American University Reviews of Master's in Public Policy

  • 17 Reviews
  • Washington D.C.
  • Annual Tuition: $39,126
0% of 17 students said this degree improved their career prospects
100% of 17 students said they would recommend this program to others
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Reviews - Master's in Public Policy

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Rutchilia Bleus
  • Reviewed: 12/21/2015
  • Degree: Public Policy
"All of my professors are experts in the field and have diverse research interests. Also, they have designated offices hours and are always willing to advise students. There are many resources available for professional development and networking opportunities. The workload is manageable, even for working graduate students. The class sizes are very small, which works well for in-class discussions. I wish the program was a little more diverse. Thankfully, the School of International Service has launched various initiatives to increase the diversity of the program. Also, Washington D.C. is very expensive, therefore rent is very high. However the quality of the program makes it all worth it."
Lindsey DePasse
  • Reviewed: 3/31/2015
  • Degree: Public Policy
"The graduate program at American University is competitive and highly ranked, although it is almost as expensive as high ranked programs."
Jessica Juarez
  • Reviewed: 1/12/2015
  • Degree: Public Policy
"This program is a great program for people who want to work in the relatively small world of political communications. The connections to experts in the field and support in getting jobs are hands down the best thing about this program. The professors are mostly practical experts not ivory tower folks. They will teach you what you need to know to do the job and not get sidetracked too much on theory. The downsides of the program are the expense, the fact that many of your elective classes will have at least half undergraduates and the lack of financial aid."
Martin Stadtner
  • Reviewed: 12/8/2014
  • Degree: Public Policy
"The pros of my graduate program are: the diversity and deep knowledge of faculty, the coursework itself, the location in Washington DC, and the ability to network with students and others. The cons are: the program and cost of living in DC are quite expensive, some classes fill up quickly, and the weather in DC is terrible."
David Booth
  • Reviewed: 9/1/2014
  • Degree: Public Policy
"This is a phenomenal program in terms of academic support. Financial aid is a little lacking but it is graduate school. It comes with the territory. All the professors from the dean of the college down to adjunct professors are more than willing and supportive in assisting you. They are incredibly friendly and provide a lot of great advice. No question is insignificant. The career center routinely holds job fairs and assists with resumes and job searches. There is tutoring available. In a nutshell, the school goes out of its way to help you with your needs. And the workload from the classes is not unbearable."
Keshia Morris
  • Reviewed: 7/7/2014
  • Degree: Public Policy
"American University has great fellowship and study abroad programs. However; campus life lacks comradery and campus activities."
Alexi Maxwell
  • Reviewed: 2/28/2014
  • Degree: Public Policy
"I think that my program is superb in terms of the networking opportunities and support it offers you. If you want to apply for one of the major government fellowships, this is the place to be. They also have a excellent career office and academic support system. On the other hand...well, living in DC is hugely expensive, and you'll need to have some kind of job or outside source of income, since you're unlikely to get much from American University. But that would be true of pretty much top international relations program, and the advantages of living in DC almost certainly outweigh its disadvantages."
Ashlee Ryan
  • Reviewed: 7/1/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"DC in general is a very expensive city and my one bone to pick with AU is that it does not have graduate school housing. But, if that doesn't matter to you, this is a high quality, competitive program that carries name recognition, especially if you intend to ultimately work in DC."
Caitlin Duffy
  • Reviewed: 6/21/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"I love American University (AU), despite the high cost of tuition and living in DC. I feel that I am receiving a quality education and my professors have been knowledgeable experts in their respective fields. The opportunities for networking in our nation's Capitol are unsurpassed, and the School of International Service has a great reputation. I am proud to tell people I meet that I am a student at American University's School of International Service (SIS). Transportation via the Metro or the university shuttle make getting to school easy. Though parking is a bit pricey it is never hard to find a parking space. I am continually impressed with my classmates and other students that I meet on campus, and I feel so lucky to be able to study with such diverse global citizens. I feel that I am among my kind of people at AU and SIS. The Career Center and Library always provide top-notch assistance on anything from internships, to scholarships, to research. My program in EPGA is definitely small, but I am so glad that I chose it. It's giving me the theoretical knowledge and practical skills for work in human rights, business ethics, and conflict resolution. Compared to other DC area schools who offer degrees in my field of study, I felt that my program at AU and SIS offered the best combination of the art and science of peace studies."
Linda Mbassa
  • Reviewed: 4/25/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"The School of International Service is among the top programs for International Relations in the country, and I'm fortunate to have been accepted. The classes offered so far have been exceptional, and there are numerous networking programs available to students to mingle with each other and alumni, and/or professionals within our field. Unfortunately, the networking events are usually the only events I can attend as everything else (i.e. presentations, book discussions, etc) tend to be during the day, which doesn't really help those of us who work during the day."
Karen Nevin
  • Reviewed: 3/26/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"This graduate program is great. I have not been there long, but both professors I have had have been very open to questions. The professors want us to succeed and do everything in their power to make sure we understand the material. The location is another plus. Located in Washington DC it is just a Metro ride away from all the local attractions, and internship/job abilities."
David Wishik
  • Reviewed: 3/3/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"I've absolutely enjoyed my time as an American University graduate student. The Washington, DC, community and all its resources surround you and are at your disposal, and AU works hard to get you integrated into that community. The campus is the suburban environment I have enjoyed my whole life, with easy access to one of the world's great cities. And with that comes an exposure to a huge diversity of culture and people from all walks of life and all over the globe."
Alaide Vilchis Ibarra
  • Reviewed: 1/25/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"AU's MPP group has definitely impressed me. They are very hands on. I gave it a pretty poor rating on financial aid because I went to their financial aid office recently to ask them for resources for financial aid and they basically told me that they had none. I know that a lot of school have at least a list of outside places for scholarships. Also, the Washington, DC area is very expensive but the school and the program are pretty good."
Ariel Duran
  • Reviewed: 1/23/2013
  • Degree: Public Policy
"Great school for grad school! They do a really great job of integrating classroom learning with contemporary issues. The professors really care about their students, and challenge them to learn more and do more. Expensive school, and not much financial aid."
Vera Richards
  • Reviewed: 12/27/2012
  • Degree: Public Policy
"The School of Public Affairs has a Graduate Gateway Program to aide students with both Graduate School and a career path. This is a good program because it provides students with an internship in which has the potential to lead to a full time position. The professors actively seeks to help students in a seminar and one-on-one sessions. The negative side to this program is it does not accept FAFSA so students are forced to seek out private loans or third party scholarships to fund the cost of tuition and housing."
Michele Hellebuyck
  • Reviewed: 12/26/2012
  • Degree: Public Policy
"Very Support Staff. Interactive Classes. Area is safe, student body friendly. A bit secluded from city social life, but close to public transportation. Program offers flexibility in structure degree ( International Development) to have more specialized and reflective of your interests."
Laura DeMaria
  • Reviewed: 12/2/2012
  • Degree: Public Policy
"DC is expensive, but this is a very good program."