Graduate Admission Requirements

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SPA: Graduate Admissions 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

Admission Deadlines

Please note that the GRE requirement for all SPA master鈥檚 degree (on-campus and online) and certificate programs is optional.* Official GRE test scores will continue to be required for all SPA Ph.D. programs, no exceptions. 听听

*Optional听means an applicant may submit an official standardized test score (GRE) for consideration in an effort to strengthen their file. If you wish to include a GRE test score as part of your听master鈥檚 degree or certificate听application, please email听spaapp@american.edu. SPA鈥檚 admission team will hold your file until the score is available and uploaded prior to advancing it for admission consideration. 听

SPA encourages all master鈥檚 degree (on-campus only) applicants to听register for an application coaching session听to help improve the quality of their file.

Application Deadlines

Master鈥檚 Degrees (On-Campus), BA/MA Combined Degree Programs, & Graduate Certificate Programs

Fall Admission

Mailing address options for official transcripts
Domestic Applicants	International Applicants*
February 15听- Priority deadline for first round consideration for Fall merit awards.听听	February 15听- Priority deadline for first round consideration for Fall merit awards. May 1听- Final deadline for international master's applicants

Spring Admission

Domestic Applicants	International Applicants*
November 1听- Priority deadline for first round consideration for Spring merit awards.听听	November 1听- Final deadline for international master's applicants. November 1听- Priority deadline for first round consideration for Spring merit awards.

Domestic Applicants

International Applicants*

November 1听- Priority deadline for first round consideration for Spring merit awards.听听

November 1听- Final deadline for international master's applicants.

November 1听- Priority deadline for first round consideration for Spring merit awards.

After the posted deadlines, applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the respective term or degree program is full. If you are interested in merit aid consideration, we strongly encourage you to submit your application before the priority deadline.

BA/MA combined programs are open to current 17吃瓜在线 undergraduate students only.

*The final international student deadlines refer to applicants who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa. Current international students at another academic institution in the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 visa can be admitted after these dates and will transfer their SEVIS record to 17吃瓜在线. For more information on the SEVIS transfer-in process and/or international student deadlines, contact spaapp@american.edu.

Executive Master鈥檚 Degree

June 1: Priority deadline for Key Executive Leadership MPA merit award consideration, fall admission.

Executive programs have different application procedures-the websites for each program will tell you more.

Key Executive Leadership

PhD Programs

December 15, 2024: Fall Deadline (Fall Admission ONLY)

JD/Master鈥檚 and LLM/Masters Dual Degree Programs with the Washington College of Law (WCL)

Since the dual degree programs require applications to both the School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law, the admission requirements for both schools must be met, including the application deadlines. Please refer to for their priority deadlines. Please click here for SPA priority deadlines.