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Frequently Asked Questions

As you explore graduate study at the School of Public Affairs (SPA) and begin the application process, we hope you will find the following information helpful.

SPA Programs & Academics

You can learn more about our programs by visiting our website, signing up for a virtual information session, or scheduling a campus visit. Additionally, you can reach out to us directly via phone at 202-885-6230 or email at spainfo@american.edu to request more information.

SPA offers seven traditional, two online, and one executive master's degree programs, which range from 30 to 39 credit hours.

Traditional Master's Degrees

Online Master's Degree

Executive Master's Degree

Doctoral Degrees

SPA also offers three PhD programs, which require completion of 72 credit hours if entering without an earned master's degree, or 48 credit hours if entering with a related earned master's degree:

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a professional degree for those who want a career in public service that involves management and decision making. This program develops skills used by leaders and managers to implement policies, projects, and programs.

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a professional degree that places an emphasis on evaluating analytical skills to solve policy issues. MPP graduates work with quantitative and qualitative information to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to emerging issues and challenges.

Our executive programs are for mid-career or senior level professionals who wish to continue working while completing one of the School of Public Affairs’ degree programs on a part-time basis. The executive programs require substantial work experience in the field—typically, a minimum of five years of full-time work in a relevant career. However, the minimum level of required work experience varies by program. Our executive program is delivered in a weekend format to accommodate working professionals. Our executive programs are all cohort programs, meaning that all participants move through the curriculum together and follow a prescribed set of requirements. For more information, please visit our Executive Programs Overview.

Full-time student status is defined as registration in a minimum of nine (9) credit hours during both the fall and spring semesters, or by enrollment for four credit hours during the summer semester. Enrollment in all summer sessions during a calendar year will be added to determine the total summer credit hours. (Not all SPA programs offer a summer semester option.)

International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa must remain full-time status during fall and spring semesters as required by immigration regulations. All other graduate students at SPA can switch between full-time and part-time each semester as needed.

Any changes in registration from full-time to part-time status may impact financial aid and merit award amounts. Please contact the 鶹Ƶ Financial Aid Officeat facounselor@american.edu for further clarification on financial aid awards, and contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at spagrad@american.edu regarding merit-based awards.

Transfer students may apply to any of our degree programs through our online application. Application requirements remain the same as for a first-time SPA student. Students may transfer up to six credits from another accredited program into our traditional graduate programs. The department chair and academic advisor will determine which credits will be accepted and applied after the student has been admitted. If you’re seeking to transfer credits, please forward course descriptions and syllabi to the chair of your department for consideration.

Admission Requirements

  1. Application form
  2. Letters of recommendation
  3. Application fee
  4. Resume or CV
  5. Unofficial transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions (official transcripts required upon matriculation)
  6. Official standardized test scores: GRE general test (GMAT or LSAT may be substituted for select master's programs)
    1. GRE general test (Optional for master's programs. GRE required for all Ph.D. programs, no exceptions)
    2. International application only: TOEFL, IELTS,PTE, or Duolingo
  7. Personal statement
  8. Interview (by request only)
  9. Writing sample

For more detailed requirements for each program, please visit the Admission Requirements page. All required materials must be submitted before your file is reviewed.

International applicants are required to provide proof of English language proficiency and provide transcripts translated into English.

For further details visit International Student Admission Requirements.

Admission toSPA's executive program,the Key Executive Leadership MPA, requires an interview with the program director. Applicants will be invited to interview after a preliminary review of their application is completed.

In some cases, an interview may be required for applicants to other graduate programs in SPA; these interviews are conducted via Zoom. If you're invited to interview, you will be contacted by the School of Public Affairs and given further instructions.

You may request an informal meeting with a member of the Office of Graduate Admissions online. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally if you are available to do so.

SPA executive program,the Key Executive Leadership MPA,requires one sampleof your written work (one to six pages long)for your application to its program. One sample of your written work (12 to 25 pages) is required for application to the doctoral programs. Writing samples can be reports, memoranda, articles, or portions thereof.

Application Process

Traditional Master's Degrees

February 15
Priority deadline for firstround consideration for Fall merit awards
May 1
Final international student deadline for Fall admission
November 1
Final international student deadline for Spring admission
November 1
Priority deadline for first round consideration for Spring merit awards
Varies
Online programs start in the fall, spring, and summer each year. Please consult an admission adviser for more information and deadline details.

After the posted deadlines, applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the respective term or degree program is full. If you are interested in merit aid consideration, we strongly encourage you to submit your application before the priority deadline.

