Applicants must submit the following information to be considered for admission to the MPA program at the University of Southern Indiana:
Application Materials
- A completed USI Graduate Studies Application Form
- Completed MPA Personal Information Form
- A copy of your most recent resume or CV
- A personal statement as described on the MPA Personal Information Form
- Official results of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Applicants seeking admission to the MPA program must have a combined score of at least 850. You should take the GRE at least six weeks prior to the program's admission deadline. (Submission of GRE Scores)
- References from TWO individuals who are familiar with your work. The individuals who are writing your references must complete Reference Forms and mail these forms directly to the USI Graduate Studies Office.
- Official Transcript(s) from all undergraduate and graduate programs attended. All transcripts must be sent directly from the Registrar of the school attended to the USI Graduate Studies Office. Applicants seeking to be admitted to the MPA program must hold an undergraduate degree (any major is acceptable) with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- A $35.00 Application fee
- International Students Only: Official results of the TOEFL (a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based version and a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based version).
You may download a copy of our Application Checklist.
Conditional Admission
Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may but above 2.75 or a combined GRE score of below 850 but above 750 may seek conditional admittance to the MPA program. Conditionally admitted students may take two graduate courses (six credit hours) at USI. If a grade of B or better is earned in each USI graduate course taken while you are classified as a conditionally admitted student and the instructors in these courses recommend that you be unconditionally admitted to the program, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of the MPA Program, you will be unconditionally admitted to the Program.
Guest Student Status
Individuals may enroll in PA courses as a guest student. Guest students may take up to two graduate courses (6 credit hours) without being formally admitted to the MPA program. If a guest student is subsequently admitted to the MPA program, PA courses successfully completed will count toward the degree requirements. It is important to note, however, that admission as a guest student and success in graduate courses does not guarantee admission to the MPA program.
Students seeking to enroll in PA courses as a guest student must submit a Guest Student application, undergraduate transcripts, and the one-time non-refundable $25 graduate application fee. In addition, admission must be approved by the Director of the MPA program and the Director of Graduate Admissions. The Director of the MPA program will not allow individuals with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 (on a four point scale) to enroll in PA courses as a special student. Admission as a guest student does not guarantee enrollment in PA courses. Guest students may enroll in PA courses only when enrollment caps have not been met and when students formally admitted (or expected to be formally admitted) to the MPA program have had an opportunity to enroll.


