EMPA Tuition and Fees
Tuition
EMPA students pay $675 per credit as of 2025. At 45 credits for the full program, tuition comes out to $30,285 for the full 21 months.
Other Fees
Travel: EMPA students pay additional fees for the two field experiences (one to DC and one international). Fees vary based on the location, but tend to range from $4400 to $6400.
University fees: Additional university fees, textbook costs, catering costs, etc. are charged in addition to the program cost. These costs vary by year. See a Term-by-Term Cost Breakdown Here
Financial Aid
PSU maintains a list of available scholarships here: https://www.pdx.edu/student-finance/psu-scholarship-universe
We recommend looking for scholarships as soon as you have begun your application. Scholarships open in late winter/early spring and are awarded until funding runs out, so those who apply earlier have a larger pool of funding available to them.
Executive MPA students are eligible for federal financial aid. Please visit the PSU Financial Aid website for information on how to apply for federal financial aid.
Staff Fee Privilege
The EMPA program is included in the staff fee privilege benefit. PSU employees appointed at half-time or more (not including temporary classified employees, graduate assistants, or other student employees) may register for classes at special rates. Please visit the PSU Human Resource website for more information.