100% online MPA (NASPAA) from University of South Florida

It looks like the bigger state universities are now jumping on the 100% online bandwagon. The University of South Florida is now offering a 100% online MPA that is NASPAA accredited for $895.00 per credit in a 36 credit program.

Tuition | USF-MPA

Conversely, non-online courses are only $431.00 per credit for in-state and $877.00 per credit for out-of-state.

University of South Florida - USF Controller's Office

The University of South Florida is charging twice as much tuition for the convenience of a 100% online MPA.

 

That is way out of my budget for a MPA.

 

I really like USF, and in the past have considered a few of their programs, but when will these schools realize that these prices are absurd? Will we see a crash in higher education soon because of this? Honestly, it's getting out of control.

 

It's being advertised at the low low low price of $32,220 for the complete 36-credit USF MPA degree.

Yes, USF has a very good reputation.

People rail against for-profit universities, but in this instance, USF cost 2.75 times more than a APUS MPA degree e.g. $895 per non-profit USF online credit verses $325 per for-profit APUS online credit. Holy cow.

APUS Tuition & Fees

Granted, USF has the coveted NASPAA programmatic accreditation and APUS does not, although APUS is allegedly seeking it. Nonetheless, USF may be classified as a non-profit, but it is charging for-profit tuition prices, in conjunction with being a taxpayer supported university e.g. USF now has the best of both worlds.

I frankly would not pay 32k for an MPA degree, even if it's from USF (I already have another USF MA, but it was only 7k in-resident and not online). I'm glad I chose the APUS MPA program and my out-of-pocket costs will be about 7k (due to so many transfer credits).

It's still hard to believe that someone would pay 32k for an online USF MPA degree. It must be for the rich because the ROI isn't going to be that much for most people.

 

Valdosta State University is NASPAA-accredited and charges $285 per credit hour plus some fees. Their MPA is available online.

 

I'd like to mention Arkansas State as well. NASPAA, online, and a little north of $9K. I would have gone with this if I wasn't already too far into mine with UIS, which runs about $15K ($13K for me, with 4 transfer credits).

Degree Programs | Arkansas State University Online

The MPA Online – Department of Public Administration - University of Illinois Springfield - UIS