Applying for graduate school can seem like a daunting task. Where do you start? What can you expect? How does the process work? We’ve put together the information below to help you understand the basics of applying for the Evans School’s MPA program.
General MPA Program Information
Each year we enroll 175 to 200 students from a range of academic and professional backgrounds. Students who majored in STEM fields, the arts, humanities, and other areas help to provide a diversity of academic perspective within the MPA program. We encourage all prospective students to connect with admissions staff through online webinars and individual appointments. We recommend prospective students review information about application requirements, degree requirements, and tuition You can also connect with current students and and alumni.
There are no formal prerequisites for the MPA program. However, applicants with prior coursework in introductory microeconomics or statistics may be more competitive. If you have not previously taken a college-level course in microeconomics or statistics, you may be interested in doing so at a local community college or university.
Approximately two-thirds of the Evans School’s MPA students have more than two years of professional experience. However, we do not require previous professional experience before applying to our MPA program.
Yes. Many of our students have part-time jobs or internships while in the program, particularly in the second year. Generally, we recommend that students in the full-time MPA program wait until after their first quarter to begin a part-time job or internship.
Absolutely! The Evans School takes the professional development of our students very seriously. Our outstanding Career Development team is here to support all our MPA students.
Yes. The Evans School offers several formal and informal concurrent degree programs with other University of Washington departments, such as the School of Law, Foster School of Business, School of Social Work, and School of Public Health.
Yes. Anyone can apply to register for elective classes for any quarter as a Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) student. For more specific questions, please contact the admissions team at evansadm@uw.edu prior to submitting your application.
Application Materials
GRE Requirements
No, we do not have a minimum requirement for GRE scores. We review applications holistically, weighing test scores alongside your grades, prior professional and volunteer experience, letters of recommendation, and your statement of purpose.
No, we accept both the GRE and GMAT with no preference.
- For GRE scores, request that ETS send the official scores electronically to the University of Washington, using institution code 4854.
- For GMAT scores, request that GMAC send the official scores electronically to the full-time MBA program at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.
Quantitative Preparation Requirements
Yes, you may include written examples in the Statement of Quantitative Preparation, although applicants should describe the work performed in academic or professional research and/or projects in the context of its relevance to the quantitative coursework in the MPA curriculum.
TOEFL and IELTS Requirements
Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts and Grades
Funding
Please refer to the University of Washington’s requirements for establishing in-state residency.
Additional Questions
No. We only accept applicants for autumn entry in our MPA program.
Your responses help us get a sense of what applicants are interested in, but this can always change as students begin taking classes at the Evans School. Evans students get the opportunity to explore their interest areas more so in the second year, and often take a blend of classes across the different interest areas.