We are thrilled to welcome you to the Evans School Community!
This is your moment to envision what’s possible. For more than 60 years, the Evans School has educated public servants who navigate complexity with courage and evidence, who lead with integrity when trust is fragile, and who remain committed to the public good even when the path forward is uncertain. Now it’s your turn to join them.
We are excited to offer you admission to our MPA program, as we recognize your passion and commitment to making a positive impact through public service and policy.
Explore this page to learn what comes next, connect with our community, and take the steps to make Evans your home. We’re here to support you through every decision.
Accept Your Offer of Admission
We’re excited to have you join the Evans School community!
Talk to our Admissions Team
If you have additonal questions, please schedule a meeting with our Admissions Team.
Connect with Student Ambassadors
Get your questions about the program, coursework, and student life answered by current students.
Meet Our Team
Connect with the Evans Community
Frequently Asked Questions for Admitted Students
At the Evans School, we believe that the best public service happens when diverse perspectives come together. Our community reflects the world we serve, bringing together varied backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints to tackle complex challenges. This commitment to equity and inclusion shapes everything we do, from our classroom discussions to the partnerships we build.
A Community That Propels You Forward
You’ll learn alongside nationally recognized faculty who are not only innovative scholars but also dedicated educators applying their expertise to real-world 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.
You’ll join a network of more than 5,500 alumni across 6 continents, 56 countries, and 684 cities around the world who are making an impact at organizations like the City of Seattle, the Obama Foundation, the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Gates Foundation, and Mathematica Policy Research.
Experience That Launches Your Career
Through internships, client-based capstone projects with government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector partners, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to create real change. Our Career Development team connects you with employers and opportunities, ensuring you build both the experience and network needed for an meaningful career in public service.
A Rigorous Foundation for Impact
Our core curriculum builds both the analytical and interpersonal skills essential for effective public service. You’ll develop quantitative skills while also honing the people-focused competencies to lead teams, navigate organizations and drive change. This balanced approach prepares you for a wide range of career paths across the public sector. Complement your core with over 60 Evans electives plus access to courses across UW’s other graduate programs to tailor your education to meet your goals.
There are so many reasons to choose the Evans School, and we hope you find yours at our Admitted Students Open House!
Our MPA Student Ambassadors are current first and second year at the Evans School. They’re available to answer your questions about the program, faculty, coursework, the student experience, and more!
You can also join us at the Admitted Students Open House!
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!
Right Now: Check out our Admitted Student Calendar on this page for upcoming events, including our Admitted Student Open House. You can also connect with our team anytime by scheduling an appointment.
This Spring: We’ll give you access to an Admitted Student Canvas page, with step-by-step guidance and resources to help you prepare for autumn quarter.
Over the Summer: You’ll learn how to access your Handshake account for career opportunities, navigate the MPA Student Portal for academic support, and explore the many benefits of being an Evans School student.
We know that funding plays a significant role in your graduate school decision. The Evans School will extend fellowship award offers in late February via email. To support your planning and decision-making, we will notify every admitted student of their fellowship status. While we’re unable to amend fellowship offers, we’re committed to connecting you with other funding resources and opportunities that may be available to support your Evans School journey. 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, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have questions about making your Evans School education work for you.
We understand that timing matters when making this important decision. If you choose to defer your admission to the following year, please know that your current fellowship offer will not transfer. Fellowship awards are determined annually for each incoming cohort based on available funding.
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 2025-26 academic year broken down by residency and program. We will update this information once the Washington State Legislature and the UW Board of Regents approves tuition for the 2026-27 academic year.
Important note for international students: The tuition amount listed on your I-20 differs from actual MPA program tuition and fees. Please refer to our website for the most accurate and up-to-date tuition information.
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. Housing 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, or ApartmentFinder to find housing.
