Admissions

Public Administration and Nonprofit Management are interdisciplinary fields. Admission is not limited to those with a particular undergraduate major; good students from various backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Admission requires a Bachelor’s degree, and a 3.00 grade point average (4-point scale) or higher is preferred. Prior coursework in microeconomics and statistics is beneficial.

Graduate Degrees in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management

Application for Admission

  • Complete the UWM Graduate School application form.
  • Your online application should include your rationale for graduate study and pursuit of a professional degree. Your reasons statement should reflect why you are interested in pursuing this particular program and how your career interests fit with the degree.

Application Deadline

  • Summer Semester – April 15
  • Fall Semester – August 1
  • Spring Semester – December 15

Applicants should remember that applications for various University fellowships are typically due in January. If you plan to apply for Financial Aid, all application materials must be submitted by March 1 of each year.

Evidence of a Bachelor’s Degree

One official transcript is sent directly to the Graduate School from each undergraduate and graduate school attended. If you attended UWM as an undergraduate, the Graduate School would obtain transcripts from the UWM Undergraduate Records Office. Official transcripts must be sent directly to:

UWM Graduate School
Admissions – 261 Mitchell Hall
3203 N. Downer Avenue
P.O. Box 340
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0340
(414) 229-6332
e-mail: gradschool@uwm.edu

GRE or GMAT Scores

Due to challenges created by COVID-19, this requirement is waived for applicants submitting applications until Fall 2023. This requirement will resume in June 2023.

  • Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) are sent directly to the UWM Graduate School (mandatory). There is no minimum score requirement for admission, but preferred scores are at or above the 50th percentile for each exam section. The MPA Admissions Committee will also accept GMAT instead of GRE scores. For more information about registration and preparation, visit the GRE website.
  • (GRE Institution Code: 1473)

Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (if applicable)

Three letters of recommendation

  • Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their academic and professional work. Any combination of academic and employer references is fine. Letters should be sent to the following address:

As part of UWM’s Panthera online application system, you can send a request directly to your reference(s). The individual letter of recommendation can then be uploaded by your recommender directly into your online application.

If you do not have your reference’s email information, applicants should provide their references with the following application form:

All letters should be sent to the following address:

Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
P.O. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201