.
Personalized coaching and leadership development are key components of the year-one EMPA experience. We empower students through executive coaching, targeted leadership development courses, and a co-curricular series that includes skill-building workshops and insights from accomplished leaders in the field.
Curriculum Overview
The NYU Wagner Executive MPA program offers a flexible, customizable curriculum designed to align with your unique career goals and interests. With the ability to tailor coursework around key areas such as leadership, analytical skills, social and political understanding, and effective communication, the program equips seasoned professionals to lead transformational change. You’ll gain the tools to manage organizations, programs, and initiatives that address today’s most pressing global challenges while developing expertise in areas that matter most to you.
Degree Tracks
Public Service Leaders
EMPA students learn to lead organizations and address public service challenges at the highest level in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors.
Global Public Service Leaders
EMPA students interested in international development policy and management can focus their curriculum on leading organizations in a global context.
Meet Our Faculty
How to Apply
Applying to NYU’s Executive MPA program is the first step toward elevating your career in public service. Specifically designed for mid-career professionals, the program balances a world-class education with the demands of your personal and professional life.
Our streamlined application process allows you to highlight your professional experience and leadership potential. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in management and leadership and at least seven years of full-time work experience, ideally with supervisory duties. We seek individuals who have a passion for leadership and a proven ability to inspire and drive meaningful change. Applicants must submit:
- Two essays to introduce yourself and to inform the admissions committee about your goals, background, and career plans as they relate to your intended academic pursuits.
- Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended in which you earned grades and/or academic credits at the post-secondary level, including undergraduate, transfer credits, continuing education, etc.
- An up-to-date resume that includes your education and employment history.
- Two letters of recommendation, from academic or professional sources.
- An application fee of $85.
View the Complete Application ChecklistView Admission Criteria
Tuition & Financial Aid
Financing your Executive MPA is an essential step in the process, and we’re committed to helping you make it manageable.
Tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Your tuition costs are customized based on the total number of credits you enroll in each term.
Per-Credit Tuition Costs (2024-2025)
| FALL 2024 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Tuition per point/credit |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
$2,395 |
PER-SEMESTER TUITION COSTS (2024-2025)
| Credits | Tuition |
|---|---|
6 credits |
$14,370 |
9 credits |
$21,555 |
12 credits |
$28,740 |
View the tuition and fee calculator at the NYU Bursar's website.
*For Executive Masters students, fees also include a one-time $1,758 EMPA program fee. The program fee will be split across two semesters:
- EXEC-GP 100 = $879 (Fall 2024)
- EXEC-GP 101 = $879 (Spring 2025)
**A typical part-time student enrolls in 6 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year. A typical full-time student enrolls in 12 credits per fall and spring semester each academic year.
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
Housing |
$23,588 |
||
Food |
$6,450 |
||
Books |
$1,510 |
||
Transportation |
$2,342 |
||
Personal Expenses |
$3,000 |
||
Student Basic Health Insurance** |
$4,346 |
||
ESTIMATED TOTAL |
$41,236 |
*Please note that these expenses, based on 2024-2025 rates, are discretionary for students and are included here to assist you in planning your budget.
**Based on Basic Plan. For more information on student health insurance options, including premiums, enrollment, and waivers, please visit the NYU Student Health Insurance website.
Most NYU Wagner students fund their studies through a variety of means—private or federal student loans, college work-study, or student employment. You can seek out supplementary funding by applying to external merit-based or need-based scholarship programs that award students pursuing a degree program in public service.
Federal Student Loans
Federal student loan programs offer low-interest student loan options for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Graduate financial aid programs available to students who study in New York State include:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Grad/Professional Plus Loans
- Federal Work Study
Compare the different types of federal loan programs.
How to Apply
If you are a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and you wish to be considered for need-based federal financial aid, you must complete the current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). List "New York University" as a recipient and include our federal school code number 002785. Deadline: You should submit the FAFSA no later than October 1 for spring-start students or February 1 for fall-start students. While the FAFSA is accepted after these deadlines, late submission will cause a delay in the determination (and notification) of your aid eligibility (but it does not impact the amount of funding for which you are eligibile).
Private Loan Programs
A variety of additional, private (non-federal) alternative loans are also available from individual lending institutions. Please think carefully about your obligations as a borrower before pursuing any educational loan. Consider your educational investment at NYU, as well as your long-term financial commitments when borrowing.
See a reference list of private lenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Executive MPA prepares you for a variety of leadership roles in public service. You could step into senior positions at government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or international groups. You might become an executive director, operations lead, program manager, or strategic consultant, where you can facilitate change, influence policy, and tackle important social and public issues.
The EMPA curriculum is designed specifically to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. The program offers a customizable course structure, allowing you to tailor your schedule to align with your personal interests and career goals. You can choose courses offered on Saturdays (mornings/afternoons) and/or during the week (days/evenings) based on your availability. You may select courses from within Wagner or other NYU divisions.
Students can complete the program in one year as full-time students, or take longer as needed if studying part-time. The NYU Executive MPA program is designed to be taken alongside full-time work. Classes are scheduled in the evenings and on weekends to fit around your professional responsibilities. Overall, you should expect to invest time both in class and for coursework outside of class, with a manageable workload that supports a work-life-study balance.
EMPA students have access to personalized one-on-one leadership coaching, academic and career advising, a global alumni network, and various co-curricular activities. The program also features skill-building workshops and ample opportunities to engage with organizational leaders, all designed to enhance professional development and career growth.
To apply for the EMPA program, you must have at least seven years of full-time work experience, preferably with supervisory or leadership roles, and a demonstrated interest in management and leadership. Along with your resume, academic transcripts, and two letters of recommendation, you’ll need to submit essays and any additional materials listed in the application checklist. The program is designed for experienced professionals with a proven track record of achievements and a passion for leadership.