You can find specific application deadlines for the MS in DACSS, MPPA, and MPP here. There are several application deadlines depending on what program you are interested in, format, and when you are looking to start. Our online programs have spring, summer, and fall deadlines. For online spring admission, please apply by November 30. For online summer admission, please apply by April 15. For online fall admission, please apply by July 31. Our on-campus program has both summer and fall start terms. For in-person summer or fall admission, please apply by April 15. If you are interested in taking summer courses, please apply for the summer term as it will help with summer course registration.
Our dual degree programs have their own deadlines. See our Dual Degrees page for specifics.
MPPA/MPP applicants who wish to defer acceptance for one year must submit a written request to @email to do so.
MS in DACSS applicants who wish to defer acceptance for one year must submit a written request to @email to do so.
*Please note that the Graduate School allows for one deferral; second deferrals are only granted in unique circumstances and is at the discretion of the Graduate School.
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. We do not require the GRE/GMAT to be considered for admission.
Students can transfer up to six graduate credits into the Master of Public Policy, the Master of Public Policy & Administration, or the MS in Data Analytics & Computational Social Science. The credits must meet certain eligibility criteria set by the UMass Amherst Graduate School.
The Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy & Administration, and the MS in Data Analytics & Computational Social Science programs are open to full- and part-time students.
The School of Public Policy offers four online certificate options: the Basic Certificate or Advanced Certificate in DACSS, the Certificate in Public Policy and Management (PPM), and the Certificate in Public Interest Technology. Anyone may pursue any of the offered certificates by enrolling as a non-degree graduate student through UMass University+. These online certificate programs are designed as transitional certificates that are compatible with requirements for the master's degree. Online certificate recipients who are accepted into the full master’s degree programs through the normal application process will be able to apply all certificate courses towards completion of the 48-credit MPPA, 37-credit MPP, or 34-credit MS in DACSS.
If you intend to pursue one of the certificates, please inform us by emailing either @email or @email.
While you are not required to inform us in advance of your intention to complete the certificate program, it will help us stay in touch with you to let you know about possible internship or career opportunities, changes to course availability, and events online and on-campus that may be of interest.
Students who have completed the certificate requirements should submit a certificate eligibility form found here to the Graduate Programs Office. The graduation eligibility deadlines can be found here for obtaining your certificate in the mail. Submit the certificate eligibility form to the DACSS Document Submission Form.
*Note that students may pursue either the DACSS 3-course basic certificate or the 5-course advanced certificate, but may not be awarded both certificates. If you have completed the DACSS basic certificate and then continue to pursue the advanced certificate by taking the two additional required courses, only the advanced certificate will appear on your transcript.
The UMass Amherst Office of Financial Aid provides detailed information on the options available to all prospective UMass graduate students. Applicants are strongly encouraged to research all areas of financial aid that may be available to them, including fellowship opportunities for international and domestic students.
Alumni of the School of Public Policy at UMass Amherst pursue a diverse range of career paths, serving as leaders in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors and creating meaningful social change. Some titles that our graduates have today include: Policy Analyst, Campaign Manager, Data Consultant, and Macroeconomic Analyst.
Visit our Alumni Profiles section to read some of their stories.
- To be considered for admission, you will need to complete:
- The application form itself
- A short, prompted essay
- Your transcripts from every university you have attended. You can be considered for admission with unofficial transcripts, but if admitted, you would be required to submit official transcripts for degree verification.
- Your resume or CV
- A statement of purpose/personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- You can find more information on required application materials here.
- There is a $90 application fee. We are only able to offer application fee waivers to members of the military. If you are an active duty member or veteran, you can request an application fee waiver by sending a photo of your DOD ID or other supporting documents to [email protected].
- We review applications on a rolling basis. Once we receive your complete application, it usually takes 2-4 weeks to hear back from us with a decision.
- We admit students who come from a range of backgrounds. We do not require our students to have any prerequisite knowledge prior to joining our programs. We simply ask that incoming students show a willingness to learn and a willingness to be challenged.
- Some international students may be required to submit scores for English language proficiency. You can find more information on qualifying scores and waiver conditions here.
- We do not require a deposit for admitted students. We typically ask that students inform us of their decision to join the program within two weeks of receipt of their offer letter. You can accept or decline your offer by completing the “Reply to Offer” form in Slate, the graduate admissions portal.
- Please let us know your intentions of joining the program as soon as possible. If you have not responded by the date in your offer letter, we will assume you do not plan to attend and may offer your spot to later applicants.
- Students enrolled in the MS DACSS, MPP, and MPPA programs will not be eligible for TA or RA positions that fall under the Graduate Employee Organization contract ("tuition-waiver" positions). However, there may be limited opportunities to work on research with faculty (primarily in unpaid positions), as well as the chance to earn course credit (via a faculty sponsored practicum or independent study) for work on guided individual research or a research-intensive internship (paid or unpaid).