MPA Program Outcomes

MPA Program Graduation Rates, Employment of Graduates & Major Employers Based on Suffolk University Office of Institutional Research and Assessment Survey Data

Four-Year Graduation Rates

Cumulative Number and Cumulative Percentage of Students Graduating within two, three, and four years from Fall Enrollment

Cohort Initially Enrolled Graduated within 2 Years Graduated within 3 Years Graduated within 4 Years
Fall 2016 52 15 (28.8%) 37 (71.2%) 40 (76.9%)
Fall 2015 51  27 (52.9%) 39 (76.5%) 43 (84.3%)
Fall 2014 53 22 (41.5%) 41 (77.3%) 50 (94.3%)
Fall 2013 38 15 (39.5%) 22 (57.9%) 35 (63.2%)

Survey of Employment

Employment of Academic Graduates by Sector 

Sector Spring 2018 Spring 2019 Spring 2020 Spring 2021
Government & Public Administration 11 15 12 22
Health Sciences, Healthcare & other Health Professions 1
Higher Education 1
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security 2
Nonprofit 4 16 9 10
Other 1 2 18 8
         
Total Responses 20 33 39 40
Total Graduates 44 60 44 43
Survey Response Rate 50% 55% 88% 93%

Employment of MPA Program Graduates

Surveyed Six Months After Graduation

  Academic Year
When did you begin your present position? 2020-21 2019-20 2018-19 2017-18 2015-16
Prior to or while enrolled at Suffolk  20   62% 18 54%  20 51%   18  72%  24  59%
Upon graduation  4   13% 3%     3   7%
Within 3 months after graduation  4   13% 9%  13%  3   12%  5   12%
Within 6 months after graduation  1   3% 18%  10 25%  4   16%  3   7%
Over 6 months after graduation  3   9% 9% 
7%   5   12%
Unemployed/seeking employment or continuing with further education  0   0% 6%    5%   1   2%
           
Total Responses 32 33 39 25 39
Survey Response Rate 82%  83% 65% 63% 71%

Sampling of Employers of MPA Program Graduates 2016-2021

  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons
  • Securities and Exchange Commission
  • U.S. State Department
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—General Services Administration
  • Department of Homeland Security

  • Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor
  • Massachusetts Department of Revenue
  • Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable
  • Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Massachusetts Trial Court
  • Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation
  • Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Administration and Finance
  • Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health
  • Massachusetts Department of Veteran Services
  • State of Rhode Island EOHHS-DCYF Legal Department
  • New Hampshire Supreme Court

  • City of Boston
  • Town of Bedford
  • Town of Belmont
  • Town of Brookline
  • Town of Burlington
  • Town of Foxborough
  • Town of Hopkinton
  • Town of Burlington
  • City of Lowell
  • City of Nashua
  • Town of Norwood
  • Town of Wellesley
  • Town of Weston
  • Watertown Health Department

  • Boston Housing Authority
  • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Lowell Housing Authority
  • Revere Housing Authority

  • Metropolitan Area Planning Council

  • Boston University
  • Suffolk University
  • Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
  • Harvard Medical School
  • Brown University

  • Boston Public Schools
  • Cristo Rey Boston High School

  • Boston Medical Center
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
  • Dana- Farber Cancer Institute
  • IHI Leadership Alliance
  • Partners HealthCare
  • Tufts Medical Center
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Golden Living
  • Harbor Health Services
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • North Suffolk Mental Health Association
  • Smileboston Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry
  • South Boston Community Health Center
  • Tufts Health Plan

  • The Home for Little Wanderers, Inc.
  • Development American Student Assistance
  • Project Bread
  • ABCD Inc.
  • Pine Street Inn
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester
  • Justice Resource Institute
  • Bay Cove Human Services
  • South Boston Community Health Center
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Roxbury Youthworks Inc
  • Small Scale Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Development Fund Dedham Community Association, Inc.
  • DentaQuest Foundation
  • Family Promise of Greater Concord
  • Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
  • Military Friends Foundation
  • Northeast Arc Perkins School
  • Pro Bono Partnership Alzheimer's Association
  • Family Promise of Western New York
  • Massachusetts Municipal Association
  • Roxbury Youthworks Inc.