In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to a degree program at West Chester University, applicants must submit:

• Official application form
• Official academic transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended at both the undergraduate and graduate levels demonstrating the achievement of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Students who do not meet this requirement may be considered for provisional status. Provisional students will be required to earn a grade of B+ or higher in their first two courses and enroll in PPA 512 Communications for Public Administrators.
• Goal statement of short-term and long-term career objectives (see the Admissions tab on the FAQs page for more information)
• Recommendations from two current or former supervisors who can attest to the applicant's management potential
• Resumé

NOTE: A standardized test is NOT required.

All application materials are to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies using the online application process. After all required information has been received, the MPA director will review the materials and forward a recommendation regarding admission to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students will be notified of admissions decisions by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Graduate and professional degree students may be eligible to receive aid from the following federal student aid programs:

• The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
  This is the largest federal student loan program. Under this program, ED is your lender rather than a bank or other financial institution. There are two types of Direct Loans that graduate and professional degree students may receive:
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Eligible students may borrow up to $20,500 per school year. Graduate and professional students enrolled in certain health profession programs may receive additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan amounts each academic year. Contact the financial aid office for details.
  • Direct PLUS Loans: Eligible graduate and professional degree students who need to borrow more than the maximum unsubsidized loan amounts to meet their education costs may apply for a PLUS loan. A credit check is performed during this application process.
• Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program
  This is a school-based loan program for eligible students with exceptional financial need. You may qualify for a Perkins Loan of up to $8,000 each year depending on your financial need, the amount of other aid you receive, and the availability of funds at your school.
• Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program
  The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. This program allows you to earn money to help pay for your education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study.

Please visit the Office of Financial Aid website for more information.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for federal student aid (grants, loans and work-study funds) you must meet certain requirements. Some of our general eligibility requirements are that you must demonstrate financial need (for most programs), be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program, and more. Make sure you're familiar with our basic eligibility criteria, and if you have any questions about whether or not you qualify, contact the school's financial aid office. Learn more about the basic eligibility requirements for federal student aid at StudentAid.gov/eligibility.

How to Apply

To apply for federal student aid you first need to complete the FAFSA. West Chester University uses your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.

• Aid From Other Federal Agencies: To find out about funding from agencies other than ED, visit StudentAid.gov/types.
• State Aid: Many states offer assistance for graduate or professional school. Find state grant agency contact information at www.ed.gov/sgt.

Check out the following sources for additional funding:

• The Internet
  • There is a free scholarship search from the U.S. Department of Labor at www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch)
• The reference section of your school or public library
• Foundations and organizations
  • (e.g., religious, community, professional, ethnicity-based), local businesses and civic groups
• Your employer
• Your state vocational rehabilitation agency, if appropriate
  • (a list of state agencies is at www.ed.gov/svr and at www.disability.gov)

Graduate assistantships are awarded each year to highly qualified students. Availability varies yearly and for the 2015-2016 academic year our department was able to award 35 individuals full-time and part-time graduate assistantships. Applicants should not plan their academic program assuming they will receive an assistantship.

Requirements and Eligibility

Normally, students must submit their completed graduate assistantship application prior to February 15 for fall admittance and October 15 for spring admittance. Applicants interested in the MPA assistantship should contact the MPA Director. Additional assistantships are sometimes available in other areas of campus (e.g., Tutoring Center, Residence Life, Athletic Department, etc.); applicants should contact the Office of Graduate Studies and/or the relevant area of campus to determine potential availability of assistantships as well.

To be eligible to receive a graduate assistantship the student must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Must be a fully matriculated, degree-seeking graduate student; certification students are not eligible, and provisionally accepted students are not eligible unless the provisions are removed before the semester begins. Exceptions must be approved by the dean of graduate studies and extended education.
2. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for current graduate students (graduating seniors must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8)
3. Have indicated interest in a graduate assistantship on the electronic application for admission to graduate studies

Details regarding work expectations, tuition remission and stipends for graduate assistantships may be found on the graduate studies website.

