Master of Public Administration (MPA) — Health Policy & Management

Advance healthcare, explore community impacts, and confront real-world challenges in NYU Wagner's #3 ranked Health Policy & Management program.

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Program Overview


How can we improve healthcare access and quality while reducing costs? What connections exist between community health and factors like housing, transportation, and education? This NYU MPA program offers a unique opportunity to delve into health policy and management, including the crucial ways in which they intersect. 

With diverse populations and real-world challenges at your doorstep in NYC, you’ll gain practical skills and insights, preparing you to take on the most challenging issues in any healthcare environment.

Professor Thomas D'Aunno provides an overview of NYU Wagner's Master of Public Administration: Health Policy and Management degree program.

Faculty

Unlock Your Potential With an MPA in Health Policy & Management 

You’ll engage with real-world applications of health policy and management, exploring their interconnections within a vibrant and diverse urban setting. Find your place in essential industries, whether it’s shaping public health programs, advising healthcare organizations, or leading initiatives. These are just some of the titles you will be able to pursue:

Healthcare Policy Analyst
Public Health Administrator
Healthcare Consultant
Health Initiative Program Director

Skills You'll Gain With an MPA in Health Policy & Management

Acquire a diverse skill set that enables you to make a lasting difference. Our graduates leverage these crucial abilities to take on real-world challenges such as:

Policy Analysis and Development

Evaluate societal needs and form effective health policies that address the latest challenges.

Communication and Advocacy

Develop a strong understanding of complex policy issues and advocate for system-wide improvement.

Strategic Management

Gain expertise in designing and implementing strategies that improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Data Analysis and Visualization

Master the ability to utilize health-related data to inform policy and communicate the impact of initiatives. 

What Our Graduates Say

Sean Pomory

“My time at NYU Wagner was pivotal in shaping my career path. The program's rigorous curriculum and hands-on experiences gave me the analytical tools and strategic insights to make a meaningful impact in American healthcare. The diversity of perspectives within the Wagner community helped me think critically and enabled me to work on practical problems during and after my Wagner career. I would not be where I am in my career if I had not attended NYU Wagner.”

Sean Pomory (MPA 2024), Consultant at Manatt Health

Why Choose NYU Wagner?

Your chosen MPA program sets the foundation for a successful career in health policy and management. Our interdisciplinary approach, expert faculty, and prime New York City location offer unparalleled learning, growth, and professional development opportunities. Here’s what sets us apart:

Convenience & Flexibility

We offer flexible scheduling options for both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, while part-time students typically finish in three to four years.

Distinguished Faculty

Learn from premier scholars in various disciplines, including economics, finance, management, political science, law, planning, and healthcare. These highly-accomplished industry leaders will prepare you to effectively address issues across sectors and policy arenas.

Real-World Experience

A year-long capstone project is the pinnacle of your graduate experience, offering an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to real-world challenges. Collaborating with peers and expert faculty mentors, you'll take on pressing issues facing healthcare today.

Tangible Career Outcomes

MPA graduates work along the healthcare continuum, government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, corporate social responsibility departments, and a multitude of other sectors. That includes organizations such as the American Red Cross, Deloitte, Manatt Health, APCO Worldwide, Ernst & Young, Everytown for Gun Safety, NY Green Bank, United Nations, and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Curriculum Overview

Our 45-credit program includes foundational courses, specializations, electives, and a capstone project. This comprehensive curriculum provides you with the critical skills and knowledge needed for a career in health policy and management. Below is an overview of the required coursework.

Degree Core Requirements

Students must complete the following core courses:

CORE-GP.1011, Statistical Methods

CORE-GP.1018, Microeconomics

CORE-GP.1020, Management and Leadership

CORE-GP.1021, Financial Management

CORE-GP.1022, Introduction to Public Policy

Specialization Requirements

Students must complete courses for their chosen specialization.

