Master in Professional Accounting Admissions News

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

Category: Traditional MPA (page 1 of 3)

Texas McCombs MPA Admissions Update

Here is a quick Texas McCombs MPA admissions update as we settle into the new year!

  • The MPA admissions committee is reviewing completed U.S. traditional MPA applications and completed MPA Bridge applications, releasing decisions on a rolling basis. There is still plenty of time to apply!
  • The final traditional MPA international application deadline was on January 13. The application review will begin soon, and decisions will be released in approximately late March. Please be sure to submit all of your supplemental application materials no later than Monday, January 20 if you would like your application to be considered. Additionally, any resume, transcript or test score updates (if any) should be submitted through the McCombs application portal as soon as possible. Applications completed after January 20 will be considered on a space-available basis.

The admissions decision will be posted on the Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal, and you will receive additional correspondence from the MPA program if you are admitted.

Questions? Contact the MPA admissions team

Traditional MPA International Applicants: Final Deadline is Approaching!

The traditional MPA international application FINAL deadline (for non-U.S. citizens/non-U.S. permanent residents) is quickly approaching! Be sure to submit your online application no later than 11:59 p.m. on January 13 and submit all required supplemental materials by January 20 (see the tMPA admissions packet for a comprehensive list of all required application materials).

What if all of your application materials are not received by January 20?

  • Your application will not be considered complete and reviewed for a decision until all application materials have been received, including recommendation letters, official test scores (if required*), application fee payment, transcripts, and any other required items in the MyStatus checklist.
  • Please update the MPA Admissions team  on the status of any outstanding application materials.
  • Submit your supplemental materials as soon as possible. Applications completed after January 20 will be considered on a space available basis.

If your official test scores* are not posted to your application record by January 20, please update the MPA Admissions team with the date of your test and a copy of the score report. Plan early: On average, it takes about 3-4 weeks for the test scores to be received and uploaded to an applicant’s record.

If you reported GMAT or GRE test scores or a future test date in the admissions application, we will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received from the testing agency. Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

If the official test scores are received after January 20, your application will be considered on a space available basis.

*Certain international applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement, and GMAT/GRE test scores are optional.

 

Need assistance?

Contact the MPA admissions team or schedule an appointment for an application consultation.

The Traditional MPA Early Deadline Passed – What’s Next?

Congratulations! You completed your traditional MPA (tMPA) application by the early deadline! What happens next? 

The MPA Admissions Committee is beginning to review all completed* applications. We anticipate releasing early decisions for U.S. applications in mid-December. Early decisions for international applications will be released in mid- to late January. Your admissions decision will be posted on the Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal, and you will receive a separate message from the Texas McCombs MPA program if you are accepted.

What should you do if your application is incomplete?

U.S. applicants: If you are still working on submitting your materials, you can expect to receive a decision approximately four to six weeks after your application is complete.*

International applicants: Submit your online application by January 13 (final submission deadline) and complete* your application no later than January 20. Decisions will be released by late March/early April.

*All required materials must be received before an application will be reviewed for a decision. (See the tMPA admissions packet for a comprehensive list of required materials.) Be sure to check the status of your application in the McCombs application portal and in the Office of Graduate Admission’s MyStatus portal on a regular basis.

If you reported (optional) GMAT or GRE test scores or a future test date in the admissions application, we will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received from the testing agency. Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

You were admitted to another university, and the acceptance deadline is approaching, but you haven’t received a decision from the Texas McCombs MPA program. What should you do?

If you receive an admission offer from another university and need to respond to the offer before you receive a decision from us, please send us an email with the name of the university and the admission response deadline. Although we cannot guarantee an earlier admission decision, we will do our best to accommodate your request.

You are a Texas resident. How can you establish your residency status at UT Austin for tuition purposes?

If you are a Texas resident, you will be required to submit the residency questionnaire so that UT Austin can verify your residency. You are eligible to complete the questionnaire after submitting your online application. You do not need to wait for an admissions decision first. Additional information regarding Texas residency is available on the UT residency website. Feel free to contact UT’s residency office if you have questions regarding Texas residency.

Tip for tMPA U.S. applicants: Complete the residency questionnaire soon after submitting the admissions application so that your UT record is updated before the MPA program determines scholarship awards.


