MPS FAQ

The Clinton School stands out from other public service, public policy, and public affairs schools in two distinct ways: our broad range of available courses and our emphasis on fieldwork. Most Master of Public Administration programs focus on preparing students to work in local and state government or nonprofit organizations largely through lessons learned in the classroom, but lack the intentional, real-world experience that the Clinton School’s fieldwork provides.

Fieldwork at the Clinton School comprises a greater percentage of a student’s academic curriculum and creates more in-depth educational experiences. The International Public Service Project, which allows students to tap into the school’s expansive network of overseas partnerships, is a unique element of the program that few MPA programs offer.

Our Master of Public Service program can equip you with those real-world skills that a typical MPA program cannot. MPS students develop a public service mindset that serves them in every sector, public, private, and nonprofit, through a rigorous curriculum that integrates both classwork and field service. Graduates of the MPS program will leave with the soft skills that are in high demand – communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership – and experiences that will help them become agents of change wherever they find themselves.

The Clinton School’s MPS degree is a full-time, two-year program. Enrolling in a concurrent program will add an additional year or two, depending on the program.

More information is available on the Clinton School MPS core courses, electives, and the four concurrent degree offerings.

The Clinton School of Public Service is not located on a college campus, but rather is located in an urban downtown setting. The Clinton School hosts classes in Sturgis Hall, on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Center, and in the River Market district of downtown Little Rock. In addition, students have access to the facilities of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, including the pool and fitness center, Health Center, Disability Resource Center, libraries, and more.

No, the MPS degree program requires a full-time commitment. Because our innovative schedule of classroom work and field work may vary somewhat from week to week, the part-time pursuit of the program is not possible.

Prospective students looking for a part-time experience may look into our Clinton School Online program.

Many of our MPS students work a part-time job (approximately 10-15 hours per week) while at the Clinton School, but the key to a successful job/school balance will be the flexibility related to the part-time job.

The time demands related to both the classroom work and our fieldwork is significant and varies from week to week. Consequently, many of our students suggest that having a part-time job that allows flexibility of hours is critical to maintaining both a successful academic record and a reasonable school/life balance.

The MPS curriculum track begins only in the fall semester.

For students who are admitted, the Clinton School MPS program begins with a weeklong orientation in mid-August. All incoming MPS students are required to attend orientation. Classes generally begin in the week following orientation.

To ensure a high-touch experience for its students, the Clinton School typically enrolls around 50 students each Fall.

Below is a breakdown of the career sectors taken by members of a recent Clinton School graduating class:

• 25% of graduates are working in state, provincial, or regional government in the same country as the program
• 25% of graduates are working in the nonprofit sector, domestic-oriented
• 12.5% of graduates are working in city, county, or other local government in the same country as the program
• 12.5% of graduates are obtaining further education (concurrent JD program)
• 12.5% of graduates did not respond to the survey – status unknown
• 6.25% of graduates are working in the nonprofit/NGO sector, internationally-oriented
• 6.25% of graduates are working in the private sector, research/consulting

Below is the percentage of each class – entering five years prior to 2024-25 – that graduated within two years and four years:

• 2017 cohort = (2 years=68.2%; 4 years=88.6%)
• 2018 cohort = (2 years=60.0%; 4 years=90.0%)
• 2019 cohort = (2 years=56.1%; 4 years=80.5%)

Visiting the Clinton School and meeting with the admissions team is highly recommended for all interested applicants. It is a great way to glimpse the unique strengths of the MPS program.

The best time for prospective students to visit the school is during business hours during the academic year. This increases your ability to sit in on a class, meet current students, and meet with staff and faculty.

Please email admissions@clintonschool.uasys.edu to schedule a visit to the Clinton School at least two weeks in advance. Drop-in visits cannot typically be accommodated.

MPS applications may be completed using the school’s secure online platform. All application documents can be uploaded onto the platform and submitted. Applications can be saved and edited/added to before submission.

