MPA Admissions

The Askew School seeks to admit a diverse group of students with strong academic ability and career potential who are committed to public service. Persons seeking regular admission to the MPA program must meet the University’s quantitative standards (a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all upper division work, required scores on the Graduate Record Examination or other approved tests such as the GMAT), furnish three letters of recommendation (from professional or academic sources), and complete the graduate supplemental application.

The School may grant provisional, and in some cases conditional, admission to students who do not meet the minimum university admission requirements. During their first semester, such students may be required to participate in programs such as the FSU Center for Intensive English Studies to enhance their chances of success and/or meet specific particular performance requirements.

Students who do not meet minimum qualifications may attempt to prove their ability to do graduate work by enrolling as non-degree-seeking (consult the University Bulletin under Non-Degree-Seeking Student Regulations). Those who seek this route to admission should enroll in a maximum of 12 hours (including PAD 5050, 5700, and two other core courses over two terms) and earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 for all graduate work. Such applicants are forewarned, however, that successful performance as a non-degree-seeking student does not guarantee admission. A limit of 12 credit hours taken as a non-degree-seeking student can be transferred into the MPA program if the individual is admitted. If a candidate does not gain admission, he or she may pursue one of the graduate certificate programs offered by the School, however, you must apply to the certificate program prior to completing the sixth credit hour towards that certificate.

• Graduate Public Administration Supplemental Application
• Resume/CV
• Official and verified GRE Scores, or GRE Waiver Form (Florida State University’s test code is 5219)
• Three letters of recommendation
• International applicants whose native language is not English will need to submit an English proficiency exam such as the TOEFL or IELTS directly to Admissions
• International applicants or degrees earned through international institutions must be submitted through SpanTran for a fee
• Official Transcript from each institution college credit was earned or attempted

Transcripts should be mailed directly (or sent electronically via your school) to FSU Admissions at:

Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
314 Westcott Bldg.
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
USA

OR

Send electronic version to: graduateadmissions@fsu.edu

Please do not send official transcripts to any address other than what’s stated directly above. Transcripts sent to another email or mailing address will not be accepted and must be re-ordered by the applicant.

The GRE is automatically waived until the end of 2026.

The GRE waiver below should only be used for terms after 2026.

Criteria: The GRE requirement will be waived for outstanding applicants meeting at least one of the following criteria:

• Five years of professional experience in a government agency, nonprofit entity, or private sector organization.
• An undergraduate degree with at least a 3.5 GPA from a North American accredited institution.
• A minimum of 12 hours of completed graduate coursework with at least a 3.0 GPA from a North American accredited post-secondary institution.

Applicants must provide evidence to satisfy the criteria being applied. Note: Applicants with a competitive GRE score will continue to be able to apply to the program and will not be held to these additional criteria.

To apply for the GRE waiver, please visit the following link:
https://connect.fsu.edu/register/mpagrewaiver

Credit Hours Transfer

Students wishing to transfer course credits from a graduate program are normally limited to nine semester hours of recent courses. Students seeking to transfer credits must submit specified information, including course syllabi, to the MPA Director for approval. Askew School students must seek prior approval if they plan to take a class elsewhere and apply it to their MPA degree.

The School offers a limited number of graduate assistantships and scholarships to MPA students on a merit basis. This assistance is generally awarded beginning in the Fall semester of each academic year. Some awards are made to incoming students, while others may be made to students already in the program. To be assured of consideration for such awards, students should submit applications by the beginning of February for the next fall term. Selected students will receive an in-state tuition waiver and a financial stipend for approximately 1/2 time service (20 hours per week). Students may be assigned as research or administrative assistants and/or online course mentors. Assistantships are generally only given out for fall term entry. Applicants interested in these awards must have the ability to work locally in the Tallahassee area.

In addition, students with strong undergraduate grades and GRE scores may apply through the School for Florida State’s very competitive University Fellowships. Applications must be submitted by January 10th for the following fall semester. These fellowships include an out-of-state tuition waiver. Other fellowship opportunities are announced throughout the year. The Graduate School maintains current information about sources of financial aid on its website. Application forms for loans and financial assistance may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid.

In addition, the Division of Student Affairs has information on assistantships available elsewhere in the university. Information on tuition and other costs for Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 can be found here.

Florida State also offers a number of financial aid programs for economically disadvantaged students. The deadlines are typically early January and require separate applications. Qualified students are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships:

• The Auzenne/Wilson Assistantship program for Black graduate students offers a stipend which may be supplemented by the Askew School (application due in early January).
• The FAMU Feeder Fellowship for Black graduate students provides support, which may be supplemented by the School (application due in early February).

 

Program (In-State)	Total Credit Hours	Total In-State Fees Per Credit Hour	Distance Learning Fee
In-Person MPA	42	$479.32	$30 per credit hour*
Online MPA	42	$444.26	$30 per credit hour*

Program (Out of State)	Total Credit Hours	Tuition Per Credit Hour	Distance Learning Fee
In-Person MPA	42	$1,110.72	$30 per credit hour*
Online MPA	42	$1,075.66	$30 per credit hour

*Distance learning fee is charged only if online classes are taken. Distance learning fees are assigned each semester by the provost and may vary.

The MPA program is 42 credit hours.

The cost for the in-person MPA program for in-state residency is approximately $21,664. For out-of-state residency or international students, the cost is approximately $50,077.

The cost for the online MPA program with in-state residency is approximately $22,842. For out-of-state residency or international students, the cost is approximately $51,255.

The Askew School also offers classes in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. If you take an EMHS course, the tuition rates may vary. Please contact the EMHS department for more information.

Full-time state employees are eligible to use their State Employee Tuition Waiver for classes in the MPA program. Please note that graduate-level online EMHS classes are not state-fundable and are not covered by the State Employee Waiver. Only specific in-person EMHS classes are covered by the waiver. All other MPA classes outside of EMHS are covered by the waiver.

If you have more questions about EMHS courses, please contact Sue Sullivan for additional assistance. EMHS classes are optional and count as electives.

After you register for classes, please fill out the State Employee Waiver and submit it to FSU Student Business Services by the 4th day of classes. Please check the Academic Calendar for specific deadlines each semester.

FSU employees, please note that you use a different waiver form: the FSU Employee Tuition Scholarship. However, the guidelines above still apply.

These waivers must be filled out prior to the start of each semester in which you would like to have your tuition waived as a state/FSU employee.