EMPA Admissions

Take the Next Step on Your Career Journey

The UW Evans School EMPA program attracts mid-career leaders from diverse backgrounds looking for an accelerated master’s program that adapts to their life. Designed for working professionals juggling full-time jobs, families, and competing priorities, the EMPA program meets you where you work, helping you grow in your leadership journey without stepping away from the roles you already hold.

Our hybrid approach, refined over more than 20 years, combines the energy and deep connections built through in person collaboration, with interactive online learning designed with busy professionals in mind. The EMPA program is designed so that on Monday morning, you can apply last week’s classroom concepts to your workplace challenges.

Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?

Preparing Your Application

Applicants must have at least seven years of professional experience, but we take a holistic approach to reviewing prospective EMPA applications. We welcome and actively promote a diverse student body comprised of different ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, academic, and personal backgrounds.

Priority

Deadline, including supporting materials: January 15, 2026

Notification: Late February 2026

Deadline to Convey Decision: April 15, 2026

Final

Deadline, including supporting materials: May 15, 2026

Notification: Early June 2026

Deadline to Convey Decision: June 15, 2026

*To be considered for Evans fellowship awards, you must submit your complete application by January 15, 2026.

Application Materials

Gather your required University of Washington (UW) Graduate School and Evans School application materials:

Application fee of $90. An application fee waiver is available for those who qualify.
Resume or curriculum vitae (CV), including:
- All professional, volunteer, community service, and military experience.
- Any post-secondary education, including any degrees, certificate programs, other coursework, and professional development (even if not specific to public administration).
Statement of purpose describing in about 1,000 words or less:
- Why the EMPA program fits your educational, career, and/or personal goals, and what unique perspective you can contribute to the cohort experience.
- In what ways do you hope the EMPA program will further your growth and understanding in equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Unofficial/electronic transcripts
- For each degree, certificate, or other credit-bearing coursework legibly showing credits and grades (electronic uploads or scans will be accepted).
- If admitted to the EMPA program, the UW Graduate School will require official transcripts (in sealed envelopes that have not been tampered with) to verify the completion of your bachelor’s degree (and master’s degree, if you have one).
Two letters of recommendation
- At least two, but not more than three, letters of recommendation from professional colleagues or educational mentors who have worked closely with you and are familiar with your talents, attributes, and style, and how you might benefit from the EMPA program and vice versa (familiarity with you carries more merit than an important title).
Demonstration of English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English. Proficiency can be demonstrated in several ways laid out by the UW Graduate School.

Application Instructions

You will need to complete the UW Graduate School online application. During this process, you will be asked to identify which program you are applying to, and should choose Public Policy & Governance – Daniel J. Evans School – Executive Master of Public Administration as your degree option. You will then be able to complete the Evans School specific portion of the application.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Applicants are expected to create and submit accurate and original application materials by the deadlines without the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) content generators, such as ChatGPT, except for minor editorial assistance. Issues of dishonesty may result in denial of admission, rescinding an offer of admission, and/or revoking funding/scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility requirements for the EMPA program?

Bachelor degree or equivalent 4-year undergraduate degree
Minimum 7 years of professional experience, a significant portion of which should include management
No GRE or GMAT exam required
A 3.0 cumulative grade-point-average on a 4 point scale (or equivalent measures of performance if a graduate of an institution with no grading system; or equivalent grade-point-average from an accredited foreign institution) for those credits earned at the regionally accredited institution awarding the bachelor’s degree OR at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4 point scale) for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.

What aspect of the application do you weigh most heavily?

We take a holistic approach to reviewing prospective EMPA student applications. While we look for substance in each aspect of the application, most EMPA candidates will have at least seven years of work experience, so recent professional experience, letters of recommendation, and ability to write effectively carry as much weight as academic performance.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation from former professors are not required for admittance to the EMPA program. Most applicants ask current or former supervisors from a professional setting. It is more important that the recommender has worked closely with you and is familiar with how you work and your personal qualities, rather than that they have an important job title. You must submit a minimum of two and a maximum of three letters. While your first two letters should be from professional supervisors, for your third, you are also welcome to ask those from other supervisory positions such as from volunteer work, a board or committee chair if you sit on a board, a former professor or instructor, or a client you’ve worked with. We’re interested in the breadth of your experience and how each angle might give perspective on your eligibility for this program.

How do my recommendors submit their letters of recommendation?

Within the online Slate application, you will enter the email addresses for your selected references, and the system will send them each an invitation via email asking them to complete a brief online form rating you in a few areas and submit their letters. Sometimes, these notifications go to junk mail or are otherwise missed, so as backup, your references may submit letters to us directly at evansadm@uw.edu.

We recommend contacting your references directly beforehand to make your initial request to them, to give them a sense of the application deadline, and to provide them with our email address evansadm@uw.edu should they have any problems.

What if my letters of recommendation are not all submitted by the application deadline?

If you have paid your application fee and submitted your application on time, your letters of recommendation can be submitted up to one week late.

Are international students eligible for the EMPA program?

Due to the credit structure of the EMPA program, international students are not eligible for student visas, as our courses do not meet the full-time credit requirement for F-1/J-1 visas. The only way this would be workable is if students complete two graduate programs simultaneously. The EMPA program could be completed along with other programs such as the Global Executive MBA.

International applicants are eligible for the Evans School’s MPA, which satisfies the credit requirement for an international student visa.

Is the EMPA program eligible for Washington state employee tuition exemption?

Unfortunately, as the EMPA program is a fee-based program, it is not eligible for Washington state tuition exemption.

Is the EMPA program eligible for federal financial aid loans or military and veteran benefits? Are there any fellowships available?

The EMPA program is eligible for both federal financial aid FAFSA loans and military and veteran benefits.

There are a small number of fellowships offered each year. To be considered for fellowships, please submit your application by the January 15 priority deadline.

Contact Us

The Evans School admissions team is here to help you develop a high-impact career that serves your community and helps people reach their fullest potential. For questions and more information about the application process, please contact us at evansadm@uw.edu or set up a meeting with our Admissions team using the scheduling tool on this page.