How to Apply
Master of Public Administration
We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2027. Admissions is rolling and applications will be accepted until the program is full.
Submit an Application
Apply online by creating a new account or signing in to an existing account.
Naropa University requires that application materials and essays be the applicant’s own work, factually true, and honestly presented, and not created with the use of AI.
At the end of your application, you will be prompted to pay a $60 nonrefundable application fee. If your current financial situation warrants waiving your application fee, you may request a fee waiver.
Only one application will be accepted per applicant and you can only apply to one program at a time. Application fees are non-refundable.
After you submit the application form:
- Complete your application by uploading documents (e.g. essay, unofficial transcripts)
Application Status
We encourage you to be actively engaged in the admission process. Once you have submitted your application, log into your application account to check the status of your application and what requirements may still be outstanding.
When all application requirements have been submitted, including all letters of recommendation, you will receive an email notification that your application is complete.
Transcripts
Naropa University requires transcripts from any and all institutions where undergraduate coursework was completed. Transcripts for coursework beyond the undergraduate level are not required. An official transcript of a conferred bachelor’s degree must be received by the Office of Admissions prior to beginning graduate coursework.
Transcripts that are uploaded as part of your application are not considered official. However, to expedite the admissions process, we encourage you to upload copies of your transcripts when possible.
If mailing, official transcripts should be sent to:
Naropa University
Office of Admissions
2130 Arapahoe Ave
Boulder CO 80302
Electronic transcripts from your university may be emailed to admissions@naropa.edu.
Electronic official transcripts are acceptable if submitted through a secure transcript service used by your university. If you submit your transcripts by email as an attachment or upload them via your application account, they will not be accepted as official.If you completed any coursework at a foreign college or university (other than a study abroad program), an international education evaluation is required.
Statement of Interest
Naropa University requires that application materials and essays be the applicant’s own work, factually true, and honestly presented, and not created with the use of AI. Please address each of the following prompts in 6 double-spaced pages. Your essay should respond to all of the prompts listed. Please use the articles as a guide and reference them where appropriate.
Statement of Interest Prompts:
- What interested you to apply to Naropa University and the Master of Public Administration program?
- What are your career goals relative to enrolling in this program?
- What experiences have you had in professional or volunteer capacities, which relate to this field? What specifically did you learn about yourself or about the field from this experience?
- Imagine that you witness a microaggression by a peer and toward another one of your peers. How would you respond?
- Please share your experience and/or understanding of contemplative or meditative practice and how it may apply to your work in this field.
- Professionals in this field are open to receiving feedback and make the necessary changes to enact positive change or growth. Give a brief example of a time that you received constructive feedback from a supervisor or teacher/professor (or an example of a mistake that you made at work) and discuss how you responded to it.
- Read “Oppression and Privilege: Two Sides of the Same Coin” and “Love and Social Justice,” then use the information from those articles to answer the following questions:
- Why are love and relationships so central to work in this field?
- Describe the intersection of work in this field and social justice.
Resume
Interview
The Office of Admissions will assess a candidate’s completed application, and those who meet minimum application requirements will move forward in the process and be invited to an interview. Interviews are a required part of the admissions process and will be offered remotely.
Financial Aid
This program is not currently eligible for financial aid.
Although the program has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission, Naropa is awaiting final approval from the U.S. Department of Education before the program can participate in federal financial aid programs. At this time, students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive federal student loans, federal grants, VA education benefits, or institutional aid from Naropa, including Naropa scholarships or grants.
Applicants will be notified if financial aid eligibility changes.
International Applicants
International students are welcome to apply to this fully online program.
Because this program does not require students to travel to the United States, an F-1 student visa is not required. Students may complete the program from outside the U.S., provided they meet all admission requirements and are able to participate fully in the online format.
Important: Fully online programs may still include required live online class meetings and/or group work. International students are responsible for participating in these required activities, which will take place in Mountain Time and may be challenging for students in significantly different time zones.
Learn More About the Program
Connect with your counselor
Jenna Priest
Admissions Counselor
- 303-970-9746
- jenna.priest@naropa.edu
- Schedule Appointment
Connect with your counselor
Jenna Priest
