85 percent
of Key MPA students successfully graduate from the program.Contact Us
Spring Valley Building, Room 605 on a map
Key Executive Leadership Programs 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesView a Key Student & Alumni Discussion on Leadership Today!
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Key students and alumni lead the way in this conversation on leadership excellence across the nonprofit and government space, share stories of challenge and triumph as public servants and leaders themselves, and the impact being a Key student has on their career, personal and professional growth, applicability of the programs to their workplace, and what it means to be a part of the Key community.
Why the Key MPA?
Ranked #4 in the U.S. News and World Report (2025), Key is the global public sector leadership program of choice because it challenges good managers to become extraordinary leaders who build an environment for organized success.
Established in 1975, the Key Executive Leadership Program is a graduate course of study in the skills, knowledge, and values needed by top-level nonprofit and public executives and offers participants the perspectives and competencies necessary for effective performance in high-level executive work.
Key Distinguishing Factors
Nonprofit/Federal ECQs
The Key MPA program is designed to meet the federal executive education requirements for the Senior Executive Service.
Meet with the Director to explore how this program benefits you and your career!
NASPAA Accredited
Key Executive Leadership MPA Program is the only Executive MPA designed specifically for leaders in the federal sector and accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation.
Immediate Application
The Program is not theoretical; rather, students are challenged to immediately apply what they learn in their workplace and report the results for discussion in the classroom.
Executive Capstone
In lieu of a Master's Thesis, students identify a difficult, long-standing unresolved problem in their workplace; sign a contract with their supervisor to work on the issue; recruit five-seven persons to work with them on the issue; teach their colleagues the action learning process; apply the process to the issue and create recommendations for resolution; present the recommendations to the agency; write a paper identifying what they have learned about the process, what they learned about themselves and the persons on the action learning team, what public administration concepts they applied to their work; and what they learned about leading change; and present their paper to their colleagues in the cohort and the faculty of the program.
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Program Curriculum
ALL STUDENTS START AND GRADUATE TOGETHER IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD.
Aligned with nonprofit and federal executive leadership competency frameworks, each course expands the knowledge of public administration principles and develops leadership skills through reading, coursework, and conversations with peers and professors.
Executives Abroad
The Brussels Executives Abroad Residency offers a transformative, week-long experience for federal executives and graduate students ready to expand their leadership impact.
Over six immersive days, you’ll engage directly with senior officials from the European Parliament, Commission, Council, and NATO, gaining valuable insights into international security and policy frameworks. The program facilitates comparative analysis of U.S. and EU governance models, examining how institutional structures and political dynamics influence public sector leadership approaches.
Moving to the Next Level through Key
Geraldine Decembre SPA/MPA '17
"After some searching, I realized I wanted to be an agent of societal change in the emerging and growing field of restorative justice. I knew Key would push me personally and professionally, and take me to the next level of a career in federal law enforcement."
95 percent
of Key MPA graduates are employed in the nonprofit or public sector.Frequently Asked Questions
- Completed graduate online application.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. The official transcripts should be sent directly from the institutions to us. No formal admissions decision can be made until we receive your official transcripts.
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to your academic skills and executive potential. One of which must be from your supervisor or other professional official indicating that you have the potential to take on increased levels of responsibility and formally nominating/endorsing you for participation in the program.
- A resumé describing your job responsibilities, including your title, GS rating or SES designation (or equivalent). Please also include a list of any awards, special recognitions, and accomplishments.
- A statement of purpose describing your passion for public service professional growth and learning; leadership potential; and commitment to apply what is learned in the classroom in the workplace.
- A sample of your written work, such as a report, memorandum, or article.
- An interview with the Director of the Key Executive Leadership MPA Program. This interview will be scheduled once we have received all of the required materials.
*Please note that the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission to the Key Executive Leadership MPA Program.
MPA Application Process
The mission of the Key Executive Leadership Program is to foster better government by educating professionals and managers to become effective, top-quality team and executive leaders. We achieve our mission by ensuring each Key Executive Leadership MPA graduate:
- Applies substantive public administration principles, values and skills to lead organizations and implement public policy effectively and efficiently.
- Demonstrates increased leadership capacity to facilitate transformation from good managers to extraordinary leaders.
- Exhibits the capacity to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions that enhance organizational and policy effectiveness.
Looking to begin your leadership journey but not ready for a Masters - the Key Graduate Certificate might be right for you. You get all the benefits of learning in and working with a cohort while developing your leadership skills and public administration acumen. Your work in the graduate certificate program will transfer seamlessly into the Key MPA should you decide to continue toward earning your degree. Contact us today to see if this option is right for you!
A typical cohort has anywhere from 12 - 20 students depending on the year.
We have 13 faculty members teaching in the Key MPA Program.
Yes, the program is open to applicants outside of the Washington, DC metro area. However, please keep in mind that classes are held in-person on the campus of American University in Washington, DC.
While the Key MPA Program is highly competitive, it does not have a minimum GPA required for admission. However, applicants with a GPA below 3.0 will be admitted provisionally. The program considers both an applicant's academic credentials and professional experience.
The GRE is not required for admission to the Key Executive Leadership MPA Program. See program requirements.
The total cost (including tuition, most fees, and textbooks) of the program is $75,816 ($56,862 with the public service employee discount).
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