Master of Public Policy Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Master of Public Policy

General Application Requirements

Admission requirements for prospective graduate students at Portland State vary by program and certificate. Please note that admission requirements for any program or certificate have to be met in addition to Portland State’s minimum admission requirements.

Start by understanding which admission requirements you will need to fulfill in order to be considered for your program of interest, in addition to Portland State’s minimum standards.

Once your application is submitted and finalized, you will be able to check the status of your application online. As soon as the decision has been made, you will receive a notice via email and will be able to access the corresponding letter online.

	Application Deadlines
Application Opens	September 1st
Priority Applications	February 1st
Late Applications	August 1st
Scholarship Application Opens	October 1st
Scholarship Applications	February 1st

Program Application Requirements

Masters students are admitted to begin in the Fall of each academic year. The priority application deadline is February 1st, though applications will be considered through August 1st. Students applying by the February 1st deadline will receive priority consideration for merit-based financial aid.

The Masters of Public Policy program is cohort-based and designed as a 2-year full-time degree (longer if part-time) that prepares ambitious change leaders for a professional career in public policy. Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated interest in public policy issues and a clearly articulated set of professional goals.

The program requires candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college who achieved a minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework or a minimum 3.1 GPA in graduate coursework. Students are expected to complete a college-level statistics course prior to or at the beginning of their enrollment and to have a functional knowledge of the workings of the American government.

Applicants submit a single application that consists of materials for the University’s Office of Admissions and for the MPP Program. All of the materials are fully online. These include:

University Application for Graduate Admission.
One transcript from each post-secondary institution.
Official TOEFL test scores if the applicant does not speak English as a native language or has not received a graduate or undergraduate degree in an English-speaking territory. The test date may not exceed two years from the planned date of admission unless the student has been resident in the U.S. since then.
500 to 1,000-word Statement of Intent:
The statement should address:
1. Your professional goals.
2. Your planned track: Policy Analysis or Policy Advocacy (see details here)
3. Your desired employment sector.
4. How the MPP furthers your professional goals.
Three recommendation letters from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional capabilities.
A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
$65 non-refundable application fee.

Explore the MPP Program