Note to MPA Bridge applicants: Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Apply at any time until the May 6 application deadline!

Join the Traditional MPA Information Session on November 19

Join us for a virtual traditional MPA info session! Gain valuable insights into our top-ranked traditional Master in Professional Accounting program. Learn about our curriculum, application process, and career outcomes, and explore the benefits of studying at The University of Texas at Austin.

Register: Tuesday, November 19, 5-6 pm CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Attend an In-Person Specialized Master’s Event!

Curious about how a master’s degree can accelerate your career or deepen your expertise before entering the workforce? Attend one of our upcoming Texas McCombs Specialized Master’s in-person events!

Specialized Master’s Information Session

UT students: join the Specialized Master’s recruiting and admissions team to learn how you can earn a one-year business master’s degree and gain a competitive edge, all while staying on the Forty Acres. This information session will cover admission requirements, career outcomes, key dates, and what makes our business master’s programs among the top-ranked in the nation. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions and connect directly with the McCombs team.

Programs include: Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Information Technology & Management, and Marketing.


5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
BRB 2.136

RSVP today!

Specialized Master’s Open House

Join us for the Specialized Master’s Open House to get an inside look at our STEM-designated business master’s programs in Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Information Technology & Management, Marketing, and Technology Commercialization. Hear how these programs blend business insight with real-world application, learn what the admissions team looks for in applicants, and connect directly with current students, career coaches, and program staff.


1 – 3:30 p.m.
Robert Rowling Hall – Atrium

RSVP today!

Traditional MPA Applicants: November 1 Early Deadline is Approaching!

The early deadline for U.S. and international traditional MPA applicants is just around the corner. If you are working on submitting your application by November 1 and completing your application by November 8… great! Early U.S. applicants should receive an admissions decision in mid-December, and your application will be first in line for consideration for potential scholarships. Early international applicants will receive a decision in January.

However, do not be concerned if you are still working on your application. Why?

  • We use a rolling admissions process for U.S. applicants in which we review completed applications on a continuous basis until the final May 5 deadline. Your chances for admission would not be affected if you submit your application after November 1 but still early in our admissions cycle. And, although we encourage early application submission for full scholarship consideration, we do award a limited number of scholarships throughout the admissions cycle.
  • International applicants still have time to submit an application by the final January 13 application deadline. Submitting your application by November 1 (and completing your application by November 8) will allow you to receive an earlier decision, but your chances for admission would not be affected if you submit your application by the final deadline (and complete your application by January 20). Those who complete their application by the final deadline should receive a decision by the end of March.
  • You should take your time to submit the strongest application possible. For example, you may be planning to submit (optional) GMAT or GRE test scores or TOEFL or IELTS test scores (international applicants) and need more time to study.

Your application will not be considered complete and reviewed for a decision until all application materials have been received (see the tMPA admissions packet for a comprehensive list of required materials). If you reported GMAT or GRE test scores or a future test date in the admissions application, we will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received from the testing agency.* Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

*Plan ahead: it takes about 3-4 weeks for the score report to be sent and added to an applicant’s record.

Do you have any concerns about your application? Contact the MPA admissions team or schedule an appointment for an application consultation.


Note to MPA Bridge applicants: Admissions are rolling all year. Apply for summer 2026 anytime before 11:59 pm CT on May 5, 2026.

Application Tips: Crafting Your Resume

Your resume provides an important opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and skills. Be sure to highlight honors, awards, language or computer skills, extracurriculars, volunteer and leadership experiences, internships, full-time work experience (if applicable), and other experiences outside of the classroom that developed your skills.

You may have noticed on the MPA admissions website that we provide MPA application resume guidelines (See the tMPA admissions packet or MPA Bridge admissions packet) and an MPA application resume template (See tMPA resume template or MPA Bridge resume template). Although this resume format is not required, we highly recommend using the MPA template if you are in the process of reconstructing your resume. If admitted, you will be required to use this format during the recruiting process, and our MPA career coaches will work with you to fine-tune your resume.