There are three application deadlines for fall enrollment to the Master of Public Service degree program:

• November 5 (Early Action)
• January 5 (Priority)
• March 5 (Regular)
• Supplemental Deadline: After March 5, we will consider new applications on a rolling basis until all spaces in the cohort are filled.

The Clinton School does not require an application fee for our applicants. We invite all interested public servants to apply to our innovative MPS program.

To complete your MPS application, please submit/upload:

• A fully completed application form
• An updated resume that includes a description of public service experiences
• A Personal Statement Video, detailed instructions can be found here
• One 400-500 word essay
• Official transcripts from all degree-granting higher education institutions attended
• One letter of recommendation is required, a second letter is optional

International applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited US college or university and whose native language is not English are required to submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Submission of a graduate test score is optional. Applicants who choose to submit a graduate test score for Admissions Committee review can upload a copy of the official test score transcript into the Clinton School application platform. The Clinton School accepts GRE, MAT, GMAT, and LSAT scores.

NOTE: While the Clinton School is GRE test-optional, our concurrent degree partner programs may require a graduate exam for their specific application process.

An MPS applicant could choose not to submit a test score if they feel their academic transcript and GPA are sufficiently strong on their own and that the entire application file will demonstrate to the Admissions Committee that the applicant can handle the academic rigors of graduate school. This can be especially true for those with a strong undergraduate GPA, who have already completed a master’s degree, or who have had a robust professional career.

NOTE: While the Clinton School is GRE test-optional, our concurrent degree partner programs may require a graduate exam for their specific application process.

The MPS application requires one letter of recommendation from an academic or public service reference. To be considered for committee review, your recommendation letter should be typed on letterhead by the recommender and at least one full page in length.

For your own benefit in our committee review, please make sure that your reference can personally and authoritatively speak to your qualifications and preparation in some detail; reference letters that only offer brief or casual comments are typically not well reviewed by the Admission Committee.

An interview is not required but may be requested at the direction of the admission committee. All such interviews are conducted by Zoom. Visiting the Clinton School and meeting with the admissions team is highly recommended for all interested applicants.

In keeping with the suggested minimum criteria for graduate studies at the University of Arkansas, the Clinton School recommends that applicants have at least a 2.85 cumulative grade point average in their baccalaureate-level courses.

There are no specific prerequisite courses required to enroll, as the Clinton School highly values and seeks a breadth of experiences in its students. Clinton School students come from a wide range of personal, educational, professional, political, and service backgrounds.

For those Clinton School applicants who are interested in pursuing a concurrent degree, please complete the respective application for the corresponding school.

Information about their respective applications, testing requirements, deadlines, and tuition costs can be found below:

– UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law
– UAMS Boozman College of Public Health
– UAF Walton College of Business
– UA Little Rock School of Social Work

Once a student has been admitted into both the MPS and their concurrent program of choice, they may then choose which of the programs they will begin their enrollment in.

Tuition costs for the Clinton School’s MPS program are very affordable, especially when compared to similar graduate programs around the country.

The cost per credit hour of tuition is $511 and the fees per credit hour are $21.50. The total cost of tuition and fees for the full two-year MPS degree is $24,495.

Estimated additional costs may include approximately $400 per semester for books and between $5,000-$6,000 per semester for living and personal expenses in the city of Little Rock.

No, all students pay the same $511 per credit hour for all MPS classes taught at the Clinton School. Fees for MPS classes are $21.50 for all students. Elective courses taken at our other partner campuses are charged at the in-state rate.

However, there are additional costs specific to international students, which include a $150 international student fee per semester and an $841.08 insurance fee per 6 months.

Yes, both merit-based scholarships and need-based federal aid are available to qualified MPS admitted students. Enhanced cost-of-living stipends are also available.

More information on scholarships and funding opportunities can be found here.

All decisions about merit-based scholarships are made when the Admissions Committee determines a student’s acceptance into the program. Admitted students who are awarded a merit-based scholarship will receive their scholarship letter outlining the details of their scholarship award within two business days of receipt of their letter of admission. Applicants do not need to submit a separate scholarship application. In recent years, merit-based scholarship awards for the MPS have ranged from $5,000 to full tuition.

