Public Policy and Management: A Master's Degree for Tomorrow's Policy Leaders
As the policy landscape evolves, your Heinz education will empower you to evolve with it.
A public policy master's degree is a powerful tool to take your career to the next level—to develop policies that positively impact people, to undertake analyses that bring understanding to complex problems, and to design innovative solutions that drive change. Our program is unmatched by any other school of public policy, school of management, or school offering purely technical training.
By complementing our policy curriculum with courses in statistics, economics, finance, optimization, design, and presentation skills, you'll leave prepared to tackle policy in any realm you choose. This is a degree for life: You won't be pigeonholed into a specialty. As the policy landscape evolves, your Heinz education will empower you to evolve with it.
capital insights: your path to an impactful policy career starts here
Join us for an opportunity to explore the Heinz College policy programs up close!
Enjoy dinner with current students while gaining firsthand insight into what it's like to study policy while working in D.C., hear how Heinz College can shape your journey toward a dynamic career in public policy, and sit in on a class to experience our curriculum in action.
Date: Wednesday, September 24
Time: 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hall of the States, 400 N Capitol St NW #444, Washington, DC 20001
RSVP here
Can't make it? Check out our upcoming admissions events, get in touch with a current student, or schedule time to meet with our Office of Admissions and Financial Aid as well as our Career Center.
What Will You Get From the MSPPM Program?
How to apply
At Carnegie Mellon University and Heinz College, we are committed to removing barriers. We do not charge an application fee, and we do not require the GRE.
We believe in the value that our quantitative and analytical coursework adds to the program, and the degree to which it will set you apart as an arts leader upon graduation. We also understand that many of you do not have a quantitative background. Thus, we offer a free, virtual quantitative skills summer program to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running when classes begin.
We have two application deadlines for the August 2026 starting date for our full-time master’s programs. Please select the deadline that meets your needs.
Priority Deadline: December 2, 2025
Submit your application form and required supporting materials by the priority deadline to receive a decision by the end of January.
Regular Deadline: January 10, 2026
The regular deadline is best for applicants who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree, or for those who do not need an earlier decision from us. Applicants who apply by the regular deadline can expect to receive a decision by the end of March. Our application portal opens in September; in the meantime, get in touch and learn more about our program.
