Syracuse University - Maxwell School

What Syracuse University - Maxwell School does

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is a non-profit academic school within Syracuse University, founded in October 1924 by George Holmes Maxwell and headquartered at 200 Eggers Hall, Syracuse, NY, with a Washington, D.C. presence operated in partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). It delivers undergraduate programs across 12 social science departments and graduate programs including the Master of Public Administration (MPA, 40 credits), Executive MPA (EMPA, 30 credits), Online EMPA, M.A. in International Relations, PhD programs, and Certificates of Advanced Study. It also operates non-degree executive training, the National Security Management Course, Maxwell-in-Washington, and the Next Generation Leadership Corps. The school is ranked #1 for Public Affairs by U.S. News & World Report (2026) and runs 14 interdisciplinary research centers — including the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry (housing the Qualitative Data Repository), Maxwell X Lab, the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute, the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, and the Campbell Public Affairs Institute — supported by endowed chairs and grants from NSF, USAID, MetLife Foundation and others.

The underlying technology and infrastructure is academic and research-oriented rather than a commercial product stack: it includes the FAIR-aligned Qualitative Data Repository for curating qualitative and multi-method datasets (e.g., the Pandemic Journaling Project archive), Handshake-based career services through the Palmer Career Center, and online learning delivery for the EMPA program. Business model revenue is multi-stream: tuition (graduate and undergraduate, plus accelerated B.A./M.P.A. and dual J.D./M.P.A. pathways), executive education and CAS, philanthropic giving and endowed scholarships, employer partnerships through Handshake, a $75 graduate application fee, and sponsored research grants. The school serves a global, diversified student body — with 50% of EMPA students from outside the U.S. across 20 countries — and a 43,000+ alumni network spanning federal/state/local government, nonprofits, think tanks and the private sector.

Name

Syracuse University - Maxwell School

Legal name

Syracuse University

Website

https://maxwell.syr.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, founded 1924 and ranked #1 for Public Affairs by U.S. News & World Report (2026), offers MPA, Executive MPA, Online EMPA, M.A. in International Relations, PhD and certificate programs across 12 departments and 14 research centers, serving students and midcareer public-service professionals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Public Affairs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2) (EDAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credentialing, Academic Credit, Assessment & Transcript Services (EDAIAFAO)

Keywords

• Public affairs education
• Public administration programs
• International relations degrees
• Executive education programs
• Public policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition (graduate and undergraduate programs): Primary revenue stream from tuition for MPA, Executive MPA, MA in International Relations, PhD, and undergraduate social science majors across 12 departments. Standard MPA is 40 credits; EMPA is 30 credits; dual and accelerated B.A./M.P.A. pathways offered.
2. Executive Education and Certificates of Advanced Study (CAS): Midcareer executive MPA (on-campus and online), certificates of advanced study in Civil Society Organizations, Conflict and Collaboration, Health Services Management and Policy, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Security Studies, and Public Leadership and Management.
3. Philanthropic giving and endowed scholarships: Donations, endowed scholarships (e.g., Barringer Pelton Public Service Graduate Scholarship, Rapaport endowed scholarship, Levis Fundraising Research Grant), Maxwell Student Emergency Support Fund, and Giving program targeting alumni and friends.
4. Employer partnerships and recruiting services: Palmer Career Center delivers employer information sessions, recruiting, and Handshake job postings to graduate students; revenue model centered on relationship and placement services rather than fees disclosed.
5. Application fees: $75 non-refundable graduate application fee (waivable via application fee waiver request); TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo required for international applicants.
6. Sponsored research and grants: External research funding (e.g., $27,000 Wilson C. "Bill" Levis Fundraising Research Grant; MetLife Foundation grant on racial wealth gap; National Science Foundation grants; USAID-funded training through AERA).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University delivers undergraduate majors, graduate degrees (MPA, Executive MPA, M.A. in International Relations, PhD programs), Certificates of Advanced Study, and executive/non-degree short-format courses across 12 academic departments. It supplements teaching with 14 interdisciplinary research centers, the Palmer Career Center (employer recruiting via Handshake), and the Maxwell-in-Washington program operated in partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Revenue is generated primarily through tuition, application fees, executive training, sponsored research grants, and philanthropic donations.