Maintaining graduate assistantships requires students to demonstrate both satisfactory performance in meeting assigned hours, dates, and responsibilities, as well as good academic standing.

Students awarded graduate assistantships who fail to maintain good academic standing (minimum GPA of 3.0) will have their assistantships revoked or will not have them renewed. This policy includes courses taken during summer sessions.

These graduate assistantships are named after Frederick Douglass, a great nineteenth-century American abolitionist and writer and a frequent visitor to West Chester. Douglass gave his last public lecture at West Chester Normal School on February 1, 1895.

Applicants with excellent academic credentials may apply for these assistantships. Efforts are made to appoint qualified candidates from historically underrepresented and underserved populations who have leadership experiences in their backgrounds or as part of their academic goals. This consideration is in keeping with the spirit of Douglass' life of public service and the University's mission to be a source of encouragement to the African American, Native American, Hispanic American and Asian American communities.

Students with Frederick Douglass graduate assistantships serve the Frederick Douglass Institute. These are full-time (20 hours per week) assistantships that provide a tuition waiver and a $5,000 stipend for the academic year. The awards are made on an annual basis and are renewable for a second year. Students may use these assistantships to pursue a master's degree in one of the University's graduate programs. Interested individuals with excellent credentials should contact the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education.

The Institute for Women at West Chester University offers an annual grant of $750 to a female graduate student who is accepted into a master's degree program at West Chester University. The award is based on high academic achievement; evidence of potential for contribution to the applicant's field of study; a record of leadership in school, community, church, or other setting; and evidence of service to others. Applications, including reference forms, are available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education. Completed materials must be submitted by March 15. Only students who have filed all required admission credentials and plan to enroll for a minimum of six graduate credits are eligible.

• 3-Credit Course (tuition and fees): $1,754.25
• Pre-Service Students (total cost for 39 credit hours of tuition and fees): $22,805.25
• In-Service Students (total cost for 36 hours of tuition and fees): $21,051.00

• 3-Credit Course (tuition and fees): $2,411.34
• Pre-Service Students (total cost for 39 credit hours of tuition and fees): $32,438.25
• In-Service Students (total cost for 36 hours of tuition and fees): $29,943.00

DPA Program Admissions Requirements

• Official application form (Graduate Studies Application)
• Official transcripts (graduate and undergraduate). Students whose master's degrees are not in public administration, public affairs, policy analysis, political science, public health or nonprofit management or a related field, and/or do not have relevant work experience, may be required to complete additional coursework in public administration.
• Three recommendations (2 letters of recommendation from faculty in the student’s masters program and 1 letter from an employer)
• Goal statement
• Professional writing sample
• Resume or vita

All application materials are to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies using the online application process. After all required information has been received, the DPA Admissions Commmittee will review the materials and forward a recommendation regarding admission to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Students will be notified of admissions decisions by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Graduate and professional degree students may be eligible to receive aid from the following federal student aid programs:

• The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
  This is the largest federal student loan program. Under this program, ED is your lender rather than a bank or other financial institution. There are two types of Direct Loans that graduate and professional degree students may receive:
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Eligible students may borrow up to $20,500 per school year.
  • Direct PLUS Loans: Eligible graduate and professional degree students who need to borrow more than the maximum unsubsidized loan amounts to meet their education costs may apply for a PLUS loan. A credit check will be performed during the application process.
• Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program
  This is a school-based loan program for eligible students with exceptional financial need. You may qualify for a Perkins Loan of up to $8,000 each year depending on your financial need, the amount of other aid you receive, and the availability of funds at your school.
• Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program
  The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. This program allows you to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study.

Please visit the Office of Financial Aid website for more information.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for federal student aid (grants, loans, and work-study funds) you must meet certain requirements. Some of our general eligibility requirements are that you must demonstrate financial need (for most programs), be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program, and more. Make sure you're familiar with our basic eligibility criteria and if you have any questions about whether or not you qualify, contact the financial aid office. Learn more about the basic eligibility requirements for federal student aid at StudentAid.gov/eligibility.

How to Apply

To apply for federal student aid you first need to complete the FAFSA. West Chester University uses your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.

