Master of Public Administration

A competitive applicant will have a GPA greater than 2.75 on a 4.0 scale at the Baccalaureate level calculated on all undergraduate work attempted. 

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university. To be used to satisfy degree requirement, evaluation of foreign educational transcripts must show degree(s) earned that are the U.S. equivalency of degree(s) required by the program.

Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges attended. In the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities, an official course-by-course transcript evaluation will be accepted in lieu of an official transcript. Official electronic transcripts should be emailed from the issuing institution to Augusta University's Office of Graduate Admissions Operations at graduateadmissions@augusta.edu 

Alternatively, Augusta University will accept official transcripts in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope mailed from the issuing institution directly to:

• Unofficial transcripts from US colleges/universities can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts for this program.
• Neither unofficial transcripts from international colleges /universities nor unofficial transcript /credential evaluations of international transcripts can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts or official transcript/credential evaluations.  Official transcript/credential evaluations must be received before an admission decision can be made.
• Applicants can submit unofficial transcripts via the Upload Materials section of their applicant status portal. 
• Applicants can monitor the receipt of their application materials in their application status portal. 
• Applicants who are offered acceptance based on unofficial transcripts must submit their official transcripts no later than:
  • December 16, 2024 for Spring 2025 entry term
  • May 1, 2025 for the Summer 2025 entry term
  • August 1, 2025 for the Fall 2025 entry term

Note: ONLY for applicants enrolled in the term immediately prior to their entry term will the deadline for those official transcripts to be received by the Graduate Admissions office be extended to:

• January 1, 2025 for Spring term entry
• May 9, 2025 for Summer term entry  
• August 6, 2025 for Fall term entry

If official transcripts are not received by the deadlines indicated for each term, then enrollment will not be allowed for that term and the acceptance will be deferred to a future term or will be withdrawn. 

An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE), Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., or World Education Services (WES). Course-by-course transcript evaluations may also be accepted from a current National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, or NACES, member on a case-by-case basis. Official transcript evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents or copies will not fulfill this requirement. 

Specific Ordering Instructions for ECE, Silny and WES

• If ordering from ECE, please select "Augusta University - Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions" as the institution delivery.
• If ordering from Silny, please complete the required PDF ordering form per their webpage. In the Method of Delivery section, please write the following, "Augusta University - Office of Academic Admissions email to graduateadmissions@augusta.edu.
• If ordering from WES, please select the following, "Augusta University" as the recipient, "Office of Academic Admissions" as the school/division,  "Standard Delivery" as the delivery method. 

Recommendations (which include a reference form and letter of recommendation) from three individuals are required. Referees should be individuals qualified to critically assess the applicant's prior academic (usually college professors), employment, artistic, research and/or clinical experience (clinical or research supervisor/manager) and qualifications (as applicable) as well as the applicant's potential as a graduate student in the field/program selected. For applicants who completed coursework in the last three years, two recommendations from former instructors/professors are encouraged. Applicants who have not enrolled in coursework in the last three years should seek professional recommendations.

Recommendations must be submitted online only. Within the application, you will provide the names and current email addresses for the individuals you have asked to serve as your recommenders. Once you have completed the recommendation section within the application, each recommender will receive an email notification directing them to the online site where they can complete their recommendation.

None are required for this program.

English proficiency exam scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English and who do not qualify for an English proficiency exam waiver per the criteria listed below. Augusta University will accept official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Test (IELTS) exam scores. Official exam scores must be taken within 2 years of the date of application. The Augusta University institution code for submission of TOEFL or IELTS scores is 5406. Please do not select a department code.

• TOEFL Minimum Overall Score: 79 internet based or 213 computer based
• IELTS Minimum Overall Band Score: 6.5

English Proficiency Exam Waiver Criteria: An English proficiency exam will be waived for applicants to graduate programs who:

• submit proof of earning a Baccalaureate, Master’s or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university. The requirement will be waived upon receipt of the official transcript showing proof of degree
• are citizens of countries on the approved waiver list

Please visit the International Student webpage for more information.

Applicants must submit a current resume to the application status portal after the application is submitted. 

Applicants must submit a 250 word typed personal statement within the application that describes the applicant's career at the present time, where he or she wants to be in five years, and how the MPA program will help the applicant get there.