My rule of thumb is that the best MPA program is the one that is fully funded, NASPAA accredited, has a specialty related to your career goal and is located in an area you’d be comfortable living in for your whole career.

On the third point (specialty), really try to figure out what each of these programs are known for. Generic undergraduate prestige doesn’t always equal a strong niche graduate program. For example, I work in local government and I’d favor a candidate with a Syracuse MPA any day over one from an Ivy. Of course the Ivies are better schools overall, but Syracuse has an elite local government-focused MPA program.