School of Education & Social Policy

Admissions

Admissions decisions are based on a holistic evaluation of an applicant's academic and leadership achievements, motivation, professional performance and potential as a higher education administrator.

The MS in Higher Education Administration and Policy Program has rolling admissions, and students may begin taking courses in any quarter. However, full-time students who want to complete the master's degree in one year must begin in the summer or fall quarter. Applicants who apply by the early admission deadline have the best chance of being awarded scholarships, graduate assistant positions and federally funded internships.

Application Deadlines

Early Admission Deadline
Desired Entrance Quarter All Application Materials Due Classes Begin
Summer or Fall 2012
 January 9, 2012 June 18, 2012 or September 27, 2012
Summer or Fall 2013 January 14, 2013 June 24, 2013 or September 24, 2013
Regular Admission Deadlines
Desired Entrance Quarter All Application Materials Due Classes Begin
Fall 2011 August 22, 2011 September 20, 2011
Winter 2012 November 28, 2011 January 3, 2011
Spring 2012 February 20, 2012 March 26, 2012
Summer 2012 May 14, 2012 June 18, 2012
Fall 2012 August 20, 2012 September 27, 2012
Winter 2013 November 26, 2012 January 7, 2013
Spring 2013 February 25, 2013 April 2, 2013
Summer 2013 May 13, 2013 June 24, 2013
Fall 2013 August 19, 2013 September 24, 2013

Matriculated and Non-Matriculated Options

You may choose to apply to the program as a matriculated or non-matriculated student. Matriculated students are candidates for the master's degree. Non-matriculated students are not yet candidates for the master's degree but may take up to four courses before they must apply to matriculate. The following are the primary reasons why some students choose to apply as non-matriculated students:
  • The student does not have anyone who can serve as an academic reference (this often happens with students who have been out of school for a while and have lost contact with their previous instructors).
  • The student has not yet taken the GRE but wants to begin taking courses.
  • The student does not wish to earn a master's degree but does want to take some courses in the program.
See more information about the materials required for the matriculated option and non-matriculated option.

Average Scores

The GRE and GPA are important indicators of an applicant's academic capabilities. The average successful matriculated applicant has the following profile:
  • Undergraduate GPA: 3.4/4
  • GRE Verbal: 600 or 160 (86th percentile)
  • GRE Quantitative: 680 or 154 (66th percentile)
  • GRE Analytical Writing: 4.75

Please note that these are average, not minimum, scores. Each applicant will be evaluated holistically.

As of September 1, 2012, the GRE has changed their scoring system. New average scores will be available after January 1, 2012. We will continue to accept tests with the old scoring system, as long as the test was taken less than five years before the score is submitted.

If applicants take the GRE exam multiple times, we will use the highest score from each section.