I am an ASU alum, and though I'm not going to slaughter one of the previous posters, I will say that a lot of what was said is incorrect. Arizona State is a major metropolitan university that has transformed into a different kind of institution under the direction of Michael Crow. While he has his fair share of enemies and naysayers, it would be completely unfair to say that he hasn't done much for the university...it fact, he's done a tremendous amount. Is it a party school? Perhaps, but so are Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina, all of which also happen to be stellar public universities. ASU MPAs have found plenty of jobs east of the Mississippi and in D.C. Though rankings may not matter to all, they matter to some, and ASU is one of the few programs in the Western U.S. to be ranked in the top 25.
On the School of Public Affairs, I'll be candid. It's a place where you can get as much or as little as you want out of it (which is really true of any program). I got a lot out of it during my MPA program, and I'm currently finishing my Ph.D. in Public Affairs at a top 5 ranked school in the field. The admissions are not particularly hard, but I wouldn't be lax in applying. Always do your best to make the strongest application. The school has recently transitioned from the Tempe campus to the Downtown Phoenix Campus, and as such, has a large focus on urban issues and local government. If you're interested in either of those, then it would be a good place. If you interested in working in any government capacity in Arizona, it's a great place, as alumni are relatively well networked and maintain close enough ties to the school. Though the school for sometime lacked some identity, it is increasing in quality and is continually attracting major resources. You will have some fine–not to mention very dedicated–instructors there. People there are also very collegial. They'll find time to meet with you and help when needed. This is a sometimes rare quality at some other "top" programs I'm familiar with.
I know this is very late in terms of the OP's original inquiry, but I thought I'd add my two cents. Good luck.