Make Positive Social Change. Become a Leader in Public Service.
At the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy, students prepare to solve problems for the common good and become leaders in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors through a balance of academic theory and professional skills development and practical experience.
We offer a two-year Master of Public Policy & Administration and a one-year Master of Public Policy, including a 4+1 Accelerated MPP for students at UMass Amherst and the other Five Colleges. Students can pursue either program full or part time. The GRE is not required to apply. We also offer an Undergraduate Certificate in Public Policy.
We strive to make our graduate programs financially accessible to all students. We offer generous grants, including Commonwealth Policy Fellowships, which recognize academic excellence and leadership potential. Our Master of Public Policy program, which combines online and in-person classes, is one of the most affordable public policy degree programs in the region.
The UMass Amherst School of Public Policy received the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration’s inaugural Social Equity Award and has been named one of the most innovative public-service programs in the country by the independent group Best Value Schools.
