Rigorous Academic Foundation: The Evans School MPA offers a nine-course core curriculum that combines public policy analysis and public management, as well as courses dedicated to public finance and budgeting and program evaluation, to prepare students for a wide range of career options. Students can choose from over 60 Evans elective courses with access to select electives from most other graduate programs across the University of Washington.

Engaged Faculty: Recognized for their innovative scholarship and renowned as some of the best educators of public policy and governance in the country, our faculty members are applying their knowledge to shape innovative policy solutions across a wide range of topics including social and poverty policy; nonprofits; environmental sustainability; international development; public finance and management; and urban revitalization. 

Commitment to Anti-Racism: As an institution of public policy and governance, we acknowledge that public policy and public management have long perpetuated systemic racism and other forms of oppression. We are responding to this truth as an imperative. Dismantling systemic racism in our institution and our field are integral to our public service mission as we move forward.

Applicable Professional Experience: In addition to professional experience gained through internships, Evans School students put classroom theory into practice through Student Consulting Labs, client-based projects that serve as the capstone to the MPA degree. In partnership with state and local governments, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, and private sector companies, students create a real impact and gain professional experience applicable throughout their careers. 

High-Impact Careers: The Evans School Career Development team serves as a bridge between students and employers, finding opportunities for students to work with industry leaders. We work students in a variety of ways to ensure they have the experience and network needed for an impactful career in public service. We  also target new organizations and policy areas of interest to incoming Evans School students, creating additional partnerships and opportunities for engagement and employment. 

Expansive Alumni Network: As a strong and reputable presence in the Pacific Northwest for more than 60 years, the Evans School’s alumni network spans 6 continents, 56 countries, 51 U.S. states and territories, and 684 cities around the world. As an Evans School graduate, you become part of our growing global network more than 5,500 alumni working for organizations including the City of Seattle, the Obama Foundation, the Washington State Department of Ecology, Mathematica Policy Research, and more. 

There are so many reasons to choose the Evans School, and we hope you find yours at our Admitted Students Open House! 

Connect with current Evans School students by reaching out to one of our MPA Ambassadors and joining us at Admitted Students Open House!

The Evans School extends fellowship awards with the offer of admission, which is sent by email. The majority of fellowships have already been awarded. Fellowships are non-negotiable.

Aside from an Evans School fellowship award, there are many other financial aid and funding opportunities that can help alleviate some or much of the burden. We encourage you to explore the many scholarships, grants, loan opportunities, and work-study options available that help make paying for graduate school as affordable an investment as possible. Check out our list of financial aid resources.

Please note that if you defer your offer of admission to the following academic year, you are forfeiting any fellowship offer you received in the current admission cycle.

Eligible admitted students who have completed a Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) and have sent their FAFSA forms to the University of Washington will be contacted directly by the UW Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA). Eligible recipients are typically notified by the end of March. Read more about eligibility requirements.

We have compiled tuition and fee estimates for the 2024-25 academic, which are broken down by residency and program. We will updated this information once the Washington State Legislature and the UW Board of Regents approves tuition for the 2025-26 academic year.

We have put together estimates for living expenses, including room and board, books, and other costs.

Yes, the UW has a number of graduate student housing options. Occupancy often fills up in late spring, so if you are interested a graduate student apartment, we encourage you to apply for housing as soon as you accept your offer of admission.

Many MPA students choose to live off-campus, and we encourage incoming students to use sites like Zillow, Seattlerentals, and ApartmentFinder to find housing.

Admitted students who choose to accept an offer of admission to the Evans School must pay a non-refundable $250 Enrollment Confirmation Deposit (ECD) to the University of Washington. The $250 deposit will go towards your first quarter’s tuition payment.

Admitted students to the Evans School are also required to pay a one-time, non-refundable registration fee of $195, as part of their confirmation of accepting the offer of admission. This $195 fee covers membership dues in the Evans Student Organization (ESO), which supports student organizations and student programming throughout a student’s time at the Evans School, as well as costs associated with incoming student orientation activities and other administrative costs specific to the Evans School, student life, and programming in support of students.

We are so thrilled to welcome you to the Evans School community! The Admissions team will follow up and provide access to an Admitted Student Canvas Resource page, which will guide you through next steps and provide resources to help you prepare for the beginning of autumn quarter.

Throughout the summer you will learn how to access your Handshake account, navigate the MPA Student Portal for academic support, and take advantage of some of the many benefits of being an Evans School student.