MPA funding

[baysbar94]

Hi,

I've applied to four MPA programs: NYU Wagner, Columbia SIPA, Syracuse Maxwell, and Albany Rockefeller. 

Apart from Albany I can't imagine being able to afford any one of the first three options without a significant internal scholarship or fellowship (or massive debt, which i wouldn't want to take on for a Master in Public Administration). The good news with NYU and Columbia, I guess, is that I live in New York City with my parents and wouldn't have to pay for housing. 

I was wondering if anyone knew the chances of getting good funding at NYU, Columbia, and Syracuse? I've heard SIPA tends to give more funding the second year––but do they tell you this in advance, or do you go in cold and hope they offer you something after a year?

[ironheart]

Hi @baysbar94! I got in SIPA for the MPA-ESP program this year and they did give me some funding, which they increased when I requested. Although I believe that available funding is different per program. Second-year funding for SIPA comes mostly from assistantships and paid internships, so you will have to apply for these positions and compete with your fellow cohorts.

Hope this helps!

[MaxwellAlum]

Syracuse offers several assistantships.  If I recall correctly some are "full" meaning they cover 24 credit hours plus I think you get some additional spending money and some are "half" which means they cover 12 credit hours plus additional spending money.  Also, housing in Syracuse is very cheap (most people in my class several years ago paid less than $500 a month in rent+utilities, if they shared an apartment/house with other students).  Some assistantships are awarded before you enroll, and some assistantships people can compete for during the first summer session.  If you are competitive for admission to SIPA, you are likely pretty competitive for some kind of assistantship at Syracuse.  Also look into the fellowships they offer - I know people who had them who graduated with zero debt.  But you may have to apply for those separately.

[baysbar94]

@ironheart: That's interesting. How did you go about requesting more funding, if you don't mind me asking?

@MaxwellAlum: I can't say for certain that I am competitive for SIPA, but I definitely think I am competitive for Maxwell. There was one fellowship listed on their website that caught my eye and to which I will definitely apply. It was due sometime in mid-February and only requires a resume and a single-age statement of purpose. But I will look for more!

[ironheart]

16 hours ago, baysbar94 said:

@ironheart: That's interesting. How did you go about requesting more funding, if you don't mind me asking?

I basically just sent an e-mail to the Assistant Director requesting for more, and they got back to me in about a month with the approval.

[baysbar94]

10 hours ago, ironheart said:

I basically just sent an e-mail to the Assistant Director requesting for more, and they got back to me in about a month with the approval.

Thanks!