If you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S., you may apply for need-based federal student loans and grants. You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline in order to be eligible to receive federal loan funds. All need-based financial aid is processed for our students through the UA Little Rock (UALR) Financial Aid office. Click here to submit a FAFSA form.

To have your FAFSA submitted to us for financial aid review, please enter the UALR school code 001101.

Yes. The Clinton School will do its best to work with each student to identify funding to facilitate the international service project of their choice. Typically, this has been done by offering a flat stipend to all students to help cover the costs of their individual International Service Projects.

For all applicants who receive their bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the United States, the Clinton School requires that official transcripts be evaluated course by course by a credential evaluation service. A non-exhaustive list of agencies can be found here.

An international applicant will not be considered to have a completed admission application until all required items, including their officially credentialed transcripts, have been submitted to the Clinton School by their chosen application deadline.

Fees for this service vary based on the agency and may take two to four weeks for evaluation. International applicants are encouraged to plan their application timeline accordingly.

All official, evaluated transcripts should be either uploaded directly to the application, or emailed to admissions@clintonschool.uasys.edu, by your preferred application deadline.

Yes, all international students whose native language is not English and who did not receive an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited US college are required to submit TOEFL scores. A minimum of 550 for the paper-based examination, or 79 for the internet-based examination, is required to be considered for admission into the Clinton School.

For international students admitted to the in-person Master of Public Service (MPS) program, a visa is required to study in the United States. Most students enroll with an F-1 visa, and the following FAQs address questions specific to the F-1 visa.

The multi-step process for obtaining an F-1 visa typically takes 3-4 months during April-July. The Clinton School works with the Office of International Student Services at UA Little Rock to facilitate the visa process for incoming international students.

Upon admission to the Clinton School, international students will be provided with a form to complete that includes the appropriate documentation needed to be issued a Form I-20. The Form I-20 is used for the F-1 visa interview and entry to the United States. 

One important piece of documentation required for the Form I-20 to be issued is financial documentation proving you have financial support to cover the full Cost of Attendance (COA) for one year. See the next FAQ for more information about COA.

Once the student provides the required information to the Office of International Students, their Form I-20 will be issued. The international student can then pay the SEVIS fee and schedule a visa interview. After the interview, students will be notified of the United States State Department’s visa decision.

More information about the visa application process can be found here.

Cost of attendance (COA) includes tuition and fees, but additionally includes insurance and cost of living expenses. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the COA is approximately $48,500 USD for one year. If you are joining the Clinton School as an F-1 student, you must demonstrate that you have the financial resources to finance your expenses apart from employment.

Prior to issuance of I-20, an international student must provide documentation of financial resources for the tuition, fees, insurance and cost of living for at least one academic year at the Clinton School.

More information about acceptable documentation of financial support can be found here.

Work Authorization: Students on an F-1 visa are only permitted to work on-campus jobs for up to 20 hours per week (if an on-campus job is available, it is not guaranteed). Any unauthorized off-campus employment will result in termination of your immigration status in the United States.

Travel: For students on an F-1 visa, there are travel restrictions that may impact the International and Capstone field service projects. The Clinton School staff and faculty will work one-on-one with students once they are enrolled to select field service projects that align with students’ interests and goals while meeting the requirements of the F-1 Visa.

Full-Time Enrollment: For the MPS, students on F-1 visas must be enrolled full time. Graduate full-time enrollment is at least 9 credit hours per semester in the fall and spring semesters.

For the MPS, you must also meet the physical presence requirement, meaning you must take at least 6 credits as classes, rather than online courses.

In addition to tuition and fees for the MPS program, there are additional costs specific to international students, which include a $150 international student fee per semester and an $841.08 insurance fee per 6 months.

Due to a range of domestic educational protocols, Clinton School Online is only available to students living in the United States while the program is ongoing.