Is a Master's Degree in Public Policy Worth It?
What can you do with a master's degree in Public Policy (MPP)? Is the degree worth it? If you ask MPP alum Kennedy Nickerson '17G, the value far outweighs the investment.
"I would absolutely say that earning my master's degree from the Carsey School has paid off because in DC in particular, an MPP is gold...it will set you apart from the broader pool of applicants."
Kennedy now serves as the Director of Federal Government Relations for National Grid, but her path to policy leadership began well before her master’s degree. As a kid, she spent time protesting the Iraq War alongside her mom and writing letters to the president about equal opportunities in professional sports.
That early drive to create change pushed her to pursue public policy, where she could help prevent harm and shape systems before people fall through the cracks.
Policy in Action: From Local to Federal Impact
During her time in the MPP program, Kennedy learned how federal, state, and local policy intersect and impact communities—a lesson that amounted to great value in her career.
Following graduation, she worked for the Massachusetts Senate Committee as a Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst, analyzing the state budget and learning how state-level decisions directly affect people's daily lives. That experience grounded her understanding of tangible policy outcomes.
"Central government can only do so much. State governments really do have a meaningful impact on people's day-to-day lives," Kennedy stated.
Her MPP degree has since launched her career from the Massachusetts State House to the U.S. Department of Energy and ultimately to National Grid.
The ROI of an MPP Degree
Two of the most valuable skills Kennedy developed at Carsey were policy analysis and writing, both of which have paid dividends in
her post-grad career. From drafting state budgets to speaking at global forums like CERA Week and ..., Kennedy continues to rely on those skills to take legal language and translate them into clear, actionable insight.
"Taking ultra-complex legal text and communicating how it will impact society is not easy, but Carsey prepared me extremely well for that reality," Kennedy reflected.
In Washington, DC, where an MPP is highly respected, Kennedy says the degree has opened multiple doors and set her apart in a competitive policy field.
Hands-On Learning with Lasting Impact
The skills Kennedy developed didn't come from just the classroom—they came from real-world experiences that allowed her to apply herself.
Through a research fellowship on vulnerable families, she studied firsthand how the Earned Income Tax Credit could affect low-income families. Another impactful moment was the Washington, DC, Colloquium, where she was introduced to a wide range of career paths in government and beyond. It was an invaluable experience for someone unsure about their options after graduation.
Those opportunities, combined with applied learning, have given her the confidence and the network to thrive in the policy world.
Is an MPP Worth It?
For Kennedy, the answer is simple.
"Those wondering if the MPP is worth it, I would say it has been a game changer in my career, and I would not be where I am [without it]."
Her story shows how an MPP can directly transform a passion into a career, equipping graduates with the skills, experiences, and network to make an impact from local communities to global industries.
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Marketing and Communications
UNH Carsey School