BA/MA combined programs are open to current 鶹Ƶ undergraduate students only.

The final international student deadlines refer to applicants who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa. Current international students at another academic institution in the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 visa can be admitted after these dates and will transfer their SEVIS record to 鶹Ƶ. For more information on the SEVIS transfer-in process and/or international student deadlines, contact spaapp@american.edu.

Executive Master's Degrees

Executive program deadlines vary-the websites for each program will tell you more.

PhD Program

PhD deadlines vary by year-the application deadlines webpage will provide you with the current deadline.

The School of Public Affairs' Graduate Admissions Review Committee reviews master's and graduate certificate applications on a rolling basis throughout the year for fall and spring entry terms. Applications continue to be accepted beyond the priority deadlines on a space-available basis until approximately four weeks before classes begin for each term. Domestic and international master's applicants seeking the full range of merit award opportunities at SPA are always encouraged to meet the priority merit aid deadlines. PhD applications are reviewed only once per year for the fall entry term. The January application deadline is firm; therefore, PhD applicants are advised to apply early to ensure that the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions receives all materials before the stated deadline.

No. It is equivalent to fall admissions. For the spring admissions cycle, the number of applicants decreases and so do the number of students admitted. The acceptance rate, therefore, remains the same.

If you have submitted an online application, you can use the e-mail address and password you created when you started your application to log into your application account to track the status of your application. You'll want to review your online application account to make sure we have received all of your materials. Only completed applications, which include all supplemental materials, will be considered. Please allow 7 to 10 business days to process your application materials after they have been submitted. If you have any questions regarding your application status, please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885- 6230 or spaapp@american.edu.

Electronic submission of documents through the online application is strongly encouraged. The SPA application has three parts:

  1. application form;
  2. application fee; and
  3. supplemental items

You can submit your supplemental materials, including online recommendation requests, only after you have clicked "Submit" on the application form and paid your application fee.

You will not be able to return to edit your application once you have clicked "Submit," so we strongly encourage you to check it thoroughly for any final changes before submission. You will be able to monitor your application progress and SPA's receipt of your supplemental materials via your online application account throughout the application process. Please do not send a hard copy duplicate set of any supplemental documents unless requested by the Office of Graduate Admissions.

If you need an alternative means to submit supporting documents such as official transcripts, you may mail, e-mail, or fax them to us in one of the following four ways. Please allow at least 10 business days for documents not submitted through the online application to show as received.

Mailing address options for official transcripts
Via U.S. Mail (U.S. Postal Service) Via Courier Service (FedEx/UPS/DHL, etc.)
SPA Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA		 SPA Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Suite 218
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA
Via Email Via Fax
GraduateAdmissionsDocuments@american.edu

Note: Please do not send questions to the above e-mail address. It is for document submission only.		 202.885.3991

Application files are not reviewed until all required documents have been submitted. Some delays in review are the result of outstanding documents. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions notifying you once your application is complete and has been moved to the Graduate Admissions Review Committee for review. We encourage you to revisit your completed application account to check the status of your application.

We prioritize a 7-10-business-day turnaround on the review of master's degree applications once they are complete. The final admissions decision will be available on your application account, and you will receive an e-mail from the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions to let you know once an admissions decision is available.

The review process for PhD applications begins in mid-January and most first round decisions are rendered by mid-February. A short wait list may be maintained until mid-March.

You may apply to more than one program within 鶹Ƶ and/or the School of Public Affairs. You will be required to submit a separate application and pay a separate application fee for each program to which you apply. Questions about which application materials may be shared across applications should be directed to the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or spaapp@american.edu.

You may defer for up to one year from your semester of admission with approval from the Office of Graduate Admissions and upon receipt of your non-refundable $250 deferral deposit. To request a deferral, please e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at spaapp@american.edu indicating the reason for your deferral request and the semester to which you want to defer. Please note that combined bachelor’s/master’s applicants cannot defer.

Any merit award granted for your original semester of admission cannot be carried over to your deferred semester. You will be reconsidered for merit aid for the next admission cycle, although the award is not guaranteed.

