Admissions

Applications for graduate study in Public Policy are only accepted from:

1. External applicants seeking a joint degree, or

2. Stanford alums (who have graduated within the past five years).

External applicants for joint degrees must apply to the department or school offering the other graduate degree (i.e.,PhD, MD, MA, MS, MBA, or JD), indicating an interest in the joint degree program; applicants admitted to the other degree program are then evaluated for admission to the MPP program.

To be considered for enrollment beginning in autumn quarter 2027-28, all application materials must be submitted no later than January 28, 2027. Admission notifications will be sent to applicants by April 1, 2027. Admitted students are required to respond to offers of admission by May 15, 2027.

Stanford Alumni within 5 Years of Graduation

Visit the Stanford Office of Graduate Admissions opens in a new tab. The online application for the MPP is available beginning in mid-September 2026. The application fee is $125. The program cannot refund an application fee, so prospective applicants are advised to refer to eligibility requirements before applying.    

Only complete applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed. A complete application includes the following:

1. Application opens in a new tab. opens in a new tab

2. Official transcripts. Copies of student transcripts must bear the official seal of the institution and the signature of the registrar. Upload transcripts to the online application.

3. GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT test scores.

4. Letters of recommendation: Three confidential letters of recommendation from a Stanford faculty member or an employer should be submitted electronically via the online application. See the Stanford Office of Graduate Admissions website regarding letters of recommendation opens in a new tab. At least one of the three letters must be from a Stanford faculty member.

5. Statement of purpose (not to exceed two pages; upload to the online application).

6. Resume or curriculum vitae (upload to the online application).

7. Prerequisite completion statement, demonstrating completion of required prerequisite coursework in calculus and introductory economics prior to matriculation.

Stanford Current Graduate Students

1. Application for Current Stanford Graduate Students opens in a new tab.

2. Two confidential letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a Stanford faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

3. Undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

4. GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT test scores.

5. Statement of purpose, not to exceed two pages.

6. Resume or curriculum vitae.

7. Preliminary program proposal opens in a new tab.

8. Prerequisite completion statement demonstrating completion of required prerequisite coursework in calculus and introductory economics prior to matriculation.

If admitted, students will submit a Graduate Authorization Petition opens in a new tab through Axess. A $125 fee is charged when adding the MPP degree program in Axess.

To be considered for enrollment beginning in autumn quarter 2027-28, all application materials must be submitted no later than January 28, 2027. Admission notifications will be sent to applicants by April 1, 2027. Admitted students are required to respond to offers of admission by May 15, 2027.