MPP Admissions

Deadlines and General Information

Fall Application Deadlines:
  • March 15th - priority deadline for all applicants seeking departmental financial aid consideration
  • June 1st - final deadline for regular MPP admission for all domestic and international applicants
  • June 15th - final deadline for AMP candidates
Fall applications for regular admission will open mid-November of each year.  Complete applications will be reviewed starting mid-January for admissions consideration.
 
Fall applications for AMP candidates will open mid-March of each year.  Complete applications will be reviewed starting mid-June for admissions consideration.
 
Spring Application Deadlines:
  • October 15th - international applicant deadline
  • December 1st - domestic applicant deadline
Spring applications will open mid-March of each year.  Complete applications will be reviewed starting early September for admissions consideration.
 
Deadlines that fall on a non-standard business day or holiday, applications will be due no later than 5pm (MST/AZ time) on the next available business day following the deadline.  Applications received passed the posted deadline may be subject to review for the next available term.  Please contact our department at SBS-sgppmasters@email.arizona.edu if you have further questions on these deadlines.
 
Early submission of applications is advisable, particularly for individuals seeking departmental financial aid in the form of teaching assistantships or partial tuition waivers.  Only complete applications will be reviewed for consideration of admission. For tuition information, please refer to the Bursar’s Office.
 

Requirements

Since admission standards are high, applicants to the MPP program must display impressive credentials. Minimum requirements include a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate coursework or recent graduate coursework, with particular emphasis placed on upper-level undergraduate and prior graduate-level academic performance.

Degree candidates need not have significant prior experience in public policy; however, students admitted to the Master of Public Policy program are typically those whose academic and/or professional records indicate clear promise of success in the study and application of quantitative analysis. This can be expressed through at least one of the following means:

  • the successful completion of an undergraduate or graduate course in statistics, quantitative analysis, calculus, or a related higher-level mathematics course (typically this means a grade of B or higher)
  • strong quantitative GRE scores
  • extensive use of data, math, statistics, or quantitative analysis in an employment setting
  • if you feel that you have evidence of quantitative abilities that should be considered, but is not listed above, please contact the program directly.

If you cannot provide evidence that meets this requirement, you are encouraged to apply to the University of Arizona Graduate College as a non-degree seeking student to take one of the courses listed below. Earning at least a B in one or more of these classes indicates that you have the quantitative skills necessary to enter the program. Please note that any of the below courses taken as a non-degree seeking student will count toward your Master of Public Policy curriculum (maximum of 12 units). Please also note that you will need to separately apply to the Master of Public Policy program in GradApp, and that receipt of a B in one of the below courses does not guarantee admission.

  • PA 504: Intermediate Economics for Public Policy
  • PA 515: State & Local Government Finance
  • PA 552: Statistical Decision Making (may only be enrolled if there is room in the course the week prior to classes beginning)
  • PA 553: Quantitative Policy Analysis I

 

Application Materials

The following materials are required to apply to the MPP program:

  • A Graduate College online application submitted via GradApp.
    • The Graduate College requires an application fee of $90. Please note this fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived unless there is an affiliation with an approved sponsored program. More information can be found at https://grad.arizona.edu/diversityprograms/preparation.
  • Unofficial transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are necessary as part of the admission process, however if admission is offered, official transcripts are then required. Do not mail official transcripts until offered admission. Please note that if you are admitted, all official transcripts must be received by the Graduate College within 30 days after the first day of classes.
  • Statement of Purpose is required, including information about experiences and career objectives. For more information, please see the online application. 
  • Resume describing relevant experience, responsibilities and achievements.
  • Two letters of recommendation from persons able to provide verification and a specific assessment of your professional and/or academic performance and capabilities, one of which should be an academic letter of recommendation. You will input your recommenders' information into the online application, and the application will reach out to them directly with instructions on how to submit the letters.
    • Note for AMP applicants: At least 1 letter of recommendation from an instructor or professor is preferred.
  • Evidence of quantitative analysis capability, per bullet points above. 
  • Please note: the MPP program does not require the GRE for consideration for admission to our program. If you have already taken the test, please feel free to submit your scores, but these are by no means required. We do not recommend taking the GRE for the sole purpose of entrance to our program.

International Applicants and Non-U.S. Citizens

In addition to admissions materials listed above, international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency as a condition for admission.  Acceptable English proficiency credentials may be provided with the following exams:

There are a few exemptions from submitting English proficiency scores.  More information can be found here.

The MPP Program does not accept students for conditional admission.

After admission, information regarding financial guarantee is also required with evidence that sufficient funds ($59,305 minimum) are available for financing the student's academic program. For further information on International admissions see:  https://grad.arizona.edu/international-students

 

If admitted, official transcripts should be sent to:

Graduate College
The University of Arizona
Administration Building, Room 322
PO Box 210066
Tucson, Arizona 85721-0066

Official electronic transcripts may be sent to transcripts@grad.arizona.edu.

 

Information regarding financial support can be found on the following pages:

 

For specific MPP admissions information, contact: SBS-sgppmasters@email.arizona.edu