If a student is denied admission to SPA and wishes to reapply, they should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at spaapp@american.edu in order to consult with the Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment to discuss the prospect of reapplying. These circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

As an applicant to a SPA graduate program, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable $65 application fee when you apply. This fee is waived for:

  • Applicants who attend an in-person SPA recruitment initiative (i.e., campus visits, major events).
  • Current 鶹Ƶ employees, 鶹Ƶ students (including BA/MA and BA/MS applicants), and 鶹Ƶ alumni.
  • Active duty members or veterans of the U.S. military.
  • Active member of Golden Key or Phi Beta Kappa.
  • Active or returned AmeriCorps, Bonner Scholar/Bonner Leader, Teach for All, Teach for America, and Peace Corps participants.
  • First-generation college students.
  • Recipients of eligible nationally or internationally recognized fellowship or scholarship programs, including FAMU Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, Koch Summer Fellows, McNair Scholars, Pickering Fellows, PPIA/IIPP Fellows, Rangel Fellows, and Truman Scholars.
  • Graduates of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
  • 鶹Ƶ Washington Semester Program alumni

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts (documents that you may secure on your own by downloading from your prior/current University for free) are required as part of an SPA application file. You are asked to upload these documents through the online application.

Official transcripts (documents that normally cost a nominal fee to obtain and are secured through a University Registrar site or mailed to you in a sealed envelope post-graduation) must be sent directly from the institution to 鶹Ƶ. All admitted students must submit an official transcript prior to entering any graduate degree or Certificate program. Official transcripts should be sent to 鶹Ƶ using one of the following modes of transmission:

Via Email (Preferred):
GraduateAdmissionsDocuments@american.edu
Note: Please do not send questions to the above e-mail address. It is for document submission only.

Via Courier Service (FedEx/UPS/DHL, etc.)
SPA Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW
Suite B-2
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA

Via U.S. Mail (U.S. Postal Service)
SPA Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA

Applicants to SPA graduate degrees may upload unofficial transcripts through the online application. Please note that only unofficial transcripts are required for admission purposes.

Upon admission and accepting our offer to join the SPA graduate student community, you are required to submit an official transcript that verifies the conferral of an undergraduate degree. (We do not need any other official transcript. Please refer to the important information outlined that differentiates an unofficial from an official transcript.) Please note and heed the guidelines outlined below for the submission of your official transcript prior to your start in your SPA graduate degree program:

Via Email (Preferred):
GraduateAdmissionsDocuments@american.edu
Note: Please do not send questions to the above e-mail address. It is for document submission only.

Via Courier Service (FedEx/UPS/DHL, etc.)
SPA Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4801 Massachusetts Ave NW
Room 218
Washington, DC 20016
USA

Via U.S. Mail (U.S. Postal Service)
SPA Graduate Admissions
Office of Enrollment
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016-8001
USA

Although we strongly prefer that you submit unofficial copies of original paper transcripts scanned and uploaded as PDFs, we will accept grade reports/copies of transcripts downloaded from your institution's website, provided that:

  • The institution name/logo is clearly displayed.
  • If the degree was awarded, the document states the date it was awarded.
  • The grade report is printed directly from your institution's online system (with your institution's URL clearly visible on the document) and scanned into our system as a PDF. We cannot accept grade reports/transcripts that have been copied into Microsoft Word or a similar text edit program.

Each submitted transcript must clearly show the institution name, course title, course level (if applicable, e.g. 300, 400, etc.), grade earned in each course, number of credits earned in each course, and degree awarded (if applicable). If your degree is yet to be awarded, the transcript must have some indication of your enrollment in that degree program. An official transcript, confirming degree conferral and consistent with the transcript information provided in the original application, will be required of all incoming students prior to the start of classes. SPA reserves the right to rescind the offer of admission to any applicant who is not able to provide sufficient degree conferral information in their final official transcript.

International students can also upload unofficial transcripts as outlined above, but must also submit a version that is translated into English. Please review the following complete list of international transcript requirements carefully before you proceed:

  • Degree Confirmation: If you hold a degree from a post-secondary institution but the transcript from that institution does not bear the title of the degree and the date it was conferred, an endorsed/attested copy of the original diploma is required to be submitted along with the transcript. If you have yet to receive the degree, the transcript must have some indication of enrollment in that degree program.
  • English Translations: If the original transcripts or degree confirmation are not in English, original English translations must be provided together with the original transcript or diploma. Translations must come from recognized bodies such as the university, embassy, overseas , or other certified translation agencies. Translations alone or unattested copies of any document will not be accepted. If you choose to upload an unofficial transcript to your application, translations must be uploaded with it.
  • Transcript Evaluation: If you attended a non-U.S. institution, one of our evaluators will do an assessment of your foreign transcripts and credential(s). However, you are welcome to submit an official evaluation by , , or the to help expedite the processing of your application.

