Apply Now

High School Seniors/First-Year Students
All applications are completed online via http://admissions.rutgers.edu. Select “School of Public Affairs and Administration – Public and Nonprofit Administration Undergraduate Program – Newark” as your college of choice on the application.

Students enrolled at other colleges/universities wishing to transfer to Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) apply online via http://admissions.rutgers.edu. Select “Transfer Student” on the application.

Students who attend a New Jersey community college can use the web-based resource NJ Transfer (www.njtransfer.org) to determine if a course offered at their current school will transfer to Rutgers SPAA. Students transferring from a 2-year institution may receive a maximum of 65 credits. Students transferring from a 4-year institution may receive a maximum of 90 credits.

Students from Rutgers (New Brunswick, Camden, and other Newark undergraduate divisions such as SCJ, RBS, NCAS, UC, and Nursing) should use the online School-to-School application: https://www.ugadmissions.rutgers.edu/SchoolToSchool.

If you have been away from the university for a semester or more, you need to complete a re-enrollment application to reactivate your status via http://www.ugadmissions.rutgers.edu/reenrollment.

Criteria for Re-Enrollment to the Joint Program:

• Students must have completed a minimum of one (1) academic term as a matriculated student at Rutgers University.
• Any student previously enrolled in any of the Rutgers University undergraduate divisions may apply for re-enrollment after a leave of absence of at least one (1) semester.
• Students enrolling in the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) undergraduate program cannot have earned more than 90 college-level credits, except in the case of second-degree candidates (for whom the credit limit is not applicable).

To be considered for admission to the MPA program, applicants must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education

To apply to the MPA program, applicants must complete or submit the following:

• Online Application – all applications are completed online, via Rutgers University Graduate Admissions
• Resume or CV
• Official Transcripts – showing all undergraduate and graduate work from each post-high school institution attended
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Statement – two to three pages explaining “Why You are Pursuing an MPA Degree”
• $70 Application Fee – payable to Rutgers University
• GRE and TOEFL Scores – if applicable
  ***GRE IS CURRENTLY WAIVED FOR FALL 2020 - Due to ongoing restrictions as a result of COVID-19 Rutgers University has waived GRE scores.***                         

Priority application deadlines:

• Fall semester is July 1
• Spring semester is December 1

To be considered for admission to the EMPA program, applicants must:

• Have 5+ years of relevant professional experience or 2+ years of relevant supervisory experience in the field of public service
   
• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education

To apply to the EMPA program, applicants must complete or submit the following:

• Online Application – all applications are completed online via Rutgers University Graduate Admissions
   
• Detailed Resume or CV – demonstrating relevant experience in the field of public service
   
• Official Transcripts – showing all undergraduate and graduate work from each post-secondary institution attended
   
• Three Letters of Recommendation
   
• Personal Statement – two to three pages (approximately 750 words) explaining “Why You are Pursuing an EMPA Degree”
   
• $70 Application Fee – payable to Rutgers University
  **Application Fee credit for students who enroll in the inaugural cohort of the EMPA program in Spring 2019**
   
• GRE Scores – if applicable
  (GRE not required with a 3.0 or higher GPA from prior degree at post-secondary institution)
• TOEFL and IELTS Scores – if applicable
  (English language proficiency is required if your undergraduate education was completed in a non-English speaking country)

Priority application deadlines:

• Fall semester is July 1
• Spring semester is December 1

Applicants for the BA/MPA or BS/MPA degree need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must have completed 85 credits by the end of junior year
• Must be a matriculating undergraduate student at a school on the Rutgers–Newark campus, (School of Public Affairs and Administration, School of Arts and Sciences–Newark, School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers Business School–Newark)
• Must have a cumulative GPA of a 3.00 or higher
• Must meet with the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs to discuss eligibility and register before the deadline during the second semester of the junior year
• Must complete the MPA admissions application during senior year

Before enrolling, applicants must have received an MPA or other relevant master's degree (e.g., public policy, political science, sociology, law, education, public health, social work, etc.). It is particularly important for applicants to have taken the GRE before submitting an application.

To apply to the PhD program, applicants must complete or submit the following:

• Application – completed online via Rutgers University Graduate Admissions
• Resume
• Application Fee – ($70) payable to Rutgers University
• Two Official Transcripts – for colleges and universities attended
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Statement
• Writing Sample
• GRE Scores
• TOFEL Scores – for international students

Consideration of applications begins on January 10 for admission to the fall semester. Admissions decisions are not made for the spring semester.

Rutgers SPAA

• Application to the MPA program at Rutgers SPAA (School 20) via Rutgers University Graduate Admissions
• GRE score (if undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0)
• Personal Statement
• Three Letters of Recommendation*
• Official Transcript*
• Application Fee
• Admission in Fall, Spring, and Summer (priority application deadline 7/1 for Fall; 12/1 for Spring)

Rutgers School of Law-Newark

• Application to Rutgers Law School (School 23) via www.lsac.org**
• LSAT score earned within the last three years
• Personal Statement and Resume
• Two Letters of Recommendation*
• Official Transcript*
• Application Fee
• Admission only in Fall (deadline 3/15)
• Completion of an Undergraduate Degree

*Students can use the same letters of recommendation and transcript for each school.
**The law school application must be completed through the Law School Admissions Council (www.lsac.org), which acts as a clearinghouse for all law school applicants. Please follow their instructions for creating an account, registering for the LSAT, submitting transcripts and letters of recommendation for processing, and submitting an application.

• JD: Admission only in Fall (deadline 3/15)
• MPA: Admission in Fall (priority deadline 7/1), Spring (priority deadline 12/1), and Summer

• Completed online Graduate Application specifying desired certificate:
  20834Q, Public Administration – Budgeting and Financial Management Certificate
  20834R, Public Administration – Healthcare Certificate
  20834S, Public Administration – Leadership and Administration Certificate
  20834P, Public Administration – Nonprofit Management Certificate
  20834T, Public Administration – Public and Nonprofit Performance Management Certificate
• Application Fee
• Official Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• Three Letters of Recommendation (two academic, one professional)