MPA Admissions

The MPA program has three application deadlines with important dates and requirements.

Early Action provides you an opportunity to receive your decision early, allowing time to plan for visa processing, moving to Seattle, and financing your future. To be considered for Early Action, your application and all supporting materials, including letters of recommendation, must be submitted by 11:59 PM PST on December 15, 2024.

If your application is incomplete by the Early Action deadline, your application will be moved to the Priority deadline for admission consideration.

If your application is incomplete by the Priority deadline, or if your application is submitted by the Priority deadline and all supporting documents are not received by January 22, your application will be moved to the Final deadline for admission consideration.

To be considered for Evans fellowship awards, you must submit your completed application by the Priority deadline—January 15, 2025.

We recommend you apply early, there will be fewer spots available in the program after each deadline.

All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA during their last 90 undergraduate credit hours on quarterly schedule or 60 credit hours on a semester schedule.

The MPA Admissions committee evaluates applications based on previous academic or professional exposure to government and policymaking, undergraduate work in mathematics, microeconomics, or statistics, and exceptional writing skills. There are no formal course 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.

GRE and GMAT scores are not required and there is no minimum test score. All applications will be reviewed holistically and applicants who choose not to submit test scores as part of their application will not be at a disadvantage. Applicants who apt to submit scores should self-report scores into the application and need to have official scores sent electronically. For GRE scores, request that ETS send the official scores electronically to the the University of Washington using institution code 4854, and department code 4801 (Public Administration).

For TOEFL scores, request that ETS send the official scores electronically to the University of Washington, using institution code 4854. 

Please use your statement to reflect upon any hardships or circumstances that may have informed your grade(s) and why you believe you are better positioned for academic success in the quantitative coursework of the MPA program. 

We recommend asking faculty members from your undergraduate studies, and/or supervisors from a professional job. We require one letter of recommendation for your application to be processed. However, additional letters of recommendation typically increase the strength of an application. You can designate a maximum of three recommenders in your application.

Reach out to them directly and give them a friendly reminder. When logged into your application, you can have the system re-send them the email that has the link to where they can complete the recommendation. You can also track whether a recommendation has been completed or not. Most importantly, you should still submit your materials by the deadline even if your recommendations are not complete.

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. The online application will not accommodate additional documents or other files, but applicants can embed links into their essays and/or resumes to highlight additional materials that are posted online. 

Yes. Application fee waivers are need-based and open to U.S. citizens. Application fee waivers are managed by the UW Graduate School. Requesting a fee waiver is the last step in the application and must be submitted at least seven days prior to the application deadline. If you do not qualify for the UW Graduate School fee waiver, you may qualify for a merit-based Evans School Fee Waiver (limited availability). Please email evansadm@uw.edu to learn more.

Admission to the MPA program is competitive. To reapply, you are required to complete and submit a new application, upload all required materials, and pay the non-refundable application fee. We cannot guarantee that reapplicants will be admitted to the MPA program. When re-applying, you are encouraged to provide insights into your personal and professional growth since your previous application. You may highlight a deeper self-reflection on fit, the importance of studying at the Evans School, additional quantitative coursework taken, or new recommendation letters. While having access to your previous application, the Admission committee takes a holistic review of your new application.

Many MPA students work or intern at least part-time while attending graduate school. Students may choose to work during the academic year, but most students seek a graduate-level internship or work experience during the summer between their first and second year in the MPA program. International students may work but must be aware of the U.S. laws for F1/J1 visas to work off-campus. Due to the connection of their visas to their academic status, it is strongly recommended for international students not to work full-time during the academic year.

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.  

No. We only accept applicants for autumn entry in our MPA program.