Application Process
Application Deadline
- 1 February each year for admission to the following fall for all students.
- Admission decisions are made about one month after the application deadline and the class fills quickly. In the unlikely event that slots become available, late applications may be considered.
MPA Admissions Requirements
The admissions committee bases acceptance into the MPA program on a rigorous evaluation of each student's application material. The committee focuses its evaluation on two broad areas: 1) ability to succeed in the program, and 2) commitment to public service.
Application Checklist
- Complete online application
- Pay $50 application fee
- Send in 2 official transcripts from each institution (BYU Graduates do not need to send transcripts)
- Send in 3 letters of recommendation
- Send in ecclesiastical endorsement (Form E)
- Have test scores (e.g., GRE, GMAT, TOEFL) sent directly from testing service to BYU
- Submit your resume with the application as a departmental requirement
- Check application status on Route Y
Submit material online when possible. Items such as transcripts and paper letters of recommendation should be mailed to:
- Office of Graduate Studies
105 FPH
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
The Marriott School MPA Program receives approximately one hundred applications for the approximately fifty-four available spots in the program.
Applications are available through BYU's Online Application. For assistance contact the MPA Admissions office, (801) 422-4516; mpa@byu.edu.
Undergraduate Performance
The MPA program has no preferred undergraduate majors and no required prerequisite course work. However, recommended prerequisites include the following undergraduate courses: economics, statistics, and accounting. Students must also be comfortable with the basic tasks and functions in Excel.
Candidates are rarely accepted with undergraduate GPAs below 3.0. The last sixty hours of an applicant’s undergraduate degree are used to calculate the GPA for admission decisions. A typical accepted GPA is 3.6.
Entrance Exams
The Romney Institute Admissions Committee requires the results of an entrance exam with every application. We accept the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). LSAT scores are only accepted for students applying for the joint MPA/JD at the J. Reuben Clark Law School. The majority of our students take the GRE. Typical test scores are as follows:
- GMAT 601
- GRE 1160
- LSAT 163
Letter of Intent
This letter, written by the applicant, should indicate the individual's preparation to participate in the MPA program. It should address any work experience the applicant may have and the extent to which an MPA degree will be consistent with his or her career aspirations. This letter should typically be no more than two typewritten pages. If there are any mitigating circumstances that should be brought to the attention of the admission committee, they should be addressed in this letter.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required. Individuals who are personally acquainted with the applicant and can address his or her undergraduate performance, professional experience, or qualifications should be asked to provide the recommendation. Applicants should choose those who know them best and have worked with them most recently to write the letters. It is suggested choosing former professors or employers, or others who are well-acquainted with the applicant.
The letters may be submitted online, or downloaded and submitted on paper. When the application is completed online, the three letters of recommendation are generated and identified as C1, C2, and C3. C1 and C2 are identified as professional references while C3 is identified as a personal reference. Applicants complete the personal information in the first section of the recommendation form. If a recommender does not use email, the applicant can print copies of the C1 form. Mail completed letters of recommendation to the Office of Graduate Studies, 105 FPH, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602.
English Language Exam
International applicants are required to demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency in the English language to satisfy the university’s requirements for admission to graduate study.
All applicants whose native language is not English, and who have not received a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an educational institution in the United States are required to submit official IELTS or TOEFL scores in order to be considered for admission.
University score requirements are detailed here.
Ecclesiastical Endorsement and Honor Code Commitment
To ensure that all applicants, both members and nonmembers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are fully informed and committed to the standards established for all BYU students, the Ecclesiastical Endorsement and Honor Code Commitment forms are required. The Ecclesiastical Endorsement should be done during a personal interview accomplished according to the instructions provided on the form. The ecclesiastical leader who conducts this interview should forward the completed form to the Graduate Studies office. Applicants should read and sign the Honor Code Commitment.
Admissions Schedule
Admission decisions will be communicated to students by 1 May. Students are admitted for fall semester only. The program holds a mandatory new student orientation before classes begin in the fall.
International Applicants
In line with the global emphasis of the Marriott School, the MPA program encourages international students to apply. International applications, including entrance exam and English language scores, are due by 1 February. International students have a mandatory new student orientation the second week of August.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must send a course description of the classes they plan to transfer as core equivalents. The Romney Institute will review the descriptions and let applicants know which courses meet respective requirements.
