We do not require any entrance exams for admission into our programs. Please review the admissions criteria for each program on the following pages:
While we do not require any pre-service or a background in public administration and policy for admission, the Graduate College does require a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
For admission into our MPP program, we do require that applicants have a background in quantitative analysis as the program itself is heavy in statistics and data analysis. Therefore, applicants should have some background in economics, statistics, or other quantitative analysis knowledge and skill-set that shows the promise of academic success in the MPP program.
Please review more information on our admissions criteria at:
If your cumulative GPA does not meet the minimum 3.0 requirement, a recalculation of the GPA based on the last 2 years (typically the final 60 units of coursework) may be done. Additional information can be found on the Graduate College website.
Information about admissions, including deadlines, can be found on our admission pages:
Absolutely! It is recommended to complete at least 6 units each semester to finish the program within 3 years if attending part-time. While students attending the program full-time typically complete their degree in two years, students have 6 years to complete the program.
For the Main Campus programs, all our core classes and the majority of the elective classes are offered in the evening from 5:30pm-8pm. For flexibility, we also have at least one elective offered from 3pm-5:15pm as well as some online elective course options.
For the MPA Online program, all core and elective classes are held online at a 7.5-week schedule under an asynchronous teaching format.
Courses that are cross-listed with other departments across campus, either at the Main Campus or Arizona Online, can be offered at various times.
The online application for both the MPA and MPP program can be found at https://apply.grad.arizona.edu.
It is recommended to review the admissions criteria of each program prior to submitting an application:
There are opportunities for financial assistance through Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and the Graduate College.
The School of Government and Public Policy may offer partial tuition waivers to highly qualified applicants; however, please note that these tuition waivers are competitive and limited. Interested applicants must apply by March 15th to be considered for this funding.
The MPA and MPP programs also offer a variety of specific funding to current students, including travel funding to conferences, textbook stipends, and financial hardship funding.
Additional information regarding financial aid can be found at https://sgpp.arizona.edu/mpa-mpp-financial-aid.
MPA and MPP graduates have been placed at various federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as non-profits and institutions of higher education. Recent graduates have been placed at the following:
- Non-Profits:
- Children's Advocacy Center
- Esperanza Dance Project
- Friends of Saguaro National Park
- International Rescue Committee
- Jewish Family & Children Services
- Lutheran Social Services of Southern AZ
- USAID
- Institutions of Higher Education:
- Harvard Law
- The University of Arizona
- Arizona State University
- Washington & Lee University School of Law
- Yale University
- Local Government Agencies:
- City of Tucson
- City of Casa Grande
- Town of Marana
- Town of Oro Valley
- Pima County
- Maricopa County
- City of Colorado Springs
- Federal and State Government Agencies
- U.S. Secret Service
- U.S. Customs & Border Protection
- U.S. Forest Service
- The White House
- House of Representatives
- Private Sector and Consulting Firms:
- Raytheon
- ILLUME Advising, LLC
- Massachusetts Division of Banks
Starting Fall 2026 under full-time enrollment (9 units):
| Main Campus - Arizona Resident | Main Campus - Non-Arizona Resident/International | Arizona Online (MPA Online only) | |
| Tuition | $7,750 | $17,900 | $1,000/unit |
| Program Fees | $1,250 | $1,250 | N/A |
| UA Fees | $61 | $61 | $53 |
| TOTAL (per semester) | $9,061 | $19,211 | $9,053 |
| TOTAL (2 year estimate) | $36,244 | $76,844 | $36,212 |
Tuition, fees, and other costs are subject to change in accordance with the Arizona Board of Regents. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the Bursar's Tuition Calculator.
Each year, we have an average of 20-25 new students. There is approximately a 70:30 student ratio of female to male, respectively, with about 40% of students who are from underrepresented populations and 20% international.
Recent data suggests that in this economy, public sector employment is one of the few areas projected for growth. Public sector management and policy implementation faces real challenges in the coming years and an MPA or MPP from the School of Government and Public Policy will prepare you with the necessary skills to meet real-world challenges and make a difference.
Flexible scheduling and evening classes will help you accomplish this at your own pace. Interested applicants can contact SBS-sgppmasters@arizona.edu to discuss how an MPA or MPP can move their career forward.