Doctor of Public Administration
Bring about Lasting Change in Your Community with a Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)
Are you passionate about politics and ensuring that government procedures run smoothly? Maybe you’re currently an educator or a civil servant who wants to make a difference in government for the betterment of society. It is the efforts of administrators, civil servants, and bureaucrats that make the government work, and that’s the realm of public administration. Liberty University’s Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) is an excellent degree option providing the training you need to make a difference in public and private policy administration.
Throughout this degree, you’ll explore the administrative functions of governmental agencies and gain experience in strategic planning, program implementation, advanced management techniques, and results-based leadership. You can take on positions in higher education as an administrator or professor. You can have the option of working as a civil servant, politician, consultant, or grants writer.
So don’t wait any longer! The public needs someone like you who is passionate about the laws and policies that affect their daily lives.
What is the difference between a Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) and a Ph.D. in Public Administration?
The major difference between these 2 degrees is that the DPA will require you to complete a capstone project to demonstrate how your industry-specific skills can solve real-world problems. You will identify a problem or need, perform an assessment, and address the need. If you are looking for a way to create original research that will add to the general knowledge of this field, then you may want to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Administration. With the guidance of our professors, you create your own research concept and complete a dissertation on the concept you choose so you can be recognized as a scholar in public administration.
What Will You Study in Your Doctor of Public Administration Program?
The training you receive in this degree will allow you to:
- Construct innovative change proposals to policies that address public needs and problems
- Synthesize a Christian model of statesmanship that incorporates a biblical worldview in public administration
- Conduct independent research that contributes to the public administration field
Career Opportunities for Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) Graduates
- Academic program director
- Budget analyst
- City manager
- Civil rights specialist
- Elected official
- Foundation program officer
- Grants writer/administrator
- Higher education administration
- Legislative aide
- Lobbyist
- Management consultant
- Nonprofit manager/leader
- Policy analyst
- Professional researcher
- Public affairs officer
- Public agency manager
- Research scientist
- Sustainability consultant
- Teacher/professor
- Urban planner
Benefits of Pursuing a Doctorate in Public Administration
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- The majority of tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 9 years. While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- This program is offered in an 8-week course format, with 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times!
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Here’s how:
- If you’re earning or have earned a master’s degree through Liberty, you automatically qualify for the low price (when you begin within 2 years of your master’s completion).
- If you haven’t earned a graduate degree through Liberty, our Executive Certificate program allows you to pay only $300/credit hour for a postgraduate certificate that can stand alone or potentially count as the first 21 hours of a related doctoral degree. Then pay just $300/credit hour for your doctorate. Learn more!
Credit Hours
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Mar 17, 2025
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Doctor of Public Administration
As an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University offers you an education that is both academically challenging and rooted in a biblical worldview.
At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 35+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.
And what’s that?
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Academic Quality
These important factors challenged us to find new financial solutions, get ahead of industry trends, and blaze trails into cutting-edge career fields — and it’s paid off. That’s the difference experience makes.
We are widely recognized as a top university for affordability, accessibility, and academic quality.
Why Choose Liberty University?
Enjoy Flexible Courses
Choose from a wide variety of programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, most of which are 100% online*. With an 8-week format and 8 start dates per year, it’s easy to fit your courses around your schedule!
* excludes licensure, certification, and some doctoral programs
Maximize Your Time
Start and finish your degree faster! Liberty requires no standardized testing for admission, and you can transfer previous course credit — transfer in up to 75% of a bachelor’s degree and up to 50% of a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree — or discover how your life, career, or military experience may count toward your college degree.
Grow in Your Faith
All of our courses are taught from a Christian perspective, and our faculty see themselves as mentors. Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ — we’re committed to championing you as you study to go further in your field, become a leader in your industry, or start a new career.
Access Academic Support
Throughout your educational journey, you will have access to academic resources that will aid in the completion of your degree. Services include our electronic and print resources through the Jerry Falwell Library, writing center, tutoring, study aids, IT assistance, 30+ tutorial videos, live webinars, and personalized help from our academic advising team.
An Online Education with On-Campus Benefits
Cheer on 20 NCAA Division I
games that air nationwide
Graduate with your peers
Be inspired by world-renowned
speakers at Convocation
As a nonprofit (not-for-profit) university, Liberty is in the business of training skilled professionals to make a difference in the world – not gaining profit, revenue, or producing dividends for shareholders. In keeping with our commitment to your education, we invest our resources back into degree programs and into your student experience.
While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university and has not increased tuition for 9 straight years. We want to help you pursue your goals – so while tuition rates at most universities have continued to increase over the years, the majority of our rates haven’t.
For Liberty University, nonprofit is more than a status; it is a valuable opportunity to invest in the lives of students who will go out and impact the world.
Financing Options
Financial Aid
Nearly 80% of all Liberty students in an online program are awarded financial aid. Virginia residents may qualify for additional aid — learn more!
Corporate Tuition Assistance
Deferred – If your company reimburses you for the cost of your education, you pay only a portion of your balance up front. You submit your grades to your employer who pays you, and then you pay the remaining balance for your classes.
Tuition Discounts
Qualified military service members, veterans, and their spouses can receive up to 55% off their tuition rate for eligible programs!
Contact one of our Admissions Counselors for more information by calling (800) 424-9595.