The Health Finance specialization has two sub-specialization areas. Health Financial Management concentrates on the basic skills required to organize and interpret financial information as the basis of decision-making. Health Public Finance provides the concepts and skills needed for careers that focus on the financial aspects of healthcare policy and the healthcare delivery system.

Explore Health Finance

The Health Policy Analysis specialization prepares students to develop and evaluate strategies to improve the efficiency of the healthcare delivery system. 

Explore Health Policy Analysis

The Health Services Management specialization prepares students to develop and evaluate strategies to improve the efficiency of the healthcare delivery system. 

Explore Health Services Management

The International Health specialization prepares students to work in health policy and management worldwide and in diverse cultures. 

Explore International Health 

Additional Degree Requirements

The capstone program, which is a year-long consulting or research project, puts you out in the world to resolve a problem or conduct an analysis for a client organization. All students must complete the program-specific courses in conjunction with their capstone experience.

Learn more about Capstone

Clustering elective courses around an issue area enables you to develop a course of study that most closely meets your needs and interests and provides specialized training around an area of expertise.

Learn more about Electives

NYU Wagner is deeply committed to education outside of the classroom. First-hand work experience in your field of choice can be a pivotal experience, and our New York City location offers countless opportunities for career exploration. To this end, NYU Wagner requires all MPA students to graduate with professional experience that is directly related to their degree program and field of interest. 

Learn more about the Professional Experience Requirement 

 

Meet Our Faculty

How to Apply

Ready to take the next step? Explore the application process, requirements, and deadlines for our MPA-HPAM program.

Submit your online application along with two essays (with an optional video essay), a resume or curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources, transcripts from all institutions attended, and optional standardized test scores if applicable. You will also need to submit the $85 application fee and review any additional requirements specific to international applicants

To make sure you have everything you need, we created a complete application checklist.

What do we look for in an applicant?

We invite students from all majors and backgrounds who demonstrate aptitude in both quantitative and qualitative coursework, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. We value a deep commitment to public service, whether shown through coursework, work experience, or volunteer efforts, and we encourage career changers to apply. Our admissions process is focused on identifying candidates who have the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of the scope, and appreciates professional experience from all sectors to enhance the learning environment.

Is work experience required for admission?

While we prefer applicants to have at least two years of relevant professional experience, such as full-time, part-time, internship, or volunteer work, it is not a requirement for admission. Students without two years of full-time, degree-relevant experience will participate in the Professional Experience Requirement (PER) to gain practical experience and enhance their understanding of the public service field.

Does NYU offer merit scholarships?

Yes, we offer a number of merit-based scholarships at NYU Wagner. All part-time and full-time students are considered.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Find out detailed information about the cost of attendance, and access resources to finance your education—including federal loan programs and merit-based fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships.

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.

 

 

          Expense type*
Estimated cost

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

What types of courses will I take as a MPA Health Policy and Management student?

Our program features a mix of core courses, specialized tracks, electives, and a capstone project. This well-rounded curriculum equips you with essential skills and expertise for a successful career in health policy and management. Core courses include subjects such as statistical methods, management and leadership, and financial management.

What career opportunities are available with an MPA in Health Policy and Management?

Whether it’s shaping public health programs, advising healthcare organizations, or leading initiatives, earning an MPA in Health Policy and Management will prepare you for a wide range of careers in healthcare analysis, consultation, program development, and more.

Does an MPA in Health Policy and Management prepare me for leadership roles in healthcare?

Yes, an MPA in Health Policy and Management is designed to prepare you for leadership roles in healthcare. The program helps you build the skills needed to handle complex healthcare systems, make smart policy decisions, and manage healthcare organizations effectively. You’ll learn about health policy, strategic management, and leadership—all key areas that can help you move into leadership positions in the healthcare field.

Accreditation

NYU Wagner's MPA degree, including its Health Policy and Management Program (HPAM), is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

NYU Wagner's MPA-HPAM specialization in Health Services Management is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). 

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