You should submit unofficial transcripts from each institution where you completed post-secondary coursework, unless the coursework was completed for dual high school/college credit. If our admissions staff is unable to assess your previous performance from the transcript(s) submitted, you may be asked to provide additional documentation before your application can be reviewed.

You should submit unofficial study abroad transcripts from each institution where you completed post-secondary coursework, unless the course title, course level, grades, and credits earned at the study abroad institution(s) appear on other degree institution transcript(s) you submit to us. If our admissions staff is unable to assess your previous performance from the transcript(s) submitted, you may be asked to provide additional documentation before your application can be reviewed.

Admitted students with unofficial or official, in-progress transcripts that do not show degree conferral will be required to submit official transcripts confirming degree conferral prior to enrolling in classes at SPA.

Test Scores

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test isoptional*for all of SPA’s master’s (on-campus and online) and certificate programs.If you wish to include a GRE test score as part of your application, please emailspaapp@american.edu. SPA’s admission team will hold your file until the score is available and uploaded prior to advancing for admission consideration. (Please see guidelines below regarding the submission of GRE test scores.)

*Optionalmeans an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file.

Please note the following recommendations offered by the faculty regarding the submission of a GRE for the following programs:

  • MA in Political Science:
    • The MA Political Science program does not currently require the GRE; however, students with GPAs below 3.1 who believe their GPA does not reflect their academic potential are encouraged to include a GRE test score in their application file.
  • MS in Justice, Law & Criminology (JLC); MS in Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (THSP):
    • The MS JLC and MS THSP programs do not currently require the GRE; however, students with GPAs below 3.0 who believe their GPA does not reflect their academic potential are encouraged to include a GRE test score in their application file.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test is required for admission to the following programs in the School of Public Affairs:

  • PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology
  • PhD in Political Science
  • PhD in Public Administration & Policy

Submit official test scores from the GRE (institutional code: 5007) to the School of Public Affairs. Scores must be less than five years old to be considered official.

If you are applying for one of the dual degree JD/Master’sthrough the Washington College of Law (WCL) and the School of Public Affairs (SPA), you may substitute the LSAT* or the GRE**.An applicant may also include an LSAT or GMAT test score as part of an MPA or MPP application file being mindful that test scores for these master’s programs are currently considered optional.

* will send your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report to WCL after they receive your LSAT score, transcripts and letters of recommendation. WCL will share this report with the School of Public Affairs (SPA). Do not request LSAC to send your CAS report to SPA in addition to WCL.

**Submit official test scores from the GRE (institutional code: 5007) to 鶹Ƶ, no departmental code is necessary. Scores must be less than five years old to be considered official.

In the case of Ph.D. file review, yes, we superscore. Our faculty will look at the best scores from multiple test attempts and take the highest score from each section of each test. This said, if you have submitted multiple GRE test scores to the University/SPA, all test attempts and associated scores will appear in your application (The University’s application platform does not allow for their omission). Official test scores must be sent to the School of Public Affairs directly from the testing agency in order to be considered.

Please remember that submitting GRE test scores for SPA’s master’s degree (on-campus and online) and certificate programs isoptional.*

*Optionalmeans an applicant may submit an official standardized test score for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file.If you wish to include a GRE test score as part of yourmaster’s degreeapplication, please emailspaapp@american.edu. SPA’s admission team will hold your file until the score is available and uploaded prior to advancing for admission consideration. (Please see guidelines below regarding the submission of GRE test scores.

In applying to our Ph.D. programs where the GRE is requiredas part of the application and if you have already registered for the GRE test, please enter the test dates when asked on the application, and leave the test scores blank. You should enter test scores only if you have already taken the standardized test.If you have not yet taken the test or received the scores, you are not required to fill in the question regarding test scores in order to continue filling out your application.

Please remember that SPA must receive official test scores from the testing agency (ETS) for a file to be moved forward for admission consideration.Submit official test scores from the GRE (institutional code: 5007) to the School of Public Affairs. Scores must be less than five years old to be considered official.

Score report availability may vary depending on the test type and location. Please allow two weeks from your test date for SPA to receive your official test scores from a testing agency in the U.S., and four to six weeks for test locations outside of the U.S. Please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or spaapp@american.edu if your official test scores have not reached us after one month. We’ll ask you to provide your unofficial score report and contact information. We may ask you to contact the testing agency to follow up regarding your score report if we are still unable to access it.

