Looking for guidance

Hi,

I am looking for some guidance as I narrow my search. My goal is to work as a program director in the non-profit sector. I currently have a job in the Non-profit sector that is definitely building many useful skills.

• Event planning
• Collecting information from the community
• Coordinating with the local government and other non-profits.

I love the job and it is very comfortable, but I definitely want to move up. I have a masters in history, which helped me get my current job but doesn't help much in the long run.

I want to go back and get my MPA. I'm currently torn between getting one online or moving across the country for one. I've lived in CA my whole life and want to spend a couple of years in other states.

The benefits of getting one online are that I'll be able to stay at my current job, and I'll be able to cash-flow it and gain additional years of experience on my resume. That way I'll finish my MPA with 3-4 years of non-profit experience.

However, the benefits of being in person are also really strong. Building a network of connections and opening up possibilities for internships. Plus actually showing up tends to increase engagement in the courses. I'm just not sure which is the better option for me.

Also 2 side questions.

Does school rank or prestige matter?

I've only gone to state schools for my BA and MA. I'm not sure if it'll look better if I pick a program that says University of --- rather than -- state university.

Does the job market still look down on online degrees?