Hi everyone!
I need some insight! I have about 5 years of professional work under my belt (all nonprofit, in development/fundraising) and have recently decided that I need an additional degree/accreditation to get myself where I want to go, career-wise (more into policy/program management than development). I already have an MA in the humanities (literature). I don't really want to work in local/federal government and am more interested in private/international/policy-based organizations.
I am looking at online MPA programs because at this point I just can't afford going back to school full-time and need the flexibility to keep working. The thing is, I don't know where to start in choosing a program! I have been researching options and so far my top 4 are:
American MPAP (I like the policy element)
Rutgers MPA (well-regarded program)
John Jay at CUNY MPA (I have a particular interest in criminal justice!)
USC Price MPA (really really highly ranked)
I also have UNC, Johns Hopkins, U Nebraska-Omaha, UPenn, and Columbia on the list (Columbia is offering a fully online MPA come 2020!).
I know that at the end of the day an online degree and a brick-and-mortar one are the same to employers, and as long as I work hard I can get the same out of an online degree as I could a traditional one, but I have no experience with distance learning so I just don't know what I am really looking for when deciding where to apply/attend.
I know this is a really big investment (time and money) so I want to make sure I make the right choice and balance prestige with quality of learning and value.
Do any of you have any experience with these online MPAs? Insights into what I should look for when deciding? Other programs I should be looking at instead/in addition? Ideas where I should turn for further advice?
Any and all input much appreciated!
thank you!