All graduate applicants to the School of Public Affairs, regardless of citizenship or residency, must demonstrate English language proficiency in order to be eligible for admission. To fulfill this requirement, applicants must satisfy one of the following criteria:

  • Submit official test scores from the , the , the , orthe that meet the minimum score requirement.
  • Exchange student applicants from the Hertie School of Governance partner university may submit the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) in lieu of the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The minimum score requirement is Grade C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or Grade B on the Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE).
  • Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university located in a country onour list of English-speaking countries where the primary language of instruction is English.
  • Successful completion of 鶹Ƶ's with an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher.

For more details, please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page.

The English language proficiency requirement can be fulfilled through the , the , the , or the . We strongly recommend that applicants make arrangements to take these examinations at least one month prior to the application deadline. Scores more than two years old will not be accepted. Official test scores must be sent to the School of Public Affairs directly from the testing agency (TOEFL-institutional code 5007, IELTS-request agency send by mail, PTE-university code X1Q-K6-10) in order to complete your application. Score reports submitted by the applicant will not be considered official.

The 鶹Ƶ School of Public Affairs requires the following minimum scores for our graduate degree and graduate certificate programs:

  • TOEFL: 100 on Internet-based tests, 250 on computer-based tests, 600 on using the older scoring method, or 75 on paper-delivered tests using the revised scoring method
  • IELTS: 7.0
  • PTE: 68
  • Duolingo: 120

Exchange student applicants from the Hertie School of Governance partner university may submit the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) in lieu of the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The minimum score requirement is Grade C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or Grade B on the Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE).

If your score is below the minimum, you should consider retaking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE before completing your application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum score may be considered for 鶹Ƶ's .

For more details, please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page.

Personal Statement & Recommendation Letters

Your personal statement is a very important part of your application. It should be a well-written and carefully crafted essay between 1.5 to 2 typewritten pages for master's degree applicants and approximately 5 typewritten pages for PhD applicants. There are no stylistic demands regarding spacing, margins, and/or font style or size. You should describe in detail your:

  • Personal and career goals
  • Relevant academic, professional, volunteer, military, and/or leadership experience
  • Reason(s) for wanting to study at 鶹Ƶ and for applying to your specific degree program
  • Ability and commitment to undertake graduate education at this time

Three letters of recommendation are required for the PhD programs. All of our master’s programs (optional for MS in Data Science program), the combined bachelor’s/master’s programs, and the graduate certificate in Women, Policy & Political Leadership require two letters of recommendation. Your recommenders must submit their letters directly to the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions via the online application recommendation request form. Instructions are included within the online application. Requesting more than the required number of recommendations is not encouraged, unless the Graduate Admissions Review Committee has asked for additional recommendations.

Recommendations should come from supervisors and/or professors who know you well and can attest to your professional or academic abilities, as well as your potential for graduate study. Recent college graduates are strongly encouraged to include at least one academic recommendation source (faculty member) who can attest to their prior academic work and their potential for success in graduate study. Friends or family members should not provide your recommendations.

The requires that students be advised of their rights concerning educational records, and this includes letters of recommendation. 鶹Ƶ cannot require you to waive these rights, so you must decide if you wish to waive or retain your right to view each of your letters when sending your recommendation requests. The SPA Office of Graduate Admissions and the Graduate Admissions Review Committee that reviews your application file will know whether you have waived or retained access. Unfortunately, once you have answered this question on the recommendation request form, neither you nor the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions can change your answer. If you choose to do so, you may cancel the recommendation request, fill out a new request form, and resend it to your recommender.

Yes, we are able to accept letters of recommendation via . Please select the “email delivery” option for electronic submission of your letters of recommendation to GraduateAdmissionsDocuments@american.edu.

For technical assistance, please contact the Interfolio Support Team at 877.997.8807 or email help@interfolio.com. If you have any questions regarding the application process or require additional assistance, please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202.885.6230 or email spaapp@american.edu.

Combined Programs & Dual Degrees

For current 鶹Ƶ undergraduate students, SPA offers combined bachelor’s/master’s programs with all six of our traditional master’s degree offerings (Political Communication, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Justice, Law & Criminology, and Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy). Our Combined Programs page will tell you more.

Undergraduate students in good academic standing may apply for a combined degree after they have completed 75 credit hours towards their undergraduate degree, and, except in rare cases, by the end of the semester in which they have completed 90 credit hours.

The School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law (WCL) offer five dual degree programs:

You must submit a separate application to each school and indicate your dual degree program interest on both applications. You should submit all of your supplemental materials and your standardized test scores directly to the Washington College of Law, and those will be shared with SPA. You will receive separate admission decisions from each school. Please carefully review deadlines for WCL to ensure that they are met. Dual degree applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor from each school.

