The online MA in Leadership is designed to prepare you to become an effective, informed, and values-driven leader who can build and lead inclusive organizations. Graduates from this program apply their skills across diverse contexts, driving meaningful change and advancing equity wherever leadership is needed.

This fully-online program offers both live sessions to partially asynchronous. Students can choose to pursue the program either full-time or part-time, but because this is a post-professional program many of our students work while completing the degree.

Program Outcomes

The interdisciplinary Tufts Leadership master's program blends academic depth with applied learning. Students examine systems of power, develop a personal leadership philosophy, and apply their learning to real-world challenges.

As a student in the program, you will join a cohort from a variety of backgrounds and scholarly fields. Core coursework emphasizes leadership theory, organizational change, and equity frameworks, while custom pathways provide opportunities for specialization in applied, skills-based areas. You may choose to pursue one of several specializations or design an individualized pathway by selecting courses across multiple specializations. You will be equipped to design and implement strategies that advance equity, strengthen organizational capacity, and respond to evolving workforce and societal needs.

Our curriculum emphasizes:

Expansive and ethical leadership
Systems thinking and organizational change
Equity-driven strategy and decision-making
Cross-sector collaboration and policy influence
Service-oriented leadership

Flexible Format and Options

This program is fully online and designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Full-time students (minimum of 9 credits per semester) can complete the degree in two years, with options to accelerate by taking summer courses.

Part-time students typically finish in two to three years, balancing coursework with professional commitments.

You can tailor your studies to your interests, choosing to focus on either an individualized pathway, or select one of the following focused specializations:

Organizational Learning and Leadership
Negotiation and Communication
Sustainable & Impact Investing
Strategic Planning and Evaluation

Application Requirements

The Leadership program is committed to holistically reviewing all applications. This means that each application will undergo a balanced review across all components to assess the student's fit with the program.

Application fee
Resume/CV
Personal statement (limit it to 2,500 words): Please describe your reasons for deciding to pursue graduate study in the field of leadership and provide us with insight into your area of research interest. Specifically, please respond to the prompts below:
- Please introduce yourself and share what compelled you to apply to the MA in Leadership program. In addition, talk about how you think this Tufts program will help you in the pursuit of your objectives.
- Describe an existing societal, organizational, or community-based problem that is of interest to you. Explain how your leadership perspective can help make a difference, create impact, or generate solutions for this problem. Include commentary on how your leadership philosophies or approach would also foster outcomes grounded in equity, fairness, and justice.
- Tell us about any theorists, practitioners, activists, or researchers who have influenced how you think about leadership. Provide examples of how these ideas can be applied or have been applied to real world contexts and problems. Share with us any related issues or topics that you would like to continue to study and learn more about.
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
Transcripts
Two letters of recommendation

Tuition & Fees

GSAS bills tuition using a per-credit billing model, meaning you are billed for the number of credits you take each semester. This billing model is used to provide students better flexibility so they may "pay-as-they-go".

Tuition*	$1,849 per credit
Total Credits Required	30
Enrollment Status	Part-Time: 3-6 credits (typically 1-2 courses) Full-Time: 9+ credits (typically 3 or more courses)

Estimating Tuition Costs for this Program

This example pathway outlines estimated tuition costs per semester using a typical full-time course load. This is one possible pathway to completion; actual credits, costs, enrollment status, and degree completion time may vary based on a student’s course load.

Full-Time Pathway	Fall	Spring	Summer	Total
Year 1	9 credits	9 credits	3 credits	21 credits
Year 1	$16,641	$16,641	$5,547	$38,829
Year 2	9 credits	n/a	n/a	9 credits
Year 2	$16,641	n/a	n/a	$16,641
Estimated Total Tuition Before Aid*				$55,470*

Note: this example does not account for any scholarships that may be awarded at the time of admission. GSAS offers generous merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for qualified applicants. A list of funding opportunities is provided below.

*Estimated based on 2026-2027 tuition rates. Rates are subject to change each academic year. For further information about the full cost of attendance, including health insurance, fees, and estimated indirect costs (housing, transportation, etc.), visit Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities

At Tufts University, we believe that every qualified applicant should have the opportunity to pursue graduate study, regardless of financial circumstances. We are committed to helping you navigate the financial aspects of your education and strive to make graduate school accessible through a variety of support options.

Scholarships and Awards Available for this Program

Merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for master’s programs: To be considered, be sure to indicate your interest within the Financial Aid section of your application.
The Future Leaders Fellowship is a full-tuition scholarship for outstanding full-time master’s students and entry-level OTD students. Future Leaders Fellows are selected by the GSAS Dean following their admittance to Tufts.
City Year Corps members, alumni, and staff are eligible to receive a minimum scholarship award of 25% off tuition.

Work Opportunities and Awards

There are various graduate assistantships and work opportunities available for master’s students across Tufts.
The Graduate Student Open Access Publishing Fund provides financial support to students who want to publish their work open access.
The Graduate Student Research Competition provides funding for expenses including equipment, materials, and supplies; research participant compensation; and expenses of travel to conduct research.
The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is available for students to travel to present or attend at a conference or professional meeting.

Visit our Graduate Financial Aid page for information on loans and financing options.