Admission and Application, continued
The application fee is $75 and it is nonrefundable; you will pay the fee online after you formally submit the application.
No prior work experience is required for admission consideration, but successful applicants tend to have relevant internships, volunteerism or other substantive experiences along with a clear understanding of their career goals as they relate to the public affairs field.
There are no explicit prerequisite course requirements for admission. However, the admission committee looks for successful completion of quantitative courses such as statistics, economics or other college-level math. Alternatively, submission of strong GRE scores can make your application competitive.
For more information, please contact the Maxwell graduate enrollment office at MaxEnroll@syr.edu.
International students must provide proof of English proficiency in one of three ways:
- submission of a TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or Cambridge English Assessment test;
- citizenship in an English speaking country as identified by Syracuse University’s Center for International Services (email MaxEnroll@syr.edu to see if your country of citizenship qualifies); or
- undergraduate or graduate degree was earned from an institution in which English is the language of instruction.
Regarding transcripts / marksheets, please note that we do not require credential evaluations for all applicants but may request one in certain scenarios.
Admitted students can request a deferral up to one academic year from their term of admission. For a deferral request to be approved, you must first pay the nonrefundable $500 tuition deposit (which will be applied to your first tuition payment when you enroll in the future term).
Educational loans are acceptable for submission as proof of financial support. Sanctioned loan letters must be accompanied by terms and conditions and clearly indicate the loan as “approved” or “sanctioned.” The letter must be in English and on official bank or institution letterhead. The principal of the loan amount given is to be provided in U.S. dollars and include a date of issuance.
The application fee is automatically waived for U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans, McNair Scholars, current Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate students, and Syracuse University alumni.
M.P.A. application fee waivers are available for Syracuse University employees, U.S. Federal public service employees and students who have participated in one of our partnership programs by filling out the Maxwell School’s application fee waiver request form.
View eligibility details and access the request form via the graduate admission website.
International students seeking a student visa are required by U.S. immigration law to submit proof of sufficient funding for one year of study (this is not needed at the initial time of application).
Immigration documents (i.e. the I-20) are issued to students who have been admitted and subsequently committed to the program by paying the nonrefundable $500 tuition deposit.
Funding documentation can be uploaded via your applicant status portal or via email to gradsupport@syr.edu (be sure the email has your full name, program you’ve been admitted to, and your SUID number).
If you are an international student whose first language is not English or whose bachelor’s degree was not earned from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, you must submit proof of competency in English.
Competency in English can be demonstrated by submitting official scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or Cambridge English Assessment.
While we do not require credential evaluations for all applicants, it may be requested in certain scenarios. All transcripts must be in English, however; transcripts issued in another language must be translated using an official translation service.
Yes, you can apply! Syracuse University is authorized by the United States government to issue relevant immigration documents for eligible admitted students.
The GRE is not required; however, it is strongly encouraged for applicants to the program who lack substantive undergraduate-level quantitative coursework, such as economics, statistics or college-level math with grades of B or better.
No, we will not reconsider applications during the admission cycle once a decision has been made. Our admission review process is thorough and taken very seriously. You may re-apply after being denied admission, but we will look for evidence that you have addressed the factors that led to the denial. You will need to submit a new application with all documents and pay another application fee.
If you are seeking feedback regarding a denial, please reach out to MaxEnroll@syr.edu over the summer or fall between admission cycles.
Proof of funding consists of a certified current bank statement on official bank letterhead, signed by an authorized bank official, indicating sufficient funds exist to meet at least first-year expenses in U.S. dollars as per Syracuse University’s current estimate (the specific amount you need to demonstrate will be communicated to you via your applicant status portal once you have been admitted).
If you are a government-sponsored applicant, you’ll need to submit an original award letter (or a certified copy of an award letter). The letter must state the annual amount of the award in U.S. dollars.
All financial documents must be written in English and valid within one year of the start of the semester. Funding documentation can be uploaded via your applicant status portal or via email to gradsupport@syr.edu (be sure the email has your full name, program you’ve been admitted to, and your SUID number).
Financial Aid at Syracuse University and the Maxwell School
For additional information on alternative (private) loans please visit the Educational Loans page.
Federal changes to graduate students loans went into effect on July 1, 2026, that limit the amount of federal loans a student can take out for a graduate program. As such, federal loans are unlikely to cover the entire cost of your program, and students may need to explore alternative (private) loans to make up the difference.
Please refer to Syracuse University's Private Loan Borrowing Guide to help make informed decisions about your loan options.
Private education loans, also known as alternative loans, are offered by private lenders to help students bridge the gap between the cost of education and the amount the government allows you to borrow in federal loans. Lenders offer private educational loans with different rates, fees, repayment terms and approval requirements.
Students must register at least half-time, which is technically at least 4.5 credit hours per semester, to receive federal aid.
If you have questions about financial aid or regarding any items on your “To Do List,” or are concerned about whether an item was fully completed and received by the Financial Aid Office, you may contact them by submitting the email form or call 315.443.1513.
The Department of Education awards Federal Pell Grants and Direct Subsidized Loans to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and have not yet completed their bachelor’s degrees. The Department of Education does not evaluate need or income for loans at the graduate or professional level. Therefore, graduate students are unfortunately not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant nor the Direct Subsidized Loan.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, continued
There is a loan origination fee that is a percentage of the total loan amount. The loan origination fee is deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement you receive. Information on federal unsubsidized loan origination fees can be found on the Interest Rates and Fees page of the Federal Student Aid website.
To apply for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Syracuse University Graduate Financial Aid Application (via your MySlice account).
Most graduate level students are potentially eligible to receive up to $20,500 per academic year from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Learn more about graduate annual loan limits on the Federal Student Aid website.
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan interest rate is determined on an annual basis. Learn more about interest rates on the Federal Student Aid website.
Veteran and Military, continued
If eligible, you can use your VA education benefits while still serving on Active duty, National Guard and Reserve components. To determine if you are eligible for benefits while still serving the military, you will need to apply for the benefits with the VA. If you have any questions on how to use both your tuition assistance and VA education benefits together, please contact the Office of Veteran Success at veterans@syr.edu or 315.443.0358.
Additionally, the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance (TA) program may be available to Active duty, National Guard and Reserve components through the service member’s branch of service. The application process varies by branch. Before you register for a class at Syracuse University, you must see your installation education services officer and gain approval by your commanding officer.
The most up to date information on the MHA can be found through the GI Bill® Comparison Tool.
Syracuse University is a Yellow Ribbon partner with the VA which allows students to maximize their Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits.
Through this partnership, tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill® cap are split 50/50 between Syracuse University and the VA.
Syracuse University has no limit on how many students can use the Yellow Ribbon program. Each school and college at the University has a maximum Yellow Ribbon contribution limit per student; however, the Maxwell School has no cap and supports unlimited contributions for graduate students.
Please contact the Syracuse University Office of Veteran Success. You can reach them at veterans@syr.edu or 315.443.0358. The Office of Veteran Success is located in Suite 012 in the National Veterans Resource Center, 101 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, N.Y. 13244.