Product overview

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University operates as a unified academic institution offering a portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs (MPA, Executive MPA, Online EMPA, M.A. in International Relations, Anthropology Ph.D., Political Science B.A./M.A./Ph.D.), certificate programs (Certificates of Advanced Study), experiential programs (Maxwell-in-Washington, Next Generation Leadership Corps, National Security Management Course), and non-degree executive training delivered through its Executive Education Department and Public Administration & International Affairs Department. The student experience is supported by the Palmer Career Center, which serves as the career development hub integrating with Handshake for job/internship postings and leveraging a 43,000+ alumni network. Research is organized through 14 interdisciplinary centers and institutes, including the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry (housing the Qualitative Data Repository and the Institute for Qualitative & Multi-Method Research), the Maxwell X Lab, the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute, the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, and the Campbell Public Affairs Institute. Auxiliary offerings include the Maxwell at 100 Centennial program, the annual Maxwell Awards of Excellence alumni recognition event, and the Maxwell Perspective alumni magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Palmer Career Center (John L. and Stephanie G. Palmer Center for Career Development for Graduate Students): Career development and professional placement services for Maxwell graduate students.
• Maxwell in Washington
• Next Generation Leadership Corps

Quantifiable outcome

• #1 ranked for Public Affairs in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report 2026)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — explicitly highlighted in u.s. senate centennial recognition and on the maxwell homepage as a defining partnership for maxwell-in-washington programming., core — sustained collaboration through the dynamic sustainability lab, originating as a study of forced labor in global supply chains., adjunct — panelist advisory board appointment for one maxwell faculty member., core — supports dual-degree and accelerated academic pathways., core — shared assistant dean of admissions and shared curriculum footprint., adjunct — leadership overlap via maxwell alumnus james-christian blockwood serving as president and ceo., adjunct — selection pipeline for maxwell alumni into knight-hennessy scholars., adjunct — annual scholar selection., core — long-running student chapter and conference engagement; alumnus jeff towery served as icma president 2022-23., adjunct — featured phanstiel lecture series partnership., core — provides space and operational support to cqmi and hosts maxwell's regional centers. and core — venue for the annual awards of excellence and home base for maxwell-in-washington programming..

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)flagship — explicitly highlighted in u.s. senate centennial recognition and on the maxwell homepage as a defining partnership for maxwell-in-washington programming.Strategic or Co-development PartnerMaxwell-in-Washington operates in partnership with CSIS to deliver programs, internship opportunities, and instruction in Washington, D.C. Sen. Schumer noted Maxwell 'has a strong presence here in the nation's capital, offering programs, internship opportunities and world class instruction through a partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.' The Washington center also hosts the annual Awards of Excellence at the Syracuse University Washington, D.C., Center in Dupont Circle.
• Thomson Reuterscore — sustained collaboration through the dynamic sustainability lab, originating as a study of forced labor in global supply chains.Strategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Dynamic Sustainability Lab began as a study of forced labor in global supply chains initiated by Heather Panton, a Thomson Reuters executive and Maxwell graduate student. The relationship continues to build expertise and opportunity in sustainability, labor, trade and supply chain research.
• AAUW (American Association of University Women)adjunct — panelist advisory board appointment for one maxwell faculty member.OthersMaxwell political science professor Francine D'Amico was named to AAUW's Fellowships and Grants Panelist Advisory Board, helping shape the panelist selection process for fellowships and grants programs that have awarded more than $29.6 million to nearly 1,600 women scholars and community projects.
• Syracuse University College of Lawcore — supports dual-degree and accelerated academic pathways.Strategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Dual J.D./M.P.A. degree program; cross-listing of Maxwell and College of Law faculty (e.g., James-Christian Blockwood; The Hon. James E. Baker, Professor by Courtesy Appointment in PAIA and Professor of Law). The College of Law is co-located in Dineen Hall adjacent to Maxwell.
• Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciencescore — shared assistant dean of admissions and shared curriculum footprint.Strategic or Co-development PartnerShared Assistant Dean of Admissions and Enrollment (Christopher Anderson), shared Assistant Director of Recruitment (Aly Blair), shared BPS Policy Studies Program directed by Austin Zwick (College of Professional Studies), and shared faculty appointments (e.g., Kenneth Baynes, Professor of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences, with courtesy appointment in Political Science).
• National Academy of Public Administrationadjunct — leadership overlap via maxwell alumnus james-christian blockwood serving as president and ceo.Strategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership pipeline with Maxwell: alumnus James-Christian Blockwood serves as President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration, an independent, congressionally-chartered academy.
• Stanford University Knight-Hennessy Scholars Programadjunct — selection pipeline for maxwell alumni into knight-hennessy scholars.GTM or Marketing PartnerMaxwell alumna Dara Drake was named Syracuse University's first Knight-Hennessy Scholar, gaining up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford.
• Pat Tillman Foundationadjunct — annual scholar selection.OthersPat Tillman Foundation selected Maxwell student veteran Anthony Ruscitto '23 M.P.A. as a 2025 Tillman Scholar in recognition of his service to fellow veterans.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA)core — long-running student chapter and conference engagement; alumnus jeff towery served as icma president 2022-23.Strategic or Co-development PartnerMaxwell's M.P.A. students have run an ICMA student chapter since 2012; Maxwell faculty, students, and alumni participate annually at the ICMA conference with research presentations and student chapter representation. Dean David M. Van Slyke presented drone research with Tina Nabatchi and Jamie Winders at the 2021 conference in Portland.
• Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA)adjunct — featured phanstiel lecture series partnership.Strategic or Co-development PartnerEgyptologist Mark Lehner, founder and president of AERA, presented the Phanstiel Lecture 'The People Who Built the Pyramids—How We Know' at Maxwell Auditorium as part of Maxwell's centennial events; sponsored by the Howard G. and S. Louise Phanstiel Chair in Leadership. AERA has trained 350 Egyptian archeologists over 19 years with U.S. Agency for International Development support.
• Moynihan Institute of Global Affairscore — provides space and operational support to cqmi and hosts maxwell's regional centers.Strategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry is thankful to the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, which provides space and operational support for the Center. Moynihan also houses the International Affairs Seminar Series and regional centers (South Asia Center, East Asia Program, Center for European Studies, Middle Eastern Studies Program, Maxwell African Scholars Union, Program on Latin America and the Caribbean).
• Syracuse University Washington, D.C. Center (Dupont Circle)core — venue for the annual awards of excellence and home base for maxwell-in-washington programming.Strategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuse University's Washington, D.C. Center in the heart of Dupont Circle hosts the fifth annual Maxwell Awards of Excellence and serves as the hub for Maxwell-in-Washington programming, internships and recruiting events in partnership with CSIS.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA): Princeton SPIA is a top-ranked peer school offering MPA and PhD programs in public affairs and international relations. It competes head-to-head with Maxwell for highly-ranked applicants, federal placement, and policy-faculty talent, and is consistently named alongside Maxwell in U.S. News rankings.
• UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy: Berkeley Goldman offers MPP and PhD programs in public policy with strengths in environmental policy and social policy — areas that overlap with Maxwell's seven MPA areas of study. It is a top-ranked public affairs school competing for the same faculty and applicant pools.
• Carnegie Mellon Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy: Heinz College offers MS and PhD programs that combine public policy with quantitative/IT skills — directly competing with Maxwell's Data Analytics for Public Policy area and its online EMPA for analytically-oriented midcareer professionals.
• University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy: Chicago Harris offers MPP and MA programs in public policy with a strong analytical/data-driven orientation. It competes with Maxwell for analytically-oriented applicants and faculty in policy methods, data analytics, and behavioral economics, and is regularly ranked alongside Maxwell in public affairs.
• Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA): Columbia SIPA offers MIA and MPA degrees focused on international and public affairs, directly overlapping with Maxwell's M.A. in International Relations and MPA programs. It is a leading competitor for international students and for placement into international organizations and federal agencies.
• Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy: Georgetown McCourt offers MPP and policy graduate programs with strong Washington, D.C. employer pipelines that directly compete with Maxwell-in-Washington and Maxwell's federal placement track. Its location near the policymaking ecosystem makes it a key competitor for Maxwell's policy-analysis brand positioning.
• Harvard Kennedy School: Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is the most direct competitor in the U.S. public affairs graduate education category. Both schools award MPA/MPP degrees, compete for the same faculty talent and federal/nonprofit employer pipeline, and are consistently ranked in the top tier of U.S. News & World Report's public affairs schools alongside Maxwell.
• Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS): SAIS offers MA in international relations and international economics, directly competing with Maxwell's M.A. in International Relations program. Its Washington, D.C. and Bologna locations parallel Maxwell-in-Washington's positioning for international affairs students targeting federal and international-organization careers.
• George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration: GWU Trachtenberg offers MPA, MPP and PhD programs with a strong Washington, D.C. federal placement pipeline, competing directly with Maxwell-in-Washington for federal-career-oriented applicants. It is a frequent peer in U.S. News public affairs rankings.
• University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy: Michigan's Ford School offers MPP, MPA and PhD programs and is consistently ranked among the top U.S. public affairs schools. It competes directly with Maxwell for applicants and faculty, with overlapping strengths in policy analysis, social policy and quantitative methods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat8 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MaxwellSU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/maxwellschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/Maxwell.School
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/syracuse-university---maxwell-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/maxwellschoolsu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Syracuse University - Maxwell School