Pace University Receives NASPAA Accreditation

The Pace University Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program has received accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the recognized accreditor of master’s degree programs in those fields. Earning the honor for the first time, the Pace MPA program is accredited for seven years, NASPAA’s maximum accreditation length.

“The NASPAA accreditation is a culmination of the efforts and dedication of our faculty and staff who are committed to advance the quality of our MPA program,” said MPA Director and Associate Professor Gina Scutelnicu-Todoran, PhD. “It is a testament to Pace’s MPA program’s substantial conformity with the highest academic and professional standards in the discipline, enabling us to meet our mission of serving students in the New York City metropolitan area, the state of New York, the US and internationally.”

With the accreditation, the Pace MPA program, housed within the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, joins a global network of more than 200 accredited programs across nine countries, creating and strengthening connections among peer institutions. NASPAA accredits programs that meet its seven standards, which examine the program’s mission, commitment to public values, positive student outcomes through immersive academics, significant scholarly work from faculty, and satisfactory facilities and resources. The accreditation process includes a self-study completed by the program, as well as a site visit from the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation.

“Receiving NASPAA accreditation is an exciting and well-deserved milestone for our MPA program,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, dean of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. “The accreditation elevates the University’s and Dyson College’s commitment to quality public affairs education, providing our students with a rich educational experience that prepares them to be the critical thinkers, change agents, and impactful leaders of the future.”

The Pace MPA program is offered on the New York City and Westchester campuses and online and includes the option to specialize in one of three management tracks: government, healthcare, and nonprofit. Catered to both pre-service and in-service students, the program focuses on immersive academic experiences, while offering complementary experiential and co-curricular opportunities through professional internships, an honor society, an MPA-focused student organization, an ICMA Student Chapter, and a partnership with Pace’s Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship.