Online MPA: Arkansas State Univ. vs. Univ. of Missouri

I am currently employed in the public sector, and I am looking to complete a Master of Public Administration (or Public Affairs) online. I am considering Arkansas State University's online Master of Public Administration ($9,000 tuition) and University of Missouri's online Master of Public Affairs ($11,000 tuition). Both programs are NASPAA accredited.

My goal is to advance in my public service career (government and/or nonprofit) and possibly teach public administration courses as an adjunct instructor at a local college.

Would one school or program be regarded more highly than the other by the public sector or academia? Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

Mizzou is a much more well regarded university. It's a state flag-ship and an AAU university.

 

I agree with AUTiger00, University of Missouri has better reputation and well known. Also, I always in favor with University of... vs ... State University; maybe the majority University of ... has better reputation over ... State University. For example

- University of California vs California State University
- University of Florida vs Florida State University
- University of Virginia vs Virginia State University
- University of Washington vs Washington State University
- University of Texas vs Texas State University
- University of Arizona vs Arizona State University
- University of Colorado vs Colorado State University

and so on....

 

It looks like you can't go wrong with either. Both are offered by reputable traditional state universities, are NASPAA accredited, 100% online, and have accelerated terms (Arkansas St. 8 wks, Mizzou 9 wks). While Mizzou is slightly more expensive, it also requires three fewer credits hrs. (33 vs. 36 for Ark St.).

If it were me, I'd probably spend the little extra $ and go with Mizzou because its a state flagship institution that enjoys a national reputation. But, as I said earlier, I don't think you'll go wrong with either.

 

I'm in a similar situation. I've worked in a managerial position in city government for 5 years and am thinking about an MPA. Primarily to advance my career but there is also the thought of adjuncting. In a comparison of the 2 schools you mentioned, Missouri uses a PA designation in their course prefixes. Arkansas State uses POSC. Does anyone think this will make a difference with adjuncting?

 

And some times XYZ State University is better than University of XYZ:

Louisiana State University vs the University of Louisiana
Ohio State University vs Ohio University

 

..........

 

Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) is the primary State University in Virginia not Virginia State University.

 

A comment like this is grounds for war in the Tampa Bay area!

 

Really? What about the University of Virginia?

 

Ditto Ted ...

 

My statement is based on nomenclature (I thought this board was real stickler for minutiae like that). The thread evolved into a comparison based solely on names, the comparison is over-exaggerated if you use VSU. Obviously both are "State" Universities. I attended two of the three (and I spent much time in Charlottesville) and believe me there is a massive world of difference between Virginia Tech (VPI&SU) and Virginia State.

This leads me to my favorite bumper sticker of all time. "Virginia Tech - 'Technically' The University of Virginia". I really wish I had kept that one!

 

What about VCU? Virginia Commonwealth?

Getting back to what the op asked...Seriously, Mizzou over Arkansas State U.
MU is an AAU and state Flagship school. Plus it is in the SEC.

 

Well, Mizzou has definitely had much more stability in their Football Head Coach over the last several years. ASU seems to be the springboard to the SEC (at least with Freeze and Malzahn).

Mizzou will however get seriously crushed this year.

 

VCU oh, you mean the former Richmond Professional Institute which was part of William & Mary for several decades.

Whereas VSU and VT have been free standing indepedent institutions since 1882 and 1872 respectively.

Virginia may be a "Commonwealth" but it is in name only. The comparison was based on the "State Name State University" versus the "University of the State Name". The country is called the United States of America not the "United Forty-Six States and Four Commonwealths of America" (what a mouthful).

 

Shouldn't be in the SEC. What a joke. They only got in because of the STL and KC television markets. Nothing southern about Missouri outside of the boot heel.

 

Not even the fact that they were a slave state (even though they stayed in the Union during the Civil War)?

 

I have to agree with Ted. Missouri is chock full of Good 'Ole Boy types, culturally a fine fit with the SEC. This comes from the fingertips of a Virginia Hillbilly so don't get your boots and "Skoal can butt" worn jeans in a bunch if that bothers you.

 

I understand that they are represented with a star on the Confederate flag even though they didn't secede, along with Kentucky. The US government installed an unelected government in Missouri. I know the history of the state.
My argument isn't about where they stood during the Civil War. It's an issue of the modern culture. My father was in a military family and spent a large amount of his youth living in Missouri, I have a lot of family there, several aunts and uncles are Mizzou alums. I'm not deriding the state, I'm just pointing out that they aren't a cultural fit for the conference. Visit Mizzou and then visit any of the other SEC campuses. It's pretty apparent that a cultural divide exists between them and any of the other member institutions.
One of my big gripes with them is that the SEC wasn't even their first choice. They came crawling to the SEC, a conference that Mizzou alumus bashed for it's membership being unintelligent, racist, rednecks, after their first choice, the Big10, rejected their advances. They act like they somehow improve the academic prestige of the conference when in fact they are only the 7th best school in the conference behind Vandy, TAMU, Florida, UGA, Alabama and Auburn. When you point that out their only argument is "but we're an AAU school, we're an AAU school, we're an AAU school".

 

I'm not offended. I should be more clear, my problem isn't with the residents of the state, but you're confusing "southern" with "country", there is a distinction. Again, if you visit the Mizzou campus and then visit other SEC member schools there is a difference in the students/alumni/fan bases that is clearly evident.