Overview

The Economic Development programme at Murray State University provides students with the essential skills to stimulate job creation and nurture economic prosperity within diverse communities. This Master of Public Administration concentration focuses on leveraging private investment and restructuring market incentives to improve community life.

Students explore the complexities of developing community-based businesses, financial institutions, and affordable housing. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical policy and practical application, ensuring graduates can effectively manage substantive analytic issues in the public sector.

The coursework is delivered in an accelerated online format, allowing professionals to balance their studies with existing career commitments.

Why Economic Development at Murray State University?

Murray State University is recognised for its academic excellence, having been ranked as the number one "Best Value School in the South" by U.S. News & Report for 2025. This distinction reflects the institution's commitment to providing high-quality education that remains accessible and affordable.

The programme is housed within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, offering a supportive environment with dedicated student services. Teaching features include a comprehensive capstone experience where students execute original research projects to solve real-world management problems in government agencies.

The curriculum is highly relevant to the current economic climate, focusing on building sustainable public-private partnerships. Students benefit from a flexible learning structure with multiple start dates throughout the year, facilitated by an expert faculty specialising in public policy and regional administration.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 619 per credit
National fee: USD 619 per credit
Local fee: USD 619 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

Research Methods
Public Administration
Public Policy Analysis
Public Budgeting and Finance
Public Organizations
Economic Development Finance
Government and Business
Regulatory Politics and Policy
Public Planning and Evaluation
Local Government Administration
State and Regional Government, Politics and Administration
Land Use and Planning Law

Careers with Economic Development

Graduates are prepared for influential roles within local, regional, and state government bodies. Common career paths include serving as a City Manager, Urban or Regional Planner, and Economic Development Manager, where they oversee growth strategies and infrastructure projects.

The programme also equips individuals for specialised positions such as Economists or City Planners. These professionals work across various industries to manage public resources, evaluate regulatory policies, and implement initiatives that drive long-term financial stability for their respective organisations.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Research Methods

Public Policy Analysis

Public Budgeting and Finance

Public Organizations

Public Sector Human Resource Management

Economic Development Methods

Key information

Duration

Part-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-05-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-06 00:00:00
Starting 2026-08-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-14 00:00:00
Starting 2026-10-15 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-10-09 00:00:00
Starting 2027-01-14 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-08 00:00:00
Starting 2027-03-11 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

100

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TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

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IELTS

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Credits

36 SCH

Delivered

Online

Campus Location

Murray, United States

Disciplines

Economics Public Administration View 311 other Masters in Public Administration in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.7

GRE^®

Required

GMAT

450

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

100

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

$50 International Student Application

Diploma or Graduation Certificate (if you have graduated)

University Transcripts

IELTS or TOEFL Scores

Murray State University ESL Program

Financial Guarantee or Bank Statement

Copy of Passport

Minimum GPA of 2.75 OR a GMAT score of 450 (or GRE score of 289)

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

22284 USD / year

≈ 22284 USD / year
Out-of-State

22284 USD / year

≈ 22284 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

22284 USD / year

≈ 22284 USD / year

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Economic Development.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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