Are you a U.S. applicant with questions about our traditional MPA admissions process? The MPA admissions team put together a list of frequently asked questions. Find application answers and tips below!
When are U.S. admissions applications reviewed for a decision?
The MPA program has three U.S. application deadlines for fall 2026:
- November 1, 2025 – early deadline
- March 15, 2026 – final deadline, summer starts*
- May 5, 2026 – final deadline
The MPA admissions committee reviews completed U.S. applications on a continuous, rolling basis between the early and final deadlines. You may apply anytime during the admissions cycle, although we encourage you to apply as early as possible for scholarship consideration, as less funding is available later in the cycle.
Application tip: Review the tMPA admissions packet for a comprehensive list of required application materials and detailed application instructions.
*Students who are unable to waive ACC 381 ideally should start in the summer (see tMPA core course waivers), and U.S. applicants are highly encouraged to apply by the summer start final deadline. We cannot guarantee a summer start date for applications received after this deadline. Depending on your academic background, starting in the fall may result in a delayed graduation date.
When will I receive an admissions decision?
Application review will begin after the early November 1 deadline. Early decisions will be released in approximately mid-December. Thereafter, decisions for U.S. applications are released approximately six weeks after application completion.
What if all my application materials aren’t ready by the November1 early deadline?
Although we encourage you to apply earlier in the admissions cycle when possible, if you need additional time to prepare your application materials (to wait for fall grades or study for the GMAT or GRE exam, for example), be sure to take your time and submit the strongest application possible.
Are GMAT or GRE scores required?
Submitting GMAT or GRE scores is completely optional. Please review this admissions blog post for additional details. If you report 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.
Application tip: Plan ahead! On average, it takes about 3-4 weeks for the official test scores to be sent, received, and added to an applicant’s record.
Should I submit my transcript by November 1 or wait for my fall grades to post?
If you’re aiming for the November 1 deadline, we typically recommend submitting a transcript without fall grades. We will reach out if we need your fall grades before making a decision. That said, you might wait and submit your transcript with your fall grades if:
- You’re a non-accounting major taking any of the pre-enrollment courses in the fall
- You’re an accounting major enrolled in several upper-level accounting classes in the fall
- Your upper-level GPA will be improved substantially with your fall grades
When are departmental scholarships awarded?
We award departmental scholarships throughout the admissions cycle, although fewer scholarships are available towards the end of the cycle. Therefore, it is to your advantage to apply as early as possible.
What if I get an offer from another university, but I’m waiting to hear from UT?
If you receive an offer from another university and need to respond before you receive our decision, send us 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.
Any questions we missed?
If you have still have questions regarding our admissions process, please contact us! We’re here to help!
