Graduate admissions: Master of Public Administration
The M.P.A. program accepts applications for admission to the fall, winter and spring-summer terms. For a decision on regular admission, we we use a rolling admissions deadline based on the following dates per semester:
- Fall: July 1
- Winter: Nov. 1
- Spring/summer: March 1
A review of completed application packets will begin approximately a month prior to the dates listed above. Applications completed after these deadlines will be considered if space is available. If there's no space available, applicants who meet our qualifications will be admitted for the next available semester.
All applicants (including those transferring from another graduate program at Wayne State University) must complete the graduate admissions application.
Application
The following documents must be submitted before applications are considered for admission. Materials can be completed or uploaded via the online application:
- Certified copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, both undergraduate and graduate
- Personal statement, a two to three-page essay describing your educational and professional goals as they relate to the M.P.A. program
- Optional: Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (see GRE scores below)
- Optional: Letters of recommendation from instructors and/or employers (see letters of recommendation below)
- For international students: TOEFL test scores and official course-by-course transcript evaluation (see international students below)
- GRE scores
When deciding whether to admit students to the M.P.A. program, we consider a student's overall academic performance, including the applicant's GPA, their GRE scores if submitted, professional experiences, interest in public service, fit in the program and potential for success in the field of public and nonprofit management. GRE scores are optional for students seeking admission to the M.P.A. program, but they are required if students wish to be considered for a teaching or research assistantship or for a fellowship. A good GRE score could offset a low GPA.
Information on the testing procedure is available from the Educational Testing Service. There are a number of locations in Michigan where the test can be taken and many available dates on which to take the test.
- Letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation are always welcome but never required. Applicants who do not exactly meet the GPA or GRE requirements are highly recommended to submit letters of recommendation. Letters from instructors, particularly those who understand challenging graduate programs, are preferred over those from employers, family friends, etc. The primary purpose of the letters should be to provide further evidence that the applicant can succeed in a rigorous graduate public service program.
- International students
TOEFL scores are required for those applicants whose native language is not English. The minimum TOEFL score is 79 on the internet-based test (iBT). Other tests accepted are IELTS, MET and Duolingo.
Prior to being considered for admission, all applicants with a bachelor's from a non-U.S. institution must submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation of that degree (which serves as the official academic transcript), completed by one of the following credential evaluators:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
- SpanTran: The Evaluation Company
Important: The M.P.A. program at Wayne State University will not review applications for admission that do not include these evaluations.
For more information on requirements for international applicants, please see the Graduate School Admissions policies available in the "International Student Application Process" section.
International students are encouraged to contact the Office of International Students and Scholars and Graduate Admissions early in the process.
Admissions decisions
Admission to the M.P.A. program at Wayne State is selective. Our program is the oldest M.P.A. program in the State of Michigan, holds NASPAA accreditation and has a long list of graduates who have gone on to successful and distinguished careers in public and nonprofit management. A few of our more research-minded M.P.A. graduates are admitted to prestigious Ph.D. programs.
The M.P.A. program evaluates application dossiers with one question in mind: Will the applicant successfully complete the degree program? Since the program is academically rigorous and requires a significant commitment from the student and the program, we rely upon multiple sources of information for admissions decisions. The decision for applicants is based upon a review of all of the application materials by the M.P.A. faculty.
The previous academic record of the applicant carries the most weight in our admissions decision, as gauged by the grade point average in undergraduate or previous graduate coursework. We also examine the strength and relevance of the curriculum. The personal statement provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate that they can write competently, but perhaps more importantly, that they are committed to public service. Finally, scores on the Graduate Record Examination may help in cases where the GPA of the applicants may not adequately reflect the likelihood of success, but GRE scores are optional.
Paths to admission
Admission to the M.P.A. program is selective. Applicants who are not admitted to the M.P.A. program because of their qualifications may wish to consult with the program director. The director can advise whether the applicant should consider reapplying to the program after improving their qualifications (e.g., taking post-baccalaureate course work without M.P.A. program credit; retaking the GRE; securing additional letters of recommendation; rewriting and resubmitting a personal statement).
Tuition cost
The cost of a graduate degree is something prospective students should consider carefully before embarking on the journey. The tuition and fees are subject to a variety of variables and Wayne State University has provided this handy tuition calculator to help prospective students generate the data they need to make their decisions. As of the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition and fees for the M.P.A. program are $860.91 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,790.03 for non-Michigan residents, exclusive of registration fees.
| Items | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Credit hour rate | $762.53 | $1,651.64 |
| Student service per credit hour fee | $61.31 | $61.31 |
| Registration fee | $354.77 | $354.77 |
| Total costs per credit hour | $1,178.61 | $2,067.72 |
Learn more about WSU tuition and fees charts.
Financial aid
Graduate students may be eligible for loans and work-study through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Scholarships
The Wayne State University Scholarship Application lists scholarships available to students through their specific colleges and the Office of Student Financial Aid.
The M.P.A. program awards five scholarships: The Alfred M. Pelham Award, the Dr. Daryl J. and Constance R. Delabbio Public Service Endowed Scholarship, the Eleanore and Mel Ravitz Integrity in Public Service Endowed Fund, the Master of Public Administration Annual Scholarship and the Master of Public Administration Annual Recruitment Scholarship. These competitive awards are usually presented at the Lent Upson Lecture and reception, traditionally held in the spring. Students are notified of the opportunity to apply.
Graduate student funding and fellowships
The Graduate School provides several graduate funding opportunities for students and we encourage applicants to explore their website for information.
The Department of Political Science has a limited number of teaching assistantships (GTAs) that offer stipends and tuition remission. Graduate students must apply by March 1 in order to be eligible for the next academic year. GRE scores are required as part of the application.
While these assistantships are open to all graduate students in the department, almost all of them go to students in our Ph.D. program. It is fair to say that the likelihood of full funding is very low; if you are hoping to fully fund your graduate program through an assistantship, we encourage you to consider our Ph.D. program instead of the M.P.A. Please contact our Ph.D. programs director at gradpolisci@wayne.edu with any questions about that degree or how to finance it.
Apply for a graduate teaching assistantship
The M.P.A. program partners with Michigan Municipal Executives for the Local Government Fellowship program a year-long program where funded students work in a local community. Students are notified of the opportunity to apply.