Metropolitan State University

What you'll study

Students begin with program fundamentals that establish core concepts and skills for the rest of the degree. Core work is organized into three learning strands:

• Program Fundamentals — foundational concepts and skills that underpin the MNLM curriculum.
• Strategic Skills and Knowledge — competencies common to public and nonprofit professionals (for example, strategic management of human resources and other managerial competencies highlighted by the program).
• Focus Areas — specialized study in Nonprofit Resource Development and Strategic Communications and in Nonprofit Financial Management, supported by electives in practice areas.

The degree also requires strategic skills courses, electives, and a capstone seminar that integrates program learning into a final project. Specific topics called out in the curriculum include nonprofit fundraising and strategic communications, budgeting and financial management, revenue generation, organizational analysis, program evaluation, and ethical leadership. Graduates develop abilities in organization and management, analytics (including program evaluation and economic/statistical reasoning), and ethical, accountable leadership.

Entry requirements

All MNLM applicants must meet Metro State's admissions standards. Applicants who provide GMAT or GRE scores may use those scores to bypass the program's quantitative admissions assessment. Applicants without GMAT/GRE scores are required to complete the program's free online quantitative tutorial and assessment in math and statistics.

Career prospects

The MNLM prepares graduates for leadership at multiple organizational levels — for example, executive director, program director, organizational management and board leadership. Alumni and related graduate program holders occupy a wide range of positions across public and nonprofit sectors, including city and county leadership roles, foundation and development positions, grants and program management, finance and accounting roles in municipal contexts, directors of clinical or community services, emergency and continuity managers, and diplomatic or international public service posts. The program is highlighted as suitable for those launching nonprofits or pursuing social enterprise options.

Scholarships & funding angle

Metro State participates in targeted financial supports relevant to Public and Nonprofit Leadership students. As an AmeriCorps National Service school, the university offers a 20% tuition discount to AmeriCorps alumni in the Public and Nonprofit Leadership department. Additionally, the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship provides financial assistance to racial or ethnic minority union members pursuing postsecondary education.