Master of Public Administration Admission and Financial Aid

Criteria, Deadlines and Materials

Application Criteria

A strong candidate will have:

• a public service ethos and appreciation of the Maxwell School mission to prepare graduates to contribute to the public good in all levels of government, nonprofits/NGOs and the private sector;
• relevant internships or post-undergraduate work experience;
• strong undergraduate coursework in economics and other social science disciplines;
• a clear understanding of their career goals as they relate to this field of study.

Maxwell reads applications holistically. This means that each element of the application is factored into the admission process.

GPA
There are no strict cutoffs or minimums or maximums when it comes to GPA. However, on average, our students have a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

GRE
The GRE is not required for admission to any of our department’s master’s programs; however, M.P.A. applicants with previous low performance in quantitative courses or who lack quantitative coursework are strongly encouraged to submit a GRE quantitative score. Applicants must demonstrate adequate quantitative, analytic and writing aptitude to be admitted. These requirements can be evidenced by successful completion of coursework in relevant content areas or by adequate performance on the GRE.

The benchmark GRE scores for a strong M.P.A. candidate have been:

• 158 Verbal
• 156 Quantitative
• 4.5 Analytical Writing

Priority Application Deadlines

The M.P.A. program operates on a rolling, space-available admission basis, meaning that applications are reviewed as they become complete—both before and after the priority deadlines. The M.P.A. program begins in a summer session in July and August. Flexibility for a fall or spring start is available for students with scheduling conflicts for the summer session. If you are seeking financial assistance or are an international applicant, you are strongly encouraged to apply before the priority deadlines.

• Summer admission: January 15 (preferred start for M.P.A.)
• Fall admission: January 15
• Spring admission: October 15

Application Materials

• Application and $75 application fee:
  In some cases the application fee can be waived. See application fee waiver details.
• Personal statement
• Résumé
• The GRE:
  Optional but recommended for applicants who have not successfully completed college-level quantitative-based coursework such as economics or statistics.
• Transcripts:
  Unofficial undergraduate transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required prior to enrollment.
• Letters of recommendation:
  Two (2) letters of recommendation from a current or previous faculty member or professional supervisor (faculty recommendations are strongly encouraged).
• English Proficiency Exam (international students only):
  TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or the Cambridge English Assessment.

TOEFL

• Total Minimum Score:  100
• Syracuse University institution code: 2823

Duolingo

• Total Minimum Score:  120
• Institution Name:  Syracuse University Graduate Programs

IELTS

• Overall Minimum Score:  7.0
• E-download Account Name: Syracuse University-Graduate Admissions

Cambridge English Assessment

• Total Minimum Score (B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency): 185 

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