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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.

A Hybrid Format that Works

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.

Our quarterly, on-campus sessions are a cornerstone of the EMPA experience. These immersive weekends enhance learning, strengthen your network, and give you direct access to our expert faculty. Between in-person sessions, our online courses engage you through independent assignments, real-time faculty discussions, and meaningful collaboration with your cohort.

The 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? Learn more about how to apply.

The admission application for autumn 2026 will open on September 1, 2025.

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. 

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 750 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.
  • Unofficial/electronic transcripts
    • For each degree, certificate, or other credit-bearing coursework legibly showing credits and grades (just electronic uploads or scans are needed.
    • 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 five, 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).
  • Essay on equity, diversity and inclusion in 500 written words or less. You can use the prompt below to inspire you (but you do not have to answer any/all of the questions):
    • How has your background and experience prepared you to be effective in an environment that holds equity, diversity, and inclusion as core to our mission and values?
    • What impact have you had on the climate for equity, diversity, and inclusion at your present position? What are you still working on?
    • In what ways do you hope the EMPA program will further your learning and skill sets in equity, diversity, and inclusion?
  • 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.

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 some substance in each aspect of the application, most viable EMPA candidates completed their undergraduate degrees several years ago, and their more recent professional experience, letters of reference, and ability to write professionally carry as much weight as academic performance.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

Letters of reference 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 five letters. While your first two letters should be from professional supervisors, for your 3rd, 4th, or 5th letters, you are also welcome to ask those from other supervisory positions. For example, 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 for. Again, 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 references submit their letters of recommendation?

Within the online application form you can 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 do go to junk mail or are otherwise missed, so as backup, your references may submit letters to us directly at evansadm@uw.edu. For these letters, there is no set format or structure, and letters may be emailed as attachments or simply typed text in the email.

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

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

If you submit your application by the deadline, but your letters of reference submissions follow it afterwards, your application will still be considered as received on time. The most important thing is to pay the application fee and submit your application, and your letters of reference may take a number of days more to come in.

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 can consider 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 priority deadline, January 15, 2025.

Contact Us

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