What are the 2020-2021 policy school application deadlines?
This list covers deadlines for top U.S. public policy school MPP and MPA programs. Some of these policy schools have other master’s programs focused on a particular policy area, such as environmental policy or global studies. Most programs have a priority deadline that is typically the deadline for scholarship and financial aid consideration, and a final deadline for admission to the policy program.
Note: Be sure to verify deadlines on school websites as dates sometimes change, and schools will occasionally adjust deadlines.
| Policy School | Degrees | Deadline(s) |
| George Washington University (Trachtenberg) | MPA MPP MA-ENRP | February 1, 2021 (priority deadline)April 1, 2021 (final deadline) |
| Georgetown (McCourt) | MPP MPM | December 1, 2020 (early action deadline)January 15, 2021 (priority deadline)April 15, 2021 (final deadline) |
| Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) | MPP MPA MC/MPA MPA/ID | December 8, 2020 |
| Indiana Bloomington (SPEA) | MPA | Spring 2021 (January start date):November 15, 2020 (priority deadline)December 1, 2020 (final deadline) Fall 2021 (August start date):January 15, 2021 (priority deadline)June 1, 2021 (final deadline) |
| Cornell (CIPA) | MPA | Rolling admissions, submit your application as soon as possible. |
| Johns Hopkins (SAIS) | MIPP | Spring 2021:October 15, 2020 Fall 2021:February 1, 2021*Deadlines vary by program type |
| NYU (Wagner) | MPA MUP MSPP EMPA | Spring 2021:October 5, 2020 Fall 2021:November 30, 2021 (priority deadline)May 1, 2021 (final deadline) |
| Princeton (SPIA) | MPA | December 1, 2020 |
| Syracuse (Maxwell) | MPA | February 1, 2021 (priority deadline)Rolling admissions through April. |
| UC Berkeley (Goldman) | MPP MPA | December 1, 2020 (MPP, MPA Round 1)February 2, 2021 (MPA Round 2)April 1, 2021 (MPA final deadline) |
| University of Chicago (Harris) | MPP MSCAPP MACRM | October 27, 2020 (early action)December 1, 2020 (Round 1)January 22, 2021 (Round 2)June 15, 2021 (Round 3) |
| Michigan Ann Arbor (Ford) | MPP MPA | January 15, 2021 |
| USC (Price) | MPP MPA | December 15, 2020 (priority deadline)May 1, 2021 (international applicant final deadline)July 1, 2021 (domestic applicant final deadline) |
| UT Austin (LBJ School) | MPA MGPS | December 15, 2020 (priority deadline)March 15, 2021 (final deadline) |
| U. Washington (Evans) | MPAExecutive MPA | January 15, 2021 (MPA)May 15, 2021 (Exec MPA priority deadline)July 15, 2021 (Exec MPA final deadline) |
| U. Wisconsin (La Follette) | MPA MIPA | January 1, 2021 (priority deadline)Rolling admissions after January 1 |
A policy degree from a top program offers students the opportunity to advance their careers and make a difference in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. This year’s deadlines for top policy schools are fast approaching. Looking for help on your policy school applications? To learn more about how we can help, schedule your 15-minute Quick Call with our team today.
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