Why the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy?
Featuring top-ranked programs, the School of Public Policy at UMass Amherst is uniquely positioned to prepare you to become a leader in the nonprofit, public, or private sectors. We are dedicated to providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to solve problems for the common good. Whether you want to use data to untangle seemingly intractable issues, advocate and organize solutions to public problems, or become an innovator in the nonprofit or government sectors, our flexible undergraduate and graduate programs will help you develop the tool kit you need to take the next step in your career.
Ready to make change happen? Choose the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy.
Program-Specific Admissions Information for Degree Programs
Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration Graduate Admissions
Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration Graduate Admissions
UMass Admissions – Undergraduate
UMass Admissions – Undergraduate
Data Analytics and Computational Social Science Graduate Admissions
Data Analytics and Computational Social Science Graduate Admissions
Non-degree Programs
Interested in one of the School of Public Policy's graduate programs but don't know where to start? Graduate Admissions Counselor, Tess Bartman, will be here to help you along the way.
Admissions Resources and Information
The UMass Amherst School of Public Policy seeks students of diverse backgrounds and perspectives who will contribute to the academic and public life of the program. We look for applicants with a demonstrated commitment to public service and the drive to affect social change through public policy.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
Because applicants to our programs come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds and have taken courses that vary in difficulty and level, we do not have a minimum GPA requirement. The admissions committee will consider these factors when evaluating the candidate’s GPA, along with all of the other admissions criteria.
Low Cost
At the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy, you will earn a degree from the highest-ranked public policy program at a public university in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and from the commonwealth’s flagship campus at an affordable price. A UMass education is significantly less expensive than the cost of our peer institutions in New England and beyond, and we strive to make our programs financially accessible to all students, whether in-state, out-of-state, or international.
World-Class Faculty
No matter your academic focus or area of interest, the faculty at the School of Public Policy (SPP) are dedicated to supporting students both in the classroom and in the field. Our curriculum and pedagogy emphasize the importance of student research and professional growth. With expertise across a range of disciplines, policy areas, and methodologies our faculty emphasize the importance of combining academic theory with practical experience. Our student-centered faculty and staff, along with our low faculty-to-student ratio, will provide students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience required to make their time at SPP a success.