• Aid From Other Federal Agencies: To find out about funding from agencies other than ED, visit StudentAid.gov/types.
• State Aid: Many states offer assistance for graduate or professional school. Find state grant agency contact information at www.ed.gov/sgt.

Check out the following sources for additional funding:

• The Internet
  • There is a free scholarship search from the U.S. Department of Labor at www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch)
• The reference section of your school or public library
• Foundations and organizations
  • (e.g., religious, community, professional, ethnicity-based), local businesses and civic groups
• Your employer
• Your state vocational rehabilitation agency, if appropriate
  • (a list of state agencies is at www.ed.gov/svr and at www.disability.gov)

Graduate assistantships are awarded each year to highly qualified students. Availability varies yearly and for the 2015-2016 academic year our department was able to award 35 individuals full and part-time graduate assistantships. Applicants should not plan their academic program assuming they will receive an assistantship.

Requirements and Eligibility

Normally, students must submit their completed graduate assistantship application prior to February 15 for fall admittance and October 15 for spring admittance. Applicants interested in the DPA assistantship should contact the Department Chair. Additional assistantships sometimes are available in other areas of campus (e.g., Tutoring Center, Residence Life, Athletic Department, etc.); applicants should contact the Office of Graduate Studies and/or the relevant area of campus to determine potential availability of assistantships as well.

To be eligible to receive a graduate assistantship the student must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Must be a fully matriculated, degree-seeking graduate student; certification students are not eligible, and provisionally accepted students are not eligible unless the provisions are removed before the semester begins. Exceptions must be approved by the dean of graduate studies and extended education.
2. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for current graduate students
3. Have indicated interest in a graduate assistantship on the electronic application for admission

Details regarding work expectations, tuition remission, and stipends for graduate assistantships may be found on the graduate studies website.

Maintaining graduate assistantships requires students to demonstrate both satisfactory performance in meeting assigned hours, dates, and responsibilities, as well as good academic standing.

Students awarded graduate assistantships who fail to maintain good academic standing (minimum GPA of 3.0) will have their assistantships revoked or will not have them renewed. This policy includes courses taken during summer sessions.

These graduate assistantships are named after Frederick Douglass, a great nineteenth-century American abolitionist and writer and a frequent visitor to West Chester. Douglass gave his last public lecture at West Chester Normal School on February 1, 1895.

Applicants with excellent academic credentials may apply for these assistantships. Efforts are made to appoint qualified candidates from historically underrepresented and underserved populations who have leadership experiences in their backgrounds or as part of their academic goals. This consideration is in keeping with the spirit of Douglass' life of public service and the University's mission to be a source of encouragement to the African American, Native American, Hispanic American, and Asian American communities.

Students with Frederick Douglass graduate assistantships serve the Frederick Douglass Institute. These are full-time (20 hours per week) assistantships that provide a tuition waiver and a $5,000 stipend for the academic year. The awards are made on an annual basis and are renewable for a second year. Students may use these assistantships to pursue a master's degree in one of the University's graduate programs. Interested individuals with excellent credentials should contact the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education.

The Institute for Women at West Chester University offers an annual grant of $750 to a female graduate student who is accepted into a master's degree program at West Chester University. The award is based on high academic achievement; evidence of potential for contribution to the applicant's field of study; a record of leadership in school, community, church, or other setting; and evidence of service to others. Applications, including reference forms, are available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education. Completed materials must be submitted by March 15. Only students who have filed all required admission credentials and plan to enroll for a minimum of six graduate credits are eligible.

• 3-Credit Course (tuition and fees): $2,115.00
• 34 Credit Program(total cost for tuition and fees): $23,970.00
• 43 Credit Program (total cost for tuition and fees): $30,315.00

Please note, DPA Out-of-State tuition is only two percent (2%) more than in-state tuition. Thus, out-of-state students completing the DPA pay only a negligible amount more than in-state students.

• 3-Credit Course (tuition and fees): $2,147.69
• 34 Credit Program(total cost for tuition and fees): $24,340.46
• 43 Credit Program (total cost for tuition and fees): $30,783.53