The admission decisions from each school are independent. Should you apply to a dual degree program and be admitted only to SPA, our offer of admission still stands, and you are eligible to proceed as a student in SPA. Note that admission decisions to one program have no bearing on or leverage with the other.

Non-Degree Admissions

Yes, non-degree status is available at the master’s level for those with an earned undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution (or equivalent international degree). To register, first review 鶹Ƶ's Schedule of Classes for course offerings. Then complete the non-degree enrollment form. Registration for courses is subject to space availability and confirmation of eligibility. Your non-degree enrollment form serves as your application and is reviewed by an Academic Advisor in the School of Public Affairs. You can expect to receive notification with next steps in the enrollment process within three to five business days upon submission of your non-degree enrollment form. Guaranteed student loans and merit awards are not available to non-degree students.

Non-degree status is available at the master’s level for those with an earned undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution (or equivalent international degree). To register, first review 鶹Ƶ's Schedule of Classes for course offerings. Then complete the non-degree enrollment form. Registration for courses is subject to space availability and confirmation of eligibility. Your non-degree enrollment form serves as your application and is reviewed by an Academic Advisor in the School of Public Affairs. You can expect to receive notification with next steps in the enrollment process within three to five business days upon submission of your non-degree enrollment form. Guaranteed student loans and merit awards are not available to non-degree students.

Up to 12 credit hours earned at 鶹Ƶ as a non-degree student may be applied toward an 鶹Ƶ degree program if later admitted to that degree program.

Yes. You must complete an application, submit all required supplemental materials, and receive an offer of admission in order to begin a degree-seeking program.

Financial Assistance

The School of Public Affairs realizes the challenges of financing a graduate degree. Please always begin with fully understanding the cost of attendance (COA). Next, attempt to make full use of three primary sources of funding at the graduate level; Federal loans, merit-based aid, and contributions you can make through work income, outside scholarships, educational awards and so on.

Merit awards (tuition remission and/or graduate assistantships) as well as donor-funded scholarships are administered by the School of Public Affairs' Office of Graduate Admissions. Your application file is used to make these determinations, no separate application is required.

鶹Ƶ’s Office of Financial Aid administers need-based aid in the form of Federal or Grad Plus loans. All domestic students are strongly encouraged to submit a for loan consideration.

It is also important that you proactively plan and search for additional, external sources of funding. For more information, please visit our Tuition and Funding page.

Applicants are considered for merit awards as part of the admissions process. SPA offers several different types of merit award funding, including tuition remission awards, donor-funded scholarships, and graduate assistantships. Merit awards are extended to strong admitted students that present compelling academic and professional profiles as well as a clear commitment to public service. These awards are based on an assessment of an applicant’s credentials using traditional academic indicators (e.g., GPA, GRE scores, strength of recommendation letters, personal statement, resume, etc.). To be considered for a merit award, an applicant should submit a completed application by the priority application deadline for their desired entry term (November 1 for Spring or February 15 for Fall) and answer yes to the question “Do you wish to be considered for a merit award” on the application. You will be considered for all types of SPA merit aid. There is no separate application required.

The federal government makes available low-interest-rate guaranteed student loans for eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents. You do not need to wait until you are admitted to begin the guaranteed student loan process. To apply, complete and submit the . Be sure to list the 鶹Ƶ (鶹Ƶ) FAFSA code, 001434, in the college release section. The phone number to the Financial Aid office at 鶹Ƶ is 202-885-6100, if you have questions regarding the loan process. Graduate certificate applicants do not need to complete the FAFSA, as they are not eligible for financial aid.

Full-time employees of 鶹Ƶ (鶹Ƶ) who are interested in exercising tuition benefits in order to offset their tuition costs at SPA should consult the Human Resources (HR) Benefits Team at 202.885.3400 or AUTuitionBenefits@american.edu. In addition, details about Employee Tuition Benefits are outlined on the 鶹Ƶ HR Education Benefits page.

The School of Public Affairs is proud of our growing list of “preferred” affiliations that attract compelling and diverse students to our array of master’s degrees. Students are asked about these relationships and/or volunteer service on the SPA application. Benefits often include application fee waivers and priority merit aid consideration.

Please visit our Tuition and Funding page to learn more about many of SPA’s formalized relationships that are directly tied to SPA merit aid and/or learn more by making inquiry at spagrad@american.edu.

Still Have Questions?

Please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) at 202-885-6230 or spagrad@american.edu. We're here to help!