Career Pathways

Where Our Alumni Work

Graduates of the MPA Program find meaningful careers in nonprofit organizations, government institutions, and business and social enterprise. As of our last survey in 2023, 47% of our graduates worked in the nonprofit sector and education, 30% worked in government, and 23% worked in business and social enterprise.

MPA graduates become leaders of organizations and agencies working to solve social problems in a number of issue areas. Some of the top issues our alumni focus on are public health, equitable access to education, urban development and housing, ending poverty, and promoting racial justice, gender equity, and LGBTQ+ equality. 

MPA alumni work in a variety of managerial roles in areas such as communications, development and fundraising, budgeting and finance, policy research, advocacy, program evaluation, and community organizing, among others. The following are examples of positions our alumni have obtained:

• Director of Diversity and Inclusion | Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health
• Associate Director, Engagement | Ichor Strategies
• Manager of LGBTQ Programs | NYC Dept. of Education
• Senior Policy Analyst | NYC Mayor’s Office
• Senior Associate | Rockefeller Foundation
• Vice President | New York City Economic Development Corporation
• Assistant District Attorney | Kings County District Attorney's Office

Professional Development Program

The MPA Program requires students to actively work on their own professional development while in the program. This expectation demonstrates our program’s commitment to developing professional skills and capabilities so that students can lead impactful careers in public service to advance social change. The MPA Professional Development (PD) program runs parallel to academic coursework and includes in-person PD workshops, a work experience requirement, and an intentionally sequenced series of deliverables.