UMBC Department of Public Policy

For Prospective Students

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Why study Public Policy at UMBC?

A graduate degree in public policy is an investment in the future. Policymakers tackle the essential issues in our society, from poverty to health care, and from housing to transportation. Our public policy program provides you with the tools necessary to develop and analyze public policies and influence the public policy process.

Our beautiful suburban location between Washington, DC and Baltimore provides an ideal setting for public policy education, internships and employment.

And UMBC is a unique institution. The Washington Post said this about UMBC: "In a very brief span, the university has ascended to the ranks of national universities, with serious research ambitions and ranked doctoral programs."
read the full Washington Post article

We enroll an average of 150 masters and Ph.D. students each year. Whether you are coming directly from an undergraduate or master's program, or are a mid-career professional, you will find in the Public Policy Graduate Program a community that supports your personal and professional goals.

Are you ready for the next step in your education and professional development? Earn your master's or Ph.D. degree in Public Policy at UMBC.

	Information for:
	Veterans
	Shriver Peaceworker Program (returning Peace Corps volunteers)

UMBC is part of the Academic Common Market (ACM). ACM affords students an opportunity to pay in-state tuition rates for certain out-of-state bachelor’s and graduate programs that are not offered at a public college or university in the student's home state.

The following states are partners in the ACM: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

A student must be accepted to UMBC before applying to the ACM. Once the student has received a letter of admission, he/she initiates the application for ACM with the ACM Coordinator in his/her state. Once the student is certified as eligible for ACM by the home state coordinator, this certification is sent to UMBC's institution coordinator, who adjusts the student's UMBC tuition to the in-state rate.

For more information, visit the Academic Common Market website.

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