The MPA application resume guidelines include:

  • Resume length
  • Font and font size
  • Margins
  • Tips for listing education, achievements, experience, and work eligibility

If you need to submit an updated version of your resume after you submit your application, you can do so in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update). Be sure to submit any updates as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that updates will be included in your application review, as it will depend on when you submit the updated resume and where your application is in the review process with the admissions committee.

Join the Traditional MPA Information Session on October 22

Join us for a virtual traditional MPA info session! Gain valuable insights into our top-ranked traditional Master in Professional Accounting program. Learn about our curriculum, application process, and career outcomes, and explore the benefits of studying at The University of Texas at Austin.

Register: Wednesday, October 22, 5-6 pm CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Application Tips: Submitting Your Transcripts

What exactly are the steps for submitting your transcript(s) for your MPA application? Read on for the details!

MPA BRIDGE 

You will provide a copy of a (free) UT Academic Summary in the admissions application.

Steps (See the MPA Bridge admissions packet for additional details):

  1. List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of the admissions application. (Tip: Select Add Record to add a college or university to your list of institutions attended. Then type University of Texas Austin in the Institution Name field to search for UT Austin.)
  2. For UT Austin only, upload a PDF of a Academic Summary in lieu of an official UT transcript.  You do not need to provide copies of transcripts from any other colleges or universities attended.

TRADITIONAL MPA

You will provide a copy of your transcripts in two locations: 1) in the McCombs application portal (for the MPA admissions committee application review; unofficial transcripts are accepted) and 2) in the MyStatus portal (for UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions; official transcripts only). The Office of Graduate Admissions is responsible for verifying the validity of transcripts and degrees and calculating an upper-division GPA (based on junior- and senior-level courses and any graduate courses, if applicable).

Steps (see the tMPA admissions packet for additional details):

  1. List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of your McCombs online application.
  2. Order official transcripts from every four-year university or college you attended. Applicants who attended The University of Texas at Austin should download a PDF copy of a UT Academic Summary instead of ordering an official transcript. Transcripts from junior or community colleges should be requested if you completed our pre-enrollment requirements or any accounting courses at these institutions. If you are unable to obtain an official transcript in PDF format, you can scan your paper transcript to a PDF. Alternatively, if your college or university uses SPEEDE or Parchment, you can have your official transcript sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions and upload a copy of an unofficial transcript in the McCombs application.
  3. Pay your application fee in UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal after submitting your application. (Note: It will take 1-2 days for the application to transmit from the McCombs application portal to UT’s MyStatus portal.)
  4. After paying your application fee, upload your official transcripts (PDF format) to the MyStatus portal or have your official transcripts sent electronically via SPEEDE or Parchment (see the Submit Transcripts section of this Office of Graduate Admissions web page for detailed instructions). Former University of Texas at Austin students will pay a  $20 transcript fee in lieu of uploading UT Austin transcripts.

Tip: If you attended a university outside the U.S., a foreign credential evaluation from WES or another organization is not required. However, if a transcript is written in a language other than English, a complete and official English translation must be uploaded together with the original transcript.

Should I submit my transcript without my fall grades? 

If you are a traditional MPA U.S. applicant or MPA Bridge applicant, we recommend submitting a transcript (or UT Academic Summary) without your fall grades if you are aiming to apply early and your fall grades are net yet posted. We will reach out to you if we need your fall grades before making a decision. That said, we recommend waiting to submit your transcript with your fall grades if:

  1. (For non-accounting majors:) You are taking pre-enrollment courses in the fall (see tMPA pre-enrollments or MPA Bridge pre-enrollments),
  2. (For accounting majors:) You are enrolled in several upper-level accounting classes in the fall, and/or
  3. Your upper-level GPA will be improved substantially with your fall grades.

If you are a traditional MPA international applicant (not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident), you should submit your application with transcript before either the early November 1 or final January 13 application deadline, even if the fall grades are not posted. After your fall grades are available, you have the option to provide a copy of an updated transcript in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update).

Please contact the MPA admissions team if you have additional questions!

Stop by on October 15 to Chat with MPA Students and Admissions Staff!

Interested in the Master in Professional Accounting program? Stop by for some coffee in the McCombs School of Business Hall of Honors to speak with a current student or an admissions team member, and learn more about earning your accounting master’s degree in just one year! No registration is needed.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hall of Honors, CBA 2.200

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